Thursday, July 27, 2006
RIP, Cycling
Floyd Landis aparently tested positive for high levels of eppitestosterone after the 17th stage of the Tour de France. The 17th stage, you'll remember, is the race the tour director called the single greatest stage in tour history. The test came after an annonomous rider on his Phonak team tested positive after the 11th stage. The outcome/fallout of this is uncertain; nothing can be official until after the backup sample is tested, but it looks like Landis could be asked to leave his team and, worst case senario, give up his title. Ouch.
I don't see how cycling can survive this. After the scandal that began the tour and eliminated its top names, Landis was praised as a much needed return to a clean tour. The Germans, who lost favorite Jan Ulrich before the race, are giving the tour the Fredo Corleone treatment. They're not going to even cover the tour next year.
Now, Landis isn't guilty just yet. He didn't test positive for high levels of testosterone. In fact, his testosterone levels were lower than the average rider. What he tested positive for was a high level of Eppitestosterone in relation to testosterone. The average person has a one to one ratio, Landis had a higher than four to one ratio. This could have something to do with his hip (which was so bad, he couldn't even get on his bike from the right side), and if it does, he could be cleared and it could go away quickly. I'm not sure if this will totally undue the damage though. The pure shock of this news is going to disillusion many fans.
Landis's mother had the greatest reaction to the news. She is a devout mennonite, and said that Floyd is her boy and she will love him regardless. She said that if he took drugs for his hip, that that should be ok, but if it was for a competetive advantage, he should lose the tour. She says her son is a prominent man, and prominent men are objects of temptation. She will be dissapointed in her son if he cheated, but she will always love him the same. And I thought catholic guilt was bad.
Floyd Landis aparently tested positive for high levels of eppitestosterone after the 17th stage of the Tour de France. The 17th stage, you'll remember, is the race the tour director called the single greatest stage in tour history. The test came after an annonomous rider on his Phonak team tested positive after the 11th stage. The outcome/fallout of this is uncertain; nothing can be official until after the backup sample is tested, but it looks like Landis could be asked to leave his team and, worst case senario, give up his title. Ouch.
I don't see how cycling can survive this. After the scandal that began the tour and eliminated its top names, Landis was praised as a much needed return to a clean tour. The Germans, who lost favorite Jan Ulrich before the race, are giving the tour the Fredo Corleone treatment. They're not going to even cover the tour next year.
Now, Landis isn't guilty just yet. He didn't test positive for high levels of testosterone. In fact, his testosterone levels were lower than the average rider. What he tested positive for was a high level of Eppitestosterone in relation to testosterone. The average person has a one to one ratio, Landis had a higher than four to one ratio. This could have something to do with his hip (which was so bad, he couldn't even get on his bike from the right side), and if it does, he could be cleared and it could go away quickly. I'm not sure if this will totally undue the damage though. The pure shock of this news is going to disillusion many fans.
Landis's mother had the greatest reaction to the news. She is a devout mennonite, and said that Floyd is her boy and she will love him regardless. She said that if he took drugs for his hip, that that should be ok, but if it was for a competetive advantage, he should lose the tour. She says her son is a prominent man, and prominent men are objects of temptation. She will be dissapointed in her son if he cheated, but she will always love him the same. And I thought catholic guilt was bad.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
GO AWAY, JOSE!
Jose Conseco unveiled his knuckleball at the Golden Baseball League All-Star game last night. Maybe he thought, after striking out 11 times in like 14 at bats in the league this year, that he knew a little something about the K. He doesn't He got a grand total of ONE out, giving up 4 runs. What is that, a 108.0 ERA? Not exactly Jonathan Papelbon. Now Conseco says he wants to be a special investigator in MLB's steroids investigation (MLB quickly said "get the hell out of here").
Is it me, or is Conseco like the 28 year old recent devorcee with a younger brother who's a freshman in college. He longs for his glory days after a rough patch, so he keeps inviting himself to his brother's frat parties. Thinks he's the man, always tries to impart advice no one wants, and is completely oblivious that everyone is making fun of the washed up old guy.
You made money writing that book, you rat bastard squeeler. Retire, go away. You're embarassing yourself and your younger brother.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Results don't lie
Ok, I'm just going to throw out an ABSOLUTE TRUTH that no one seems to remember..........Thurman Thomas is TEN TIMES the Tecmo Bowl player that Bo Jackson is.
Isn't it about time Nebraska Football was relevant again?
With college football season near, I'm wondering if USC's stellar draft class is enough to keep them in prominence (who wouldn't want to play for USC, by the way. between the celeb lifestyle, perfect weather, and lovely ladies, whats not to like). The conventional favorites this year, besides the Men of Troy, seem to be Notre Dame (who plays USC the last game of the season) and Ohio State.
I'm sure these teams are great, but my buddy has me almost ready to jump on the Nebraska bandwagon. Their D looks dominent, and Taylor looks like he's getting the faster Callahan offense at QB. They need some recievers to step up. And they'll need easy wins like their date on 10/14. Their schedule is grueling.....both Texas and at USC. At least they don't have to play Oklahoma or Texas Tech.
I'm an ACC guy, and I still maintain top to bottom it is a better FOOTBALL conference then the big 12 (yes, I said it). But since my UVA Cavs arn't a threat with the Florida teams in front of them, Im going with Nebraska.
My First Post.....and I'm already bitching about the Sox
After a while of trouble, I'm finally putting my first post here. Don't think there is any real need for background info, I plan on showing my rooting interests pretty clear on this page. If anyone does read this, love to hear comments. blah blah blah, everyone here knows the drill.
So I guess I'll start with the night terrors I'm getting about the second half of the baseball season. Two weeks ago I was cock-sure the Red Sox were in it to win it. We (Yes, I say we even though I have no affiliation with the team....live with it) were hitting the ball with confidence, winning every night, young pitchers were looking unhittable. I was sure we were going to pick up a name starter at the deadline, and what if Clement got healthy? Now were barely avoiding a sweep from the offensively challenged A's and squeeking by the Royals. The Jankees are only a half game back, and it looks like they're recovering ahead of expectations. Is there any doubt they'll pick up a couple difference makers this month? And the Jay's are gelling a lot better than I expected. Is it time to panic?
Now, there is nothing I hate more than jumping to conclusions after five games. The biggest drawback of the modern culture of sports reporting is with the ubiquitousness of news outlets we are at a loss for material. This leaves us with jack-asses like Jay Marrioti or Skip Bayless screaming "the sky is falling" three times a day on the Worldwide Leader. It's a long season, and all teams slip up a little. I just worry about a lack of confidence immediately before the trade deadline.
I guess this is a round about and tangented way of saying the Sox can not panic now. And if I'm going to be enough of a jerk-off to say we when I talk about the Sox, then I should at least have the courtesy to not panic either.
It's time to take solase in the curse of A-rod and enjoy summer at its best: with my team in major contention.
BYE THE WAY.....This is by no means going to be just a Red Sox sight. I can not wait to start writing about the World Series of Darts.
After a while of trouble, I'm finally putting my first post here. Don't think there is any real need for background info, I plan on showing my rooting interests pretty clear on this page. If anyone does read this, love to hear comments. blah blah blah, everyone here knows the drill.
So I guess I'll start with the night terrors I'm getting about the second half of the baseball season. Two weeks ago I was cock-sure the Red Sox were in it to win it. We (Yes, I say we even though I have no affiliation with the team....live with it) were hitting the ball with confidence, winning every night, young pitchers were looking unhittable. I was sure we were going to pick up a name starter at the deadline, and what if Clement got healthy? Now were barely avoiding a sweep from the offensively challenged A's and squeeking by the Royals. The Jankees are only a half game back, and it looks like they're recovering ahead of expectations. Is there any doubt they'll pick up a couple difference makers this month? And the Jay's are gelling a lot better than I expected. Is it time to panic?
Now, there is nothing I hate more than jumping to conclusions after five games. The biggest drawback of the modern culture of sports reporting is with the ubiquitousness of news outlets we are at a loss for material. This leaves us with jack-asses like Jay Marrioti or Skip Bayless screaming "the sky is falling" three times a day on the Worldwide Leader. It's a long season, and all teams slip up a little. I just worry about a lack of confidence immediately before the trade deadline.
I guess this is a round about and tangented way of saying the Sox can not panic now. And if I'm going to be enough of a jerk-off to say we when I talk about the Sox, then I should at least have the courtesy to not panic either.
It's time to take solase in the curse of A-rod and enjoy summer at its best: with my team in major contention.
BYE THE WAY.....This is by no means going to be just a Red Sox sight. I can not wait to start writing about the World Series of Darts.
