Where'd it go?
Rain that is.....oh well, as I sit here at 1:30 PM I can see that it's on the way. I expected to wake up and have to come up with plan b or c for training. Instead of doing the BToGS ride I opted to ride from Nashville into the depths of Lebanon and Wilson County. It's farther east from the rain and I figured I'd have some extra time to get in my 4 hours, but it looks like everyone around Nashville was able to get in a dry workout.
Last night I went to see Death of a Cyclist at The Belcourt Theatre. It lived up to the hype and receives two thumbs up from NashvilleCyclist. Yes, a cyclist dies, but there's a twist at the end where justice is served. If you think you're going to rent this at Blockbuster, think again. It's not on VHS or DVD, so go to The Belcourt for its last showing on Sunday at 12:30 PM.
Let's run down the list of things I've stumbled upon that interested me.
Gwynn, Ripken elected to Hall of Fame
Mark McGwire came nowhere close to being elected in his first year of eligibility, but Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken were shoe-ins. How sportswriters (of all people) can not vote for McGwire is somewhat understandable, but there is no question he is a Hall of Famer. All they have to go on right now as truth is what they saw displayed on the field, and McGwire put up gawdy numbers. He never tested positive and his career is over, but for this type of punishment to come from sportswriters and not Major League Baseball is shameful. Forget about what you "think" might have happened; all any of us can go is what we know to be true right now.
I was fortunate to see Tony Gwynn during spring training for several years in the early 1990s. Watching him take batting practice was a demonstration of grace and precision. When he got into the cage everybody watched, players and coaches.
I don't live with regrets, but there is one moment I wish I could relive involving Gwynn. One morning I arrived early to the facility to get some swings off a tee. I'm all alone taking hacks when Gwynn strolls by into the cage next to me. He's got some headphones on and he starts taking some swings off a tee also. I couldn't take my eyes off watching him go to work. I probably took one swing to his three because I wanted to see how he approached his workout. Gwynn finished before I did and walked by me and said, "How's it going?", and all I could come up with was "great, how are you?" To have that moment back, well, I don't know what I'd do differently, but I've always wanted that moment back. If only just to relive it.
Report: Bonds failed amphetamine test
So McGwire never failed a test, but Bonds reportedly did last season. Imagine how those sportswriters will now judge Bonds five years after he retires and become eligible for the HOF. Bonds is painting himself into a corner, but let's be clear, had amphetamines been tested for in the 70s, 80s and 90s the whole league would have tested positive.
So that brings us to how a player is viewed regarding doping, and until now the only thing aside from the "eye" test is actual drug tests themselves. You have guys who tested positive and those who never did test positive. Yet in baseball if you're retired never testing positive then you're indirectly punished from entering the HOF, but if you're still playing testing positive then you can sign a one year $16 million dollar contract.
That's how Major League Baseball deals with its problems. Broom meet rug.
Zabel calls for quick end to Puerto case
We need more riders like Erik Zabel to step forward and say the same thing. Every single rider mentioned in the Puerto case should be allowed to return to racing. It's a disgrace that any of them missed the Tour in 2006 with what turned out to be nothing more than allegations. Yeah I know there was blood in bags and notes scribbled in code, but anyone can throw all that together with some imagination. After all, that's what the drug tests are for!
The sport of cycling will always have allegations, but it has to reach the point where legitimate evidence is brought forward that cannot be refuted before a rider loses his contract. How can it be a fair system if Ivan Basso can ride for Discovery while Jan Ullrich sits on the sidelines? What is the UCI doing about this? What is WADA doing about this? What is anyone about this?
We see how baseball handles things and we see how cycling handles things. It's a total free-for-all with no end in sight.
Spanish doctor asked for bonuses from athletes
We don't even know if this has been substantiated. Eufemiano Fuentes himself hasn't even been indicted yet! It has been since May of 2006 and the man at the center of the investigation hasn't even been formally indicted. What does that tell ya'?
ProTour decides not to kick out Discovery over Basso hiring
Well of course this was going to happen, but as I stated above I think all of the riders should be allowed to ride immediately. The only other point which I have brought up before is that CSC and Bjarne Riis lost the best rider in the world to an investigation that has turned up nothing.
Landis dreams of happy return to Paris
Keep on dreaming dude. Here's a question though, who will get there first, Ullrich or Landis? I bet Vegas has a line on this one. Who would you put a dollar on? My money is on Ullrich.
Manhattan: Memorial Bike Ride
New York riders honor those killed while riding a bicycle.
Journey’s End - Ghost Bicycles
Bicyclists in New York create memorials around the city in locations where cyclists are killed in accidents with vehicles. A total of 109 cyclists killed from 2000 to 2005, wow.
A couple of years ago I found a short film about the Ghost Bicycle Memorial ride. I guess you could say it was a type of documentary, but it chronicled the Memorial Bike Ride. At each stop someone will speak about the person killed at that location, and then everyone will lift their bikes high into the air to honor that person. You watch something like that and realize it could be any one of us being honored someday.
Which brings me to.....
Ride of Silence 2007 - Nashville
I have already been contacted by the national organizers about doing this again here in Nashville for 2007. The date will be Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 PM. More planning and promotion will take place this year, unlike last year when I put it together on short notice. Despite the short notice we had a great turnout and warm response from everyone. You can read it HERE with photos.
Chicagoan Cycling To Stationary Biking Record
I first came about this from Biking Bis about a guy attempting to ride his stationary for 83 hours! Not only that, but he's got to stay above 12 miles per hour or the Guinness Book of World Records say it's over. It's for a good cause as he is raising $20,000 for the families of police officers killed in the line of duty.
28 Reasons to bike
From Cyclelicious we are linked to 28 reasons to bike. I'm sure we could all come up with more than 28 reasons, but would we be able to back up our claims with cited research? That's a little too much work for me right now, but it's interesting to read the findings on their list.
Personally, I liked the number 2 reason the best - Correlation with overall wealth. The more we drive the poorer we get. There's a lot of good info about number 2, but essentially the higher the number of cars per 1000 people the lower the average income. Of course the top US cities have more cars per 1000 than those in Europe or even Tokyo, oh, and we make less money. I'm still not moving.
Last night I went to see Death of a Cyclist at The Belcourt Theatre. It lived up to the hype and receives two thumbs up from NashvilleCyclist. Yes, a cyclist dies, but there's a twist at the end where justice is served. If you think you're going to rent this at Blockbuster, think again. It's not on VHS or DVD, so go to The Belcourt for its last showing on Sunday at 12:30 PM.
Let's run down the list of things I've stumbled upon that interested me.
Gwynn, Ripken elected to Hall of Fame
Mark McGwire came nowhere close to being elected in his first year of eligibility, but Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken were shoe-ins. How sportswriters (of all people) can not vote for McGwire is somewhat understandable, but there is no question he is a Hall of Famer. All they have to go on right now as truth is what they saw displayed on the field, and McGwire put up gawdy numbers. He never tested positive and his career is over, but for this type of punishment to come from sportswriters and not Major League Baseball is shameful. Forget about what you "think" might have happened; all any of us can go is what we know to be true right now.
I was fortunate to see Tony Gwynn during spring training for several years in the early 1990s. Watching him take batting practice was a demonstration of grace and precision. When he got into the cage everybody watched, players and coaches.
I don't live with regrets, but there is one moment I wish I could relive involving Gwynn. One morning I arrived early to the facility to get some swings off a tee. I'm all alone taking hacks when Gwynn strolls by into the cage next to me. He's got some headphones on and he starts taking some swings off a tee also. I couldn't take my eyes off watching him go to work. I probably took one swing to his three because I wanted to see how he approached his workout. Gwynn finished before I did and walked by me and said, "How's it going?", and all I could come up with was "great, how are you?" To have that moment back, well, I don't know what I'd do differently, but I've always wanted that moment back. If only just to relive it.
Report: Bonds failed amphetamine test
So McGwire never failed a test, but Bonds reportedly did last season. Imagine how those sportswriters will now judge Bonds five years after he retires and become eligible for the HOF. Bonds is painting himself into a corner, but let's be clear, had amphetamines been tested for in the 70s, 80s and 90s the whole league would have tested positive.
So that brings us to how a player is viewed regarding doping, and until now the only thing aside from the "eye" test is actual drug tests themselves. You have guys who tested positive and those who never did test positive. Yet in baseball if you're retired never testing positive then you're indirectly punished from entering the HOF, but if you're still playing testing positive then you can sign a one year $16 million dollar contract.
That's how Major League Baseball deals with its problems. Broom meet rug.
Zabel calls for quick end to Puerto case
We need more riders like Erik Zabel to step forward and say the same thing. Every single rider mentioned in the Puerto case should be allowed to return to racing. It's a disgrace that any of them missed the Tour in 2006 with what turned out to be nothing more than allegations. Yeah I know there was blood in bags and notes scribbled in code, but anyone can throw all that together with some imagination. After all, that's what the drug tests are for!
The sport of cycling will always have allegations, but it has to reach the point where legitimate evidence is brought forward that cannot be refuted before a rider loses his contract. How can it be a fair system if Ivan Basso can ride for Discovery while Jan Ullrich sits on the sidelines? What is the UCI doing about this? What is WADA doing about this? What is anyone about this?
We see how baseball handles things and we see how cycling handles things. It's a total free-for-all with no end in sight.
Spanish doctor asked for bonuses from athletes
We don't even know if this has been substantiated. Eufemiano Fuentes himself hasn't even been indicted yet! It has been since May of 2006 and the man at the center of the investigation hasn't even been formally indicted. What does that tell ya'?
ProTour decides not to kick out Discovery over Basso hiring
Well of course this was going to happen, but as I stated above I think all of the riders should be allowed to ride immediately. The only other point which I have brought up before is that CSC and Bjarne Riis lost the best rider in the world to an investigation that has turned up nothing.
Landis dreams of happy return to Paris
Keep on dreaming dude. Here's a question though, who will get there first, Ullrich or Landis? I bet Vegas has a line on this one. Who would you put a dollar on? My money is on Ullrich.
Manhattan: Memorial Bike Ride
New York riders honor those killed while riding a bicycle.
Journey’s End - Ghost Bicycles
Bicyclists in New York create memorials around the city in locations where cyclists are killed in accidents with vehicles. A total of 109 cyclists killed from 2000 to 2005, wow.
A couple of years ago I found a short film about the Ghost Bicycle Memorial ride. I guess you could say it was a type of documentary, but it chronicled the Memorial Bike Ride. At each stop someone will speak about the person killed at that location, and then everyone will lift their bikes high into the air to honor that person. You watch something like that and realize it could be any one of us being honored someday.
Which brings me to.....
Ride of Silence 2007 - Nashville
I have already been contacted by the national organizers about doing this again here in Nashville for 2007. The date will be Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 PM. More planning and promotion will take place this year, unlike last year when I put it together on short notice. Despite the short notice we had a great turnout and warm response from everyone. You can read it HERE with photos.
Chicagoan Cycling To Stationary Biking Record
I first came about this from Biking Bis about a guy attempting to ride his stationary for 83 hours! Not only that, but he's got to stay above 12 miles per hour or the Guinness Book of World Records say it's over. It's for a good cause as he is raising $20,000 for the families of police officers killed in the line of duty.
28 Reasons to bike
From Cyclelicious we are linked to 28 reasons to bike. I'm sure we could all come up with more than 28 reasons, but would we be able to back up our claims with cited research? That's a little too much work for me right now, but it's interesting to read the findings on their list.
Personally, I liked the number 2 reason the best - Correlation with overall wealth. The more we drive the poorer we get. There's a lot of good info about number 2, but essentially the higher the number of cars per 1000 people the lower the average income. Of course the top US cities have more cars per 1000 than those in Europe or even Tokyo, oh, and we make less money. I'm still not moving.
posted by NashvilleCyclist.com at 1/13/2007 01:32:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home