Let them play

Strategic Plan for Sidewalks and Bikeways
I have read the latest updates on the plan and it's very favourable for us cyclists. The update acknowledges the growth of cycling and the tremendous successful response from developing our Greenway system in Nashville. Plus, they have included many good ideas on how to create a system of support for bicyclists wanting to commute more for work, shopping and dining. Our city is in need of a cycling infrastructure plan and this begins to address those needs. Personally, I did send an email prior to the comments deadline passing giving my endorsement along with a few other ideas.

Subscribe to Sidewalk & Bikeways Activity Notification
All of you should sign up to receive these updates. The notifications are few and far between, but you'll get updated information and dates/times when public meetings are taking place. It's a very valuable resource and a division of our city that's making a positive difference in our lives as cyclists.

The Scoop on Fattening Ice Cream Flavors
More motivation to stay away, so sad.

Marlin hits bump in return to Motorplex
Friday night bicycle races followed by Saturday night stock cars. I thought the Music City Motorplex was a great venue for day one of the Edgar Soto Memorial. I've been told more than once by a few people to hold some crits out there, and I have to say last Friday night hooked me! If all goes well you can expect to be racing at the fairgrounds more often.

Rail, bus ridership grows as gas prices change lifestyles
There's been a huge increase since the first of the year, gee, wonder why?

Shortfall won't sideline the Music City Star
Still, hopeful ridership budgeted to make it an even sum game hasn't reached needed levels. As a train rider myself this is disappointing, but then again when has any government plan ever really broke even on its own. The other thing to consider is that every government and profit seeking company is enduring a horrendous budget right now as variable expenses are continuing to rise. Over the years as those variables increase it's going to increase the fixed costs.

Funny how we rarely if ever hear the word "inflation" mentioned on a serious note, but if you work within the food industry you know it's being hit harder than anything else at the moment. I have quite a bit of experience in the food industry and I can tell you there's very good reason why your menu and grocery prices are skyrocketing. Corn, wheat, dairy and produce are all getting hit very hard at the moment by volatile markets and rising costs. Eventually the dollar signs we pay on our plate feel that pinch, so please don't take it out on your waiter or cashier. The only ones really making money are, you guessed it, speculators! ha.....

Exxon Dumping Stations, Says No Money in Selling Gas
To think, retail store owners aren't even making money at over $4 per gallon. In other words we're all losing and oil suppliers are getting richer and richer. Awhile back I heard an idea that at first glance sounds stupid, but if you think about it longer you realize it's better than what we're doing now. The idea was as gas prices were initially rising for our government to put an insane tax on a gallon of gas, something like 2 to 4 dollars per gallon. This would beat the volatile oil market and producers to the punch, and most importantly keep our money in our country. Even Saudi government officials are saying the market can't handle prices and are promising to increase oil output. They realize that while oil is an inelastic resource it's not perfectly inelastic.

Plus, the Saudi's are forward thinking people. If they keep up this strategy over time they are going to anger the world, and the backlash will eventually come to haunt them. This concept is no different than what some would say President Bush has put our country through in regards to our global status. So do your part; ride your bike instead of buying gas today.

Willo is out with a broken wrist
Cody Stevenson's latest diary tells a few stories from Philly week and how the Jittery Joe's boys are doing. Trent, not so well.

Attention to detail gives Elkin Beauce crit win
This win should boost the boy's moral though as Evan Elkin takes home a crit victory in the Tour de Beauce up in Quebec. Jesse had the guys well drilled on the rules and race instructions, and apparently they paid attention while others were a little confused.

Turning a Century in California
Want to get away for awhile? I used to ride a lot of century rides right when I began racing. My first full year of racing I hit my goal of completing 10 century rides and 20 bike races. I think those centuries took a greater toll on me than the races, but they definitely help you build a great base of muscular endurance. Though I'm not sure I'd tackle a century called "The Death Ride", 129 miles and 15,000 feet of climbing, ouch!

Alleged Drunk Driver Plows Into Bike Race
By now I'm sure you've read the story and have seen this photo. There's probably nothing those racers could have done to prevent this tragedy from happening. If you're like me and believe in the power of prayer then I highly recommend it before every single bike race you do. It's no guarantee of safety of course, but I'll sure make the request of safety from Him.

MLB Standings - 2008
Take note - it is June 16th and the Chicago Cubs have the best record in baseball. Shhhhh, just let them keep on playing and let's see where they are in August. Maybe He can help with this too?

LET 'EM PLAY
I agree, let them compete. I am always inspired by men and women who do not give in to their disabilities and set an example of courage for all of us to follow. If they are good enough to be among the best then they should be allowed to play on any field any time, especially the Olympics.

The Disadvantage Advantage
As Aimee Mullins, an amputee since one years old, says, "If a prosthetic leg were more efficient we wouldn't be trying to keep up, we'd be blowing [able-bodied] people out of the water."

What is it that's got everybody so uptight? Competitive advantage. You're kidding right? So, if there's a competitive advantage to having a prosthetic and athletes will do anything to win then why aren't people lining up to have their legs and arms amputated? That's what I thought.

Amputee Natalie Du Toit qualified for Beijing
After losing her leg at the age of 24 in a scooter accident she said, "I have always had a dream to take part in an Olympic Games, and losing my leg didn't change anything." Awesome!

Here's why this matters to me.....

When I was 14 years old I played in a Babe Ruth baseball league in Madison for two years. This was the beginning of my playing time for Twitty City, which at that time was the premier development team in Nashville. I had an awesome coach at that time who was a great motivator. His name was Al Hudson. I'll never forget Al and some of things he would say to us to keep us focused. He would always say, "keep your goal right in front of you," and as he would say it he would use the thumbs up sign with his hand for emphasis. When you're 14 you pay attention to things like this when you want to be the best.

My goal was to keep rising within the Twitty City system and go wherever baseball would take me, to college and on to the professional level. Well, Al knew there was more to life than baseball. When you're 14 you think nothing but baseball, so he'd rattle our cage pretty often. He challenged me, tried to make me think I couldn't do something, all the while knowing I'd do everything I could to prove him wrong.

One of his motivation speeches has always stood out. We had a guy on our team who had a little brother that really looked up to his older brother. This older brother wasn't that great of a player, but the younger brother wanted to be just like his older brother. The only problem, the younger brother had no legs. This young boy's name was Rocky (seriously). Rocky played baseball too and had to use prosthetics in order to play of course. Because Rocky was so young he wasn't quite strong enough to play very long on the prosthetics before he'd get sore and begin to hurt. Most times he couldn't play a whole game, but he was incredibly determined to be on the ball field.

Al had great admiration for Rocky. We must have been slacking or not giving our best effort because Al sat us down and told us the story about Rocky. At that time I don't think any of us realized that Rocky played baseball too. Al told us how Rocky would beg his mom to let him play and how much pain he'd go through just to play baseball. Rocky never gave in and never loafed. Rocky always gave it everything he had. Always.

Al's motivation wasn't a yelling situation, but rather a story telling moment that hit me hard. I had coaches prior to Al that motivated me and demanded a lot, but they had not quite put life into this perspective. I'll never forget Al getting to a point in the story where he just had to stop because his emotions were overwhelming him as he was close to bursting in tears. Al's point to us was if Rocky can go out there and give it everything with no legs, with no complaints, then we can go out and achieve anything with hard work and effort.

I'll never forget Al or Rocky and I will always keep my goal out in front. Let them play.