A story on the U. S. naming its team for the 2002 World Road Cycling Championships

The great part is that Guido Trenti, of Acqua e Sapone, made the team! Who is Guido Trenti? Well, he is a guy who does not speak English, who has never raced in America, and who has never even lived in the U. S. He did however visit the U. S. once when he was very small. How the hell did that happen? Well, his mother was an American who married an Italian. So he does hold citizenship in the U. S. He also began racing under a U. S. license in 1999, so he could ride for our team at the World Championships.

10:53:03 PM    comment []

A story of a triathlete living life large!

Ever dream about catching a game winning pass in a playoff game? How about a HR in the National league playoffs? While that will be impossible for most athletes, sometimes triathletes can make it happen in their sport. Amateurs and pros usually compete together in Ironman triathlons. While the pros usually pull away from the amateurs, sometimes a swim specialist can beat them out of the water. They live that dream for a short time.

A swim specialist is usually a college swimmer who comes into the sport of triathlon. While needing to learn the bike and the run, they have the swim down pat. Robbie Allen got into the sport when masters swim meets became just too boring. At Ironman USA in Lake Placid this year, Robbie decided to catch the pros who had a 10 meter start in the 2.4 mile swim. He caught the ones at the rear, and kept trying to catch more. He reached a point when he could not see anymore up ahead of him. Thinking the lead pack was getting away, he slowed an got a good look. He then realized that he was leading an Ironman. Like most swim specialists, he faded on the bike. He had a great day however, and got face time on the TV coverage of the event. A great story!

10:40:56 PM    comment []

Was at the Braves game last night, AJC coverage here.

A very good game, with many home runs, a run down, a batter getting hit, a pitcher getting tossed, Chipper Jones playing Lucy under a fly ball and much exciting action.

Getting to the game seems to be quite a challenge now. Parking is not the problem. There is much parking within walking distance of the park. The problem is getting past the panhandlers and scalpers. I had two people per block shaking a cup at me, or asking for money outright. I had one person per block offering me tickets. If I had tickets, I was told, I could upgrade them!

The upside to seeing the scalpers is knowing that the game is not sold out. The stadium is only half filled. So I know the people annoying me are eating tickets for dinner.


The AJC reports on the elder McKinney getting booted out of office by the voters yesterday.

McKenney got maybe one third of the votes in his Democratic primary runoff. He now joins his daughter Cynthia McKinney at home, and can maybe help write her thesis. After all she did not get elected on her own. Her father had to help her by creating a heavily democratic district for her during redistricting. Now she may need help with that thesis.
What did the anti-Semitic racist say about his loss?

"I did not expect this because I expected black folks to turn out for me. They did not turn out for me. They wanted a Klansman, a son of the Confederacy."

6:53:39 AM    comment []