Tour de France Still Can't Drop Doping
Posted by Daniel Kuo on Jul 22, 2007 - 11:50:36 PM
The 3,570-kilometer Tour de France began on July 7, to relatively little fanfare, overshadowed by stories of dog fighting (see below) and British soccer players. Personally, I just don’t recognize anyone in the Tour anymore, now that both Lance Armstrong and his rival Jan Ullrich are gone. I had to google Michael Rasmussen,
the current overall leader, just to make sure I spelled his name right. But at least one thing is familiar in
France - the doping. Despite even more stringent regulations, including a mandatory anti-doping pledge and multiple tests between stages, T-mobile team member Phil Sinkewitz has become yet another rider to test positive for elevated testosterone levels. It’s yet another reminder that drug use in cycling is a widespread epidemic, and will take more than a few years to contain – at best. 2006 ex-winner Floyd Landis still isn’t able to prove he’s innocent, and in the past few months, multiple former Tour de France champions have admitted to using performance enhancers during competition. To put it lightly, cleaning up will be a very, very long ride.
***
Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Kevin Durant headline a list of 17 NBA players who reported to the U.S. National Team’s training camp last weekend in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. For those who don’t know, U.S.A Basketball is in trouble.
Despite possessing the vast majority of the world’s hoops talent, America received a disappointing (disastrous might be more appropriate) sixth place at the 2002 World Championships and third place at the 2004 Olympics, due in both cases to a roster full of superstars who were used to being the top scorer on their respective teams and had no idea how to defer to other teammates. To remedy this situation, Team USA overhauled their team selection process last year and made a point of inviting a number of proven team players, like Bruce Bowen and Shane Battier, to their training camp…only to cut almost all of them from their final roster and head to the 2006 Worlds with a roster full of superstars who were used to being the top scorer on their respective teams and still had no idea how to defer to other teammates. We finished third. I know, I know, it’s hard to pick a guy like Bruce Bowen over guys like Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. But we have to face facts; 12 All-Stars can’t win a gold medal anymore. Here’s my suggestion: Designate every position on the roster as a specific role to be filled: 3 power forwards/centers, 2 all-around scorers, 2 perimeter shooters, 2 pass-first point guards, and 3 role players. And so on.
***
Finally, I'm sorry, but I have to help make sure that every single human being on the planet becomes sick of reading about Michael Vick. The Atlanta Falcons’ star quarterback was indicted Tuesday on federal charges of involvement with illegal dog fighting operations, and will make his first court appearance on July 26th.
The charge set off a whirlwind of problems for the former Gator Bowl MVP, from his current marketing deals (the Nike Zoom Vick V goes on sale August 23rd) to his future status with the Falcons. My question for him…..why??? You’ve been blessed with perfect genes and bodies. You are worshipped, pampered, and paid millions of dollars to play what the rest of us do for fun. You’ve got it made. Why screw it up by doing something stupid and/or illegal? You hear me, Michael Vick? Pete Rose? Stephen Jackson? Mike Tyson? O.J. Simpson? Ron Artest? Zach…oh, never mind.
-
Serving Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, Beverly Hills. Brentwood, Laurel Canyon, Los Feliz, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Melrose, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Topanga, Canyon, Westwood & Hollywood Hills.
