daddy like ...

So yeah, ya'll have read the news that everyone but Ronald McDonald got busted before this year's TourDayFrance (and you know it's only a matter of time before that red-bastard gets nailed for 'ludes).

No Basso, No Ulli, No Mancebo, No Vino (or any of his team) ...

- - -

Are all these cyclists getting caught for doping good for the sport?

Hell yes, I says.

Am I deeply saddened for poor Janipoo? Yeah, I am. This is a boy from the old-school east-German machinations ... you had to have always known he was on the medical programme ~ so, it's no surprise. But, what endeared Ullrich to us was his consumate human-ness. He got fat, he partied, he turned himself inside-out at races ... he cracked, he triumphed, he won and he lost.

He was delicious to watch. He was as swashbuckling as a former soviet bloc boy could get. I liked his vibe, you dig.

. . . and yes, it's past tense for poor Jan-ee. Cuz it's curtains for der Kaiser. After working so hard (and let's not mince words folks, Ullrich was the fittest ever for this race), he won't be able to recover from this blow. He may be banned from the sport, he may not ... but, this will break his will to return. Expect a word of retirement from our beautiful black sheep.

You will be remembered, Jan.

- - -

Am I happy there are boys getting nailed for the needles? Yup. I hope them Spanish Po-Pos keep diggin' and diggin'. I'd love to see more of an emphasis on how cool it is to race clean.

Speakin' of cool racers who ride clean ~ there's Benny J staying home this week to contest our region's Elite Criterium championships.

Can I get an AMEN, brother!

I am a firm believer in taking pride in your own region's racing and championship events. Anybody who ventures to these parts knows we can throw out some of the best racing around. And, in this weekend's crit championship, it will be a showcase of all the top local talent. Now, last year I lost this race to a certain Healthnet rider who lives in Excramento and races maybe 2 or 3 of our local events during the year. I can't knock him for that. But it was a bitter pill, baby. A bitter pill.

But, this year ~ if I don't win it, I want a REAL local winning it. Benny J is the man and grew up strong and dominant by cutting his teeth on our local circuit. His evil twin Andy JackMaynard has won the last couple of local crits in fair-sized manly efforts and I wouldn't be surprised to see some serious showdown blows between them two.

But first, they gotta get through me ... cuz this geezer is comin' to play, baby.