Yo - That is One Pimped out Bike...

Greetings Readers

It has been forever and ever, but I guess it is time for another quote.

"Yo. That is one pimped out bike you got!"
"That is a tricked out bike dude"

Let me tell you readers - comments like that make the 1665.00 bones I spent all so worth the cost. Those two comments were from two teenage boys (age 14+) riding their BMX bikes the other day. Of course their bikes had mag rim (are they still called that?), posts on the back tires so someone can stand on them while the bike rider pedals away and a nice color scheme.

Yet, I casually roll up to them and pass the rider who said that my bike was "Pimped out" and then the other boy in front of us looked back and I soon passed him and that's when he said "tricked out."

I am telling you that's all it takes for me to be happy all day. Matter of fact, I was happy all day that I treated myself to lunch at Chili's and then an afternoon Mocha Frapaccino with whipped cream.

Last week a lady said "Pretty" to me. I make most of the walkers, runners and other bikers turn their heads to look at me, well my rims. Shallow. Oh yes. But I am taking it all in. I am loving the attention I am getting with my HED rims.

Sometimes, I acknowledge the other riders, and should someone say something to me...

Oh oh oh, I have stop wearing my earphones while riding Andrea and the new HED rims. I want to hear all the comments I know that I am going to get while I am showing off my rims. I can not actually believe that I am not wearing any earphones while riding anymore. There is not a day that goes by that I do not get a comment about my bike.

Yes, you heard that right. I am showing off my rims as much as I can. As long as it keeps me happy then I am going to continue to so until Fall/Winter when I am not going to be showing off the rims until the following year.

Speaking of showing off. I take a long route to work (or more to the point, I try to figure out the longest out of the way route to work, but not too out of the way route to work). I take the long route home. I go out of my way to show off my rims to as many people I can. I do a lap or two laps in the two strip malls nearby where I live by riding slow. I look at my reflection in the business windows and see two, as my ex-co-worker would say, "just so awesome" rims and my stellar thighs being reflected at me. Ha Ha. I see what people see when they see me.

What's even better (or sad) is I try to catch red lights so I can stop and people can see and talk to me from the vehicles about my rims. I am all for not running yellow lights. Who knew that I would make it a point to stop at stoplights as opposed to riding as fast as possible so I would not get a red light. Matter of fact, I could be a "poster biker" for all about stopping at red lights should there ever be an advertising campaign.

Which leads me into the next segue way - speed. I am riding ever so casually. I am going below the average speed. The reason is that so everyone can get a look at my rims. That's it. No other reason for going slow. Well, I did go fast the other weekend, but that was because I wanted to see how fast I could go and also wanted to show off that since I have those rims I should be going faster than anyone else. My road bike is being treated like a beach cruiser, since that is what I am doing - cruising.

About 90 percent of the bikers are passing/riding me by and I have no desire to catch up or speed up. Or should any bikers be biking in the opposite direction I can see them turning their heads at me to see me and my rim. Well, perhaps not me, but my rims. I love the long head turn or the fast crank of their head to see me and my rims before it is too late. Sometimes, I acknowledge the look of the rider. Other times I can see them looking at me and my rims from the corner of my eye, but without giving an indication that I see them looking at me.

In my opinion, I am getting more than what I thought I would get out of the rims. I bought the rims for how much they cost, but also for the way they look and the carbon fiber in the rims. I was also hoping to get the looks/comments from the serious cyclist, which I am. But more importantly, to me, is that I am getting comments from non-riders, casual commuters, RTD riders (yep, I ride slowly through the RTD passenger zone when I can), grocery shoppers and people waiting for the green light at stoplights.

I do desire attention and now I am getting the attention. Do I deserve the attention? Who knows, but I am enjoying the attention.

The only drawback is that I have to take off the HED rims at work since I am afraid of leaving them locked up at the bike rack in the underground garage. Or if I am out riding I can not make any stops anywhere since I am afraid to leave the bike chained up and perhaps someone stealing the rims. I do live and work in the nice area of the surrounding suburbs of Denver, but I am still very, very cautious. Also, no need to tempt someone with my rims.

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 19

Greetings Readers

3 HC mountain climbs

Col du Galibier
Col de la Croix-de-fer
L'Alpe D'Huez

Obviously the last Mountain will break the hearts and minds of the riders on the remaining riders left in tour.

And obviously, I love the commercial Versus is running for the Stage 17 - D'Alpe D'Huez. She is a beast. She attracts thousands to her slopes as she makes every rider on the Tour de France ride to the top of her. She can make dreams or crush them. She will punish the weak and reward the best. She is L'Alpe D'Huez. The baddest bitch of Europe.

2645 Meters - 13 Miles ascent
2067 Meters - 18 Miles ascent
1850 Meters - 8.6 Miles ascent

I got up at 4:00 AM this morning and left about 8:00 AM for work just as the riders were getting to the top of Col de la Croix-de-fer. Tonight, I will find out which riders L'Alpe D'Huez took out of the Tour de France.

I love rooting for the underdogs, but in this unique case I want L'Alpe D'Huez to take and punish every rider in the Tour de France.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 13

Greetings Readers

Well, the news this morning (Mountain Time Zone) at 6:30 was that another rider in the Tour de France was found to have "doped." The team that he was on, yes was on, also withdrew from the Tour de France. Though, this was breaking news when us Coloradan tuned into the Tour de France this morning of LIVE coverage.

What is there to say? Nothing that has not been said before. I am all for the test, but I am totally against the negativity. Negativity is the word I want to use since I am not going to be specific about certain subjects, since I need to do research before blurting out something and then being called on for my error.

Though I am glad that Versus dropped that, what is that "Silly" words Phil uses..., ah "idiotic" commercial of showing riders who some were guilty of doping, while others were not to have been found guilty, though presumably those certain individuals were found to be linked to doping. Anyway, Versus finally put a commercial about bike riders crashing the in Tour de France. Now, that is what I look forward to, but I do not like to see a rider to abandon the tour due to a crash. Yet, seeing a crash LIVE - I gasp and basically whisper "oh fuck" sometimes "oh no." And yes other times I hold my breath hoping for the rider to be okay. Kudos for Versus for now running a tasteful commercial.

Getting back to the Tour de France and the three riders that have tested positive for doping (EPO.) I have a friend that comes over and says to me "uh oh another rider out of the Tour." Yes, too bad. "For Doping" my friend responds. Yes, test sample "A" came back positive and now they will test sample "B."

I am all for the test, but what has been puzzling me since the first incident last Saturday/Friday depending on when you heard the news the first rider was taken into custody 7 days later after the drugs were found in test sample "A" in the first stage before the start of Stage 7. And then, Phil or perhaps Paul say you can not get away with doping. Then, one of them adds this was a random test, but the rider was targeted from before the start of the tour.

With all that said - and indicating that they are catching the doping riders - why is taking a week to throw them out of the Tour de France? Such as the case with the other Spanish rider - Stage 11 his sample came back positive, but that was not for Stage 11, but for Stage 4. Then, today the Rider's sample came back positive for stage 6, but the rider was not thrown out of the tour until Stage 12.

I am not endorsing doping, but with the past three positive cases, a rider could technically start doping after the stage 16 and his test would not come back/show positive until a week later, after the Tour was done. Right?

to be continued...

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 12

Greetings Readers

Early this morning, I saw that another rider was identified by his drug test as having EPO in his sample.

Today is the last day of the Pyrenees - one Cat 1 climb and then "gravy." Meaning, the riders are out of the Mountains and onto the Flats. Though, looming in the distance is the Alps. I will give an update later when I watch my tape tonight.

In the mean time let me continue the topic from the past recent posts...

I can not seem to let this particular issue go. This topic got intriguing when I initially brought this up to one of my friend-o’s. After reveling to my friend-o of the issue at hand and what was being done. I asked him how he/she would have reacted if he/she had the sticker applied to his/her vehicle.

“I would be mad.” My friend replied (exact words).

From there I started asking questions and my friend also asked me questions about said scenario.

Then, I recollected some of the biker / cyclist / commuter’s words – and this is not a direct quote. “I should turn these pictures into the Denver Police Department” Hmmm. Should he/she turn in those photos of people’s cars that were caught on film (their camera) parking in a biking lane? If he/she does submit the pictures then would said person also turn himself/herself in for tampering with a motor vehicle? I do not know.

But from previous comments – I can already hear (read) the biker’s / cyclist’s / commuter’s reason/excuse. Oh yes! He/She always has some excuse as if it was not his/her fault in the first place. My rights… I’m entitled… Blah, blah, blah. And the excuse I can imagine being given is that “Oh, the parking vehicle offender is more serious than my slapping a sticker to the vehicle.” Or I can even hear this excuse “Oh, the vehicle’s owner committed a crime first by parking in the bike lane, therefore that is the crime and my slapping a sticker on the parked vehicle is not a crime since the vehicle’s owner committed the crime first - ahead of me.” Believe me Readers; I know I can hear some excuse as if the whole slapping the sticker on a vehicle is not a crime.

After my initial “what would you think” to my friend-o I decided to ask more people. People that I know and people that I do not know. I asked everyone, I think – young, old, white; black, man, woman, child, teenager, people with bikes and people without bikes, business people, an everyday looking person (to me). No, I did not write down their answers, but I did remember what they responded with when I asked is it okay for a person who rides a bike, like me, to slap a sticker on a vehicle parked/waiting in a bike lane?

No. Fuck no. Are you serious? What? No way. Is this a joke? Uh-uh. No fucking way. I would beat the shit of out him if they slapped a sticker to my car. (Note: the response to my question this guy I poll-ed said “him” when I gave no reference to the gender of the person slapping the sticker to vehicles in the Denver area.), You don’t do this - do you?

Those are just a few of the responses I got when I started asking people about this particular scenario. Not one-person said / agreed it was OK to slap a sticker to anyone’s vehicle.

Some people asked what kind of sticker. Meaning - is there a sticky adhesive where you might try peeling off the sticker and it leaves the backing on the surface and all you peeled off was the top layer of the sticker. Some also asked where was the sticker placed on the vehicle.

I did not know the answers to those questions. However, if it was a sticky adhesive and left some/or all of the sticker on the car would the vehicle’s owner have to use a razor blade or some solvent to remove any remaining adhesive from the sticker that was remove from their vehicle? Again, I do not know. However, thinking to myself first you slapped a sticker a sticker to my vehicle and I now have a ruin windshield and/or paint job because of you slapping a sticker to my vehicle, you are a “mother fucker.”

Just because the vehicle’s owner parked/idle in a bike lane does that give you/a biker the right to deface a vehicle? These next sentences are only some of the statements that were voiced to me – What if this was the first time that the vehicle’s owner parked in a bike lane? Is that first offense of getting a sticker slapped to his/her vehicle okay? What if this person was on a deadline and the only way to get to his/her next destination in time was to park their car in a bike lane for a minute (up to three minutes) did that earn the vehicle’s owner to get a sticker slapped to their vehicle? What if the vehicle’s owner has been doing this forever and ever and no one has ever said/done anything to him parking in the bike lane – does this warrant a slapping of a sticker to their vehicle?

A few people did give examples of what the biker / cyclist / commuter could have done instead of slapping a sticker to their car. The person could have slipped a “handbill”, “flyer”, or whatever you want to label it – even a piece of paper under the windshield wiper instead of slapping a sticker to their vehicle. Even use a Post-It note as opposed to a sticker saying that they should not of parked in a bike lane.

Yet, that was not the end of the questions that a few had for me. How do we know that the vehicle’s owner would assume that a biker / cyclist / commuter did the slapping of the sticker to said vehicle. Could the person who slapped a vehicle with a sticker was not even on a bike? I do not know. Also, I do not know what exactly is printed on the sticker. Did the person who slapped the sticker print/sign their name? Use a nickname? I do not know. I did get it “if he did not leave a name or anything identified him on who slapped the sticker then that is one fucking chicken shit person not to own up to his actions. Again readers, I can not voice an opinion since I am already bias against the slapping a sticker on the biker / cyclist / commuter. Also, the response was “he” and never “she” when I left the person genderless.

Most of the people I asked for their opinion were really interested on what I asked them. They started asking some questions of their own, which most of the time I did not know the answer to. But on other questions I did. Such as… How long has this person been slapping stickers to people’s vehicles parked in a bike lane? I responded from what I read on their post from last year I could only estimate that this has been going on for over a year. “Really?” they responded.

Oh yes, they even wrote about the vehicles they encountered. And in some cases they took pictures of the vehicle(s), including a picture of the license plate and the driver (if possible). Which brings me back to my previous post you have got to have serious issues about investing the time to take pictures of vehicles parked in a parking lane. You have the “balls” to take all the pictures you want of the crime and tell the Internet world, but you do not have the conjones to back up what you complained / reported to your blog readers? Wow.

You want sympathy for pointing out the parking in a bike lane, but you do not have the “balls” to file a police report?! Though, I will give credit for the biker / cyclist / commuter on actually calling the Denver Police department for having proof, via digital picture(s), of parking in a bike lane and asking what to do. I can not call this person an idiot, but any person can go to the local police department and fill out a police report. It’s free! Granted, I have no clue what priority this offense would warrant, but at least a police report was filed along with picture(s) {evidence). Yes pictures – since the person slapping the sticker can afford to make, buy and slap a sticker I do not see any reason why not the person can not go to a local Wal-mart or store that will print out a hard copy of your digital picture. I think the last time I did this the print cost me about .10 cents and about 2 minutes of my time.

One interviewee asked me that I should be Mr. “McGruff” and report the crime (You know Readers - “take a bite out of crime”) since I have proof of a crime that took place. He/she asked me if I had proof and I said yes, because said person posted and provided picture(s) of the vehicle(s) he/she slapped a sticker on. And if any of you readers remember those commercials from a year ago – if you buy drugs from a dealer you are helping the terrorists. How do we know that any of us readers are not helping America from this person’s actions by not reporting him/her, which may be helping the Terrorist overseas? It is far fetched, but how do we not know?

Wait! I have no reason to report to the police of said crime since I am not personally involved by it or nor I had someone ever slap a sticker to my vehicle. Though it may be premature since any retributions on me could be forthcoming on said crime performed by said biker / cyclist / commuter. I do know the name of the person (and there could be more) committing the crime, but I have no reason and could care less to report this disgraceful crime. He/She has done nothing to me, so far, but given reasons for his / her actions from their point of view.

Though, I will keep looking over my shoulder every now and then and if I should hear a “different” car sound (like the sound of a vehicle gunning towards me) then I am all ears. I do not want to be a victim of someone else’s crime.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 11

Greetings Readers

Rest Day! Woo hoo! I can finally have a break from watching TV for the past 10 days. Not to mention getting my life back since I have been plastered to the television set.

And now onto my big news....

Finally. Finally. My world is complete. For now at least.

As of 2:57 PM Friday, July 11, 2008 I received my Jet C2 90 Rims from HED. cycling. I am not going to say that the past week was long, but when my friend told me that I should check on my rims I did just that. When I did that, I felt the need to track the shipping and when my rims were arriving at certain Fed Ex location points.

Oh yes, they were scheduled for Friday delivery, but I was not sure when they would arrive. And if they did arrive, would I be gone already (from work that is.) I checked the tracking website every hour, probably twice each hour.

As the day got late I was losing hope that I would get the rims I ordered. And then just as the clock struck 3:00 PM there was my friend from the mail room with a certain large cardboard box dropped off by Fed Ex.

I was shaking. I was exciting, but nervous. Yes, these were my rims, my expensive rims, but I also I was nervous on actually seeing the rims.

The box was pretty big. I grabbed some scissors and opened the box. The first thing I saw was the skewers. With the HED logo on the handle and head of the skewer. Pretty damn cool. I actually thought I would have to buy skewers since there was no mention that the skewers would be included. The only reason why I thought this was that another website you had to buy the skewer from them or buy it yourself. Granted, the price is small, but when I have already dished out 40 bones for logos and 800 bones for each rim I just did not want to pay more bones. I was already invested for 1665.00 bones and that was hard enough to justify buying these rims.

Fast Forward – Friday night I replaced the front wheel on Andrea. The back wheel I did not feel comfortable taking off the cassette so I decided to wait until Saturday morning to have the local bike shop do the pulling of the cassette.

And when it was all said and over I got home and got to working installing the back wheel.

I had some trouble with filling the tires with my hand pump. With the valve extenders the presta valve was only staying open until I stopped pumping and then would automatically shut tight and I could not pump hard/fast enough to get any more air in the tire.

Man, for the past 12 years I have never, ever owned a full size bike pump. I have gone through 3 hand pumps and then those get me to the gas station for some free air. Anyway, with the valve extenders I could not use the valve presta converter I have installed on my tube. And the gas stations is only able to fit a schrader (however you spell it) valve opening. With that knowledge I had to buy a bike pump with a presta valve opening. Isn't she pretty? At least the bike pump was on sale or else I would have had paid 49.99 for this type of bike pump.

I got the new rims on and filled with air and took Andrea for her maiden voyage on the new set of rims... (to be continued)

Ah readers - I was talking about my blog post about that biker / cyclist / commuter slapping a sticker on vehicles in Denver and perhaps the surrounding suburbs of Denver when my friend opened my eyes to a couple of things.

My friend knows that I certain issues (as most of us do), but for some person to go out of the way and make, buy and carry around stickers to slap onto vehicles has some pretty messed up issues. For someone to do that has taken some serious time and thought on what he/she is doing Perhaps causing them self grief of such a small "speed bump" in life since all this person has to do is ride by and forget about. Worry about something more important - like rent, your significant other, your life.

How come I never thought of that? I know I mentioned that it is disgrace to slap a sticker to any vehicles, but I never thought of how much effort and thought it took this person to do this. Amazing when I actually started to think about it from my friend's point of view.

My friend also brought up the point that if you see the vehicle parked/idling you are going to be at the vehicle for a second and then you are past it. So, in reality the vehicle is in your route of travel for a while, but then you are going to ride by the vehicle and that will probably take a second or two and then it is behind you. Then, my friend adds, this person actually lets this parked vehicle bother him/her so much that he/she has to actually stop, pull out peel off the adhesive (hopefully not litter the backing) and slap a sticker on the offending vehicle and then ride off. Does this person realize how much time he actually spent doing what he did on the offending vehicle? I could not answer that question. If he/she is trying to make a point then it is a small point.

As you can see I was not thinking from that point of view. So, my friend hinted that I was not that fucked up compared to what I told him/her about this certain biker / cyclist / commuter. I am not agreeing or disagreeing, but telling you my readers that there was another view I did not see,

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 10

Greetings Readers

Well, today is two "HC" category climbs and they are the Col de Tourmalet and Hautacam...

Then, on a side note.

I guess I have to say that I am looking forward to seeing the next “new” Batman movie that has the “new” Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger.

Flashback to 4 years ago, I assume – I had no desire to see the “new” Batman movie with Christian Bale portraying Bruce Wayne / Batman. I scoffed at the Bat Mobile that I saw in my GQ or Esquire magazine. The picture was I saw and showed my ex-co-worker we agreed that is not the Bat mobile – well, not to true comic book lore. Though, the magazine indicated that the vehicle worked – ran, turn, drove and operated just like every other motor vehicle.

I vaguely remember the trailers for the Batman Begins movie. I remember the scenery shots of what looked like Tibet. I remember Christian Bale fighting/falling down on some log posts. That’s really about all.

The movie opened and I had no desire to see the movie – Batman Begins.

In the past year – I saw the movie posters of the next movie for Batman in the movie theatre. If I remember correctly, I think it was an out of focus picture of the “new” joker with a his finger in the air and the slogan “Why so Serious?” in red lipstick. My first impression – uh-oh. (hey readers, I remembered right!)

Blasphemy. In my view, there is no other vision of Tim Burton’s two Batman movies with Michael Keaton. In addition, there was no other person that could play the Joker in the new Batman Franchise. I saw and still see Jack. No one in my view can match Jack’ performance of the Joker. Though, it was a bit over the top. Goofy, but that may be due to the writing of the Joker for Jack’s role. I don’t know. There was nothing different for Tim Burton’s Batman that I could see from previous films he directed.

2008 – I remember seeing and paying more attention the movie trailer that was released with more supposed footage of the next Batman movie. Again, I am drawing from memory, but I think we heard the Joker talking and then I remember hearing his laugh and then him standing in the middle of the street at night with a machine gun with the camera’s view low to the ground shooting the Joker from street level to seeing the Joker looking larger than life. And the make up and hairstyle, or their lack of.

Yet, the Joker’s laugh. By this time I knew it was Heath Ledger playing the role of the Joker. Yet, I would not even expect that sort of laugh from Heath. At all. His voice to me in the movies I have seen, if I can remember, Heath has a deep voice.

Yet, in the Movie trailers his voice as the Joker was – no way – that can not be his voice. His voice. His make-up. The look. And the laugh.

I was starting to doubt. Doubt my stubbornness. I started to doubt my faithfulness to Tim’s Burton’s view of Batman. I did not have a clue who the director of the new Batman Franchise was/is. I never wanted to know. I never wanted to rent the movie once it was released to DVD.

Two months ago – FX was showing the movie on their network what it seemed to me every week. I changed the channel when I ran across the movie showing. Then one night, I do not know how I decided, but I decided to watch the “new” Batman franchise with Christian Bale.

Batman Begins was a real drama movie and not just a cartoon-y movie that I had thought it was going to be. The music’s score, the movie cinematography and the few actors I have come to admire were in the movie. By the time the movie ended I was surprised. It was a pretty darn good movie. And when I saw the Joker card at the end of the movie – all the dots were connected.

One month ago – I saw another trailer and it showed more scenes of Heath as the Joker and his voice and the drama of the movie it holds for the movie watchers this summer. His voice and laugh brought back memories; that’s when I started to bend my views of Jack’s version of the Joker. Then, in the trailer, I remember the Joker appearing to be in a jail cell and then he claps his hands together. I also remember the Joker sticking his head out the window a police cruiser in the city at dusk/dawn looking but not looking then closing his eyes and tilts his head to the sky. I wanted to know more about the Joker in the next Batman movie.

Present – Here I am on the eve of the “Dark Knight.” I am going to see this movie this weekend, but it is not because of the hype that I have been hearing about the Heath’s role of the Joker. I know nothing. I have been keeping myself from reading or listening to any views, reviews, opinions and any other TV clips, besides the trailers showing on TV.

The Joker’s voice, the laughter, the make up and the shot of the Joker operating a rocket launcher in the movie trailer was mesmerizing. I really could care less about Batman, but I wanted to know about the Joker. Nothing more.

I know the movie theatre is going to be packed. Yet, I will go see and then I will probably see once more when every one has scene the movie and I can really watch the movie without a lot of people just laughing at every scene the Joker might have.

I heard that the same director directed this next film and if he is staying true to form this movie will be a drama and a real serious movie as opposed to a comedy. A few laughs here and there, but I bet the average movie watcher will not see the movie as it truly was meant to be, and just laugh at every moment the Joker may be in the movie.

Next week I will tell you my experience and thoughts of the movie.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 6

Greetings Readers

Super-Besse - It has been 12 years since the last time there was a stage race finish was here. This year marks this the first mountain stage finish on this year's Tour de France. And what a start to the first mountain stage. We get to see two Category 4 mountain climbs and then we get a taste of our first two Category 2 mountain climbs, which on the last ends on a finish up to the summit, well almost summit of Super-Besse.

Yet, when I saw that Super-Besse, I want to say "Super-Beast". It seems more intimidating then Super-Besse.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened on this stage, but the ending was just what I always want to see. I want to see the climb to a finish line. A climb that makes or breaks riders who have ridden almost the entire course of probably 100 miles and have the last few miles going up a mountain. Any reserves or any thoughts of just taking it easy is not going to cut it. Every rider wants glory and GC riders will mostly have to ride defensively, but not offensively. Why? Well, this the first real mountain stage and most of the GC (General Classification) riders will want to see and probably stay together.

Whereas the rider who wants the King of the Mountain jersey will have to ride like fucking mad man. This is what they train for and this is the only real, for real, time that any rider who can beat the other riders on a mountains will most likely go down in history as the rider who beat everyone that one day in July in the year of 2008. Pictured is the winner of the stage.

Now, I am not saying the yellow jersey is not important in any mountain stage, but the yellow jersey rider will only have to work about the rider(s) who are the closest to him in time and whether or not those rider(s) mount an attack on a mountain climb. If that should happen then the yellow jersey becomes just as important as the King of The Mountain jersey

At that point to me I could care less who should wear the jersey, but the rider who does put up a fight for or keeping the yellow jersey then earns my respect. Not that it matters at all, but to me only that is alot of respect in my book. As I pointed out the Yellow jersey rider only has to work to keep wearing the jersey by beating the second overall leader in the Tour de France. The are a couple of exceptions to where the yellow jersey rider would have to work more than he has to - such as perhaps seeing the second place rider get dropped from the peloton and then it would beneficial to put some time and distance between him and the second place rider.

Now... onto a topic that I want to briefly post about.

There are quite a few bikers / cyclist / commuters who “believe” in the bike lane. When I use the word “believe” they believe that they own that piece of road. Meaning, no joggers, no baby strollers, no walkers, no dog walkers and definitely no vehicles can park in the bike lane should those particular riders come upon such an obstacle on their biking journey in the bike lanes on our blue planet.

Don’t get me wrong readers, I too have issues regarding the bike lane use - just as those few bikers / cyclist / commuters who “believe” in the bike lane, but I am not going to delve into that subject on this post. Perhaps in the future I will broach my personal issues regarding bike lane use. And is it not that I have not expressed my views already.

What I am going touch upon though is what I do or say. Most of the time I am silent, but every so often I mouth off. Cussing does not work – after all it is just words being yelled most of the time at each other. I usually saying something “smart”, sarcastic, rude or tell it like I see it. Every now and then I will raise the infamous one finger salute, but again that is just the middle finger being raise which when you really analyze the infamous one finger salute. After all it is just the middle finger being raised. A strong gesture when we are young, but if you are just as old as I am then the gesture is just a gesture no more than that. But as I stated I do raise that middle finger, with a smile, just to get a small internal victory or a quick silent “fuck you” very much.

Yet, other times I will stop in the bike lane and let the offender adjust his/her route of travel to me being in the bike lane.

The bottom line - my crime, at times, is foul / offensive language use and verbal assault, if that is a crime. I really do not know, but that I am sure that is a crime.

Now, with all that said I have been reading on a certain blog that I keep tabs on is that a certain ignorant bicyclist “believes” they have the right to bike lane. Though, that is not the specific issue for this particular post.

What I want to share with you readers is that this particular ignorant bicyclist believes it is okay to apply a sticker to parked vehicles in any biking lane in Denver and perhaps surrounding vehicles suburbs of Denver.

Does that sound “cute” to you readers? Do you think that is great idea? Are you saying “way to go” for him/her? Do you feel the urge to copy what he/she is doing?

If you answered yes to any of those questions then you are supporting a criminal. Yes - a criminal. What this ignorant bicyclist is doing is breaking the law by committing the crime of vandalism. When this person slaps a sticker to a vehicle that is vandalism. Period. Or the crime that is being committed – Tampering with a motor vehicle (C.R.S. 42-5-103.) Again, I want to reiterate I am committing a crime too, but I do not deface any vehicle because he/she parked in a bike lane.

I find what this bicyclist has been doing ever since he/she has been slapping stickers on vehicles parked in a bike lane in Denver and perhaps surrounding vehicles in the suburbs of Denver a disgrace to us other bikers / cyclist / commuters. I am probably being classed as a “mother fucker” cyclist by the actions of this one person in Denver by that particular vehicle’s owner. Though, I will admit I am a “motherfucker” on some issues, but I do not want to be classified as a “motherfucker” by the actions of this person.

Granted, I could care less about whether or not I am call a “bad word,” but what if this action triggers a certain button on this vehicle’s owner who was slapped with a sticker on their vehicle. Perhaps in this crime that was committed, the owner may take out his/her actions (example: a vehicle or physical assault) on the next biker / cyclist / commuter he/she sees in the future and that next person could be me..

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete.

Tour de France 2008 - Day 4

Greetings Readers

This time it was Paul that brought up Mr L.A. and it took only 16 minutes into the program for the first L.A. remark.

There is really nothing to re-cap. The course was about 18 miles long - a little curvy in the beginning, a short steep hill in the middle and then that's that til the finish line. No real upsets, unless you are Phil and say "just silly" about no GC riders made the top position. I am sure that Phil was being sarcastic, but he was peeved that his rider did not win.

Since I can not really talk about the Time Trial stage.. well there is nothing really to write about. So, with that I am going to write to someone who wants to know more about the Tour de France and get the understanding of the Tour - as general as I can be. Here you go my Democratic friend-o. And this applies to my regular readers that perhaps do not understand or know how the Tour de France plays out.

**** The Following entry is written for Readers who really know nothing of the Tour de France ****

The Tour de France - it is a three week event - or a three week race. Yet, the race is broken up into different stages.

The Tour is race primarily focused in France, with certain stages and portions of the course crossing or being held in neighboring countries. The race course can either go in a clockwise direction or in a counter-clockwise direction through France.

Each stage is an individual race and does count toward the entire Tour de France Race.

Let us begin with the basics. Each team has nine riders. Within each team there is a Team Leader or to put it bluntly - A GC rider (aka General Classification rider.) With the head GC rider the remaining eight riders are domestiques. Basically, the domestiques are there for the GC rider. Period. The domestiques basically help their GC rider and other domestique riders by delivering food and water and in extreme cases give up their bike should the GC rider's bike gets damaged and can not be ridden.

Now, as I mentioned earlier the Tour de France is one big race, but also each stage is an individual race in itself. So, Each stage you have a winner of the stage race. In addition, there are other points that are kept tracked of until the end of the tour when points are totaled up at the end of the Tour.

The Tour de France is made up of several races in itself -An overall winner, An overall sprint winner, an overall young rider (25 yrs or younger) an overall King of the Mountain rider and a daily winner.

Each team must have team colors that are uniform and not be yellow. Though, there have been teams that have worn yellow that was not the official yellow of the Tour. That's a topic for another time.

So, the overall leader (shortest amount of time ridden in the Tour) of the Tour de France at the end of each stage gets to wear the Yellow jersey (aka the Maillot jaune). Basically, he gets to wear the yellow jersey the following day.

The next jersey available is the Green jersey (aka Maillot vert) is a jersey specifically categorized for sprinters. Sprinters - to be general, are riders who can pedal fast in a short distance. If I remember my history I think the Green jersey was brought in for the solely for the Sprinters since they usually have trouble in the mountain stages. I really do not know all about the Green jersey so what am I about to say could be incorrect.

During all stages there are designated points as sprint stage points (usually I think there are three). Sprinters have the chance to win points for coming in first, second and third at those points.

Which in turn, the next jersey is the Polka Dot Jersey that is specifically categorized for hill Climbers. Sorry readers, let me see if I can write this clearly. Hill Climbers are riders that can ride up mountains that are classified or beyond classification in the Tour de France.

In the Tour de France - there are 4 classes of mountains starting from Category 4 (easiest) to Category 1 (very hard). Wait though! Then, there is one that technically can not be categorized and that is called "HC" (beyond classification) which is basically the hardest climb of all.

Now, the Polka Dot Jersey is more commonly known as the King of the Mountain jersey, which is aptly named. During a stage that has any mountain classifications there are points available for the taking at the summit of each classification/beyond classification mountain. Also, at the end of the each stage that has any category mountain climbs the points are accumulated for current grand total and the rider with the highest point accumulation at the end of each stage get to wear the coveted King of the Mountain jersey the following stage.

In my opinion, the Polka Dot Jersey is the most important bike jersey of the whole tour. The King of the Mountain jersey is just so unique and very easy to identify amongst the bike tour racers. Just look for the red Polka Dots against a white jersey. Easy. Today's picture is a shot of the King of the Mountain bike jersey.

Why the most important? Well, basically the rider has earned the King of the Mountain points for the Polka dot Jersey by himself. There may been a little help here and there, but not like the yellow jersey where the the entire teams pedal and does all the work of setting the pace, riding into the wind and acting as a wind deflector for the Yellow jersey rider. What I mean is that all the yellow jersey rider has to do is basically follow in his teammate's slip stream and let them do all the work while the yellow jersey rider does half the workout the rest of the team is doing.

So, should a rider who want the King of the Mountain bike jersey basically needs to go out on his own to earn the right to wear the jersey. Fortunately, the way I see it, is that the rider must earn the points throughout each stage and must make the effort to finish in the top 30 in order to win points in order to have the highest accumulation of points by the end of each stage.

This is sort of tactics is what makes the King of the Mountain jersey the most covets bike jersey during the race.

While all the yellow jersey rider has to do is get to the finish line as the fastest and freshest rider. Sure, each team may or may not want to hold onto the yellow jersey, but in reality the yellow jersey is not all that and a bag of chips. What does matter is who is the fastest at the second to the last bike stage in the Tour de France. Otherwise, the yellow is not as big as Phil and Paul make it to be.

The King of the Mountain bike jersey is the one to have. Anyone can ride up a mountain, but to be the most consistent rider riding up the Pyrenees and the Alps is, as my ex-co-worker would "just so awesome" The rider may have another rider acting as a pacer, which means set the pace of riding up the mountains, but at a certain point the pacer drops off/falls back and then it is totally up to the rider to get the maximum points for the King of the Mountain Bike jersey.

To be Continued...

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 3

Greetings Readers

Nine minutes - that's all it took readers for Phil to mention Mr. L.A. I had to laugh on the way he brought up L.A. and how most of his statement was incorrect, in a manner of speaking. Of course, we faithful Tour watchers knew what he was referring to, but to be corrected had to be a bit of embarrassing for Phil.

Once more I think that the stage was alright. Well, better than alright.

Let me give you the 4-1-1. I think, that many of you faithful readers know that I look out for the "little people" and root for the "underdog" or "wild card." Tis, my nature. I want a no name to upset the balance of the athletic world - regardless if it is a statement or pure fucking luck for him/her. When an unknown rises from the abyss, there has to be some sort of support for him/her. It could the only shining moment in their career. Then again, it could be the birth of athlete for everyone to know by first name.

As I was watching what I had taped yesterday I was excited for the four man breakaway who got away at the 0 kilometre mark. Matter of fact, I was happy that there were a couple of French men and all were no name riders in the four man breakaway.

One rider was on a mission from god, one got permission from the team to go ahead and stay in the breakaway and the other two I know not.

What we viewers got was a breakaway that was at one point 15 minutes ahead of the Peloton/ yellow jersey group in the stage. These four riders, to me ,were all taking turns up front setting the pace. Though what caught my eye was the rider that appeared to me to be the smallest rider or perhaps in the most aerodynamic position for riding "like the wind." Those were not "pedals of anger", but "yearning for glory" pedalling. I saw him riding like I do, or perhaps it was me riding like him. He was pedalling like the devil (by the way aren't we all waiting for the devil to show up this year?! hah hah) was on his ass. I would not say that he was throwing caution to the wind, but he knew what he needed to do in order to keep the breakaway in front of the peloton. And as if it was not possible towards the last 2 kilometre this rider was even pedalling faster and harder. Desire.

Now, towards the end of the course we saw that the peloton group got split into two group and unfortunately to some, but to me fortunately, Denis Menchov got left behind in the second half of the Peloton. And to see that chase group 2 chase down Chase group 1 while they were trying to reel in the breakaway group was F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C! Or in the immortal words of my ex-co-worker "just so awesome!" Everyone had a purpose and not just to survive to the finish since there was no real danger of time elimination as in the mountain stages. One person had to give it their all to stay ahead while the rest had a mission to chase them down in order not to lose time over the classifications.

Granted, a time trial awaits the next day, the breakaway group had no GC (General Classification) contenders, and it was still the beginning of the Tour, but all those riders had something to ride for yesterday and it was not to look pretty.

One could argue it is for Overall Team lead. Nope. One would say that they need to hold onto the yellow jersey. Nope. One could even venture and say its the flats and it does not matter until the mountains. well, maybe.

All in all I am happy for the French - for having the Yellow jersey (overall lead) for tomorrow and for winning the stage. Viva la Tour!

And none of this "Take back the tour" shit advertising.

Pictured is the four man breakaway group who did the unthinkable on Stage 3.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 2

Greetings Readers

Today - is the first Sunday that Colorado is allowing Alcohol sales. I promised my local liquor store that I would stop in. I did tell them that I will not shop on any Sunday when it becomes legal to buy Alcohol on Sunday from a liquor store, but will stop on the first official Sunday it becomes legal. I am all for Alcohol, but I think that the non-selling of alcohol on Sunday has been good. I think, that would should have kept Sunday as non-alcohol sales (except for 3.2 beer at the grocery store and convenience stores). Again, this is just my opinion. So, as of July 1, 2008 it is legal for Liquor Stores to be open and sell Alcohol.

And it was a pretty good Wimbledon I have to admit. Though betting wise - I lost my pants and then some. Pretty fucking ugly. Since my co-worker knew that there was going to be a Williams all final I asked him who he thought was going to win. He said Serena. I immediately replied - Venus. And it was on like Donkey Kong. Well, I guess it really did not matter since I was already in the hole and one more bet was not going make or break me.

So, this is day two of the Tour de France and sure enough Phil can not help to reference L.A. any chance that he could. In the end - it was the "God of Thunder" who came in first for the stage win! I would like a nickname like that - "God of Thunder." And that is the "The God of Thunder" pictured on today's post.

The stage was pretty uneventful. I set the tape to record so I could go out biking in the morning, due to forecast rain later in the day. Also, I felt I needed to go out and ride while every other biker that had to watch the tour, which put less people out at Cherry Creek State Park. I did not get to watch the entire program, but I was able to watch the last part of the Tour when I got in from riding close to noon.

As I mentioned I headed out to Cherry Creek Reservoir. I took the chance that every bike rider was going to be watching day 2 of the tour - Live - which means less serious riders at Cherry Creek State Park. Sure enough hardly any hard core riders, such as myself doing laps in the State Park. I had four packets of Orange GU and two water bottles for the ride. Though, I was unsure of what distance I was going to ride. I want to do an inside the park century, but then I did not really want to see the same course nine times over. So, I kept my mileage close to 40 miles under 2 hours and pretty darn happy with the results.

I kept a pretty darn good low pedalling cadence at the speed of 21 mph. I did really good out riding and keeping to a strict GU and water intake every 35 minutes and 15 minutes. Nothing really to comment about the ride itself. Except for the last lap I did and one of the last small hill climbs.

I was passed shortly after reaching the loop on the Northwest side of Cherry Creek State Park. I saw the guy pass me by pedalling away in a hard gear. Me, I was in my hard gear, but kept the speed to about 20 mph. He soon was approaching the hill and I then spotted him shifting to an easier gear. Basically, I saw his pedalling get faster, which means he shifted from his hardest gear to an easier gear.

Oh you know it readers. He was going to be "F'd in the A" - "on Saturday" as my favorite little Southpark Character would say. I was about 40 yards when I saw this. I immediately got my pedal strokes moving and I soon saw he dropped another gear to make it easier for him on the hill. The, next thing I know I pretended to be the Stage 1 winner and sprint to the finish on a hill climb. I pushed my legs to the maximum output and I literally shot past that rider who passed me on the flats. And I do not mean just passed him, I was there for an eye blink and when I passed him. Then, I reached deep down and pedalled even stronger. I passed two more riders, casual riders, and I literally did not even get to see who they were since I was going so fast uphill. I am sure they thought to themselves, as my old ex-co-worker would say "Just so awesome." Or maybe "wow." =)

I crested the hill and 20 yards later I looked behind me and the road median was clear. I showed no one and anyone that day who owned that particular hill climb. Actually, this matters to no one except to me. I was challenged and I challenged right back.

Update 07/07/08 - I forgot to mention - the total of the ride on Sunday was just half a century - clocking in at 51.54 miles. Ok, I guess.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 1

Greetings Readers

The first day of the Tour - that is - The Tour de France. And guess what?! No Prologue. I think that is perfect. None of this bullshit short time trial race on the pre race to the actual tour itself.

However, that is not I want to write about. I want to write about Versus and that commercial they are playing and references "takebackthetour." Take back the tour dot com? Is that really the advertising that you want to do for the grandest bike tour of the year?!

Hmmm. If I was the Tour de France I would tell Versus how tasteless that commercial is. I do have to agree that most of the riders that are pictured in the commercial have been found to have used "drugs", but the other half is unfounded. In the U.S. which I am assuming that Versus is based - we are proven innocent until guilty. What Versus has shown and perhaps endorsed is a guilty verdict on all those riders shown in the commercial. I am not saying that hey are not guilty, but I know that half of them half not been proven to doped.

I am all for the Tour. More so than most of you readers could imagine. Yet, to see Versus show that commercial is low I am ashamed to even look upon that commercial that was probably produced by us Americans.

But, I guess that is only the tip of the iceberg. I believe in a clean Tour de France, but I also believe in the Tour. I am not going to slam the Tour nor anyone else should there be a rider found to dope this year. What good is that going to do? Really. Should it happen then perhaps the Tour needs to enforce an automatic suspension for next year's Tour and perhaps even further. With that suspension we could find all new riders that we have never heard of riding in the Tour for the first time, ever.

In essence that would be a good thing. We viewers have new faces and also the probability of a new talent that never have the chance to ride the Tour have their chance to ride. I have no clue how long the list is to get into the Tour. I do not know if riders from the previous year get an automatic in for the next year due to past good riding in the Tour. If that is may be the case then the waiting list to get into the Tour is that much more shorter.

What is sad to see is Phil dwell on a clean and exciting Tour. Exciting it will be. Regardless if there is doping. Phil is just pissed off that he was embarrassed on TV that the riders he chose last year turned out to dope and lied. So what - fucking be a man Phil. No one is perfect and Phil is one to talk about being all that.

Though all this is my opinion and I have decided to share this information with you on the start of the Tour de France. I will be watching, I will have to put up with Bob's stupid antics and hand gestures when he talks. I have to put up with Phil and Paul's "Something Special." I am going to have to put up with Phil's every chance to talk and reference L.A. when he can. I am going to have to put up with that stupid yellow jersey contest they have among themselves. I typed this post on the fly so there is no thorough research, but I believe in every word I have stated.

I will though enjoy getting up early every day when there is a stage race. I guess the big day to look forward to is Day 6 - Thursday, I think. That is when we will get the first taste of some mountains on the course route.

Yippee - no fucking time bonuses for finishing first through third!

Btw - I joined a fantasy Tour de France league. I guess we will see how that plays out.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy 4th of July

Greetings Readers

Plain and simple - Have a nice fourth everyone - I am not writing about anything except to say Happy Fourth!

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Johnny Cash

Greetings Readers

As the post title suggests it is about Johnny Cash.

For all my life on this blue planet I have had heard of Johnny Cash - You probably have heard him at one point or another yourself.

"Burn, burn, burn" from the Ring of Fire. A Boy named Sue. The Wanderer (with Bono). and so forth. I have heard of the popular songs from Johnny Cash, but I guess I never really listened to Johnny Cash. And I mean never really, really listened. I liked his deep voice and the tempo, but I guess I never thought any more than that.

So, years ago you readers probably remember the movie "Walk the Line." I heard that was movie was based on his life and that Joaquin Phoenix was going to play Johnny Cash, but then I heard that Reese Witherspoon was going to play June Carter. Knowing Reese from previous movie roles I did not think that was going to be a choice actress to play in a movie about Johnny Cash.

As the movie got near the release date I saw the movie trailers about the movie and I was in awe of how close Joaquin Phoenix looked to Johnny Cash. I also had heard that Reese and Joaquin did truly sing some, if not all, songs in the movie. That was sort of a selling point for me.

Then, the weekend of release. I decided to set the movie on a Sunday. As soon we movie watchers got through the ads, movie trailers and what now then the movie started.

The movie opened with a crow, I think, and then you recognized the scene of a prison. The movie's colors were very, very neutral. The opening showed many shots of the prison, which at that time I did not know it was Folsom Prison. Then, whether it was a minute later or seconds, you could hear the faint beat of music. Gradually, the music's volume increased and I could hear the thump, thump, thump, with a quick two-step beat. Soon the music was all you could hear then if I remember correctly the scene changes to a glass of water with the sound waves from the amp, I think, making waves in the glass. "Mr Cash?" "Mr. Cash?"

In that opening scene I wanted to be at that concert. I wanted to hear what Johnny Cash was going to play. I wanted to hear what recorded at Folsom Prison that day in January.

Overall, the movie was fantastic and I do not say that very often. The story of Johnny Cash was something else. The music that was scored throughout the movie was perfect. And then when the end of the movie came and the short notes telling us readers when Johnny died and then June followed four months later was sad to see. Then, I saw that the album "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" was, or is, the number one live album of all time. If that a true fact then obviously it was an album that I wanted to hear for myself. The movie's music was never brought to center to be forced into our face just to have the music for us. And was I ever wrong about Reese playing June Carter Cash - she was dead on and I knew that she was going to get nominated for an Oscar for her role.

My parents listened to Johnny Cash when I was growing up, but I guess I never really caught onto Johnny Cash. Or perhaps I did and that is why all of a sudden I have latched onto Johnny Cash. Stephen King even wrote reference to Johnny Cash in the Dark Tower Series. Sure it was a funny reference, but now thinking about that reference - true as shit that King's character was dead on.

So, after seeing "Walk the Line" I wanted to buy the album, but I somehow never got around to buying the CD. Now, this past week I ordered two Johnny Cash Albums from Amazon.com. The Great Lost Performances and Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison. One word. Wow! Fucking impressive music and singing. Not to mention the lyrics. I think I read in the liner notes that the beat is a two step - chicka-boom-chicka-boom. That kind of beat. I love that deep baritone voice of Johnny Cash.

Anyway, I wanted to share this insight of Johnny Cash. Unfortunately, it took me this far in my life to own my first Johnny Cash Album. I bought the DVD extended version of "Walk the Line" that included 17 more minutes of movie footage. The extended version was perfect. I did not feel the extra 17 minutes though the movie is already a long movie at 135 minutes. And the picture that on the front of the extended verison of Walk the Line DVD is what the movie is truly about..

Now, each time I listen to any of Johnny Cash's music I can not help to think what he went through in life and he did live life. He was on top of the world at one moment and the next he was spiralling down to him almost dying from drugs. What June did for Johnny was something extraordinary in itself. How many of us would be there for someone who has dropped that low in his/her life? I get a lump in my throat - honest - about how June supposedly was the instrument to get Johnny away from his spiral into oblivion.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Wimbledon 2008 - Day 8

Greeting Readers

Fuck me readers - I am losing posts left and right to this new keyboard that I have. I am not sure if the keyboards that have been made have the keys in slightly different places, but it is that fucking "Start key" that is in the lower left hand corner of the keyboard that is causing the fucking problem. It is nestled between the Control key and Alt key and near the Shift Key. Bad fucking placement.

So, I am going to have to start over once more.

Greeting Readers

So, Do you think that Andy Murray is imitating me? I do this sort of pose every now and then. Along with the showing of the tight, toned thigh muscles that I have.

It was Monday afternoon and I was listening to the Court 1 tennis playing, when I hear a roar that was being heard on court 1 from Centre Court. I was currently into the match that was playing on Court 1. Then, the commentators had said that Murray held Gasquet from winning a set match point. I continued to listen to Court 1 then a minute later another roar from the audience that could be heard in the background.

Enough was enough - I stopped listening to my match and switched to Centre Court. Apparently 15,000 tennis fans were in Centre Court cheering on Andy Murray from the brink of being eliminated from Wimbledon. Two sets down and almost three set in matter of points. In addition to the Centre Court fans there was about 15, 000 tennis fans outside Centre Court on "Mount Murray" watching the match on a giant Jumbotron.

As I tuned in Centre Court the commentators were very lively and were also behind Murray for a comeback, a save from being eliminated. Each point that Murray saved a thunderous roar came from Mount Murray and Centre Court. Which in turn fueled such animation from Andy Murray. The look of determination, but with the fist pumps and the "Come on" Andy was feeding off the energy off Centre Court.

I am happy to say that Murray won the Third set and there was going to more play! Amazing. What transpires will go down in history of Wimbledon of the Murray Comeback on Monday 06/30/08.

Murray fought and played and eventually won the fourth set making it 2-2 and setting up the crucial fifth set.

The time was 9:30 pm UK Time and we, the radio listeners, could hear that darkness was filling in Centre Court. Was play going to be stop? Was it going to be continued? We just did not know.

Play was not stopped and then the Murray made the play that ended Richard Gasquet's bid to advance to the next round. Murray then showed his bicep just like I do. It was only a second or two, but it was the shot that was heard around the world.

That my readers is what Grand Slams are all about. Murray is UK's player since Tin Henman retired from Tennis. It was an amazing match to listen to since Britain was routing for their player to win. I too, was cheering at my desk for Murray.

When, I got home that evening I was going to watch this match. I wanted to see what I heard. Though, I did not want to really hear those TV commentators I so dread to hear. To see the faces and motions Murray did towards the end of the third set was, as my ex-co-worker would say "just so awesome."

Andy was on a mission and he was fierce about coming back from 2 sets down. And we saw and heard this from Murray.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete