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

Tuesday with Mr Charley

Greetings People

I saw, perhaps, my new bike that I might buy this week. After seeing the price, plus the sales tax for that area, I have calculated the cost to be $ 1,386.03 It really is not a bad deal for last year's model. The new models are on the way and they need to clear out the "old" stock. She is black, some carbon, Ultegra componets, Easton rims. I guess I have a lot to think about.

I finally bought a CD by Wagner with "Ride of the Valkyeres" Pretty Cool

Prison Break was okay. Not bad, but not very interesting. Although there is Michael in Panama and he is standing outside the hotel where "Teddy" is staying. He is trying to be inconspicuous by hiding behind a pillar or plant (I can not remember) and he is wearing a dark blue hoodie. Get the f--- out of here! He is Panama, which I am sure that the weather is quite warm. Also, in the scene of the show - there are people in pastels, whites, shorts, "cabana" wear and then you have Michael in a dark blue hoodie with only his face showing trying to be inconspicuous. Sorry the scene just does not work. Hah hah.

Woo-hoo! Yes, I won the Amazing Race bet and my team I chose to lose lost! Woo hoo! That was so great. I won my coke back (I lost weeks ago). Sure was delicious to drink. You know readers a free coke tastes much better than a coke you bought.

The name of the bull that I named is "Say Boo-yah!" Not too good, but at least I stayed away from using any weather words, alcohol words, including "slinger" in the name, or having any color reference in the name. There were some fictitious names I would would liked to use, but I am not sure that would infringe upon copyrighted material.

I did not get to see Lily this morning - nope, not not on the episode this morning.

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Naming the Versus Bull

Greetings People

I guess I am making a quick entry since I had to log in on the net to name the bull. The naming of the bull is the "versus bull" that the program has the viewers name their bull with a name. Anyway, I have been thinking about this for about a month and I just could not think of a name that someone else would come up with. I thought about one word name up to three word name. So, here I am on the day of the deadline (for submission) and I still can not come up with a decent (unique) name. So, the name that I chose... well I guess I better tell you readers tomorrow. Just in case my name gets tossed for duplication. You never know readers I could have the name and could be disqualified for whatever reason. I trust my faithful readers, but not the "others" who may stumble upon my blog. The prize is two tickets to Las Vegas for the PBR 2007 World Finals.

So, while I was still contemplating I decided to look up a name that I see a woman on a show every morning before I leave for work. The show is Namasta on Fit tv and I just want to see what "Google" has. Yes, that is a picture of her - Lily Goncalves - and I have to say something about her just catches my eye. Of course, one of the things is that she is blonde. I also like her smile and eyes when she does smile on the show.

Readers - I have Terry and Ian as the couple to be eliminated from the Amazing Race. I have a "coca cola" riding on the outcome. Of course, if the "Beauty Queens" get eliminated I am out of a "sprite". Hah hah.

I had my first breakfast of the year outside on my patio this morning. What a beautiful morning after Saturday's rain that fell almost all day. About 6 PM last evening the sun finally made an appearance and what a nice evening to see the sun shining ever so brightly for those final minutes of the day.

Hope you readers are having a nice Sunday. I know that I am

P.S. Readers - I read that the 2007 Sony Ericsson Open has third round action, but not on tv. Apparently, today there is Sharapova vs Venus Williams match. Could be interesting, but I am unable to watch on tv.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete