So I lost to Lance Armstrong in the NYC Marathon yesterday. Oh well. I am now in route to TechEd in Barcelona!

Read all about it here.

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I hate the media. I hate the French. First Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich. Now Floyd Landis. Let's not jump the gun and have a trial in the media. Let Floyd enjoy his victory until there is conclusive evidence against him.

Floyd Landis, a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, won the Tour de France yesterday, becoming the 3rd American to do so. That makes it 8 years in a row and 11 out of the last 21 years that an American was on top of the podium in Paris.

What makes Floyd’s win so special is that three years ago he took a massive fall and hurt his hip pretty bad-so bad he needs hip replacement surgery this fall. So the tour was a great comeback for Floyd.

Italy v France. Sunday.

Go team Italia!

The USA appeared flat it its first game today. CHZ was faster and played better. We're down, but not out.

The World Cup is finally here! Hopefully Team USA does as good as 2002. You need to install the Microsoft Football/Soccer Scoreboard here. It is a great little tool to keep track of the matches.

All my friends are excited about the Mets' great start this year, bringing up memories of 1986. We'll see how the 2006 season plays out but this guy in San Diego has way too much time on his hands. He has recreated the most dramatic event in sports history, the bottom of the 10th in Game 6, in RBI Baseball and synced up the announcers. Watch it here.

Starts in 3 days. It will be great to see Lance in his prime go out in style. Win or lose it will be quite an amazing tour.

The Mets made a spash as did the Jets this weekend, but marathon training is right on schedule, a 5 mile race was ran on Sunday with the usual results (Kathleen beating us). This is the first of 9 races to qualify for the 2006 New York City Marathon. Antarctica marathon is 47 days away...

Last Name	First Name	Sex/ Age	Bib	Team	City	State	Net Time	Pace/ Mile	AG Time
GURBISZ	KATHLEEN	F27	6802		NY	NY	44:14	8:50	44:14
FORTE	STEPHEN	M32	6782		NEW YORK	NY	44:23	8:52	44:23
VAROLI	LINDA	F34	6978		NEW YORK	NY	45:18	9:03	45:18

Anyone who ever used illegal steroids should be banned from the game, or Pete Rose should be allowed in. Lacking any integrity at this point Bud Selig (and Kofi Annan) must resign. He presided over this sham and lets the players union walk all over him. We don’t have this problem in the NFL because we have a strong commissioner. In Baseball if you fail a drug test you have too many chances to hide it or try again. Baseball needs to get tough.

I was a competitive swimmer and cyclist growing up. I was even captain of my High School swim team. I have also been doing triathlons since then. (Unfortunately I have to sit out of a tri this weekend due to an injury) So every 4 years I am glued to the TV to watch the cycling, swimming (and diving, I dove too), and track and field events. And of course whatever women was in my life (from moms, to wifes to girlfriends) at the time made me watch the gymnastics.

Tonight (2:30 EDT) in Athens is the match up of the entire Olympics. Ian Thorpe (21) of Australia and Michael Phelps (19) of Baltimore, MD. These two kids can swim. They have lots of world records and 2004 Olympic medals already. (They are trying to catch Mark Spitz from 1972 with 7 gold’s, highly unlikely-nobody can catch mark).

What I am sad to think of is that each of these kids will go home with several medals (they each have a gold already I think) and if they “only” get 4 or 5 medals people in the media, etc, will say it is a disappointment. Screw them and their internet “what have you done for me lately” reality TV-obsessed, recall vote culture.

Tune in tonight (8pm EDT tape delay in the US) and watch some great competition!

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5480047/

Lance is back in Yellow.

One of my childhood heros has fallen to a new low and is not only no longer a hero of mine but I would punch him in the face next time I see him. Last time I saw him we did shots together, next time, you will be taking shots. from me.

In an interview with French daily Le Monde, Greg LeMond -- winner of the Tour de France in 1986, 1989 and 1990 said Cycling is doped and so is Lance Armstrong. He accused Lance of being a liar and a cheater, even though Lance has been cleared over and over again. Even though I have loyalty to Greg and my best friend growing up, Bill, is currently captain of Greg’s pro racing team, I have to say Greg you have now crossed the line.

Greg has never like Lance Armstrong. Maybe because when Lance (pre-cancer) started racing in 1994 he said “I am not the next Greg LeMond, I am the next Lance Armstrong.” Or maybe Lance’s victories have made Greg seem like an also-ran. Whatever it is, you must stop now Greg. Lance is a true hero and an inspiration to us all. You are a washed up athlete shooting off your mouth.

Major League Baseball is going to decorate the bases one weekend with Spiderman web logos as part of a promotion for the new Spiderman 2 movie. People are complaining that there is too much advertising. Or it is “destroying the sacred game.” Ok, the madness has to stop. There have been billboards in the outfield of stadiums since the 1800s. Wrigley Field, one of the last legends, like 100 years old was the fist field named after a corporate sponsor and nobody seems to care in Chicago about that one. (And the proves that sponsorship works, ask anyone where the Cubs play and Wrigley has free advertising based on money they spent 100 years ago, how is that for ROI.)

Other sports sell ads. Ever watch the World Cup? The Olympics? Or my beloved hockey, where the NHL allows the stadiums (with names like Pepsi Arena) to sell ads under the ice. Or what about the Baseball teams in Japan, named after corporate sponsors.

Let’s face it, we live in a world ruled by advertising and corporate sponsorship. Just deal. Critics of the game should be more concerned with all the players on Steroids.

I am officially boycotting the US Postal Service after they dropped their sponsorship of Lance Armstrong. Like 5 tours is not enough? I am sure that someone will pony up the money for the greatest team in pro cycling.

Just a few days ago Lance won the Tour of Georgia, a 1,000 km stage race. Next stop, a 6th Tour de France victory in July.

That is what I said to the ticket salesman last night at Shea Stadium as I bought a $5 ticket to the Mets v Expos game. Cheaper than a movie, Linda, Sara and I entered with high expectations. After a $6.50 beer, $2.50 hotdog and $3 popcorn, the Mets did get their money. The game was fun, pitching was good, but the Mets came up short 2-1. We had to shout French curses at the Montreal Expos, it was a hoot.

The Mets won their first game of the year last night, defeating the evil Atlanta Braves. Rookie Kaz Matsui from Japan hit a home run in the first pitch he saw in the Majors, and went 3 for 3, go Japan power!