Sports Blog

GOURETTE, France — One of it’s biggest stars is already gone, and now so is the leader of the Tour de France.

Michael Rasmussen was removed from the race by his Rabobank team after winning Wednesday’s stage, a day after Alexandre Vinokourov and his team withdrew when the star cyclist tested positive for a banned blood transfusion.

It is in the news that Rasmussen lied his whereabouts last June. He told his team that he was in training in Mexico yet the team Rabobank found out that he really was in Italy.

Doping again overshadowed racing at the Tour de France on Wednesday when an Italian rider was thrown out for failing a drug test, detained by police and had his hotel searched.

Cristian Moreni’s problems didn’t end with failing a doping test at the Tour de France.

Cristian Moreni’s positive test for testosterone prompted the withdrawal of his entire Cofidis team. Police were searching his hotel, and French TV showed police officers stationed on the premises.

Moreni’s case fueled the deep sense of crisis already hanging over the race and sport. It came one day after star rider Alexandre Vinokourov and his entire Astana team were sent home after he tested positive for a banned blood

I am quite saddened by the fact that my favorite sports are being shaken by scandals. 

Though I am not a Michael Vick fan, his indictment is always on the news. In my opinion it is cruelty for the Americans for a person to be indulged in dog fighting. It is not only dog fighting but those dogs are being killed also.

It was disclosed last Friday about the  allegations on Tim Donaghy, former NBA ref,  of putting his bet on the games, and games that he officiated. David Stern,  NBA’s commissioner spoke this morning that the case is isolated. I don’t believe on that. The FBI should investigate also on the 2006 NBA Finals.

Right after watching David Stern’s press conference, then blood transfusion scandal of Alexander Vinoukourov in the Tour de France. As I pointed out in my previous posts that he was the favorite to win. He won the stage 13th individual time trial convincingly. He was tested positive. His whole team,  Astana,  now abandons the  race.

I will still be watching these games especially the Tour de France which will end this weekend.

I watched all the games in the playoffs including the Suns-Spurs Game 3. I don’t believe that Tim Donaghy had something to do about the result of the game. I believe from the beginning that the Spurs are a better team and that they deserved to win. Though it was badly officiated, still we couldn’t say he controlled it.

All of us may have missed Lance Armstrong but it seems that we can see something of Lance in climbing the pyrenees from the riders. Michael Rasmussen of resembles the courage and endurance of Lance as Rasmussen continues to hold the yellow jersey.

A new revelation of this year’s Tour de France is Alberto Contador. He masterfully climbed Plateau De Beille as he captured the stage. Contador’s climbing ability reminds us of Lance Armstrong’s speedy acceleration. Only Rasmussen can match him today.

The Discovery Channel has two cards to play in the hands of Contador

In individual time trial we expect that there will always be major changes in the overall standing. All cyclying analysts today predicted that Michael Rasmussen would not retain his yellow jersey because time trial is his weakness. But Rasmussen proved them wrong. He still wears yellow after the stage.

A heroic performance was displayed by Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakstan. Despite all the pain he had sufferred in the past weeks, he manuevered himself with full determination to get back into contention.

Cadel Evans now is the second overall while Contador of the Discovery Channel elevated to third place. Levi Leipheimer is on the fifth place.

The next days are the pyreenes.  

It is really disappointing to hear that Tim Donaghy allegedly bet games in the NBA. The worst thing of it is that even the games he refereed to. Did he won those games. I mean did he control the results of those games in order for him to win money? I am talking here of the point spread.

I remember at work when some of my friends were talking about them being robbed of their money because there was a miss call by a ref. They said that the referees fixed the game. I don’t believe at that time. They insisted that if a certain game has a lot of money on it in Las Vegas, then there will be chances that the obvious team that is going to win will not cover the point spread.

Now I believe what they were talking about. Donaghy is now being investigated by the FBI. Is it not worth to look at the NFL also? I believe there are more fixed games in the NFL than in the NBA.

For baseball fans looking for great baseball cards and memorabilia, baseball card shows can be a fun place to check out. Not only do classic baseball cards continue to appreciate in value, but collecting old cards can bring back memories of collecting and trading them as a kid.

Even browsing a good card show can be like opening a time capsule. BigCardShows.com is the best source on the net for sports card and memorabilia show listings. Check out a card show this weekend!

Juan Mauricio Soler, a Colombian and at his first Tour de France, won the ninth stage of the summer spectacle. Outpedalling the favorites of the Tour in last climb going down to the finish.

Michael Rasmussen kept the yellow jersey while the tour favorite, Alexander Vinoukorov lost more time again. The 24-year-old soler was the first to reach the Col de Galibier’s peak.

Alejandro Valverde’s attacke created havoc that Vinokourov couldn’t keep up.

No matter what Barry Bonds will do, either to reach 756 or not, his reputation is tarnished. In my opinion, I may consider him one of the best. He deserves to be given the honor one day as the greatest homerun hitters of all time.