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Mr. Rogers' neighborhood: I needed that rest day, too

Published: Jul. 23, 2003

Ahh, a rest day. I don’t know about you, but I know I needed that break yesterday. The Pyrenean stages have been exhausting, and I haven’t even left home.

Actually, that’s not true, as I’ve sandwiched a move between trips to Bend, Oregon, and the upcoming NORBA in Sand Point, Idaho. Between packing boxes, writing race reports and watching the Tour, there’s hardly been time to do other important things, like eat, sleep and shower. I don’t know about you, but it’s good for me that OLN broadcasts its race footage a dozen times a day.

Before I go any further, much respect is due to Jan Ullrich for the sportsmanship he showed on Monday’s climb up Luz Ardiden. It’s tough to say whether or not Ullrich could have won the Tour had he attacked Armstrong (probably not, as Armstrong put 40 seconds into him on the stage) but it was clear that he had no intention of capitalizing on the moment, instead simply pushing a steady tempo, checking over his shoulder repeatedly to wait for Lance.

"I have never in my life attacked someone who had crashed,” Ullrich said later. “That's not the way I race.”

And while much has been made about how it was payback for Armstrong’s sporting gesture two years ago when Ullrich went OTB on the descent of the Peyresourde, let’s not forget that Armstrong held a lead over five minutes at the time, not the mere 15 seconds that separated the two this time around. Not to take anything away from Armstrong’s sportsmanship in 2001, but five minutes is not 15 seconds, and after all Ullrich has gone through over the past 18 months, it’s fair to say a weaker man might haven taken advantage of the situation. So hats off to Ullrich and Tyler Hamilton, for holding the group steady until Armstrong caught back on.

Just hours after the stage ended, we received an email from a fan who is convinced Armstrong’s crash was no accident. While I’m not throwing my hat into this ring, I submit the letter for your reading pleasure.

Sounds a little “grassy knoll” to me…

MUST READ!
Sabotage on Lance Armstong's Luz-Ardiden Climb!I have reviewed video of Lance Armstrong's wreck on his climb up Luz-Ardiden very carefully and have come to the conclusion that it was a deliberate attempt of one of the spectators to cause Lance Armstrong's wreck. If you review the tape as closely as I have, you will come to the same conclusion. When trying to review, get to the footage where OLNTV puts the crash in slow motion for the viewer. Then, review it; put that slow motion footage in slow motion via your own VCR and review that; then, review it frame by frame.You will not be able to get a good view of the guy holding out the yellow hat or bag - or whatever it is - because he is behind a real large gentleman. He is wearing a green shirt, black or blue hat, black shorts and white socks. You only get a glimpse of his face but you do see his arm, hand, yellow whatever and his right leg, which is behind the large gentleman. You will find that he is stretching out (by the way his right leg is behind his left as if you just took a big step forward with your left) and had just extended his right arm all the way out with the yellow whatever in hand as Lance Armstrong approaches.Now look very closely.... his fingers open as he lets a black cord attached to yellow whatever drop out of his hands just as Lance gets to him to loop it around Lance's brake hoods.He now grips the yellow whatever tight as he knows that he has looped the brake lever. It jerks the handlebar and wheel to the right as expected and then you will notice his right leg - which is behind the large gentleman - curl up off the ground as he maintains his balance on his left foot. This was intentional. His eyes were focused on the brake hood as he dropped the cord while everyone else was concentrating on the other riders. Also, it is highly improbable that anyone would have been holding on to an object so tight as to put them off balance unless you expected it to be pulled.This was a clear attempt of sabotage! Review it for yourselvesCongratulations to Lance for having the true grit to get back on his bike, drop his challengers and ride to victory.

What do you say folks? Sabotage or honest mistake? Considering that Lance himself admitted the crash was mostly his own fault, saying, "It was my fault because I was riding too close to the fans. The bag hooked my handlebar and there wasn't much I could do," I’m inclined to disagree with the conspiracy theory.

While we’re on the topic of reader mail, I thought you might find this next letter interesting.

In last week’s column, I wrote about Princess Emma, and the highly underrated sport of Weiner Dog (Dachshund) racing. Little did I know that this sport, like so many things these days, crosses the line of decency.

Read on:

As the proud owner of three Dachshunds and a bike rider, I thought you might be interested in knowing that the Dachshund Club of America has a statement regarding the racing of our dogs. Here it is (hate to rain on your column but these dogs aren't meant to do this anymore than a tandem is meant to be in the Tour):January 16, 1995“THE DACHSHUND CLUB OF AMERICA ADOPTS POLICIES DESIGNED TO CONDEMN COMMERCIAL DACHSHUND RACING OR DACHSHUND RACING AT COMMERCIAL EVENTSThe Board of Directors of the Dachshund Club of America, Inc. (DCA) has addressed the growing problem of dachshund racing at greyhound tracks and in other commercial settings.The problem arose as a result of a Miller Lite commercial which depicted two racing dachshunds, and the problem was further compounded when the Miller Brewing Co. undertook a Public Relations campaign sponsoring Dachshund races at greyhound tracks.DCA believes that such racing is bad for the breed by encouraging the breeding of dogs for that purpose rather than as examples of the breed standard as recognized by the American Kennel Club. Racing also encourages the misuse of dogs that are not designed for this activity. Dachshunds are designed to "go to ground," or to go underground. They are not designed to be a racing breed.DCA is greatly troubled by any association with greyhound tracks that historically have been directly related to the mistreatment and the death of thousands of greyhounds.Currently, the club is asking Miller to discontinue sponsoring dachshund races at any sporting event and any future use of the commercial that lead to them. DCA has already notified its members of its new policy and is counseling its members not to participate in these events.”

I stand…corrected? Confused? Now I’m no Dr. Doolittle, but ol’ Princess Emma looks pretty happy in that photo to me. I say Dachshunds should be allowed to race, just like the rest of us.

Notice that the statement was dated January 1995, so it’s possible the highly controversial issue has subsided. •••

Speaking of controversial issues, in his Saturday column for the Seattle-Post Intelligencer, John Levesque begins his piece titled “Tour de France lacks Tesh touch” with the question, “Does anyone else miss John Tesh?”

Let me speak for the rest of us when I say, “No.”

•••

For those who live in the cycling-Mecca that is Boulder, Colorado, OLN will be filming a viewing party this Friday, July 25, at the Walnut Brewery. From what I understand, Kurt Miller, son of ski movie legend Warren Miller, has been putting on a series of bar parties around the country where they turn on the TVs to the Tour during the OLN broadcast and give away some prizes every once in awhile.

Sounds like a good time. Here’s a piece of the press release:

“Witness American Lance Armstrong's quest for his 5th consecutive Tour de France victory. For 100 years, the Tour de France has been considered the crown jewel of cycling. And now, this summer's hottest event is coming to your town...

THE OUTDOOR LIFE NETWORK OLN TOUR BASH.

This is the biggest Tour de France viewing party of the year. Watch exciting daily coverage of the race with your friends while you enjoy drink specials, trivia contests, interactive games and tons of cycling giveaways.

While you're at the Bash, make sure to sign up to win a private ride with Lance Armstrong, courtesy of Trek and your participating Trek dealer. Plus, participate in a special audience opportunity to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

For more information on OLN’s Tour Bash, go to http://www.olntv.com/htmlpage.asp?htmlid=120

•••

Okay folks, I’m desperate. After getting the assignment last week, I’ve hit a stonewall trying to find lodging for this weekend’s NORBA event at Sandpoint, Idaho. Anyone out there with an available room, couch — something horizontal — Friday through Sunday night is invited to send me an email at nrogers@7dogs.com

Thanks in advance…