THE OAKLAND RAIDERS OF CYCLING?

"Tyler Hamilton signs with Rock Racing"

"If you look at the team across the board, with bringing on the riders from last year, where a lot of people wouldn't have given them a shot, or had kind of written them off, it's similar, but we're kind of taking it to another level. We've elevated it, but we're still the underdog, we're still the outcasts. We're still the misfits, if you will." -Mike Ball, Rock Racing

"Throughout the years, Al Davis has looked around the league and brought in misfits and outcasts from other teams. What he saw in these misfits is the fact that they still had the desire and ability to play great football. " -from CBS Sports Community

Hubris

"hu-bris" [noun] excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance

"In many myths, mortals who display arrogance and hubris end up learning, in quite brutal ways, the folly of this overexertion of ego. The Greek concept of hubris refers to the overweening pride of humans who hold themselves up as equals to the gods. Hubris is one of the worst traits one can exhibit in the world of ancient Greece and invariably brings the worst kind of destruction." -from the Mythology Study Guide by Edith Hamilton

Why all this discussion on hubris you ask? Well my kind reader, click here: Hubris

NEED ANOTHER ASTERISK?

Anyone who wants to put an asterisk by Barry Bonds' home run record keep this in mind, Bonds may have been juiced up when hitting all those baseballs out of the park but now what everyone was thinking appears to have some weight behind it, so were the pitchers he was hitting against. Roger Clemens, Mr. Ageless Seven Time Cy Young Award winner was named in the Mitchell Report as having partaken in steroids and HGH as well. (Wetzel Column, Yahoo Sports)

I wonder if we can just call it all even now.

Evel Knievel, R.I.P.

I couldn't believe when I read the news in the paper, Evel Knievel was dead. The greatest daredevil the world has ever known died, not in a fiery ball of flame but of a rather mundane illness typically earmarked for more mortal types.

I grew up in the 70's when Evel was a brand in of himself. On that topic check this post out:
The Last Gladiator Passes

I can still remember going to an elementary school friend's to play and anxiously awaiting my turn to send his Evel Knievel stunt cycle tearing off the launching ramp and up and over whatever we had assembled on the floor. Or the countless hours spent riding my Schwinn Stingray Fastback over our makeshift ramp set up in the driveway imagining that I was Evel.

Evel Knievel was one of a kind. RIP Evel.

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY:

A big thanks to Old as Dirt who sent me one of the best things ever last week in preparation for the big Steelers-Patriots game (which turned out not so big, more on that later). I anxiously tore open the UPS delivered package to find this:

That's right, my very own Steelers hard hat for game day. Nice.

OAD requested a picture with me wearing it so he had "proof that I got you to wear a helmet".

Well, game day came and once again I had reason to hate the Seachickens, or more importantly, that I lived in an NFL city that was not Pittsburgh. Why you ask? Because the NFL has some stupid licensing agreement that dictates that if a team is playing at home then no other games can be televised on the local affiliate. So that meant that even though we pay a bajillion dollars for our cable, I was stuck with the stupid Chicken Hawks versus the Cardinals. Ugh. The worst was when I was watching the NFL pre-game on CBS and at the end when they went to their scheduled televised game they made a point of taunting me, "...and later, most of you will be watching the marquee game of the day between the Steelers and Patriots". Aaaarrghh!!!

Being resourceful though I resorted to old school meets new school by finding the game on an online streaming CBS radio station and hooked it up through my stereo:

After the first quarter I went very old school and took my lady's Walkman and listened to AM 950 in between trees blocking the signal on my ride. The last time I listened to a game on AM radio whilst on a ride I didn't like the outcome of that either. It was November 25, 1995. I know the date exactly because it was when #2 and unbeaten Ohio State with standout players like eventual Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, Mike Vrable, Shawn Springs, Terry Glenn and Orlando Pace played the 8 and 3 Wolverines in Ann Arbor. It was the day that Wolverine running back Tim Biakabutuka ran all over the Buckeyes, finishing the game with 313 yards and a Michigan upset over the Buckeyes.

The lesson in all of this: no more listening to games that I care about the outcome on a ride. Superstitious? You bet.

THE UPDATE:

I have once again been lame and not updated this thing in some time. I guess being busy will do that to you. Not that I have had a lack of topics to blog on, just a lack of time. I will try to hit the highlights to catch up.

OSU 14, That team from up north 3

For the 6th time in the last 7 years, The Ohio State Buckeyes handed the Wolverines a defeat. The maize and blue were unable to send out Loyd Carr with a victory over the sweater vest.

STATE CROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS:

We had a great turn out at the Fairgrounds Cross Classic/ Washington State Championships back on Nov. 18. We had close to 200, not quite what the Series has been getting every weekend, but considering that we had 28 total last year, I would say it was a success. BRI went 1-2 in the men's main event. And then there was G. Brown. Let's just say, at least he beat one guy.

LA BOUND:

The very next day after the cross race, I flew to Los Angeles. Business trip. Don't laugh, it's true. Seigler sponsored the SBW Elite Women's team in 2007 with our Komen for the Cure Bikes and they were having an open house. I met up with them and some other clubs down there to see about 2008. Oh yeah, I took my bike too. Sunshine, shorts and short sleeve jersey, sunscreen, Ipod, and 2 great rides along PCH and up some climbs in the Santa Monicas. I did Mulholland on Tuesday and Latigo on Wednesday. Half of Wednesday's ride was on the bike path along the beach. I got to see stuff like this:

That's right, it's a beach volleyball game....with girls in bikinis. This was the day before Thanksgiving. I had a lot to be thankful for.

THE IDIOT TAX:

Yeah, I had a lot to be thankful for. Until the next day that is, when I went downstairs from where I was staying to get into my rental car, which had my bike box with bike inside of it, to drive to the airport. Only to discover....the rental car was no where to be seen. Nowhere, zip, zilch, nada, gone. You know that sinking feeling you hear about? I got it. I didn't like it. Especially not at 8 am in the morning, before I had any coffee. I called the Redondo Beach Police and told them my car was missing. They had no record of a car getting towed from that street. That meant the car was stolen. Fantastic. I did not pop for the extra rental car insurance either. This was going to suck. A lot. There was a guy out front drinking coffee. I talked really loud on the phone to my lady hoping he would eavesdrop and maybe be able to tell me something. He did, said his daughter told him a car got towed last night. Right then, the Redondo Police called me back. Turns out my car did get towed. Apparently when I parked the car the night before I had inadvertently put part of the car in front of a driveway. So they towed it. Says something about your day when the good news is that your car got towed. Well, a cab ride and $275 later I got my rental car out of the tow lot. I got to pay the idiot tax, because I was an idiot. That left me little time to get to the airport in time for my flight. I had to speed, very fast. My day would be complete if I got a speeding ticket. I didn't. And I made my flight....because it was 1 hour late. Happy Thanksgiving.

THE DELUGE

What the hell was up with the weather this week? It rained over 10 inches in a 24 hour period over here. I think I saw animals assembling in pairs. Why couldn't it be snow, at least then there would be some fun to be had after it was all finished. One of my routes out of town is no more because there is a giant SUV swallowing sink hole where the road used to be. My basement got extra wet. No standing water though, just a few more damp seepage spots. We were lucky by the sounds of it. The next day the winds came. I was preparing for another power outage like we had the month before where I had to resort to this to get my morning java fix (I like my coffee):

BUCKEYES!!!

(and more importantly: PITT! and SOONERS!)

Yep, the improbable (or impossible) happened and the Buckeyes are playing for the National Championship against LSU. After their loss to Illinois (at home), my thoughts were that they did not deserve to play for a national championship. No one, including myself, really thought the Buckeyes would be towards the top of the rankings when the season started and they were ranked 11th after losing a number of last year's team to the NFL in 2007. Well, the regular season is over, and they are ranked number 1 and will be playing for the National Championship against LSU. Now, I don't want to hear about how they only got in because of their weak schedule or any of that other BS. According to the guidelines set out by the BCS, the Buckeyes are currently ranked number 1. I am happy they are playing LSU too because I am sick and tired about hearing about friggin' LSU and how great they are and how they are undefeated in regulation. The last time I looked, if you were tied in regulation, you went into overtime, whoever had the most points at the end of the overtimes got 1 marked in the "W" column, the other team got 1 marked in the "L" column. I believe LSU has 2 marked in the "L" column. Buckeyes, they have 1 there. Bottom line: Buckeyes are playing for the National Championship for the second year in a row and for the 3rd time since the BCS started.

Go Buckeyes!!!

THAT'S RIGHT, THE MOST MASSIVE THING IN THE UNIVERSE: HOLMES BABY!

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY.

Come to the Kitsap County Fairgrounds for some fun in the mud. That's right, it's the 2nd annual Fairgrounds Cross Classic, a.k.a. The Washington State Cyclocross Championships. The course is fantastic, you have my personal guarantee. Be there!

APPARENTLY I THOUGHT I WAS TURNING 21

This past Sunday was my 40th birthday and my lady decided to throw me a little birthday cocktail party on Saturday to mark the occasion. Many cocktails and fun were had by all. Some more than others. Especially me. I was in bed until 3 PM on Sunday. Maturity at its finest. Someone should have hidden the aged Kentucky bourbon. Nice one.

A big thanks to all who came, it was fun....what I remember of it.

It's That Time of Year Again

The Ohio State University versus that team from up north.

Yes, the Buckeyes lost last week at home to Illinois (WTF?!), all will be better with a win this Saturday.

If you want to know what the fuss is all about with this greatest of sports rivalries, check out the documentary showing on HBO this week called The Rivalry. It might explain why I get a little nuts this time of year...like a Buckeye.

THEY SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED

"Health Net had sought to keep the documents secret...arguing that they contained proprietary information and could embarrass the company."

The above quote from this article pulled from the LA Times describing how Health Net tied company bonuses to how many individual policies were dropped and how much money was saved.

The is reason number 837 why I have so much contempt for the insurance industry. Makes me want to burn all my Health Net Cycling paraphernalia.

Oh wait, I don't have any. Phew.

Yeah, what he said:

Check this Wetzel column in Yahoo Sports.

Grrrr.....

Anyone who is on the NWCycling email list has probably already seen this. "Peter McKay Post"

If you haven't, click on it and read, prepare to get mad. It is making me angry, very angry. Dipshit motorists better be on alert when I go ride my bike today. Don't cross me, not today. You have been warned.

Anyone who rides a lot with me knows that I have a hair trigger 97% of the time in response to hillybilly, red-neck, ignorant, dipshit motorists. I don't take any shit from anyone. I know the zen, passive way is to turn the other cheek, say a mantra, etc. when someone in a car does something stupid. Sometimes though you need to just say "f*%k that".

I took a beer bottle to the face from a car going in the opposite direction when I was 18 years old riding to a club race. 20 stitches, 22 years and 2 detached retina surgeries later and I still get pissed. This guy's incident is just like mine, arguably worse.

I am really pissed right now. F*#kers.

"Are you in heaven now?"

Those were the words uttered by my lady in the first half of the Monday Night Football game as the Steelers were up by 21 to 0 against the dreaded Old Browns (i.e. The Ravens) and Terry Bradshaw was being interviewed in the booth.

My answer: "Hell yeah I am in heaven".

It was fantastic. The Steelers demolished the Ravens 38-7 and the 75th anniversary team was introduced at half-time. Steeler greats Stallworth, Swann, Blount and Bradshaw were all interviewed, the 70's Steeler dynasty team was talked about over and over again, and the present day Steelers were killing a hated division rival.

I would say, my birthday came a few days early.

Again, fantastic.

BROWNS 33/ SEACHICKENS 30

A ha ha ha ha ha.........

I was a little torn going into this game yesterday as to who to root for since the Browns are in the same division as the Steelers.

In the end, my disdain for the Chickens of the Sea won out over divisional concerns.

WSBA PROMOTER MEETING

This Saturday is the Washington State Bicycle Association annual promoter meeting where those of us who put on bike races get together, pick dates for our events and talk about the general state of competitive cycling in the state of Washington.

I and the folks at Ridge Racing have 4 road events that we are looking to put on next year:

• The Whale of a Crit in Silverdale, probably on July 27
• The Kirkland Twilight Crit, a new event that Dave Visintainer and I have been working on since this August. Look for a big money crit in downtown Kirkland on August 2
• The Blackberry Crit in Bremerton, the race that started it all for Ridge Racing, this edition will be the 4th one. Look for another $5000 Pro 1-2 men's purse
• The Winslow Criterium on Bainbridge Island, another new race for Ridge Racing. Some business owners on the Island approached me last year about this event but it did not come to fruition in 2007. The same businessmen plus a few more approached me again for 2008 and I am cautiously optimistic that it will actually happen in 2008 the day after Blackberry. That's right, a 2 day Labor Day Weekend Race Series with some good money both days.

So, what else should be discussed at the meeting? Chime in, you know that I have my opinion, what are yours?

Some things I think that should be discussed: prize money-entry fee ratio for sure; the crazed enforcement of riders wearing all 87 WSBA numbers at races. That's all I have for now.

MORE ON AL and the CROC TROPHY

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/oct07/croctrophy07/index.php?id=/photos/2007/oct07/croctrophy07/croctrophy077/Allen-St-Pierre-almost-unrecognisable

Al is holding down 5th in the M1 class after stage 8.

Go Al!!

MY BUDDY AL

I have a buddy named Al who I got to know when I lived in LA. Al is a Canadian by birth who now lives in the states with his American wife. Al is a jeweler by trade and really likes riding his bike (both mountain and road) and climbing.

Here is the thing, my buddy Al is a stud and a bit of a legend, both in his hometown of Calgary and in LA.

When he lived in Calgary, he did a two man team mountain bike race in winter (again, in Calgary, so it was cold). He and his partner rode so hard and fast that they arrived at some of the checkpoints before the race staff even arrived.

Living in LA, Al used to do some of the group rides. Al is pretty much the same size as I am (5'7"), a little heavier, with a lot more horsepower. Al goes up hill pretty well. So well in fact that one of the regulars on the group rides, a guy we called Big Jim (because he was about 6' and probably around 180 lbs) always used to tell Al that the only reason that Al could beat him up hills was because he weighed 30 lbs less than he did. (Big Jim seemed to miss the whole power to weight ratio part of this equation). Well Jim went on and on....and on about this until finally Al put up a challenge. He would race Jim up Latigo Canyon from PCH...with 30 lbs of dirt in a back pack. Jim accepted the challenge. So, the morning of the challenge arrived along with a number of witnesses who had heard about the challenge. Everyone watched Al as he meticulously weighed out 30 lbs of dirt and put it into a bag in his back pack. Latigo is a 7 mile climb that gains over 1800 feet in elevation as it ascends to its second summit. Al and Jim started off together. Al finished, 7 miles and 1800 feet gained later, over 2 minutes in front of Big Jim.

Fast forward a few months after the great Latigo Dirt Race to an evening when Al was riding his beach cruiser over to the local community center and happened upon Big Jim and Mrs. Big Jim outside. Mrs. Big Jim took the opportunity to try to support her man and tell Al "I bet you couldn't beat Jim up a climb on that cruiser of yours". Al, not being one to back down from challenges, accepted, as did Big Jim (not wanting to disappoint the Mrs, and I am sure liking his chances). This time the race would go up Piuma, a 5 mile climb that gained over 1600 feet. The morning of the race arrived, with even more witnesses than the Latigo Dirt Race. Big Jim arrived on his state of the art Canondale, and then Al arrived...on his beach cruiser wearing khaki shorts, a button down short sleeve shirt....and flip flops. Al beat Jim up Piuma by over a minute.

Fast forward to present time and the 2007 Crocodile Trophy, a 10 stage mountain bike race in Australia that covers over 1100 km. Participants in the 13th edition of the Crocodile include Astana professional road rider Joachim Benoit, a Hungarian named Attila....and my buddy, 43 year old Al. Al is racing in the M1 category (there are 3 categories: Elite for guys like Joachim and Attila, M1 and M2). All 3 categories start at the same time and race the exact same course and distance and the participants are placed overall and then according to category for the overall GC. This past Saturday, on Stage 5, Al came second. Overall. The only guy to beat him was Joachim Benoit, the European Pro-Tour Team guy. Al broke away for 70 kilometers....by himself. He made it 2 km from the finish before Benoit caught and passed him.

Al's legend continues. Way to go Al. Nicely done.

BUCKEYES #1!

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=AnLsckaF8amHO_f_BM5kdDMcvrYF?slug=ap-t25-collegefbpoll&prov=ap&type=lgns

What more needs to be said?

I'm Back after a long hiatus. I was busy getting ready for the Vegas bike show, driving to the Vegas bike show, being at the Vegas bike show, driving back from the Vegas bike show, and recovering from the Vegas bike show.

I find it fitting that I am back to some blogging commenting on 2 things I love: the Steelers winning, and the Seachickens losing. It makes it even sweeter that it happened in the same game as the Steelers completely rolled over the Chickens of the Sea winning 21 to 0. Try complaining about how the refs won this game for the Steelers you whiny Seachicken fans. Some rematch.

Ha.