Over 180 riders kicked off the Tour de France today. We predicted Alejandro Valverde will win, and he took control of the tour today with a stage 1 victory. We’re expecting a Paris finish with Valverde in yellow, followed by Cadel Evans, Damiano Cunego and Carlos Sastre. Here’s where those riders finished today:

1. Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Caisse d’Epargne 4:36:07

6. Cadel Evans (AUS), Silence-Lotto 0:01

14. Carlos Sastre (ESP), CSC at 0:07

21. Damiano Cunego (ITA), Lampre 0:07

And the top American rider, Christian Vande Velde is in 18th place.

Valverde’s 1 second lead over Cadel Evans obviously isn’t a lot, but it means Valverde’s team will be controlling the race tomorrow. This is a good position strategically and wil be interesting to see if Valverde’s team can keep him in yellow.

Posted in Cycling | No Comments »

Things just keep getting better for Jewish baseball fans this year.

We already have a trio of MVP candidates in Ryan Braun, Kevin Youkilis and Ian Kinsler.  And now comes word that a future Hall of Famer may be considering joining the team.

Posted in Gossip, MLB | No Comments »

Happy Birthday America!

Follow our flawless schedule for a patriotic and awesome 4th of July:

9am PT (12 ET) - Kobayashi tries to regain the hot dog eating crown at Coney Island.

10:30am - The Jaws marathon begins on AMC (yes, all 4 of them in a row). I hope this doesn’t scare you from swimming at the beach this summer.

1pm - Barbecue perhaps?

4pm - Break out the bocce balls

8pm PT - US Olympic Swimming Trials: Michael Phelps flexes his guns and intimidates swimmers around the world.

9pm - Go light some fireworks (but don’t start any more forest fires in California).

10pm - Watch out, the cops will be on the prowl to bust you for drinking and driving. Take the back roads home.

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Competitive cycling has gotten rid of the dopers, or so they’d like us to believe. Floyd Landis lost the appeal of his suspension this week, Michael Rasmussen was suspended last year, and Ivan Basso is serving his suspension through 2009. Some of the racers notorious for doping are still riding, such as Oscar Sevilla and Tyler Hamilton, but their teams weren’t invited to the Tour de France. And in the biggest shocker of all, last years Tour de France winner Alberto Contador from Spain wasn’t invited back because of his team’s failed doping tests.

The doping investigations have been devastating for the Tour de France. Many of the favorites during Armstrong’s era have faded, retired, or are serving suspensions. The Tour has also failed to crown a new favorite or find a new rivalry to get fans excited. Today the WSJ called the race, a “Mystery Tour“.

With the race beginning on Saturday July 5th, who’s going to win? and heck, who’s even racing?

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So, it looks like the Sonics are definitely leaving Seattle, but a judge says they can’t bring the team name or colors with them.  So, when Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook take the floor next season in Oklahoma City, what team will they be playing for?

Posted in NBA, Opinion | No Comments »

For the past couple of days, the internets have been burning up with rumors that Jaromir Jagr was eyeing a return to Pittsburgh.  The Free Agent forward has spent the past few seasons with the Rangers, but it seems like the team has decided to go in a different direction next year. Plus, Pittsburgh lost their key free agent, Marion Hossa, to the Red Wings.  The move made a ton of sense.  One problem, though, the rumor didn’t come from either Jagr or the Pens.

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Did you hear? Arod is in the news. Something about banging Madonna while his wife was doing Lenny Kravitz.  LENNY KRAVITZ!?!  But all of those extramarital shenanigans have overshadowed another development in the Arod saga.

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So, “There’s Something About Mary Star” Brett Favre is thinking about making a comeback.  Guess who’s excited.  Brett Favre.  and ESPN.  And nobody else.

Posted in NFL, Opinion | 1 Comment »

Arizona Diamondbacks’ catcher Chris Snyder was put on the 15 day disabled list with something no guy should have, a fractured testicle. The video of the incident doesn’t happen to help. I cringed when I saw it.

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In this Wednesday’s blog post from Chris Cooley, he talks about his renewed interest in collecting cards. That brings back fond memories of when I use to hit up every card show at a school or Knights of Columbus. The thrill of opening a pack hoping to find a Michael Jordan or Ken Griffey Jr reminds me of what it was like to be an innocent child. But those days are long gone, but reading Cooley’s post makes me want to pull out the boxes of old cards I have back home at my parents house and just look at them. I haven’t bought a pack of cards in so long, so I don’t know what they run; but next time I do see a pack I will be sure to grab one.

Posted in NFL | 1 Comment »