Sugarloaf's Seth Wescott

I’d be remiss if I didn’t post something quick about Seth Wescott’s repeat Gold in Snowboard Cross yesterday in Vancouver. He’s from my home mountain in Maine so I was definitely screaming at the TV last night for him. It was a great race and if you missed it, definitely check out the video. I wanted to embed it, but it isn’t an option (grrrr….NBC).

Troy Brown & the 2001 Patriots

My friend Zach’s recent post on ‘Remembering Better Times for Arsenal’ reminded of a favorite video I have had in the bowels of my hard drive for years. I broke it out after watching his video and is particularly relevant with the Super Bowl being only but a few days passed. Gives me goosebumps every single time I watch it. I particularly like the 24 year-old Tom Brady slapping Drew Bledsoe yelling, “WE WON!”

If you have a little bit more time (and are a true Pats fan) this video is well worth the 6:30.  I think this is the most memorable football game I can ever remember…I remember everything about that night.

World Cup 2010 and ESPN's Intl Soccer Power Rankings

I visit ESPN.com everyday. I stay pretty current on sports and related news stories…a lot of it has to do with keeping my knowledge up-to-date for fantasy sports….yeah. Anyways, something I really enjoy about ESPN are their power ranking articles. These articles are fluid rankings of professional/college teams against each other. Check out the NFL page, for instance.  As I visited ESPN today I was excited to see that they have added International Soccer to their power rankings roster.  As the 2010 World Cup is approaching, it will be fun to monitor these rankings (although I don’t suspect they will change much).  If you’re into soccer and/or the World Cup, definitely check out this page as they have information and shorts blurbs about all of the teams, along with keeping you up-to-date on who has qualified.

**UPDATE** So as I was perusing the power rankings a couple things jumped out at me.  Chile at #9 and US at #14.  Is Chile really that good?  And if so…really?  As far as the US goes, I think they have been over-ranked for years.  I personally think there are several teams rated below the US that could handle them easily (Cameroon, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic to name a few).  People agree…disagree with me?

From Dave L:

What I love about biking is that there are a million variables, and the strategy can be incredibly complex. Instead of having two teams, or two individuals, competing against each other like in most sports, there are 20 teams and 180 riders (at the start). That means there are nine riders per team.

With almost no exceptions, each team has one rider that is the leader of that squad, and most of the rest of the guys on the team have one job – to help that guy. He’s usually a great climber, since that’s where it’s easiest to distance yourself from the rest of the group. Some of the team leaders are also really good in time trials (an event I’ll explain later), but normally they just have to be good enough there not to lose too much time to anyone else.

What’s interesting about the Astana team this year is that they started the race not knowing exactly who their leader was. They had Alberto Contador, a 26-year-old Spaniard who won the race in 2007, and also Lance, who won from 1999-2005. Both guys wanted to win the race this year, so neither one was the accepted leader, at least until Sunday, when Contador did way better on a stage with a lot of climbs, and put some time on Lance. After that, Lance said that he would be content to help Contador win.

I realize that what I’ve already said may raise a few questions. So I’ll try to start at the beginning.

One quick note about biking is that drafting - which is getting really close behind another racer so that they’re fighting the wind resistance and you’re doing less work – is CRITICAL. If there are two riders, one right in front of the other, the front guy is doing about 30% more work than the other guy. If you’re in the back of a big group, you aren’t doing a whole lot of work.

This is why you’ll see long, straight lines of riders – this is a train, and basically the guy in front is doing all the work, and when he gets tired, he drops to the back, and the next guy works. You can basically cycle through like that and go way faster than you could on your own.

ANYWAY, the Tour consists of 21 stages, of a few different types.
- Normal stages
- Individual time trials
- Team time trials

The winner is the guy that has the lowest cumulative time through the 21 stages.

The regular stages, of which there are 18 out of the 21, are basically like big road races. Everybody starts at the same time in a huge group (called the peloton). These races can play out a bunch of different ways, but it depends on how hilly the stage is. What almost always happens is that a “break” or “breakaway” goes out ahead of the peloton, and they try to stay away from the big group and win the race. This is really difficult because, based on wind resistance and the amount of people doing work in the peloton, it’s way easier for the peloton to go fast than a few guys in a break.

So what often happens with a break is that they get caught by the main group with a few miles left in the race, since the peloton is going faster.

Races also depend on whether or not it’s a flat stage or a mountain stage. In mountain stages, often the peloton sticks together but a few really good climbers (in the Tour, these are the favorites to win the overall race) go out in front and climb like maniacs. Whoever is the best climber on that day will win the race (especially if the race ends at the top of a hill), and these stages are where the favorites really put distance on everyone else in the race.

On flat stages, often the whole group will stay together, and this results in a sprint finish. Each team usually has a guy who is a really good sprinter, and they’ll try to position this guy near the front, but not too near, so that he can draft off his teammates until the very end, when he accelerates like a crazy person and wins the race.

That’s a brief description of how the races go down, but the teammate stuff and strategy can play out in a million different ways. Some quick examples:

- The team leader, the guy that the team thinks has the best chance to win it all, is protected by the rest of the guys on his team. That means that if he crashes or has a bike problem, they’ll wait for him, and then he drafts off his teammates until they catch up to the peloton. It also means that if there’s a big mountain stage, one of the teammates will let the leader draft off of him until he just can’t go anymore, then the leader is on his own. There are a bunch of ways that teammates help the leader.

- Let’s say Jenks and I are the leaders of our teams. If Jenks is in a breakaway, and I’m in the peloton, often my team will get to the front of the peloton and work really hard until we’ve caught Jenks, just so that he doesn’t gain any time on me.

- Similarly, let’s say I’m at the back of the peloton and Jenks is at the front, and then the group gets split, Jenks and his teammates will know that I’m in the back, and they’ll start accelerating really hard to try to gain time on me.

- If it’s a sprint finish, teammates will lead out their best sprinter, by forming a line in front of him near the finish. Then they’ll work really hard, with each teammate dropping off until the sprinter goes by himself at the end. If they time it right, the sprinter is going 50-55 mph at the very end.

Teammates are also really important in the Team Time Trial, which is a really cool event. Basically, the 20 teams all go off at different times, and you have to stick together and go as fast as you can as a group. This means that the whole team will stick together, in that long line, alternating who does the work for the whole thing. The time that everyone on the team gets is the time that the 5th guy on your team finishes with – so if you have four fast guys and five slow ones, you’re screwed. It’s a cool event, but there’s only one stage like this, and it already happened.

The Individual Time Trials are cool too. In each one of these, the racers go off one at a time and no drafting is allowed. Basically you just bike your butt off for the whole race – this is the most painful thing ever. Guys that are good at this are total badasses.

Okay, final thing.

There are four different jerseys that are special.

1) The Yellow Jersey
This one is famous – the rider in first place wears it. It’s a huge honor to get it, even for just one day, and it’s a big deal for your sponsors to have their name on it.

2) The Green Jersey
This is worn by the best sprinter – the guy who has the most sprint points. Points are awarded at various spots throughout stages (usually flat ones) – and so you’ll see random sprints during some stages. There are also sprint points awarded at the finish line too – so more than just winning the stage, you’re trying to finish near the front to get points. Points are awarded to the first few people that cross the line, so you’re also rewarded for going out in a break, since you’ll have less competition to fight for those points.

3) The Polka-Dot Jersey
This is worn by the best climber. Similar to the sprint, except this time the points are awarded at the tops of mountains. Again, being in a break helps you with this, so good climbers like to get out in front on days when there are mountain points to be worn.

4) The White Jersey
This is for the best young rider in the race – under the age of 26.

There are also other special jerseys that guys wear, like if they’re the national champion of their country, they wear a special jersey. Also, there’s a special group that decides which rider was “most aggressive” in the previous stage, and the next day he wears a special white-on-red number (as opposed to the normal black-on-white).

So I think that’s about it. I hope this helped. I’m now going to go back to pretending to work, but actually watching the replay of this morning’s Tour stage.

Jenks, what did I forget?

From Jenks:

Dave covered everything except:

(1) Team classification.  In each stage, add the times of the first three riders of a given team together, that is the team classification time for the stage.  Add up all the team’s team classification times for all the stages so far and you get the overall team classification.  Lowest is best, current leaders in this category wear Black on Yellow numbers.  This classification used to carry a lot more weight back when a team’s entry into next year’s Tour was guaranteed if they placed well in the team classification.  Nowadays, it’s pretty much a consolation prize (I think the team that wins gets EUR25000).

(2) Money.  There is money for everything.  EUR400000 for the winner of the Yellow/GC/Overall at the end.  EUR50000 or 25000 for the rest of the jerseys.  Money for winning an individual stage (these are very prestigious wins, too, and can turn a rider on a EUR40000/yr contract into a EUR300000 contract).  Money for intermediate sprints.  Some of the small towns along each of the stage routes often set up informal intermediate sprints where they award small sums to the winner of the intermediate sprint (e.g. EUR1000 or EUR500).

I think that’s it.

What most laymen fail to grasp is that the Tour is more than the yellow jersey.  There’s something for everyone.  Of 180 riders, about 165 know they have NO SHOT WHATSOEVER at winning the yellow jersey.  Suicide moves like 200km breakaways rarely work, but on the occasions they do, pay big for the winners and it also gives good TV camera coverage to the sponsors.  For a “sprinter” type of rider (e.g. Thor Hushovd, Mark Cavendish, Tyler Farrar, Allan Davis, Oscar Freire) the most prestigious things in the Tour are (a) wearing/winning the green jersey and (b) winning individual stages and (c) most important of all is winning on the final stage on the streets of the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Yes, baseball fans, you read that title correct. After watching the New York Yankees pitching staff give up 15 runs to the Tampa Bay Rays, manager Joe Girardi decided to send 1B/DH Nick Swisher to the mound.  He pitched a scoreless inning (somehow) and even better, he struck out Gabe “The Babe” Kapler (3:00 minute mark). Check out the clip – it’s like heading back to little league.  Just awesome.

It’s here! Yes! The next four days are arguably the best of the year! Anyways, I had a write a quick post about my Masters setup and how amazing the online coverage is. Since the online coverage is so great, I decided to set up my TV/stereo system up to my laptop. Take a peek at the video to see how it all works. Then head over to the Masters homepage and play around with it. The quality is first rate and the interface is insanely cool. I would go into detail about what you can do, but there is too much to describe – just go mess around with it!!

Congratulations on being selected for Team 7 (forest green shirts) of the Scituate Soccer Club!  My name is [you don't really need to know] and I have been fortunate enough to be selected to coach what I know will be a wonderful group of young ladies.  [Assistant 1] will also be coaching and I expect the ever popular [Assistant 2] to return to the sidelines.  Our first game will be Saturday April 4 at 10:00AM.  There will be a half hour of skills followed by a 1 hour game, so total time will be 1.5 hours.  All games will be played on the fields in the front of the High School.  Each player will be required to wear shin guards and cleats are recommended but not required.  A ball will be provided to each player at the first meeting, and each player should bring the ball to games and practices.  There is no set practice time allotted for the U8 teams, but I will convene with the coaches to determine the best time and place.  If there are cancellations due to rain, all notices will be posted via the Scituate Soccer Club website, no calls will be made (though I will try to send an email).  Attached is the Schedule and Code of Conduct.  After listening to the head of the referees drone on for about 30 minutes on the dangers of jewelry (time which I will never get back), no player will be allowed to play with pierced ears, hairclips, etc.   We used to tape the earrings, but that practice is no longer acceptable.  Please let me know if your child has any health issues that I need to be aware of.  My home phone is XXXXX, my cell number is XXXXX, and I check my email frequently.  According to my wife, my emails get too wordy, so for those of you read too slowly, are easily offended, or are too busy, you can stop here.  For the others……

OK, here’s the real deal:  Team 7 will be called Green Death.  We will only acknowledge “Team 7″ for scheduling and disciplinary purposes.  Green Death has had a long and colorful history, and I fully expect every player and parent to be on board with the team.  This is not a team, but a family (some say cult), that you belong to forever.  We play fair at all times, but we play tough and physical soccer.  We have some returning players who know the deal; for the others, I only expect 110% at every game and practice.  We do not cater to superstars, but prefer the gritty determination of journeymen who bring their lunch pail to work every week, chase every ball and dig in corners like a Michael Vick pit bull.   Unless there is an issue concerning the health of my players or inside info on the opposition, you probably don’t need to talk to me.  Coach [Assistant 1] has been designated “good guy” this year.

Some say soccer at this age is about fun and I completely agree.  However, I believe winning is fun and losing is for losers.  Ergo, we will strive for the “W” in each game.  While we may not win every game (excuse me, I just got a little nauseated) I expect us to fight for every loose ball and play every shift as if it were the finals of the World Cup.  While I spent a good Saturday morning listening to the legal liability BS, which included a 30 minute dissertation on how we need to baby the kids and especially the refs, I was disgusted.  The kids will run, they will fall, get bumps, bruises and even bleed a little.  Big deal, it’s good for them (but I do hope the other team is the one bleeding).  If the refs can’t handle a little criticism, then they should turn in their whistle.  The sooner they figure out how to make a decision and live with the consequences the better.  My heckling of the refs is actually helping them develop as people.  The political correctness police are not welcome on my sidelines.  America’s youth is becoming fat, lazy and non-competitive because competition is viewed as “bad”.  I argue that competition is good and is important to the evolution of our species and our survival in what has become an increasingly competitive global economy and dangerous world.  Second place trophies are nothing to be proud of as they serve only as a reminder that you missed your goal; their only useful purpose is as an inspiration to do that next set of reps.  Do you go to a job interview and not care about winning?  Don’t animals eat what they kill (and yes, someone actually kills the meat we eat too – it isn’t grown in plastic wrap)?  And speaking of meat, I expect that the ladies be put on a diet of fish, undercooked red meat and lots of veggies.  No junk food.  Protein shakes are encouraged, and while blood doping and HGH use is frowned upon, there is no testing policy. And at the risk of stating the obvious, blue slushies are for winners.

These are my views and not necessarily the views of the league (but they should be).  I recognize that my school of thought may be an ideological shift from conventional norms.  But it is imperative that we all fight the good fight, get involved now and resist the urge to become sweat-xedo-wearing yuppies who sit on the sidelines in their LL Bean chairs sipping mocha-latte-half-caf-chinos while discussing reality TV and home decorating with other feeble-minded folks.  I want to hear cheering, I want to hear encouragement, I want to get the team pumped up at each and every game and know they are playing for something.

Lastly, we are all cognizant of the soft bigotry that expects women and especially little girls, to be dainty and submissive; I wholeheartedly reject such drivel.  My overarching goal is develop ladies who are confident and fearless, who will stand up for their beliefs and challenge the status quo.  Girls who will kick ass and take names on the field, off the field and throughout their lives.  I want these girls to be winners in the game of life.   Who’s with me?

Go Green Death!

From almost being in the NIT to the Sweet 16

So the first and second rounds of the Men’s NCAA Tournament have come to a conclusion and I know many who would argue that most of the fun is now over.  I would certainly be in that boat.  If you can remember, awhile back one of my first posts was on the Top 5 Sporting Events people look forward to each year.  The Men’s NCAA Tournament was a staple of many people’s lists – more specifically the 1st and 2nd rounds.  So I thought it appropriate to write a little follow-up post.  Overall, the first and second rounds were a lot of fun – Thursday was a little on the blah side, but Friday through Sunday were great.  Both Friday (Ohio St. vs. Siena & Wisconsin vs. Florida St) and Saturday night (Gonzaga vs. W. Kentucky & Duke vs. Texas) were great games that capped off great days of basketball.  Last night was a little less exciting, but the Marquette vs. Missouri & Michigan St. vs. USC games provided some nice Sunday afternoon drama.  It seems that over the past several years a 13 seed has managed its way into the 2nd round and Cleveland St. did just that by beating Wake Forest pretty handily.  I’d have to say that the Ohio St. vs. Siena game Friday night was my favorite of the weekend, but you could make an argument for numerous others.

After doing pretty horrendous in the first round with my picks I made a second round comeback by getting all 16 second round games correct (I think this is the first time ever I have had the entire Sweet 16 correct).  The funny thing is – I didn’t watch any college basketball or do any pre-tournament research before making my picks.  I usually get a little crazy between the time the bracket comes out and Thursday morning, but due to my school schedule and the much more important fantasy baseball draft that occured on Saturday I just didn’t have the time to put effort into the bracket.  I probably filled it out in less than 15 minutes hoping for the best….and what has transpired?  I’m doing much better than when I actually think I know something about it all.

Just a couple other musings from the weekend – if you’re into golf, how amazing were the Master’s commercials this weekend?  Every time I hear the music and Jim Nance saying, “A tradition unlike any other” I get goosebumps and entirely too giddy.  I cannot wait for April 8th.  How annoying are truck commercials – especially these ones with Howie Long.  Why don’t they just come out and say what they’re basically saying, “my manhood is bigger than yours because I drive a Chevy” or whatever truck he is promoting.  Seriously – does driving a horrendously big pickup truck make you more of man?!?  These commercials are driving me crazy!  Let’s see…what else – I had my fantasy baseball draft this weekend and I really wanted to write a post about it, but I can’t think of an angle that anyone would care about (do you care that I drafted Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in the 1st and 2nd rounds?  No, you don’t, so I’m not going to write about it).  All in all I think it went well though and I thoroughly look forward to the beginning of the baseball season.

That’s it – a little housecleaning post.  How is everyone doing in their brackets….anything particular happen over the 1st and 2nd rounds that you’re extremely excited/disgusted about?  Which team looked the best to you?  Thoughts on the Masters….stupid truck commercials?  We all saw the same 14 commercials over and over this weekend….any other ones extremely annoying or good?

Anyways, check it out!  Division III National Swimming Championships.