More details of LeTour can be found here:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2006/tour06/06index.php
The Tourmalet!
More details of LeTour can be found here:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2006/tour06/06index.php
OUCH!
Here is the photo of Italy's De Rossi elbowing Brian McBride, a move that lead to a straight red for De Rossi. He was subsequently suspended for 4 matches and then, somehow, the fecker was allowed to play in the biggest match on planet Earth. What kind of punishment is that? Freaking BS if you ask me. By the way, there should have been some more suspensions like C. Ronaldo for his horrendous diving. FIFA had better clamp down on the theatrics or soccer/futbol will become the laughing stock of the world. Fortunately, they have plans to "discuss" it. We shall see. Thanks to duNord for the link for the photo.
JAKE AND DANA!
Last night at Joe's Pub, I saw Dana Leong open up for Jake Shimabukuro. Both guys were amazing. Dana Leong alternated between electric cello with a computer console for effects and a trombone. He had a drummer and keyboard/programmer for accompaniment. At times contemplative, others like the Jimi Hendrix of the cello. Damn, he was impressive.
And then Jake came out and played solo Ukelele and he freaking rocked out. Viruoso finger picking, he played a number of originals and some notable covers including Ave Maria by some dude named Schubert and finishing up with the Star Spangled Banner. Jake told many stories interacting with the crowd as he entertained us with his Hawaiian warmth and humor.
Jake's web site: http://www.jakeshimabukuro.com/
Video of Jake playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=829401773913198414
Dana Leong's website: http://www.danaleong.com/home.htm
Update from the Copa Mundial 2006
Here is the second article about the World Cup that I wrote for Natural Selections, "A Newsletter of the Rockefeller University Community". Photo is of me at the Sweden v. Paraguay match at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
I was fortunate enough to have been able to attend three matches in Germany. The Sweden v. Paraguay match in Berlin’s renovated Olympic Stadium was a sight to behold with upwards of 60,000 yellow-clad and partying Swedes who rejoiced into the wee hours following Ljungberg’s injury time winner. The Paraguayans were buoyed by their enthusiastic though severely outnumbered supporters.
Next up, it was USA v. Italy at the Fritz Walter Stadium in Kaiserslautern where the atmosphere was electric. K-town, as Kaiserslautern is known to US military personnel, and its surroundings are populated by more than 30,000 Americans as the massive Ramstein Air Base is nearby. As such, the American presence was strong at the match and helped the US earn a valuable point while playing with sheer grit and determination against a tentative Italian side. That said, heart alone is not enough if you want success on the soccer pitch, and the US lads will have to, as we say over here, raise their game if they want to compete for a trophy in future World Cups.
Finally, on to Nürnberg where sentimental favorites Ghana received generous support from the locals in their 2-1 victory against the US. Unlike the US v. Italy match where I was seated amongst thousands of Americans, in Nürnberg, I found myself in a “neutral” section made up of mostly Germans who opted to support Ghana.
Mexico Presidential Election Ballots Found in Dump
Although official tallies indicated a victory for Calderón of 0.3%, the Mexican newspaper El Universal reported that 10 ballot boxes and a polling station report were found in a garbage dump in a poor neighbourhood in Mexico City, according to Reuters. The ballots came from three precincts in the city of Nezahuacoyotl, a López Obrador stronghold according to the website Narco News.
In another indication of electoral fraud, ballots were also found in a second garbage dump in the city of Xalapa, the capital of the Mexican State of Veracruz.
Klinsmann creates new form of fitness for football
The statistic says it all: Germany have won 56 per cent of their tackles, more than any other team at the World Cup, writes Simon Kuper. Top of the rankings is a 21-year-old centre-back from Hanover named Per Mertesacker, triumphant in 83.3 per cent of his tackles.
What sets Germany apart is fitness. Too much has been made of their team spirit. Of course it’s good. That’s what happens when you win all your matches. But they won thanks to physical training imported from California. It may be the only footballing innovation of this World Cup...
Jens Lehmann, Germany’s keeper, says: “The work with the American specialists has taken me forward.”...
Müller-Wohlfahrt says he will recommend Klinsmann’s methods to his club, Bayern Munich. Fitness will improve in Germany’s Bundesliga and even beyond. Perhaps at the next World Cup England’s manager won’t need to whinge about the heat.
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