Here’s the amazing thing about the Phillies sitting on the verge of 10,000 all-time losses, and it’s not the fact that the Phillies have lost many more games than teams older than them. Certainly the fact that the Phillies are a good seven years older than the Cubs, Braves and Reds and have completely lapped the field in lifetime losses.
No, the remarkable part isn’t the 10,000 losses, a milestone the Phillies can reach with just one more defeat. The remarkable part is that in 124 years the Phillies have won the World Series just one time.
That’s 1-for-124.
Hard to believe, Harry.
***
More than any other regular old Saturday, London appeared to be the most happening place on earth yesterday. Aside from the Wimbledon finals won by Venus Williams or the men’s semis in which Nadal and Federer advanced to today’s title match, there was the Live Earth show at Wembley that featured the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, the Foo Fighters and the Beastie Boys.
London, apparently, was a better alternative than taking the private plane (and large carbon footprint) to the Meadowlands. Let’s see – London or North Jersey? Yeah, tough call.
Of course while all of that was going on, Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and the CSC team carved up the streets on his way to a dominant victory in the prologue of the Tour de France.
Needless to say, the Tour de France is an interesting idea. Perhaps a Tour de France that starts in California and finishes in Times Square would be just as interesting an idea. Get together the best riders in the world and get them across the United States – how cool would that be?
Maybe they can even do it Cannonball Run style?
Digressing, Cancellara, the world champion time trialist and classics specialist, obliterated the field by 13 seconds and will be in Yellow when the first stage goes the 126 miles from London to Canterbury. My guess is that he won’t have it for very long. In fact, I doubt CSC will try too hard to defend it during Stage 1.
However, during the flat 126 miles (like riding from Lancaster to Philadelphia and back) the sprinters like Cancellara lined up and shadowboxed for the long straightaway rush to the finish. But the Versus coverage was touting Aussie veteran Robbie McEwen throughout the stage as one he could/should contend for even when he fell off the back of the peloton and seemed as if he had been dropped.
Dramatically, though, McEwen made it very interesting.
McEwen, according to Phil Liggett, took an “incredible risk” to get back to the front. In fact, McEwen was nowhere to be found as the sprint began with a kilometer to go. He had to go from the back of the pack, all the around to make his final surge for the win.
Easy like Sunday morning.
Tomorrow the Tour de France goes to France and then leaves again in another flat stage from Dunkirk to Ghent, Belgium covering 104.7 miles.
Prologue Top 12: 1) Fabian Cancellara, Team CSC, Switzerland, 8:50.74 2) Andreas Klöden, Astana, Germany, 9:03.29 3) George Hincapie, Discovery Channel, USA, 9:13.75 4) Brad Wiggins, Cofidis, Great Britain, 9:13.92 5) Vladimir Gusev, Discovery Channel, Russia, 9:15.99 6) Vladimir Karpets, Caisse d'Epargne, Russia 7) Alexandre Vinokourov, Astana, Kazakhstan, 9:20 8) Thomas Dekker, Rabobank, Netherlands, 9:21 9) Manuel Quinziato, Liquigas, Italy, 9:23 10) Benoit Vaugrenard, Française des Jeux, France, 9:23 11) Dave Zabriskie, Team CSC, USA, 9:23 12) José Ivan Gutierrez, Caisse d'Epargne, Spain, 9:23
Stage 1Final 1) Robbie McEwen, Predictor-Lotto, Australia, 4:39:01 2) Thor Hushovd, Crédit Agricole, Norway 3) Tom Boonen, Quick Step, Belgium 4) Sébastien Chavanel, Française des Jeux, France 5) Romain Feillu, Agritubel, France
Overall after two days 1) Cancellara 2) Klöden 3) David Millar, Saunier Duval-Prodir, United Kingdom 4) Hincapie 5) Bradley Wiggins, Cofidis, United Kingdom
Note: McEwen was among the riders caught in the big bottleneck which was caused by a flat tire in a narrow pass of the road. According to reports, McEwen went down and injured his wrist -- it kind makes his rally a little more spectacular.
Here it is:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p8n6dfJoYc]
*** I never understood why local TV news gave the weather report so much air time. After all, it’s just wind they’re talking about. Really, all those maps and dopplers and hype just to talk about the wind.
All it is is wind, people!
But after watching this, I know why: