Making Your Amends

"Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change."

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Remember When You Were Young

Though Mongo is an admitted sap for schmaltzy, sentimentality, even I was surprised by how moved I was watching the ESPN special on Tony Hawk...It was called "Homecoming".

It was the first time that I can remember that skaters of my generation were both featured and heard from in person on a mainstream network.

Mullen spoke...and was goofily charming. Caballero spoke...and was elegant and wise. Mountain spoke...and was the voice of the people. Mongo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I was overwhelmed by the past and present of what skateboarding has meant, and still means, to me.

Finally...there is Tony Hawk himself. He is a man to be respected both as a skater and as a human being. There is no one who has meant more to both the "art" and the "business" of skateboarding. He is without a doubt, one of the five greatest skateboarders of all time.

Unholy Alliances: The Breakaway

Some said it would never happen...but they were wrong. Today at the 23/2300 Hammerfest, Mongo and Snow Bunny fashioned a two-man escape. It netted us a one minute advantage over all the elite climbers by the time we reached the top of the KOM.

Of course...it didn't count! There is a mandatory regrouping at the base of the KOM climb.

I Doped From Monaco To Paris

Though the results still need to be validated by Price-Waterhouse, it looks like Mongo won the TDF Cycling Pool. By correctly predicting six of the top ten finishers on GC, including the top two podium spots, Astana as the team winner, and getting stage wins from both Cavendish and Cancellara..."Show me the money!"

The Two Best Things About The Tour

Hug It Out

Team Garmin-Slipstream got their asses handed to them today...When it finally looked like they got their tactics right to disrupt Cavendish and launch Farrar, George "Slappy" Hincapie made the perfect move that shifted the peloton and gave Columbia-HTC the lead and control.

David Millar got lazy in his "faux" TT position after VDV had just pulled for 1K...and Hincapie took advantage. Once Renshaw took over, he squeezed the remaining Garmin riders in the final corner and it was an easy win for Cavendish.

(Photo:Sirotti/CyclingNews)

VDV Haiku

Should have known better

I jumped off the bandwagon

You are still the man

I'm Still Not Buying But...

...If everything is on on the up and up, then you have to be impressed by the performance of Mellow Johnny on Mont Ventoux.

That being said, Andreas Kloden was stronger than Armstrong during the entire Tour...but because of team politics, he was forced to do much too much work for Armstrong and Contador on several critical stages.

We all know that this "magical"(Yeah, right!) comeback wouldn't have the future benefits for both Mellow Johnny and Johan Bruyneel if MJ didn't at least make the podium.

Oh well...

If Lake Havasu Was A Canal In France

As we close in on the final days of the Tour and the decisive stage up Mont Ventoux, we have been witness to the unfolding drama that is the Astana Cycling Team. Contador, Armstrong, Leipheimer, Kloden...all have had issues.

With only thirteen seconds separating Mellow Johnny in third and AK47 in fifth, what is going to happen? Let's see what Mongo had to say over seven months ago.

American Cycling: Strip Mall Style

A Certain Look In The Eye

Mongo's boy, favorite cyclist, and occasional dick, Greg Lemond, is at it again.(He needs to be the first Commissioner of Pro Cycling)

Based on Contador's performances in both the climb to Verbier and the final TT, along with complicated formulas involving VO2 and Wattage, Lemond thinks that there is a strong possibility that El Pistolero is not clean.

Maybe...maybe not! The thing is that I don't care the way I used to. If he's dirty, he'll eventually be caught. If he's not, history will take care of him kindly...But Mongo can no longer champion anyone's guilt or innocence.

The sad truth is that no one can be put beyond reproach...We've been burned too may times.

(Photo:Bettini/CyclingNews)

AK47 Update: The Home Stretch

AK needs to stop dragging Mellow Johnny all over France and set his sights on his own podium opportunities. Look for Kloden to do his best on the next four stages to pass Wiggins and Armstrong...and try for third in Paris.

Mongo still sees A-Schleck moving up to second overall.

Outside The Gilded Cage

"Younger than the year before

Waiting for the dismissive recollection

Relieved when the tide has turned

Stumble through the stagnant memories"