Last Night’s Action: The Locals Lose

-Toronto 13 Yankees 5: Sidney Ponson showed why the Cardinals released him and Kris Wilson showed why the Royals released him. Together, the two of them gave up ten runs in four innings and the New York bats couldn’t make up the difference. A-Rod went 0-4, continuing his streak of looking clueless at the plate. Vernon Wells hit two home runs to power the Blue Jays.

-Houston 8 Mets 4: New York started out on top, thanks to a three-run homer from Carlos Delgado, but Mike Pelfry didn’t have it. Houston scored four times in the fifth and added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth to beat the Mets and avoid the sweep. Even with the loss, New York is still 12 1/2 games in front.

-Tiger wins the British Open: He came into the final round with only a one-stroke lead, but Tiger was flawless, getting birdies when it counted and winning his 11th major in style.

-Floyd Landis wins the Tour de France: Who needs Lance? Landis’s victory makes it seven-straight wins for the USA and now he can celebrate with a hip replacement!

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By Peter Trinkle on July 24, 2006 12:27 AM

Comments [rss]

moxy

Tim, I LOVE that story; I saw the clip of Lance saying it on OLN this weekend. Floyd was a fantastic climber for Lance, especially in 2003. It's too bad he couldn't shake Kloden off his wheel and win that stage.

Tim N.

Nice comment, Moxy, thanks.

When he was screaming down the final descent on Stage 17 on Thursday, I was thinking about the story from the '04 TdF, when he was climbing with Lance and he needed Floyd to set a pace going down the hill... so he rides up next to him and says,

"Hey, Floyd, how fast can you go down that hill?"

"Pretty fast, Lance."

"Ride like you stole something, Floyd."

Let's hope he comes back to win a few more on that new hip of his.

moxy

Floyd deserves to be on the cover of the sports page in American newspaper todays but alas, he probably is not, bumped off by the news of the Yanks' loss or Tiger's win or Ricky Williams breaking his hand.

From his victory in Paris-Nice a few months ago:

"The crux moment arrived in Stage 6, on the way to Cannes. Halfway into the race, a group of 19 broke away, and none of the other teams were willing to help Phonak chase them down. With the gap widening and the race becoming dangerously unstable, Landis decided to send a message.

At the base of a climb, he ordered his team to the front and told them to go full throttle. They blasted for three, five, ten minutes, and when everyone behind was gasping and hurting, Landis turned to address the peloton.

"You want more of that, motherf*ckers?" he asked loudly. "Because if you do, we've got plenty."

The race went smoothly the rest of the way. After it ended, I asked Chechu Rubiera, a former teammate of Landis at U.S. Postal, if Floyd had reminded him of anyone in particular at that moment. Rubiera just smiled."

Vin

Always thought Armstrong is a publicity hog, no surprise that he and Landis didn't get along. Even during this Tour Armstrong just had to BE there to steal some spotlight from the winner.

Did Armstrong ever give any credit to his teammates for supporting his ass and helping him win seven times? Hope I don't hear from Mr. Oneball for a long time.

Tim N.

How 'bout that Floyd Landis? That's eleven wins in 21 years for Americans.

Don Imus had a funny line this morning: "This guy used to ride with Armstrong, makes you think that if Lance hadn't been hogging the whole show he could have won a couple before this..."

J

From the NYtimes..

Carl Pavano who signed for $39.95 million before last season, does not pitch, But Travels with the Yankees now, reminding them of what they are missing.

He throws in the bullpen (fastballs only) and works in the weight room. He munches on candy bars in the clubhouse and makes regular visits to the massage table.

I said it before, and I'll say it again...The Yankees need / needed pitching!

Morgan

He came into the final round with only a one-stroke lead, but Tiger was flawless, getting birdies when it counted and winning his 11th major in style.