2007 July « Sporty Socks

Archive for July, 2007

Contador wins Tour de France

Alberto Contador of Spain captured the 2007 Tour de France, possibly the most scandalized sporting event ever. Contador is the youngest champion at age 24 since Jan Ullrich won in 1997. He is also the first Spaniard to win since the last of Miguel Indurain’s five titles in 1995.

Contador who rode with American Discovery Channel Team won the race by a mere 23 seconds. The second-narrowest margin in the history of the race. At the ceremony, he kissed his yellow jersey and pumped his arms in the air. He had hoped only to pick up the white jersey for best young rider and wound up taking both.

In other Tour de France news Chris Horner, an American cyclist, feels that the scandal and drama that encompassed the race helped add entertainment for the viewers.

“It has been a crazy Tour de France, but it has been an exciting one, too, for us as riders and I’m sure for the fans,” Horner, who finished 15th, said Sunday. “It’s been exciting, the racing and, of course, the drama outside.”

I’d have to agree with him. I’m not a big fan of watching the Tour de France. I watched when Lance Armstrong won his last two titles and I watched the end of the race last year when Floyd Landis won. For me, watching a bunch of men on bikes just doesn’t provide the entertainment that one can get from baseball, football, or basketball.

But throw in a little scandal and you’ve got folks tuned in every day. Scandal of course isn’t good for the sport itself but it sure will help increase the amount of people paying attention.

For more information on the 2007 Tour de France: Yahoo Sports Tour Summary, Yahoo Sports Tour Scandal

Add comment July 29, 2007

Boise State star Ian Johnson weds girlfriend

So for any girl growing up as a sports fan, watching Ian Johnson propose to his girlfriend Chrissy Popadics after scoring the two-point conversion for a victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl was pretty darn romantic. She was completely shocked and completely thrilled.

For those of you that were under a rock during the last bowl season, here’s a video clip to get you up to speed.

Boise State on ABC World News

While we live in a country of many great freedoms, one being the choice to marry whomever we wish it is unfortunate that there are some who can’t see beyond color of skin. In case you couldn’t tell in the above video, Ian Johnson is black and his new wife is white.

It was reported on Wednesday that Ian Johnson had hired security for his wedding because he had been receiving threats in the form of letters and phone calls from people who objected to their marriage.

In my opinion, Johnson handled the matter beautifully. His comments were straight to the point and well said.

“You take it for what it is — the less educated, the less willing to change,” Johnson, 21, of San Dimas, Calif., told the Idaho Statesman for its Tuesday editions. “But we’re not acting like we’re naive to all the stuff that’s going on. We know what’s been said. We’re going to make sure we’re safe at all times. It’s an amazing day for us, and we’d hate to have it ruined by someone.”

“It’s really sad because a lot of people that are probably doing it are the same people who were cheering me on,” Johnson said.

Their wedding which was held yesterday at Cathedral of the Rockies United Methodist Church in Boise went off without any problems and they began their ceremony with a prayer to end prejudice.

How beautiful is that? A couple that has been harrassed by those objecting to their wedding, harrassed by the media for comment was able to rise above and pray for those who, for a lack of a better word, were their enemies.

They ended their ceremony with the African tradition of jumping over the broom to symbolize their new life together.

Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, best of luck and God Bless.

Add comment July 29, 2007

Another Streak Ends

Almost anyone who has followed Major League Baseball is familiar with Cal Ripken Jr. He has been known as the Iron-Man. He set a record playing in 2,632 straight games before choosing to end his streak in 1998. I remember watching that game. It is an incredible memory to have.

Most people have never heard of Ernie Tyler. Tyler is an 83-year old umpire’s attendant at Camden Yards. He has been working their since 1960. And while most people haven’t heard of him, he has a streak of his own that ended on his terms this weekend. His streak of 3,769 consecutive games worked is comprised of regular season home games. If the exhibition, the postseason and the 1993 All-Star game were to be included his streak would extend to 3,819.

Tyler’s streak came to end this weekend as he was invited as Ripken’s guest to his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He said that he thought about it for two weeks and says that it is with no regrets that his 47 1/2 year streak will come to an end.

I think Tyler sums it up best: “I never thought of it as a streak. I just thought of it as seeing a ballgame,” he said. “It’s better than being around the house all day, helping with the dishes or mowing the lawn.”

That it is Mr. Tyler.

For more information on Tyler: Yahoo Sports, WTOP News, Baltimore Sun, MLB.com

Add comment July 29, 2007

Wake Forest Basketball Coach Prosser dies at 56

Wake Forest Basketball Coach Skip Prosser collapsed while jogging on campus today.

Rivals.com has the story here

This comes as a shock because he was such a relatively young man. My alma mater ETSU played against Prosser and Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA in 2003. Prosser was certainly a talented and vibrant coach. My condolences go out to his surviving family.

Add comment July 26, 2007

Georgia Headlines

So it’s been awhile since I posted anything. I’ve been wrapped up with things for work. So for just a quick update today I thought I’d post some of the latest headlines involving my always favorite subject, the Georgia Bulldogs.