Random Thoughts When You Do Not Have Time

Well,

I am in the midst of a really pressure packed period at work. With multiple public hearings, appellate briefs, and other important meetins, as well as a speech at BOMA Boise's Commerical Real Estate Symposium this week, I have not had a lot of time. So here are some odds, ends and random thoughts:

Discovery Channel Ends Sponsorship

Discovery Channel is ending its sponsorship of cycling at the end of this season. While the company has indicated it was a decision driven by internal marketing objectives and a major management shakeup, the current toxic environment in cycling could not have helped.

You Have Got To Love The French

Gambling is a waste of time and money. Gambling preys upon those least able to afford it. The gambling industry has amazingly convince much of the world that throwing money away on what is inherently a guess or luck is in fact entertainment. However, you have to shake your head at the French. French authorities have barred ProTour team Unibet.com from wearing their jerseys in the opening races in France this season. So Unibet.com has raced in France with a question mark jersey. Now, French authorities could do it for the fashion travesty that is the team kit of the Swedish-Belgian team. Instead French officials have barred the team from advertising the online gambling site because such gambling violates French law. Nevermind the fact that Francaise de Jeux, used to be FJD.Com and is the French lottery and gambling site, or that PMU is an official sponsor of the Tour de France and is off track parimutuel betting, that Predictor Lotto, is sponsored by the Belgian national lottery and that Unibet.com's predecessor Mr.Bookmaker.com raced throughout Europe before the team was rebranded.

What Would The Response Have Been If They Weren't Teammates?

The European cyclocross season is coming to an end and there is always animosity among the riders, even frequently on the same team. However, you have to wonder what Richard Richard Groenendaal's reaction to Sven Nys' recent victory would have been had they not been on the same team.

Dick Pound Gets Slapped Down

WADA chief Dick Pound was reprimanded this week for his vocal criticism of Lance Armstrong and allegation that Armstrong won the 1999 Tour de France as a result of performance enhancing drugs. No word yet if he will have to write on the blackboard 100 times "I will try to be impartial and not defame cyclists" when he gets sanctioned for his tasteless comments about Floyd Landis.