Let it fly!

University of South Carolina flag flying proudly over SC State House after winning the College World Series.  Go Gamecocks!

For my pal, Chris, in Afghanistan.

Downward Basketball

My son is playing on the Guest Team in this Upward Basketball game. There aint no I in Lose!

Attitudes

This funny (compliments of PaperTissue) epitomizes my attitude about the upcoming South Carolina Clemson football game. Guess which one I am.

2009 Tour de France - Attack on Mont Ventoux

I know that most of my regular readers (both of you) are not really interested in cycling, but the 2009 Tour de France has been very exciting this year. Mostly because Lance Armstrong is not only back after a four year retirement, but he is doing very well. Lance is currently in 3rd place and 3 minutes and 50+ seconds behind the leader, which is a lot of time that will unlikely be made up, so nobody is expecting him to win. However, Lance's Team, Astana, is winning in the team category and his team mate, Alberto Contador (2007 winner) is solidly in the race leader's Yellow jersey and is a shoe in to win.

This year has been especially fun to follow online, because the Tour Organizers, Teams, Team Directors, Commentators, and riders are all on Twitter. Lance himself is a prolific Twitterer so you get an amazing inside look at the race and the daily lives of the riders. You can also get minute by minute updates during the stages, so I can get instant status on my smart phone as things are happening and see results in near real time. I also read that Versus, the channel that covers the Tour in the US, has seen an 80% increase in viewership. In fact, because I've been keeping a running list of contest code words on my blog, I have seen over 5,000 visits to my blog just this week (click the Site Meter link at the bottom of the page and check it out.)

Although the Tour officially concludes on Sunday with the final stage ending in Paris with laps around the Champs Elysee, this is generally regarded as a ceremonial stage for the overall winner (however the Sprinter award is still hotly contested), who is typically so far ahead in overall time that it would be difficult to lose in Paris. However, there is still an epic 20th stage coming up this Saturday racing from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux. Mont Ventoux is a monumental climbing stage that has been the scene of many dramatic racing moments in the past. It's also one Lance Armstrong has some regrets on, so you can expect him to go all out there. So, if you haven't been following the Tour, I recommend you set your DVR or tune in on Saturday to watch an amazing show down. Veve le Tour!

Alma Mater Basketball

A couple of weeks ago we went to Colonial Center to watch the PC and USC basketball game. I had imagined it being more humiliating...like playing the Harlem Globetrotters or something. However, the boys in blue looked pretty good and kept the score close enough to go back to Clinton with their heads held high. Yessiree, there's no reason to be ashamed of being a Blue Hose.

Whooo Weee! Lance is BACK, Baby!

http://www.livestrong.com/lance2009/

Above: Lance rides in Augusta, at the 2005 Tour de Georgia.

Olympic Cycling Results - Men's Road Race

Disappointing results for team USA in cycling today.

Medals went to:
Gold - Samuel Sanchez (ESP)
Silver - Davide Rebellin (ITA)
Bronze - Fabian Cancellara (SUI)

Here's how our boys did:
11th - Levi Leipheimer
17th - Christian Vande Velde
40th - George Hincapie
121st - Jason McCartney
143rd - David Zabriskie (LAST PLACE!)

Olympics Schedule

Carlos Sastre wins the 2008 Tour De France

Carlos Sastre (ESP), of Team CSC, wins the 2008 Tour De France.

This year's Tour lacked the same type of excitement as I've seen in year's past, but it was still a great three week event. Enthusiasm for the Tour has suffered from years of doping scandals and the resultant exclusion this year of Team Astana, which included last year's Tour winner, Alberto Contador, and third place finisher, Levi Leipheimer (USA).

This year all eyes were on Australian, Cadel Evans, who finished in 2nd place in 2007. However, Carlos Sastre took control of the Yellow Jersey on Stage 17 in an impressive ascent up Alp D'Huez, the Tour's most famous climb. His closest contenders either failed to attack or didn't have the legs to do so as effectively. Although many folks seemed to think that his 1 minute 34 second lead would be lost in the Stage 20 individual time trial, it was not so. The power of the Maillot Jaune (Yellow Jersey) gave Sastre the motivation to concede less than half a minute to Cadel Evans.

Perhaps the best part of the 2008 Tour was the debut of two new US Teams to the Tour, Team Garmin-Chipolte and Team Columbia (with 5 stage wins). Both did extremely well and should provide for some exciting international racing in the upcoming years.

Vive Le Tour!

Photo Credit: Bjarte Hetland, July 27, 2008

"Everybody Shoot Uncle Jay!"

Last weekend was Grant's 10 year birthday party (celebrated jointly with his friend Vijeth). It was celebrated at Ballbusters playing paint ball. It was one thousand degrees outside and we were all wearing long sleeves, long pants, and protective face masks, so we were VERY HOT. Also, the paint balls can hurt and tend to leave a mark. Nevertheless, the kids had a lot of fun.

In the last game of the day, Grant declared to his team, "Everybody shoot Uncle Jay!". Jay had been playing on the Vijeth's team to balance out the adult to kid ratio, and had gotten in a shot that left a mark on Grant's belly (see below). Uncle Jay felt terrible about it, but Grant was set on getting even. Unfortunately for Grant, Uncle Jay use his ninja skills to avoid getting shot before running out of ammo and dropping out. As he was leaving the field, under the flag of truce, someone got in a shot and took him out anyway. Hmmmm, I wonder who?

Father and Son Project

My son's Cub Scout troop is having their Pine Wood Derby this weekend. This is an event where each scout purchases a "model car kit" that consists of a rectangular block of pine wood, 4 plastic wheels and 4 nails (to hold the wheels on.) The idea is that the scout (with the help of a parent) will work on carving, painting and decorating the block of wood into the shape of a car. The car must meet certain weight requirements and then is raced against other cars on a special track. Big fun.

When I was a child, I actually won a Pine Wood Derby during my first year as a cub scout. However, I recall that my Dad did almost all the work on the car. I watched him work with all the cool power tools and I only got to paint it. So, of course, I started out with the idea that Grant and I would work "together" on his car. After about 10 frustrating minutes with a block of petrified pine, I had already chiseled off to much and I found myself yelling and acting like a madman. I kicked everyone out of the garage, glued the screwed-up block back together and finished the project mostly by myself. It didn't go at all like I wanted it to. I wanted to create a different memory than I had as a kid, but instead of a least being a helpless spectator, I actually may have created a miserable memory for my son. Worse than what I was trying to avoid. Luckily, Jennifer salvaged some of the situation, by letting Grant paint the car and add some racing decals.

Ironically, this all happened last Sunday afternoon only hours after our Small Group discussed Romans 7 and how we often do exactly what we don't want to do. Too bad the hardest block of wood to make a dent in is apparently between my own 2 ears. I'm glad my Heavenly Father is more patient in molding me than I was last weekend.

I'm Back, Baby!

After a couple of crazy weeks of work and home activities, I'm back and blogging like the wind. Here are some photos from my past few busy weeks.

Instant Slam Ball Fan

I'm not always into new-fangled sports concepts, but this is COOL! If only they rode bicycles during the competition.

Hockey?

Saturday night I took my my Son and my Dad to see a fight and a hockey game broke out.

New Sweat Pants!

My wife, Jennifer, needed some new sweat pants to wear at the gym. So while at WalMart recently, she hurriedly grabbed some red ones from the rack. It wasn't until she got home that she noticed that something was printed accross the rear. "M.I.A. Since 2 A.M.". Apparently, we're too old/unhip to even understand what this means. Nevertheless, she refuses to wear them to the gym OR to model them for this blog photo.

UPDATE: My pal, Chuck B., sent me the following photo. Apparently, he was able to get the sweat pant autographed. Thanks, Chuck.

RipStik Casterboard

My son got this contraption for Christmas. It's a RipStik Casterboard. Unlike a skateboard, which has 1 platform and 4 total wheels on 2 axels, this thing has 2 platforms, and only 2 wheels on casters. According to the video below, "if you can learn to ride a bike, you can learn to ride a RipStik." Well, I love riding my bike, so...

Family Photo

Here we are last week at the Bobcats Basketball game, apparently endorsing Bud Light.

Charlotte Bobcats vs Chicago Bulls

We went to Charlotte Wednesday night to see the Charlotte Bobcats take on the Chicago Bulls. Charlotte lost (82 to 91) in the end, but it was a great night and our seats were awesome.

Signs it's Game Week

I saw this pickup truck tonight while driving home from a church meeting. I've started keeping a camera in my car for just such opportunities, so I snapped a quick photo at a traffic light. Two facts are clear:

1) Carolina/Clemson football weekend is coming, and

2) My side mirror REALLY needs to be cleaned.

Good Friends and Bad Football

I had a chance to catch up with an old Nashville homey on Saturday night. My good friend and fellow musician, Shane Martin, drove down from Charlotte to join me for the USC vs. Florida football game. It was freezing, and the game was only briefly good, but it was great to catch up with a old friend.

Shane is one of the best guitar players and songwriters I've ever known. He toured with SheDaisy, was a staff writer for Sony Music Publishing, and has done some big-time session work for legends like Michael Omartian, Dennis Dearing, and Christian music pioneer David Huff. He is now the Director of Worship and Outreach for Uptown Christ Covenant Church in Charlotte.

Me and the giant head of Shane.