“Where hacks come to spew nonsense” – B2B
Just to be clear, for those who think I am starving myself, I’m not.
I have not changed my diet at all and the Metamucil is only to add much needed fiber to my diet. The only thing I have done is increased my daily caloric expenditure.
Whatever anyone else does with Metamucil is of no concern to me.
2005 Oscar Freire – Season was beset by injury which involved an operation in June and forced him to miss the World Championship race in 2005.2004 Igor Astarloa – Won the jersey in 2003 and switched to the French Cofidis team for the 2004 season. Almost immediately upon the start of the 2004 season Cofidis suspended itself due to doping allegations against several members of the team. Astarloa switched to the Lampre team and then to the Barloworld team but did not achieve any notable success in the 2004 season.1999 Oscar Camenzind – Had an unremarkable season in 1999 which included the 1999 Fleche Wallonne when, while in the leading group with eventual winner Michele Bartoli and Maarten Den Bakker, Camenzind’s zipper gets stuck while trying to remove his jacket. In fumbling around with the zipper Camenzind loses contact with Bartoli and Den Bakker and misses out on a podium placing at the finish of the race.1998 Laurent Brochard – Found himself a member of the Festina team debacle of 1998. Entire team was kicked out of the 1998 Tour de France due to doping allegations. 1998 season was a wash out for Brochard.1997 Johan Museeuw – After a stellar season in 1996, including winning Paris-Roubaix in a walk and the World Road Championships, Museeuw had only one semi-significant victory in the 1997 season: Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. During his most important race of the year, the Tour of Flanders, Museeuw was accidentally knocked off his bike by Festina rider Bruno Boscardin. Boscardin’s handlebars then tangled in Museeuw’s rear wheel, forcing Museeuw to wait for a spare bike from his team car. Museeuw was not able to get back to the front of the race and was not a factor in the balance of the race.1995 Luc Leblanc – Signing for Le Groupement after his World Championship win in 1994, Leblanc was priming for a spectacular season in 1995. Shortly after the start of the racing season the Le Groupement team went bankrupt and Leblanc was unable to sign with another team. His 1995 season was a total loss.1990 Greg LeMond – Following his “miracle season” in 1989, which included winning the Tour de France and the World Championships after recovering from a gun shot wound in 1987, LeMond was only able to win one significant race in 1990. The fact that this one race was the Tour de France saved LeMond’s season from being considered a waste.1988 Stephen Roche – After winning the triple crown (Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, World Championships) in 1987 it was assumed that Roche would continue his success in 1988. An old knee injury began to flare up in the 1988 season and Roche was barely able to touch his bike for the entire season.1971 Jean-Pierre Monsere – At the time, Monsere was the youngest rider to win the World Championships. He died after a crash in the Grand Prix Retie race while wearing the rainbow jersey. He was 23 years old.
I personally think that the curse is a myth and the jersey simply causes the press to focus their attention on a single rider, and their ups and downs, for an entire season. What kind of season will Boonen have? Boonen’s Quick•Step team have hired a stable of riders who are primed to provide Boonen with the support he needs for the final sprint finish but only time will tell if he can repeat the success of his 2005 season.
From Juan Cole:
Top Ten things Bush won’t Tell you About the State of the Nation1. US economic growth during the last quarter was an anemic 1.1%, the worst in 3 years.
2. The US inflation rate has jumped to 3.4 percent, the highest rate in 5 years.
3. The number of daily attacks in Iraq rose from 52 in December, 2004 to 77 in December, 2005.
4. A third of US veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, some 40,000 persons, exhibit at least some signs of mental health disorders. Some 14,000 were treated for drug dependencies, and 11,000 for depression.
5. Increases in American consumer spending come from borrowing.
6. The $320 – $400 bilion deficits run by the Bush administration may push up the cost of mortgages and loans.
7. 58% of Americans think Bush is painting Iraq as rosier than it is. A majority thinks we should never have invaded the country.
8. The US military is at a breaking point.
9. In fact, The US and Iran are tacit allies in Iraq.
10. More money would be needed to finish the US reconstruction projects begun in Iraq.
The stupidest thing ever posted on the internet:
What if Bush offered/accepted one and then, under the flag of truce, had Osama killed and his minions rounded up?It’s amusing to imagine what some of Bush’s biggest critics might say. – Jonah Goldberg
