Friday, October 31, 2008

After a lot of speculation, the replacement for Health Net as title sponsor of the four-time top NRC men's team is now official – OUCH Sports Medical Center, based in Temecula, California, will take over the sponsorship of the team run my Momentum Sports Group, to be officially named OUCH presented by Maxxis. As well, it is confirmed that Floyd Landis will join the team following the end of his suspension in January of 2009.

Dr. Brent W. Kay, MD, co-founder and executive director of OUCH Sports Medical Center, is the impetus behind the sponsorship. Dr. Kay is Landis' long-time personal physician, and testified at his USADA arbitration hearing. He is also the doctor who oversaw his hip resurfacing surgeries.

"We are very excited to showcase Floyd's Smith & Nephew hip, to play on the bionic man theme with his return," Dr. Kay told Cyclingnews. "We think it is going to set a precedent about what these joints can do."

As for how the sponsorship came about, as well as combining it with the plan for Landis' return, Dr. Kay said that the pieces just fell into place. "I knew that Health Net was not going to be sponsoring any more, and the opportunity just presented itself, so I jumped on it. I am really excited because I want to help Floyd return and also it is going to help get out message out. We are going to do some seminars next year about joint replacement, not just to the athlete community but also to the general public. "

Dr. Kay is himself an accomplished track cyclist, who attempted to break the world hour record for ages 40-44 in 2006. "I started cycling at age 40; I had done triathlons for twenty years before that, but because of severe arthritis in my shoulder I got into cycling. Shortly after that I met Floyd on a ride near my home."

OUCH is not new to cycling sponsorship, as it was the sponsor of American track star Sarah Hammer for her 2006-2007 season. It also supported the American Women's Track Cycling Fund. Dr. Kay said that currently the plans for a track team are still to be determined.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Rapha Roller Race, Portland - Fun Biking From Rick B.

This is a Roller Race ingeniously mixed with a cross race. A party mixed with pageantry, showman-and-showwoman-ship. It was spectacle or 12 men’s and 4 women’s teams competing for glory and prizes.

The Rapha Cross Roller Race was a highly competitive and thoroughly costumed night of 500 meter on-stage roller sprints combined with running, dashing and jumping through a 250 yard indoor cross course, complete with barriers, run-ups and Zoo-Bomb bikes.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Dead Than Red? Your Call..... (sorry, I had to)......


Dear Red States...

We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us.

In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly: You get Texas, We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get Elliot Spitzer. . We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.
We get 85 percent of America 's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama .
We get the Tour of California.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make your red states pay their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families.

Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you believe you are people with higher morals than we lefties.

By the way, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico.

Blue States

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Oh, Now I Er, mmmmmm, Understand?


Many of us are sick to the back teeth of the sickos on cycles who turn any walk though a city into a navigational nightmare. There exists, in California, a startlingly rare insect. The Ohlone tiger beetle is found in just five locations, all areas of less than two hectares within Santa Cruz county.

The beetles emerge for two months every year to mate and feed, and, for some reason, they choose to mate and feed on trails through grass. That has created a problem, however, because these trails are hugely popular with local cyclists. Mountain bikers are now believed to be the single greatest threat to the survival of this species as they squish and squash their way through the beetle population.

The Ohlone tiger beetle has been given federal protected status, and signs have been posted alongside many of its favourite trails, expressly banning cycling. But guess what? The cyclists don't care. "If this beetle is only found in five places, maybe it's no longer viable as a species. If the beetle's going to survive, it's going to have to change its habits," one irate cyclist told a local paper, the Santa Cruz Metro.

And there you have it, the perfect summation of the cycling mindset: no, I won't change. I'll ride wherever I want. You can't stop me. So a species faces extinction? I'm meant to walk my bike for that? Get out of here! None of which is news to pedestrians.

In all the kerfuffle over who should be liable for road accidents involving bikes - cyclists or motorists - one group, the most vulnerable of all, was forgotten: the foot-soldiers of urban transport, the walkers. And many of us are sick to the back teeth of the sickos on cycles who turn any walk though a city into a navigational nightmare.

What hazards do we face? Cyclists who decide a one-way system is too much hassle for them, and take to the pavement instead. Cyclists who decide the traffic light system is for guidance only - red means go, unless there is a clear and present danger to the cyclist's safety; amber just means go - regardless of whether pedestrians are crossing the road. Cyclists who appear to believe zebra crossings are only designed to compel cars to stop. Cyclists who decide No Cycling signs on park paths don't apply to them.

It's easy to work out why the victimisation - and that is what it is - of pedestrians by cyclists is ignored. We are not as vulnerable to cyclists as they are to motorists. We don't get killed when we are hit by cyclists, and rarely are we hospitalised. In 1998, the last year for which casualty rates have been compiled, fewer than 100 pedestrians required hospital treatment after collision with cyclists.

But that doesn't mean recklessly ploughing through crowds of pedestrians is acceptable, or that hitting them doesn't really matter. I could put a drawing pin on your seat every day for a year, which would cause you pain and drive you wild with anger, but it wouldn't necessitate your seeing a doctor. That's how many urban pedestrians feel about cyclists: we are at the end of our collective tether. We want only to be able to cross the road when the little man is on green, and to walk on our designated paths without the risk of being knocked to the ground. But cyclists will not grant us that courtesy.

Naturally, they all deny their guilt. All regular bike riders condemn "kamikaze cyclists" who "give the rest of us a bad name". In fact, finding a cyclist who admits to wilfully ignoring the rules of the road is as difficult as finding a white South African who will admit to having supported apartheid. "No mate, not me. Never do a thing like that. Terrible."

Even when caught red-handed, cyclists simply attack. Twice on a recent Sunday, I pointed out to cyclists riding along a pedestrian-only path in my local park that they were in the wrong. On neither occasion did I swear. On both I was told to "fuck off", once by an elderly woman, once by a young woman who told me she was "nowhere near your fucking child". Maybe so, but that's not the point: the point is I should be free to let my two-year-old daughter walk on pedestrian paths without worrying that she might be hit by a bike rider.

Cyclists' arrogance towards pedestrians stems, I think, from the moral high ground they have seized in their battle with motorists. Compared with urban drivers of sports utility vehicles, riders are paragons of environmentally friendly safety. And they think they retain that status no matter what they do. But we walkers are less dangerous - the only person who might end up in A&E when a pedestrian walks across a road against the lights is that pedestrian - and we are even more environmentally friendly.

The most depressing aspect of the clash between cyclists and pedestrians is the animus it is generating on the part of the latter. A fellow walker told me: "If I saw a cyclist get knocked down and hurt because they'd ignored a set of lights, I wouldn't care." I feel the same, no matter how wrong and appalling it is to do so. But, riders, you brought it on yourselves.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Floyd's still got some fans.....

Above is the traffic count for floydlandis.com (ya may need to click on it) seems he still has people checking in to see what he's up to..... However, the site has been taken down and he's still gettin the hits!
2009 is gonna be one big ol ho-down!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

7 Tours? Ya, He Needs a Drink!


Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong may have retired from professional cycling three years ago, but he's apparently still pretty good at winning things. Take, for instance, his water usage, where in his hometown of Austin, Texas, Armstrong wears the yellow jersey ahead of 743,000 other residents.

In July, Armstrong's 1.1-acre Spanish-colonial estate and home (seen above in all it's green lushness) used an amazing 330,000 gallons of water. That's about 38 times what the average Austin household uses in the summer. Armstrong's July tab for keeping those gardens growing, toilets flushing and pool full: a hefty $2,460.

Given the recent scarcity of rainfall and mandatory water restrictions imposed by the city, Austin officials would prefer that their most famous resident practice a little conservation. "We are definitely short on rain," Lisa Rhodes, a spokeswoman for the city water authority, said with a sigh, according to the New York Times.

Armstrong, to his credit, sounded embarrassed by last week's story, which according to water records, is hardly an aberration. Armstrong used more than 222,000 gallons in June. "I'm a little shocked," he said when informed that his estate had become Waterworld. "There's no justification for using that much water ... I have no interest in being the top water user in Austin, Texas."

Friday, October 24, 2008

Doh! Football!.......


Due to the start time of a live football game being rescheduled on Saturday, the first showing on October 25 has been moved to 2:00 p.m. MT on Saturday (not 5:30 p.m. MT, as originally announced).

The race is being broadcast on Altitude Sports and Entertainment Network, available on cable systems in the western U.S. and on DirecTV and Dish Network in select areas nationwide.


Airdates and Times
Saturday October 25 2:00 p.m. MDT
Monday October 27 9:30 p.m. MDT
Sunday November 2 10:30 p.m. MST
Wednesday November 5 10:30 a.m. MST
Thursday November 6 2:30 a.m. MST
Thursday November 20 1:30 p.m. MST
Sunday November 23 6:30 a.m. MST

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Shit - This Guy Even Shoots Himself!!!

Where does it end!!!!!
OH, oh, I know, France 09!

Domestic Problems........


From Jess Raphel:
Dear Sally,

I've never written to you before, but I need your advice. I have
suspected for some time now that my wife is cheating on me. The usual
signs; if my phone rings, I pick it up, and the person on the other end
hangs up. My wife has been 'going out with the girls a lot recently,
although when I ask their names, she always responds, 'Just some friends
from work; you don't know them.' I always try to stay awake to look out
for her coming home, but I usually fall asleep. Anyways, I have never
approached the subject with my wife. I think deep down, I just didn't
want to know the truth, but last night, she went out again, and I really
checked on her.

Around midnight, I decided to hide in the garage behind my bikes so that
I could get a good view of the whole street when she arrived home from
her night out with 'the girls.' When she got out of the car, she was
buttoning up her blouse, which was open, and she took her panties out of
her purse and slipped them on. It was at that moment, crouching behind
my Cervelo, when I noticed that the Carbon stem appeared to have a
hairline crack right by the handlebar mount. Abby, is this something I
can fix myself, or should I take it back to the bike shop where I bought
it?

Signed,
Milo Framebender

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

What we all hate to hear.......

Ed Farrar (Tyler’s Dad) was involved in a head on bike/car accident today. He is alive, but early prognoses aren’t good. I have heard (through the grapevine – and not yet ‘published’) that he fractured his T-5, and has two cervical spinal fractures. In this first day, the worst is expected…paralysis and career-ending.

The accident happened at 7:15 this morning (Oct. 22nd); and he was out of surgery this afternoon. Complete with steal rods, halo and what-ever else ‘they’ do.

Ed is SUCH a prominent figure and contributor to their community. He is simply extraordinary – and the news has rippled through leaving everyone feeling so devastated.

Send some thoughts his way-

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Ho hummmmm.... I'll have fun when they drink his blood - is that doping?


PARIS - Lance Armstrong could still race next year's Tour de France, as long as the race organizers make him feel welcome, Astana team director Johan Bruyneel said Tuesday.

"For the moment, we are going to determine his program based on where he is really welcome and invited ... and we will see about the rest," Bruyneel told The Associated Press. "So the main thing is that he is definitely not excluding riding in the Tour, but it would have to be in an atmosphere that is serene and respectful."

The seven-time Tour champion, who is scheduled to race the Giro d'Italia for the first time in 2009, expressed doubts last week over whether he would try for another Tour title because of the problems he may encounter with "the organizers, journalists and fans."

Bruyneel said the stance of organizers ASO would have to soften somewhat for Armstrong to come back.

"At the end of the day, I always go to a party I'm invited to," Bruyneel said in an interview at a hotel in Paris ahead of Wednesday's unveiling of the 2009 Tour route.

The 37-year-old Armstrong is returning to cycling after three years in retirement, and he wants to draw more attention to his global campaign to fight cancer, a disease he survived before winning seven straight Tours from 1999-2005.

Armstrong has feuded for years with Tour officials over drug-testing issues, but Tour director Christian Prudhomme has said he and the Astana team will be allowed to race next year — as long as they avoid doping problems. Astana was banned from this year's Tour.

Bruyneel, who helped guide Armstrong on each of his seven Tour wins, said Prudhomme should have been more welcoming.

"Prudhomme said immediately that Lance would be welcome ... but there was always a 'but,'" Bruyneel said. "(Prudhomme said Armstrong) will have to comply with all the tests and regulations. That is definitely something that was not necessary to say. They (ASO) create that controversy, and ultimately it's in the interests of everybody that that controversy goes away."

Armstrong retired after his seventh Tour win in 2005, and a month later French sports daily L'Equipe, which is owned by ASO, reported that Armstrong's "B'' samples from the 1999 Tour contained EPO, a blood-boosting hormone that enhances endurance.

Armstrong, who has always denied doping, said at the time that he was the victim of a "witch hunt" and a Dutch lawyer appointed by the International Cycling Union later cleared him.

French Anti-Doping director Pierre Bordry recently offered Armstrong a chance to retest the 1999 urine samples, but Armstrong rejected it.

Bruyneel said Armstrong has nothing to prove by gunning for an eighth Tour win.

"One thing has to be sure, clear. Lance does not need to win an eighth Tour de France, that stands above everything," Bruyneel said. "Of course, if he is making a comeback he would like to compete at the highest level. But he can do without it."

Bruyneel said Astana's training program starts in December in Tenerife, Spain, and Armstrong is for now only certain to race in the Jan. 20-25 Tour Down Under in Australia, the Tour of California and the Giro d'Italia.

"There has been a strong interest from the Giro to have Lance in the race," Bruyneel said. "Normally he would do a program of racing to get ready for the Giro and some recon in the mountains because he never did the Giro."

Since his retirement, Armstrong has kept in shape running marathons and more recently mountain bike racing. Bruyneel is surprised by Armstrong's physical shape.

"If we compare his condition now in the month of October compared to the years he was preparing the Tour ... he is a little bit better, because he was out of shape on the 20th of October in those years," Bruyneel said, laughing. "It all depends on how he can do that extra few percent."

Whichever race Armstrong enters — the Giro, the Tour, or both — Bruyneel would not rule out another win.

"I think if he's determined about a comeback it's because he thinks there is possibilities at the very highest level," Bruyneel said. "We don't know exactly how high that can be, but I think he can be competitive." - AP

Now, pace your bets at: https://fr.unibet.com/ He he he he....

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Good Job Larry! no Frickin Great Job!!!!! More Rainbow Stripes - Gonna Have to Wear Long Sleeves!



UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships - CMM

Sydney, Australia, October 14-19, 2008


Day 2 - October 15: Individual pursuit qualification and finals

Results


Men's 2000m pursuit finals

50-54 For gold 1 Lawrence Nolan (United States Of America) 2.20.1
2 James Host (United States Of America) 2.23.9

For bronze
1 Steve Darracott (Australia)
2 Bernardo Figueroa (Colombia)

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

God Damn It!


Days after news broke that he had tested positive, Austrian Bernhard Kohl, who won the mountains jersey and finished third in the Tour de France, admitted that he doped with EPO CERA. He spoke of his offenses on Wednesday evening in a press conference in Vienna, Austria.

The 26 year-old Kohl accepted responsibility for doping and said in a statement that he was withdrawing his option to have his B samples tested. Two of Kohl's A samples had tested positive after testing by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD).

"I want to clean the slate," said a tearful Kohl in a conference broadcast by Austrian television.

The AFP reported that he began doping following a crash at the Dauphiné. Kohl said his team, including Gerolsteiner manager Hans-Michael Holczer had no knowledge of his doping, which he undertook on his own. Kohl also apologized to Holczer, who had previously said he felt "betrayed" by Kohl's actions.

"I succumbed to temptation. The pressure was incredibly strong. I am only a human being and in this exceptional situation, I showed weakness," Kohl said.

Kohl had previously announced that he would speak at a press conference on Thursday in Vienna, but instead he talked on Wednesday evening to the ORF and other media at Viennese airport.

Kohl faces a possible suspension of up to two years plus a fine of one year's salary and presumably the return of his winnings from the Tour de France. Prior to news of his doping, Kohl had signed a contract with Silence - Lotto, the team of Cadel Evans, who finished second at the Tour de France.

Riccardo Riccò became the first pro cyclist to admit doping with EPO CERA earlier this summer after he was caught doping following testing of his urine samples from the Tour de France. In the interim, Stefan Schumacher and Leonardo Piepoli have also tested positive for the same substance.

Monday, October 13, 2008

I thought this was about guys?

Whenever I tell anyone that I raced, the first question is almost a sure thing:"Do you shave your legs?!"I have to sheepishly admit that yes, I, too, went for the hairless gams. And believe me, 1,500 years of eastern european ancestry do NOT make that an easy task.So, why do racers shave their legs? I'll answer to the best of my ability. I've never gotten a straight answer from anyone, but lots of racers and serious recreational riders will likely agree:
NOT Because I'm FasterI guess that, in the strictest terms, shaving your legs will make you a bit more aerodynamic. But c'mon. You can get a bigger advantage by taping your ears back. So forget that one.Note: In water, it's a different story. Hence swimmers' all-over shave, which for me would be a Greek tragedy (shudder).
NOT Because It's CoolSome folks suggest that it's just because other racers do it, and we're all joiners. Maybe, but I gotta tell ya, I'd rather do 3 hours of intervals after eating lasagna than shave my legs. It's a miserable experience. And did you ever try explaining to your friends why you, a college-aged male, have a 3-inch long gash on your calf from a shaving accident?It's not cool. Trust me. And ladies, I have the utmost respect for those who shave strictly for fashion's sake.
NOT Because It Shows MusclesOK, sure. Maybe a shaved leg shows those bulging calves and quads. But trust me. It just ain't worth it. See above.
YES Because It's More TreatableIf you race regularly, you get little muscle injuries: Pulls, bruises, slight strains, or just overtrained soreness. Every masseuse I've ever spoken too tells me that it's easier to do a good job working the lactic acid and injuries out of a smooth leg than a fuzzy one.
YES Because It's CleanIf you've ever crashed on pavement, you know the term 'road rash'. Sadly, pavement is rarely clean, and that nasty half-flayed section of your leg will have to be cleaned of grit, etc.. If you're hairless, that can often be accomplished with a soft cloth. If you're hairy, out comes the scrub brush. I'm not kidding. Leg hairs don't help you feel macho when you're screaming 4 octaves above normal. I'll take the razor, and the soft cloth, please.Also, if you get splashed with dirt, grime or a seemingly impossible quanity of bird poo (yes, it's happened to me), your hairless legs will dry faster and are easier to clean while in motion.
The SkinnySo, there you have it. In my opinion, you shave your legs out of self-preservation. No amount of glamour, glory or coolness would ever make it worth it.
But where does one stop.........

So if asked, just tell um "cuz your wife likes it"!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Downhill skateboarding in the East bay!

Sent in from a viewer yesterday - funny, I know the film maker.... Small world if you can stay alive! Watch how they pass the camera back n forth on the run!!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

There's Some New Players up in Dem Hills...

Sent in from Taude:
last Friday I road my bike up Loveland pass (tops around 12,000 ft) and ran into these guys with longboards on top. I asked them "are you guys really going to fucking ride down Loveland pass on a skateboard!" The reply was "yes, we usually hit easily over 50mph". I could not believe it – I asked a series of questions and found out there are only about 10 guys in Colorado that do "big mountain long boarding", it is illegal (a CO State Trooper had just given them a warning so they were going to try the other side), they slow down by power sliding or dragging a foot (at 50mph btw), and crashing is part of the experience "hence the leather suits" they said. The guys also wore full face helmets.

Sure enough a few minutes later totally un-announced two of them jumped out of the truck and kicked full speed right down Loveland Pass (for those of you who have been here this is the road you use instead of I-70 and it drops into the A-Basin Ski resort). It is super steep and has several 15mph hairpin turns. Anyway, I jumped back on my road bike and quickly pedaled to follow them directly and watch the carnage that was surely about to unfold. I hit 47mph on my bike but could not catch them, they were gaining on me the whole time - it was fucking nuts – I have no idea how they made the turns faster than I did or how they kept gaining but they did. I followed and watched their whole 7 mile ride and they never crashed – this was for sure one of the sickest things I have seen in person before.

Monday, October 6, 2008

What Was Once an Elite Club is Now Open to the Public...

Brought to out attention by the New Tony!

German cyclist Stefan Schumacher, a double stage winner at this year's Tour de France, has tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin), according to L'Equipe website on Monday.
Gerolsteiner rider Schumacher is the second rider named Monday to be caught using a new generation of EPO called CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator) at this year's race.
Earlier Monday the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) announced that Leonardo Piepoli, who won the race's 10th stage to Hautacam in the Pyrenees, tested for CERA.
Piepoli, a specialist climber, was a key helper of former Saunier Duval teammate Riccardo Riccò, who last week was banned for 20 months after testing positive for CERA at the Tour, where he won two stages.
Schumacher caused a minor sensation at this year's race when he won both time trials, both times leaving Switzerland's two-time world champion Fabian Cancellara in his wake.
According to L'Equipe, Schumacher's urine samples from the Tour were suspect although it took a recently-pioneered blood test for CERA to prove his guilt.
One test was carried out at a laboratory in Lausanne, the other at the laboratory used by France's national anti-doping agency.
The German recently left the Gerolsteiner team to sign with Belgian outfit Quick Step.
Advertisement

Three riders from this year's Tour de France have now tested positive for CERA; Riccò, Piepoli and Schumacher.
If reports are confirmed, Schumacher will find himself in a second drugs scandal inside a year.
He was allowed to race at the Tour despite testing positive for amphetamines, only he was not banned because the test was carried out by police while he was driving.
After pulling on the race's yellow jersey in July after his victory in the fourth stage time trial the German claimed he did not take amphetamines, a stimulant which can be found in many over-the-counter medicines.
During the Tour de France only four drugs cheats were snared. Spaniard Manuel Beltran, of Liquigas, and Barloworld rider Moises Duenas, also of Spain, tested positive for EPO.
Italian star Riccò then joined them in exiting the race in disgrace after testing positive for CERA. On the race's final day Dmitri Fofonov, a Kazakh who rides for Credit Agricole, tested positive for a banned stimulant.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

I Used To Think a Bike Could Save Anyone..... not anymore...



SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- A 7-year-old boy broke into a popular Outback zoo, fed a string of animals to the resident crocodile and bashed several lizards to death with a rock, the zoo's director said Friday.
The 30-minute rampage, caught on the zoo's security camera, happened early Wednesday after the boy jumped a security fence at the Alice Springs Reptile Center in central Australia, said zoo director Rex Neindorf.
The child then went on a killing spree, bashing three lizards to death with a rock, including the zoo's beloved, 20-year-old goanna, which he then fed to "Terry," an 11-foot, 440-pound saltwater crocodile, said Neindorf.
The boy also fed several live animals to Terry by throwing them over the two fences surrounding the crocodile's enclosure, at one point climbing over the outer fence to get closer to the giant reptile.
In the footage, the boy's face remains largely blank, Neindorf said, adding: "It was like he was playing a game."
By the time he was done, 13 animals worth around $5,500 had been killed, including a turtle, bearded dragons and thorny devil lizards, Neindorf said. Although none were considered rare, some are difficult to replace, he said.
"We're horrified that anyone can do this and saddened by the age of the child," Neindorf said.
Alice Springs police said they are unable to press charges against the boy because of his age. Children under age 10 can't be charged with criminal offenses in the Northern Territory. His name was not released because of his age.
Neindorf said he plans to sue the boy's parents.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Alright! - Who's Next?......

Alexander Vinokourov is planning to return to the peloton in 2009. "I think I have my place at Astana," he said in an interview with the Belgian TV show Sportweekend, to be broadcast Sunday evening. The Kazakh rider this summer finished a one-year suspension for blood doping, after testing positive at the Tour de France 2007.
The 35 year-old said that he does not plan to ride the Tour de France. "My first goal is the Giro," he said, according to sporza.be.
Vinokourov announced his retirement in December after receiving a light one-year suspension from the Kazakh Cycling Federation. He was reported to be training for the Beijing Olympics, but this summer denied that he was planning to return to racing.
"I want to return because I don't want it to end this way," Vinokourov said. "I built my image and career bit by bit and I don't want it to stop this way."
He would like to ride for his former team Astana, although he has not yet held talks with the team. "But my fans would find it strange if I rode somewhere else," Vinokourov said. "The team was made for me because I wanted to win the Tour."
Astana cycling spokesperson Philippe Maertens told Cyclingnews Saturday that the team had no comment since Vinokourov had not contacted them about his comeback or a place on the squad.
Vinokourov may run into some obstacles to his planned return. UCI president Pat McQuaid said the rider would have to complete a two-year suspension. "There is no way he comes back until he agrees on the two-year suspension," McQuaid told Reuters on Saturday. "The UCI had a case pending with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which we only withdrew because he announced he was retiring."
If the case were reactived and Vinokourov were to serve a two-year ban, he would not be eligible to race until late July of 2009.


Paaaaaaaaaaaaa-lese!