Tour eve day

got out of the excursion without much trouble, wrote 4 pages about Salem. Then i was interrupted.

At about 11 i got a most unexpected call. it was from the guy i was going to go with to the tour tomorrow. not that he calling was unepexted, but just the news that came with it. after saying who was on the phone, he said Ulle is out. a pause, then explaining. that jolted me instantly out of work mode. then he proceeded to tell me he had no desire to go any more, and i would be going alone if i still went. after that i read the news multiple times. still finding it hard to digest. after the initial shock of reading that both Ullrich and Basso are not starting tomorrow i read a bit better and as sean and the uci director point out, everyone accused is still innocent. so now i guess we just have to wait and see who is actually doping. a flaw to the fact that either Ullrich or Basso are doping is that the bust of the head of the doping ring took place in may. and all the doping materials were confiscated. im sure the athletes could have some private stores of whatever they needed, but for the bulk of it, and doing it as to be undectable, would they not need the doctor to help them out? how then did Ullrich win the Tour de Suisse? of course i could be totally wrong since i have no knowledge of doping practices, but thats just my thoughts.
also i dont really like how this information was released today. it was done just to have the effect it did. why wasnt the information released as soon as the report was completed, im sure it was done more than a week or two ago, that would allow time to get the doping proof. or for the accused to prove their innocence. but i guess it has the most effect by doing it now, thus sending out a strong message. you dope your done. i also found it strange as to why the other 150 names they have are being held. why keep the suspense, just let it all go now so the race will be totally clean instead of just a few big names being taken out.
thats enough about that for now...

on to other news.
germany advances to the semi-finals. during the game it looked like they were going to get beaten. but regulation time ended with a score of 1-1, as did two overtimes. after that it goes to a shootout. 5 chances for each team. the argentinians starting goalie was hurt sometime during the game, so it was the backup. germany score, arg. did as well. then again the same. then germany scored, and saved. then both scored, then germany went unanswered again. they had 4 points, arg. 2. no way for arg. to make up the difference with one shot left. in the shootout the saves brought more cheers then the goals. after the game people were going crazy. im sure still are. im glad i got to watch it.
the only complaint i have is that the guys upstairs need some new cheers. they have been yelling, deutschland, deutschland...for the last 3 hours.



ive decided that i am still going tomorrow, despite the news. there is still a race (hopefully) and there are still people to cheer on. im still happy to get a chance to go watch. surely with the news, there will be less people there. more place to watch, and more free stuff for me. now two questions remain. who to cheer on? and is the pink hat still wearable?