Cadel about to get Schlecked

Tonight Le Tour enters it's most exciting and grueling stage - Modane Valfréjus.

At a tick under 110 kms it's not the longest stage on the Tour program. But it's an absolute ball buster. It's been three years since the rider have had to tackle Modane Valfréjus and the three successive climbs which really separate the men from the boys.

Three years ago Cadel Evans was well placed to challenge for overall honours. But Modane Valfréjus was his downfall. Being such a short stage means that riders can challenge from the get go. And the presence of both Schleck brothers - Andy and Frank - will give Cadel absolute fits. With the brothers riding for the same team, we just don't know which one is being positioned for the win. Without doubt one of them will attack early. If Cadel doesn't follow suit he risks losing the stage from the outset. If he challenges, the attacker will just wear him out so that the trailing Schleck can preserve his energy during the climbs and cruise by going downhill. Either way it's a lose-lose for Cadel.

Once again he's going to get Schlecked...and there isn't much he can do about it.

This made me laugh

Just got this email from the Parramatta Eels marketing department. Made me laugh out loud!!! I just can't see too many Eels fans at the Grand Final

Subject:

Secure your Grand Final tickets from 10am tomorrow!

2011 NRL GRAND FINAL TICKETS PRESALE FOR NON-TICKETED MEMBERS

All 2011 non-ticketed members (Blue Blood and Sparky Junior Eels Members) of the Pirtek Parramatta Eels are entitled to a presale for 2011 NRL Grand Final Tickets.

The non-ticketed members presale will be occuring on Thursday 21st July from 10:00am - until 9:00pm Friday 22nd July.

The NRL have provided the following entitlement password to all Parramatta Eels Non-Ticketed Members which is to be used when purchasing tickets during the presale. Without this code tickets can not be purchased.

PASSWORD: PAR26000

Click here to purchase your tickets from Ticketek.com

From the reader

I cant let these comments go unpunished!

Last nights game was a farce. It was decided before kick off.

The refereeing was so one sided, that it is hard to get a head of steam going when the guys with the whistle are against you.

At least when (Grasshopper) Gommersal was in the middle you knew where you stood.

Last nights fiasco was laughable. How many times did QLD lay all over the tackled player, slowing the ball down to a pace akin to Barcelona!?!?

Every time Thaiday tackled a player, his hands were all over the ball.

But I will not whinge too much as the better team did win.

The question I must ask is this….where is the Blues passion?

In days gone by, Thaiday's slap on Gidley would have been reason for an all in…today no one seemed to care.

Smith's dog antics at kneeing Hayne in the back should have resulted in punches flying everywhere and standing behind a mate.

Until NSW gets that hunger back, we will not win.

JT and Lockyer are merely made to look good by our ineptitude.

Have a crack at that big AL!

Response:

I'm not going to disagree that the Blues lack passion...a charge that's been leveled at NSW for the best part of Origin history. Characters like MG, The Chief, Turvey and Joey, whose fire and brimstone approach to the clash of the states has been on par with the Maroons, has often evaded many of those lucky enough to don the sky blue jersey. I'm also not going to disagree that Thaiday and Cam Smith get away with murder. This isn't just related to Origin games. Both players push the limits in club footy too. Ennis often gets labelled as a grub because of his niggle. But that's mostly because of his big mouth. Cam Smith might be well spoken off the field and keeps his mouth shut on the field...but from the spectators perspective he has to be one of the dirtiest players in the game. Thaiday's nickname as 'Third Man In' is well deserved, and the less time wasted on his antics the better.

I can't agree that JT and Lockyer are made to look good by our ineptitude or the refereeing though. QLD has it over us in almost every key position. Smith over Ennis at hooker. Slater over Mini at fullback. Lockyer and Thurston over Pearce and Soward in the halves. For crying out loud I'd rate Cooper Cronk, QLD's third string half, as better than both of our starters. Scott over Mannah at prop...the list just goes on.

Speaking of props, here are some quick props from the weekend's activities:

Australian Diamonds - winning the World Netball Championships over our friends across the ditch. Another Aussie world champ! Well done

Queensland Reds - restoring some much needed credibility to the local scene by taking out the Super Rugby competition, and doing it by playing some attractive Rugby (is was wondering if that even existed!!!). Great job by Ewen McKenzie. Pity about the colour of the jersey

Alonso - great to see Alonso getting one over Vettel at Silverstone. It's far too early to say 'Game On' with Vettel still 96 points ahead, but at least it adds some intrigue to a F1 season becoming rather ho-hum

Matildas - although they lost 3-1 to Sweden in the women's football World Cup quarter finals, they played their hearts out during the tournament, and showed what can be achieved when you play attacking football and make your own luck. Socceroos take note

Parra Eels - a win...finally!!! Enough said