How do you best describe the Tour de France? The three week extravaganza unlike anything else. 198 riders traversing over 3,000km of French countryside. From Corsica to Mont-Saint-Michel, Mont Ventoux to Alpe-d'Huez, the 100th running of La Grande Boucle features many of France's biggest cities and most famous climbs and towns.
So instead of telling stories you could read in the countless books written about the Tour, or giving you predictions that you can read anywhere and everywhere, I thought I'd put it simply, because to me the Tour is.....
- the tete de le course, the poursuivants and the peleton
- the devil on the roadside
- sweeping shots of 14th century castles and chateaus
- Paul Sherwan and Phil Liggett
- the red kite/flamme rouge
- Australian media wondering why Cadel is 78th after one stage
- the official Tour guide
- Gabriele Gate and the taste of the Tour
- memories of legends like Merckx and Coppi - the drug cynics
- Mike Tomolaris
- the Rue de Rivoli and Place de la Concorde
- the Col du Tourmalet, d'Aspin, de Peyresourde and d'Aubisque
- the rest day in Gap or Pau - lead out trains and domestiques - the neutral, feeding and call of nature zone - Matt Keenan warming the seat with style
- 'crackling over race radio'
- the Manx Missile taking off
- green, white and polda-dot jerseys
- a Frenchman winning on Bastille Day
- the Col du Telegraph, Col du Galibier and Col de la Croix-de-Fer
- my wife now loving this time of year - the crowds parting just in time - the Vendee, the Massif Central and the Loire - the sunflowers - recalling Indurain and Abdoujaparov, my earliest Tour memories
- watching the 6pm highlights even though you watched the stage
- the memory to Fabio Casartelli and Tom Simpson - green, white and polda-dot jerseys
- everyone becoming a cycling expect overnight
- intermediate sprints and Cat-4 climbs - 'heads of state'
- the grupetto over Hors categorie climbs
- famous ski stations like Peyragudes, Luz Ardiden, Arcalis and Briançon
- a team sport for an individual winner
- an Australian team at the Tour de France
- the Basque orange in the Pyrenees
- Cofidis, Euskaltel-Euskadi and Lampre
- everything you can want from a three week sporting event
Most importantly, the Tour de France is where one of Australia's greatest sporting stories was told. Vive le Tour!
Longevity; that mythical, illusive and once cherished facet of sport. It sat alongside loyalty and talent in the sporting pantheon of must haves. Those building blocks were the cornerstones for the success that the likes of Ted Whitten and Reg Gasnier had. They personified loyalty and longevity.
As sports fans we embody these traits. We bleed black and white, purple, red and blue, green and every other colour that represents our sporting teams. We would rather donate a kidney than cheer for Collingwood or Manly. We feel betrayed when players change teams, switch codes or move countries. Many of us think, often wrongly so, that these players owe the club and the game. Their decisions should be made not in their own best interests, but the best interests of the game.
But in the sporting world we now reside, longevity has taken a back seat to the commercial reality. Loyalty has been replaced by player's growing desire for success. We criticise players for chasing the dollars, maybe fairly so, but we are often guilty of a mob mentality when a player moves for no other reason than to succeed. Success, the very motivation that drives all people, not just sports people.
Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images
All of which leads to Friday's game 7 of the NBA Finals. The scene for the ultimate display of everything I've just mentioned. Loyalty and longevity against the desire to win.
On one hand: Tim Duncan and Greg Popovich. They are the epitome of loyalty, trust and friendship, in a league of commercialism and money. For 15 years they have stood side by side. The player nicknamed 'The Big Fundamental' and the coach whose press conferences are enjoyable more for the lack of words than the auto-generated, publicity minded responses we are so used to.
On the other hand: LeBron James. King James. A player the likes we have never seen. On a team that was forced not forged. In a city where loyalty, especially amongst the fans, is hard to come by.
San Antonio is a small market team. A team built from the ground up, a la Storm and Geelong. Where the coach respects the players as much as the players respect the coach. Where Tony Parker is as likely to be scorned at as Patty Mills.
Miami is a big team, in a big market. Where Justin Bieber wears leather shirts and sunglasses indoors. Where expectations are as high as the plastic surgery bills in the crowd. They are expected to win and they promised as much three years ago.
Duncan and Pop are unique in professional sport. A nostalgic, romantic idea of a bygone era that we may only see once in a generation.
LeBron James is a statistical and physical anomaly. He passes like Magic, rebounds like Bird, defends like Rodman and can score like Jordan.
So as the clock ticked passed two minutes left and the margin was two, the casual supporter, like me, was torn. As I wrote last week we all want to witness greatness. Here in game 7 were two very different types of greatness. Tim Duncan and the Spurs; the old school, the consummate professionals, the under rated; versus LeBron and the Heat; the new school, the villain/hero, the showtime.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
I wanted LeBron to win. Not for his legacy. Not because I wanted the Heat to win. But because he deserved it for one of the single greatest all-round seasons of our generation.
I wanted Duncan to win. I wanted him to win for the credit he deserves. For the credit his team deserves, for his team mates, and for Pop.
It was only fitting then, that as time wound down on one of the greatest finals in recent memory, that Duncan and LeBron, forever linked, would decide the outcome.
So when Duncan missed the four foot hook shot he has made thousands of times (then missed the tip in), it was only fitting that LeBron took, and made, the next shot, not only winning the game, but silencing the critics and putting an end to this story.
In was as if Duncan had foreseen this coming. A prophet, forecasting his own demise. "This is gonna be your league in a little while. I appreciate you giving us this year." Duncan said after his Spurs beat LeBron's Cavaliers in the 2007 finals.
6 years later, it is his league. LeBron James is the champion, Tim Duncan is the legend.
The days are getting darker and colder as we inch towards the winter solstice (June 21). Leaving work in the dark is becoming routine and twilight football now feels like night time football. We struggle through bye rounds in both codes; while south Londoners enjoy strawberries and cream and the French enjoy their champagne cycling.
Given all the hours of darkness it feels only appropriate that we use this time productively to view as much cricket, rugby union, golf, cycling, F1, soccer, tennis, basketball, ice hockey and whatever else we can find.
So with almost three months of winter ahead of us, it's time to take stock and get a little giddy at what's to come.
The Majors: US Open June 13-16, Open Championship July 18 - 21, PGA Championship August 8 - 11
David Graham: In the company of Hogan & Trevino
It is only apt that we start with the current event on our global sporting tour. At the very course where Australian David Graham played one of the finest rounds of gold Ben Hogan had ever seen. Where there are no flags on the sticks, but wicker baskets. At the course where the aforementioned Bob Hogan won the US Open in 1950 the year after being hit by a bus. The same Merion East where Lee Trevino beat Jack Nicklaus in 1971 in an 18 hole playoff (Nicklaus was runner up to Trevino four times in majors).
This will be a test of the accurate golfer as much as the strong golfer. It will be a trip down memory lane, with the US Open switching from its traditional big open club to the smaller, less 'convenient' venue. If the rain stays away this will be a test for all golfers including the 8 Aussies!
The Ashes: July 10 - 14, July 18 - 22, August 1 - 5, August 9 - 13 and August 21 - 25
Ignore the form, David Warner Root-ing incident and all the fanfare in the build up and relish the thought of the Ashes, test cricket in its purest, finest form. Be it 5-0, 2-1 or 2-2, it's the Ashes, and we get the pleasure of watching, dissecting and discussing every decision, run and tweet that happens on tour. As Michael Clarke's back crumbles from supporting the weight of the Aussie batting line up, we will turn to Richard Hind's 'real openers'; Chris Rogers and Ed Cowan. These are openers with opening the betting foremost on their mind. Taking the shine off the new ball, lowering the moral of the opposing team and striving for a run rate of 2 an over. And while our bowling stocks might not have Warne, Gillespie or Kasprowicz McGrath, there is more than enough quality there to cover the stress fracture or two we pick up during the series.
And the good news if we lose? We only have to wait three months to get the urn back.
The Lions Tour: June 22 & 29, July 6
Oh we miss John....
Being a naive country boy from Tassie in 2001, where rugby was foreign to most, I never understood this tour. To me it was just a guise for the in form English team to tour once more.
Fast forward to today and the almost child like excitement of some of my co-workers. Between that and the selling out of tour games I have come to realise how big this tour is, and not just for the ARU bank account. Unlike 12 years ago there is no Johnny Wilkinson, but for that matter there isn't a George Gregan or Matt Burke, and there isn't much confidence from the locals.
But as with the Ashes, if we fail, the Super Rugby finals start at the end of July.
Tour de France: June 29 - July 21
Speaking of winter. The familiar site of Team Sky leading the way.
As you may have noticed earlier in the year I am rather fond of these three weeks. I don't cycle myself, I didn't ride more than any normal kid around the back yard and no one I knew particularly liked cycling. The origin of my fascination with the Tour is unknown, but what is known is that every July, France puts on the most viewed annual sporting event in the world.
If we thought last year was bad enough with the English bathing in Wiggin's and the Olympic success, then this year could be worse. With the Ashes, the Lions and Chris Froome all in ominous form, the English are as cocky as ever. Even so, this is the 100th running of the race that was founded to boost newspaper numbers and promises to be something special!
State of Origin: June 26 & July 17
Also known as rounds 2 and 3. As a Queensland supporter I can saw without doubt that the Maroons were thoroughly outplayed in game 1 and didn't deserve to win. That said, how someone can throw numerous pre-meditated punches to the head of an unsuspecting opponent and get away with it, before being glorified and applauded by the rest of his team mates, state and code supporters, goes to show why some think the NRL is so far behind the other codes, not in terms of the game itself, but its attitude and mentality.
We are surrounded by worthwhile causes such as 'one punch can kill', and live in a city where that week a young man was king hit for no reason, yet we say because this is Origin and he tackled dirty it's ok. Anyway, off the soap box now. Onto Suncorp Stadium for a Queensland win setting up the most fascinating game in 8 years.
World Cup Qualifier: June 18 (Confederations Cup 15-30th)
It won't quite be as dramatic as that night in November 2011 (still my number 1 sporting moment), but next Tuesday will shape the Australian sporting landscape for the next year. A win and we return to where many of us think we rightfully belong. However, we should not forget the achievement, nor the 32 years we waited for this back in 2006. It is still, as it was in those dreaded 5th place South American days, a tough process to get to the World Cup. As such, if we beat Iraq next week we should be grateful we are there.
Grand Prix's: British June 28 - 30, German July 5 - 7, Hungarian July 26 - 28, Belgium 23 - 25 August
A European summer wouldn't be complete without a lap around Silverstone or Spa. Two of the most famed races on the calendar book end the summer racing schedule (and the month long break). In what has been an exciting season, it is starting to look eerily similar to last year's final results, much to the disgust of my pre-season prediction. But anything can happen over the next few months, especially with another 8 races to come after this.
Wimbledon: June 24 - July 7
Is he smiling about winning or Andy crying?
Capping off our European vacation is the most fabled of all the events, Wimbledon. There are just as many questions as possibilities at the All England Club this year. Can Roger win one more? Will Nadal's knees hold up? Can Murray avenge the loss and tears of last July? Will Serena continue her amazing run after winning the French Open 11 years after her first win?
So many questions, but one thing is clear. On the night of June 30, we can celebrate the end of financial year in style by watching Wimbledon, the Tour and the British Grand Prix. Any money on Cavendish to win that day?
US Sports: NBA Finals & Stanley Cup - June
Spurs v Miami. The prince and the pauper. The glitz and glamour versus the tried and tested. The new big three versus the old big three. Patty Mills towel waving against Juwan Howard's high fives. This is the title that makes Tim Duncan one of the best five players ever or makes LeBron's season one of the greatest ever.
Currently it's 2-2 thanks to some Tony Parker heroics, two blow outs and the big three living up to their reputation today in San Antonio. As I wrote last week, the fan base is split between those that want to witness greatness in LeBron, or those that want to witness greatness in the Spurs 5 titles over 14 years.
Meanwhile game 1 of Stanley Cup just finished, becoming the fifth longest Stanley Cup game in history after going into triple overtime. Now I could go on about this but in a lockout shortened season, ice hockey deserves nothing more than a shortened mention.
We all want to witness greatness. We want to tell our children and grandchildren that we were there for it. We want to tell stories of Bradman, Tulloch, Laver and Ian Stewart as our grandparents did. We want to replicate our parent's tales of Senna, Seve, Meninga and Magic. It's why every new champion, number one draft, group 1 winner or first time major winner is the next big thing. It's the driving force behind the overuse of champion, legend, superstar and worst of all thegreatest of all time in the media. It's the reason we compare Federer to Laver, Woods to Nicklaus, LeBron to Jordan, Phelps to Sptiz and Sugar Ray to Mayweather. We feel compelled to believe that we are watching something truly special. That we are witnessing will be something worth telling people about.
Is 17 in total better than the slam 7 years apart?
For this generation, my generation, it is why Federer, Woods, Vettel, Black Caviar, Warne and Messi are all so important. As grand slams, spring carnivals and world cups pass we hope once more that they can add to their list of accomplishments so our case strengthens, so that our stories to be retold get that little bit better. We don't want to tell our grand kids about the third best batsmen of the 2000's or the boxer who almost never lost. We want to tell them as we are walking along a fairway, "I saw Tiger Woods break Jack Nicklaus' major record". As we hit a volley back over the net we want to tell them about the great Roger Federer and how he made it to ten straight grand slam finals. As we bowl to them in the backyard we want to say how effortlessly Ponting scored or how far Warne spun it. All of which leads to my point for today. When the Miami Heat take on the Indiana Pacers today it will test the theory of greatness, and it is only fitting that the man who we are all witness to is behind it. Even before he was an NBA player, LeBron Raymond James was the next Michael Jordan. He was anointed King James before he'd won an MVP or a ring. As the years passed, the hype built, the stories unfolded and the man became more of a story than a player. But between the headlines, the disappointment (for some) and the fanfare, lurked one of the most talented and powerful athletes our generation, or any generation has seen. At 6' 8" (2.03m) and 250lb (113kg) he has the speed of Folau, the strength of Inglis and the touch of Federer.
Despite this, the only thing the sporting world focuses on, wrongly or rightly, are his titles. It's not his skill or talent, but the titles that many of us use to determine if he is the greatest of all time. In the same way Mark Webber is judged by his lack of world championships, not the fact he is one of only 3 Australian's to win a Grand Prix, let alone 9. It's Cadel Evans being criticised for a bad Tour after winning the year before. It's Sam Stosur 'crashing' out of the French Open in the third round. Deep down it's not that we are disappointed in the result, it's that we wanted to see them do so much more, so we could say we saw it.
How can we evaluate one against the other when we didn't see both?
If only we were to take a step back and enjoy what James, and all those like him, achieves every day. On the court we should marvel at Federer's technique and Nadal's precision, not wonder if their best days are behind them. This July we should be in awe of a Tour de France hero, the Australia II of our generation, instead of wondering why he isn't winning again. As Hawthorn and Geelong go about their winning ways we shouldn't compare them to the Lions, Hawks and Demons of old, but enjoy watching these teams at their peak, proving that there is something close to perfect football.
So tomorrow, when LeBron's Miami, take on my team from Indiana, do I side with the team I loosely follow, or do I side with the possibility of witnessing greatness? It is the same question we will all ask ourselves many times as a sports fan. And if you are anything like me, we all want to witness.
- the memory to Fabio Casartelli and Tom Simpson
