Armstrong, Williams and NYC Baseball.

Base10 is watching the Mets v. Atlanta at this moment and the teams are tied. Alas, there was a rain-out on Friday and that game was postponed until September 13 (when it may mean nothing). The Mets lost 5-2 last night after a complete collapse of their bullpen in relief of Al Lieter. This team really needs an infusion of pitching relief. There are many aspect of this team that have great potential. Matsui and Reyes are the players of the future. Some say they should switch position.

Although Base10 is a Mets fan, our cousins in the north played Boston yesterday in a great game. Boston won in the bottom of the ninth, 11-10 and the game included a bench-clearing brawl. Tonight's game should be good too.

There is bizzarre news from professional football today. Ricky Williams, the sometimes controversial running back for the Miami Dolphins, has announced that he is retiring from the NFL. Williams is only a five-year veteran. Williams informed the Dolphins of his decision and boarded a plane to Asia. Commentators are speculating on the cause. Some point to a rumor that Williams tested positive again for marihuana and this led to his retirement. Base10 finds this hard to believe since this would have been his second offense but would have involved a fine rather than a suspension. Base10's personal belief is that given Ricky's previous mental health history, perhaps he has simply forgotten to take his meds. There is of course a middle ground that you have to respect. Williams is arguably the best running back in the game right now and a few more seasons like his last two and he would have been Hall of Fame bound. But it is also clear that he could not take the constant and intense pressure that comes with the job. Not everyone is cut out for this. If Ricky William's retirement is a reasoned decision to go out on top while preserving his mental and pysical health and quiting a job he clearly never really enjoyed, then Base10 really reaspects that. But I still think it's the meds.

Meanwhile back in France, Lance Armstrong has won his sixth consecutive Tour de France. The only thing left is what does Lance do now? It is possible that Lance will skip the Tour de France next year and concentrate instead on other races. Indeed one of the knocks on Armstrong is that while he has dominated the Tour he has ignored other important races. It is a little similar to a tennis player winning the US Open six consecutive times but not seriously competing in any other major. This decision by Armstrong would have many good effects. First, the Tour de France would actually be very exciting. Top contenders like Tyler Hamilton, Jan Ullrich and others would get a day in sun. In addition, other major races like the Tour d'Italia, the Tour of Spain and Paris-Robaiux would benefit from Armstrong's presence and might serve to popularize the sport in the US. It is a shame that Armstrong will not compete in the Olympics and would be unlikely to compete four years hence. The only thing he lacks (and seemigly the only thing that US fans understand) is an Olympic Gold Medal. Well, never sell Lance short--if it's possible to do in four years, Base10 bets that is what he will set his sights on.

- posted by Base10 @ 2:33 PM