Biggio’s Farewell

While I am sitting here watching the final Astros game of the season as well as Craig Biggio’s last game, I can’t help but reminisce about the 20 years that Biggio has played for the ‘Stros. As I said in an earlier post, I was a mere two years out of high school when he started in 1988. My husband and I were married in 1991 and we have been watching Biggio, Bagwell and the Astros the whole time.

The farewell today was quite moving.  It all ends with 3,060 hits after 20 years with the same team.  It is rare that a baseball player plays his entire career with the same team.  Craig Biggio is a great all-around guy and will be missed by many.

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Best of luck to Craig Biggio and his family!!!

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Related Links
Biggio plays final game against Braves - Sports Network
Biggio getting the fondest of farewells - Houston Chronicle
Biggio catches as Astros top Braves 3-2 - Houston Chronicle
Astros give Biggio big sendoff -  Astros.com

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Biggio’s Retirement

Craig Biggio announced yesterday that he would be retiring at the end of the 2007 season. This does not come as a huge surprise to me, especially after he obtained his 3000th career hit a couple of weeks ago.

I remember very clearly when he started with the Astros and made his 1st Major League hit. I was barely two years out of High School.

To top off his big day, he lifted the Astros to a win over the LA Dodgers by belting a GRAND SLAM.  Wow!!!  This is one hell of a player.

 

Baseball will be losing one of the best and most upstanding players of the game. It is definately the end of an era.  Good luck to Craig Biggio and his family.

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Related Links
Biggio announces retirement, effective at the end of 2007 season
Grand day all around for Biggio
Don’t look for another one like him

Biggio’s Milestone

I love baseball and have been watching the Houston Astros since I was a kid. Craig Biggio reached a major milestone last night against the Colorado Rockies by getting his 3000th hit. He even went on for 3001 and 3002. I completely believe that it could not happen to a greater guy. He has been an outstanding player and has shown great sportsmanship for his entire 20-year career.

Below are some links that I have gathered about his great endeavor.

Biggio reaches 3,000-hit milestone
Biggio’s come a long way to No. 3,000
Teammates laud Biggio’s persistence
Biggio shares moment with Bagwell
Astros’ Biggio Joins the 3,000 Hit Club
Five-hit game makes Biggio 27th player with 3,000

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Way to go Biggio!!!

Houston Area Bicycle Rides - 2007

Below are some of the area bicycle rides for 2007.

Katy Ram Challenge - 4/15/07
MS 150 — Houston to Austin - 4/22/07
Beauty & the Beast — Tyler - 4/30/07
Spindletop Spin — Beaumont - 6/9/07
Tour De Braz — Alvin - 6/11/07
Paws & Puddles — LaMarque - 6/23/07
Century Buzz Bike Tour — Clute - 7/28/07
Midnight Bike Cruise — Woodlands - 8/12/07
Moonlight Ramble — Houston - 10/29/07

This post will be updated as I run across more information.

2006 Tour De France Debacle

The RoadBikeRider Newsletter said it best: “The Landis doping accusation has been a nightmare for cycling.”

I have been following cycling and the Tour De France for a few years now and am having trouble expressing my disappointment in words. All I can say is “What a shame…”. I guess there are people who will do anything to stand in the shoes of Lance Armstrong.

If Armstrong ever doped (which I do not believe he did), he was really good at never getting caught. All of these stories about positive tests 5-7 years ago can’t be proven, it is just some people’s way of making Armstrong look bad.

Maybe someday, when all of the atheletes who take performance enhancing drugs are suspended, we will have something to truly cheer for.

[-- Related Links --]
Synthetic testosterone found in Landis’ system
Bigger Breasts, More Testosterone

Tour De France 2006 - Final

It is official - Floyd Landis has become the third american to win the Tour De France and he did it after everyone had written him off after a very bad Stage 17 (see previous post on this subject).

The first american was Greg Lemond who won the Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990 and of course, the second was Lance Armstrong who dominated the tour from 1999-2005 with an unpresedented seven wins. Not only did Floyd Landis win the Tour De France this year, but he did it in what appears to be complete agony due to his hip problems. I really hope his hip surgury does not keep him out of cycling because he has shown much promise.

Until next July….

[-- Related Links --]

American Landis Wins Tour De France
Landis Picks Up Where Armstrong Left Off

Tour De France 2006

American cyclinst Floyd Landis (Phonak) has made history with his spectacular comeback in stage 17 of the Tour De France. After stage 16, everyone was saying he had no chance of even being in contention for the win. Now it is in the headlines once again…that he is one of the favorites to win the Tour De France.

A Landis victory would be sweet after american Lance Armstrong’s seven consecutive victories. I really believe, Europe was glad to see Lance go, so they might have a chance to have a winner again. I bet they are pretty upset at the thought that another American could take the prize yet again.

Other top American’s in the tour include Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner), George Hincappe (Discovery), Dave Zabriske (CSC).

[-- Related Links --]
FloydLandis.com
Tour De France Home
Article: Collapse in Yellow - Landis Loses Lead and All Hope of Victory

Upcoming Houston Area Bicycle Rides

Below is a list of some Houston area bicycle rides. I know there are more rides, but I do not think the organizers have pinned down all the dates yet.

April 2006
Sunday, 04/02/2006 — 4th Annual Katy Ram Challenge (Katy, TX)
Saturday, 04/08/2006 — Brookwood Spirit Rally (Brookshire, TX)
Sunday, 04/09/2006 — Space Race (Webster, TX)
Saturday, 04/22/2006 — BP MS150 (Houston-Austin)

May 2006
Saturday, 05/06/2006 — Shiner Bash (Houston-Shiner)

June 2006
Saturday, 06/10/2006 — Spindletop Spin (Beaumont, TX)
Sunday, 06/11/2006 — Tour De Braz (Alvin, TX)

July 2006
Saturday, 07/29/2006 — Century Buzz (Clute, TX)

October 2006
Sunday, 10/29/2006 (2:00 AM) — Moonlight Ramble (Houston, TX)

Happy Riding…