...And we have a winner!

Almost two years after the race, Andy Schleck has finally won the Tour De France.

According to the interviews he wasn't very excited.

He didn't get to be in front of the crowds, get kissed by the girls or get a victory lap on the Champs D'Elysses.

Although he doesn't count it as a real victory there is something ironically sweet about it since Contador had taken advantage of Schleck's mechanical problems to take the jersey away.

Contador being found guilty of illegal substance abuse and consequently banned from competition is no big surprise, but one gets dizzy at the process and time involved to reach the final decision.

The officials are doing what they can  to clean up the sport, Contador must have had millions and millions on the line.  Why else would he risk "eating tainted meat" in the first place?

Sports and money, and money and sports, what's the answer?

The athletes take the chances they do because there are millions on the table, the administrators want a  clean competition to ensure that millions stay on the table (to say nothing of keeping a cushy job).

I always end up thinking of the comment Howard Cosell made.  When asked for a strategy to control the money poured into athletics he said; "Don't watch."

Ain't gonna happen.  I'm not much of a fan, but I'll watch it again, except the weekend of the British Open golf championship.  Who knows, I may buy something from Radio Shack this year also.

When I think of all the problems in professional sports, all I can do is look in the mirror.