3 reasons to watch the Tour de France

Before this year, I never payed too much attention to the Tour de France. To me, it was just some bike race that was always on Versus during the summer. However, during the last few weeks, I've really gotten into it and have found it very interesting to watch. If my vague testimonial isn't enough to convince you to watch the Tour de France, maybe one of these three reasons will do the trick:

1. It's on all day, every day

this is a slight exaggeration, but each stage is on tv for about two-and-a-half hours. This is pretty comparable to any other sporting event except for the fact that the tour doesn't have half-time. Also, because there are twenty-one stages, that's a solid three weeks of action. If you're looking for something to fill the void of summer boredom, spending 2-3 hours a day for three weeks watching the tour is a great option.

2. Crashes

People watch NASCAR for wrecks, NHL for fights, and boxing/UFC stuff for knock-outs. These certainly aren't the only reasons that people watch these sports, but they can't be ignored or discounted. Similarly, crashes are an ever-present threat and attraction of the Tour de France. While I hope and pray that all the participants in the tour finish safely and crash free, if a massive pileup occurs or a rider takes a wide turn and ends up flipping over his handlebars, I can't say that I'll look away... and I'll probably watch the replay.

3. There's no other sports on

the NFL, NBA and NHL seasons are over (hopefully the NFL and NBA come back next season) so baseball, golf and tennis are the only other sports to watch. If these three sports leave you feeling unsatisfied, maybe you need some Tour de France in your life.

If none of these reasons can convince you, you're probably doing something else meaningful with your summer. For the rest of you people, make sure to check out the Tour de France... it's not like you have anything better to do.

p.s. Lance Armstrong is not racing this year so stop asking about him.

Seattle Supersonics

In case you didn't know, the Portland Trailblazers weren't always the only NBA team in the Pacific Northwest. Until a few years ago, Washington was home to the Seattle SuperSonics. Although I didn't follow this team as closely as others, I always admired and respected their history and great players. Players like Gary Payton, Ray Allen and Shawn Kemp (especially Shawn Kemp) brought a distinctive attitude and swagger to the court.

Unfortunately, because of a complicated series of events, the Seattle SuperSonics are now the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although there were numerous factors and interests at play in the situation, the Seattle basketball fans ultimately lost a legacy and a well-loved team.

For anyone who remembers the SuperSonics and what they meant to the NBA, or anyone who wants to learn more about the team and what happened to them, I recommend watching this documentary. It's kind of a downer, but it gives an interesting perspective on the politics of basketball, the spirit of Seattle, and the effect that sports can have on a city.