Phantom Reflections

Next Couple Days Packed with Cool Stuff

This is a big big big big weekend folks. For me, I get to run another 10 mile race this weekend after doing a half marathon last weekend. Am I nuts? Hey, you read this blog so you should know. I just checked all the things coming up that hit high on my coolness meter, and here they are:

Tonight, Friday - The Premier of Season 3 of DR. WHO
I've been a huge fan of DR. WHO since John Pertwee manned the TARDIS. And let's be honest: if Russell T. Davies did a mini-series based on John Cage's 4' 33" I think we'd all watch. Check your local listings, but look for it between SARAH JANE and BSG.

Sunday April 20th - Women's Olympic Marathon Trials
A day before the Boston Marathon, beantown will be hosting the Olympic trials for the women runners. I get nervous just thinking about how nervous I would be.

Monday April 21st - The Boston Marathon
It's a tough race, and a lot of people say it's one of the toughest in the world. Maybe ... maybe not, but I know that it's damn hard to get in. Only uber fast runners need apply, unless you are a member of a sanctioned running club or something like that. Still, I don't think there is any runner on the planet who doesn't dream about running over Heartbreak Hill in Newton. All I can say is practice that speed work.

Monday April 21st - The Tour of Georgia
We can thank the Tour of Georgia for starting the trend of American cycling tours that has led to the Tour of Missouri and the Tour of California. The bad boys of Rock Racing are in and it should be a fun week.

Di Luca Cleared of Doping Charges

Link: VeloNews | Di Luca cleared | The Journal of Competitive Cycling.
Wow! Danilo Di Luca has been cleared:

The Italian Olympic Committee’s court of last instance acquitted defending Giro d’Italia champion Danilo Di Luca of doping charges on Wednesday.

Prosecutors representing the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) had been seeking a two-year suspension for Di Luca after he returned an “anomalous sample” following the 17th stage of last year's Giro in May. Had he been found guilty of a violation, his Giro title, too, would have been negated.

"Finally justice has been served," Di Luca said. "It's true I lost a year of my life but now I'm only thinking about riding and winning. Victories are the best cure for unhappiness.

"I have suffered a lot during the last year during which I have tried to avoid a lot of the criticism. Now I'm back in a happy mood. "

And on doping allegations, Di Luca added: "There was no proof and there could not have been any."

That's good news for cycling. I just wonder what will happen next, meaning will he bring any civil charges against anyone? This will hopefully make it easier for cyclists to get acquitted of trumped up charges. Now let's clear Floyd.

'The Sarah Jane Adventures' Rocks!

I have to say that I LOVED watching THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES premier on Friday night. It was light, fun, entertaining, and I enjoyed all the characters. I know it's aimed at kids, but since I stopped growing up around age seventeen it was right up my alley.

With TORCHWOOD, DR. WHO, and THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES, Russell T. Davies could be said to be the Gene Roddenberry of our generation.