This is what annoys me....

[betagirl]

This was posted in the Chicago Tribune "blog" that this putz maintains. Unfortunately I think his lack of attention span and appreciation for the sheer difficulty of riding 2200 miles in 3 weeks reflects most of the over-hyped BS going on in the US from Lance's success. Most people who are "fans" have no concept of the sport. I'm not trying to be a bike snob here, but this pissed me off:

Eric Zorn's Notebook

July 11, 2005
TOUR DE FARCE

Enough already with the Tour de France.

It happens too often -– every year -— for an event that drags on more than three weeks, but the worst part is, it’s not a proper race!

It’s a series of little races – time trials, even, in some cases – that almost completely lack the “hey, let’s all race around France and see who gets to Paris first” spirit and drama suggested by the name of the event.

It’s as though the Chicago Marathon were a bunch of 3- to 4-mile races spread out over nine days.

A real Tour de France wouldn’t have to be a Cannonball Run of crazed endurance. There could still be 21 days of racing. Each day, however, they ought to have a staggered start so that the leaders get an actual lead instead of simply a lead in the calculation of cumulative time.

This would make it difficult to impossible for “teams” of riders to work together to help their best rider, but who cares? Teams are antithetical to all forms of racing except relays.

An actual bike race around France might be interesting enough to watch every year. But unless you’re a cycling freak, the Tour now languidly unfolding is a dud that can't end soon enough for me.

[spazzdog]

And this is Zorn's "short" bio:

Eric Zorn is a 1980 graduate of the University of Michigan where he was a senior editor at the Michigan Daily and a creative-writing/English Literature major. After serving a four-month internship at the Miami Herald, he came to work at the Chicago Tribune in the summer of 1980. After five years as a feature writer and radio columnist in the Tempo section he moved to the metropolitan news staff, where in late 1986, he became a news-feature columnist.
That column, Hometowns, gradually evolved into the commentary column that bears his name. It runs Tuesdays ,Thursdays and Saturdays on the front of the metro section.
He is a co-author of the 1990 book, "Murder of Innocence," an exploration of the life and tragic rampage of Winnetka schoolhouse killer Laurie Dann.
Zorn, his wife Johanna (an executive producer at WBEZ-FM, Chicago's public radio station) and their three children live on the city's Northwest Side.

spazzdog

[betagirl]

I really like how he doesn't even have his real work email address on his page. Way to hide behind an AOL address: ericzorn@aol.com

10 bucks he doesn't check it.

[Trek420]

20 bucks he doesn't ride

[RoadRaven]

Wow... I read the first few lines and then said to the family - you have to listen to this guy!

It has to be one of the more ignorant things I have seen in some time


In terms of spectator interest...
- (the millions by the sides of the roads (eg 1/2 mill in Germany stage), the TV spectators/coverage, the advertising dollars etc etc -
... this event is the single BIGGEST annual sporting event in the world

In fact, it is my understanding that it is only surpassed in interest and dollars by two other events - the Soccer World Cup and the Olympic Games - both every four years

As for Eric Zorn... I wonder when the aliens will be returning to remove their probe!

[nuthatch]

Well, he certainly got alot of people to read his column, didn't he!! What a dingleberry!

[betagirl]

Thanks for the insight Mr. Ed.

[Geonz]

Yea, it's dull for **him** - therefore it's stupid. Forget the rest of the world - they don't exist. Couldn't be *him* that's too dull to contemplate something more complicated than a marathon, or to look deeper into it.
I reckon he needed a column topic and spewed this one out to get the assignment done - or maybe he wanted to be a shining example of an "ugly american," looking down (his nose) on others and telling them how to do things.

[bikerchick68]

As for Eric Zorn... I wonder when the aliens will be returning to remove their probe!

ROFLMAO! HAHAHHAHAHHHAAA... omg.. that is the quote of the day...

I'm assuming this is one of those "opinion" columns... so pretty much fluff... these guys TRY to annoy people... their entire for existence is to get people thinking, debating etc...

yep, he's a schmuck!