George Hincapie, formerly one of Lance Armstrong's top teammates, has grabbed control of the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.

The Tour de France is now considered completely wide open after a large number of riders were banned from the event for using illegal substances.

Hincapie said he feels strong and is in very good shape. He is considered to be one of the top contenders.

Hincapie is not known as being a good climber ...]]> 7/3/2006 7:54:37 AM /blog/archive/2006/jul/3/hincapie_gains_yellow_jersey/2048.asp /blog/archive/2006/jun/30/scandal_hits_tour_de_france/1997.asp

Just before the Tour de France is set to begin, Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso have been barred from the competition.

The two riders were always Lance Armstrong's main rivals and were expected to be the favorites this year with Armstrong retired.

It is the biggest doping scandal to hit cycling in years, and tour officials are committed to cracking down on it.

The two riders are among more than 50 cyclists indicted in a Spanish ...]]> 6/30/2006 3:07:43 PM /blog/archive/2006/jun/30/scandal_hits_tour_de_france/1997.asp /blog/archive/2006/jun/30/holyfield_planning_another_comeback/1991.asp

Boxer Evander Holyfield is planning to make a comeback and return to the ring on August 19 against Jeremy Bates.

Holyfield says he is very excited to get back in the ring and finish off what he started.

By the time he gets back in the ring, it will have been almost two full years since the 43-year old last fought.

He had lost his last three fights and was no longer allowed in the ring ...]]> 6/30/2006 3:04:14 PM /blog/archive/2006/jun/30/holyfield_planning_another_comeback/1991.asp /blog/archive/2006/jun/21/de_la_hoya_to_sit_out_remainder_of_2006/1898.asp

Boxer Oscar De La Hoya is not retiring but has decided that he will not box for the rest of 2006.

De La Hoya believes he will fight again and hopes it will be next May against the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He said he is leaning against retirement because boxing is just what he does and something has still loves to do.

De La Hoya is looking to just fight one more time, and the ...]]> 6/21/2006 4:35:35 PM /blog/archive/2006/jun/21/de_la_hoya_to_sit_out_remainder_of_2006/1898.asp /blog/archive/2006/jun/8/ravens_tickets_on_sale/1617.asp

With the recent acquisition of Steve McNair, the Baltimore Ravens finally have a quarterback to go along with some talented receivers, a solid running game and their nasty defense.

The Ravens have to be considered serious Super Bowl contenders, and Great Seats has tickets available for you to be a part of a memorable season.

Tickets are available to all of the Ravens preseason and regular season games for the upcoming 2006 NFL season.

Don't ...]]> 6/8/2006 7:22:31 PM /blog/archive/2006/jun/8/ravens_tickets_on_sale/1617.asp /blog/archive/2006/jun/6/grateful_dead_keyboardist_found_dead_apparent_suicide/1588.asp The Grateful Dead's keyboardist, Vince Welnick, had died at the age of 55, of an apparent suicide.

The Dead's official website states: "His service to and love for the Grateful Dead were heartfelt and essential. He had a loving soul and a joy in music that we were lucky to share."

Welnick was the fourth Grateful Deadkeyboardist to die since 1973. The original keyboard player, Ron "Pig Pen' McKernan died of stomach hemorrhage from drinking, followed ...]]> 6/6/2006 10:43:12 PM /blog/archive/2006/jun/6/grateful_dead_keyboardist_found_dead_apparent_suicide/1588.asp /blog/archive/2006/jun/6/famed_musician_billy_preston_dies_at_55/1579.asp Billy Preston, once dubbed "The Fifth Beetle' died yesterday in Arizona, apparently a delayed result of a failed 2002 kidney transplant.

Preston, who was on dialysis and had been in a coma since the surgery, was admitted to a hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz. Over the weekend.

In addition to his work with the Beatles, he wrote Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful' as well as working with Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and ...]]> 6/6/2006 10:19:37 PM /blog/archive/2006/jun/6/famed_musician_billy_preston_dies_at_55/1579.asp /blog/archive/2006/jun/6/duke_lacrosse_will_be_back/1563.asp Duke University has announced that it will reinstate its lacrosse team for the upcoming season.

Duke President Richard Brodhead said that there will be strict rules and sanctions in place to closely monitor the team after three players were accused of rape.

The president said that it would be wrong for lacrosse not to come back, as it gives the players a chance to learn from their wrongdoing, which is an important part of the educational ...]]> 6/6/2006 10:31:37 AM /blog/archive/2006/jun/6/duke_lacrosse_will_be_back/1563.asp /blog/archive/2006/may/31/armstrong_cleared_of_doping_allegations/1477.asp
A French sports newspaper reported back in 1999 that six urine samples from Armstrong came back positive for EPO, an endurance-boosting hormone.

The Dutch investigation team is recommending a tribunal to look into possible legal and ethical violations by the World-Anti Doping Agency to make sure none of these mistakes happen again. ...]]> 5/31/2006 9:29:51 AM /blog/archive/2006/may/31/armstrong_cleared_of_doping_allegations/1477.asp /blog/archive/2006/may/29/virginia_wins_ncaa_lacrosse_championship/1456.asp
The Cavaliers rolled through the regular season and were really only challenged in one game by Princeton. UMass kept it close and trailed by just one at the end of the first half but could not keep up with UVA in the second half.

Virginia dominated the ...]]> 5/29/2006 6:11:32 PM /blog/archive/2006/may/29/virginia_wins_ncaa_lacrosse_championship/1456.asp /blog/archive/2006/may/28/michael_jackson_hits_the_stage_in_tokyo/1403.asp
Jackson also stopped at an orphanage in Tokyo, and will travel to Singapore, China, Shanghai and Hong Kong during the six-day tour.

The King of Pop, who has been living in the Middle Eastern kingdom Bahrain, also ...]]> 5/28/2006 2:38:20 PM /blog/archive/2006/may/28/michael_jackson_hits_the_stage_in_tokyo/1403.asp /blog/archive/2005/oct/4/terrapins_upset_cavaliers_45_33/21.asp Maryland Terrapins surprised everyone this weekend with a 45-33 upset of the #19 Virginia Cavaliers in front of a sold-out crowd at Byrd Stadium for Homecoming.

Maryland was paced by RB Lance Ball's 163 yards on the ground to dominate Virginia's highly regarded defense en route to the victory.

Danny Melendez finished with 125 yards receiving, and despite throwing an interception that was run ...]]> 10/4/2005 5:16:47 PM /blog/archive/2005/oct/4/terrapins_upset_cavaliers_45_33/21.asp /blog/archive/2005/sep/30/os_lose_home_finale_to_yanks_8_4/17.asp The Baltimore Orioles home finale ended the way it should: an 8-4 loss to the New York Yankees.

The Yankees struck for four runs in the first inning off SP Erik Bedard, including a three-run homerun from Jason Giambi, and the Orioles were in catch-up mode the rest of the way.

Another poor performance from Bedard has to concern Orioles fans.  Bedard hasn't been himself since returning from the disabled list because of a sore ...]]> 9/30/2005 6:32:39 PM /blog/archive/2005/sep/30/os_lose_home_finale_to_yanks_8_4/17.asp /blog/archive/2005/sep/27/terps_come_up_with_big_win_at_wake_22_12/8.asp Maryland Terrapins picked up a big road victory to even their record at 2-2 on the season after a 22-12 win over Wake Forest.

The Terrapins rode a strong defensive effort and a break-out peformance from RB Keon Lattimore to get back to the .500 mark.

Next up for the Terps are the rival Virginia Cavaliers, who will come into College Park undefeated. Maryland will have ...]]> 9/27/2005 5:47:25 PM /blog/archive/2005/sep/27/terps_come_up_with_big_win_at_wake_22_12/8.asp