Hard to beat Tour for drama

Unlike any other sporting event, the drama outside the arena of play is the same -- if not more -- than what is going on in the race: Which riders are cheating? Did the leader pass his latest drug test? Who will prevail in the mountains? Who will wear the green jersey -- given to the best sprinter -- or the polka dot jersey (the best climber) and the white jersey (best young rider)?

This year, we get the added bonus of watching Armstrong, who returned to the Tour after missing three in retirement, who is proving he hasn't lost much at the age of 37. There is also the inner team battle between Armstrong and the teammate Alberto Contador, generally considered the next great rider in professional cycling.

I think a large part of the appeal, to me, if the fact that it is just plain different. With the traditional football, basketball (and hockey), baseball seasons in this country, it's just nice to watch something completely different -- and just as exciting. While most of the stages on the flatlands can be kind of boring, the final few miles of the race -- and the last several hundred meters -- can be some of the most exciting moments in sports. Watch as the peleton, like a speeding locomotive, catches riders who went on a breakaway hours before. Wednesday's finish was a classic. While Great Britain's Mark Cavendish, who appears to be the best sprinter in the world right now, won his fourth stage of this year's Tour -- giving him eight stage wins in the last two years, tying a record -- he was pushed to the very end by American Tyler Farrar, beating him by the length of his bike. I just find the tactics very fascinating, watching the various teams jockey for position to set up their sprinter for a victory. Watching Cavendish's Team Columbia-High Road team lead the pack, going as hard as they can for as long as they can before peeling off and letting the next teammate take the lead, all to set up Cavendish for the win.

It may appear that the "grand races" like the Tour de France are all about the individual, but if you watch enough, you will see that bike racing really is a team sport. It's also interesting to watch lesser riders sacrifice themselves for the good of the team leader, instead of going for glory themselves.

Truly, a remarkable event.

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It's time something be done about all-star voting for Major League Baseball. The fact that San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval didn't make the team is a head scratcher.

Sandoval, along with a handful of others, were part of an online fan vote to choose the final All Star for each team. Apparently, the Philadelphia Phillies did a better job marketing their guy, Shane Victorino, who won the fan vote by a slim margin. He was helped by fans, which included a trio who spent over 50 straight hours clicking for Victorino. He also went door-to-door in South Philly drumming up votes.

Whatever happened to one person, one vote? I know it's a popularity contest and in the grand scheme of things doesn't matter much, but the stuffing of ballot boxes always sits uneasy with me, no matter what the vote.

I know if you go to games, you can get stacks of all-star ballots and vote as many times as you want. That's fine. It should be your prerogative to punch little tiny paper circle out of a ballot if you actually attend the game. But sitting at home and clicking your mouse button thousands of times? Just doesn't seem right.

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I've gotten some positive feedback (I know, shocking) about my column the other day about the Pacific Coast League exhibit at San Francisco International Airport.

Some have wondered how they can see the display if they're not flying. You're in luck. The exhibit, located in the international terminal, is in the ticket-counter area, so you don't have to worry about going through security. When you go into the terminal, there are three or four floors. Just find the ticket-counter area -- which I believe is the second floor -- which are between two, long walkways. The PCL exhibit is on the side with the food court and stores.

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Congratulations to Richard Alden, who aced the third hole at Crystal Springs Golf Course Wednesday afternoon. He hit the hole-in-one on the 161-yard hole using a 5-wood.

Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.