Good Reads:

Tour de France
There is an abundance to Tour stuff at the Austin American Statesman.
Bob Ryan calls Armstrong the best contemporay athelte.
Bernie Lincicome writes a good column, despite a horrid headline, that includes this line:
He has changed for us the Tour de France from a quirky European event, like the running of the bulls or caber tossing, into something of consequence.
Sally Jenkins' Monday column is about history, while Sunday's Column is a look at Lance the person from Jenkins, who wrote two books with him.
FROM MONDAY:
Ten minutes before Armstrong went out to warm up for the final time trial of the Tour in Besancon, he checked his Blackberry, and read a message from a friend at Nike, Scott McEachern.
That day, a man had gone into a Niketown store and purchased 500 yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets, which are being sold as a fundraiser by Armstrong's cancer foundation. The goal was to sell them for a dollar apiece and raise $5 million, but 8 million have been sold.
 
The gentlemen who bought a case of 500 had bought them for this reason: His father had just died of cancer. While he was alive, the father had watched every minute of the Tour. His son wanted to give the bracelets out at the funeral.
"I read that literally 10 minutes before I got on the bike to warm up," Armstrong said. "Do you think I was a little motivated?"

 
Bob Ford caps a strong run over covereage with Monday's column.

John Eisenberg weighs in.
Miscellaneous:
Posnanski on training for Olympic security.
Burwell on Bonds.
Norman Chad is launching the Indoor Life Network.
LeBetard follows up on Ricky Williams.
Kevin Scarbinsky on the focus on Sylvester Croom.
The King of Lastname consanants writes about Matt Morris.
Mitch Albom comes off pompous.
More La Salle stuff from Philly.com.
Sean McAdam thinks Saturday's brawl could ignite the Red Sox.