The year Andy Schleck wins 2 Tours de France in one year?

Andy Schleck today was in yellow. Indeed he was declared the winner, just now in 2012, of the Tour de France 2010, after Alberto Contador lost his victory to the "contaminated beef" from a corrida doping case against him. For Andy Schleck it is a bitter victory, because he was denied the usual glory, thrill and fun of touring the Champs Elysées  in 2010 as the winner. And his fans were deprived too. His victory will forever carry a footnote, saying "after the disqualification of Alberto Contador".

The way Andy Schleck got the yellow jersey is almost a metaphor for what is wrong with 2012, and why he might not win 2 Tours the same year: This was a victory on paper by the end of the day, and the day he was clad in yellow, Andy Schleck was not a champion in top form. Actually for both Schlecks, the 2012 season has not been brilliant. But it shouldn't be that way. On paper they are two athletes  who have great talent  and can do very well. They have on paper the strongest team. They have on paper the infrastructure to support many victories, the most gifted and capable professionals managing and caring for the team. So where are the results, where is the problem?

It is somewhat unproductive and unhelpful to blame the Schlecks. To a certain point. The blame has actually to be something else, such as tough love. That's what they need, and tough love here it is:

You both are extremely gifted. So was Charly Gaul in the 50ies. Individually, that is great to have. But without a team all three of you could only be prima donnas. When Charly Gaul got this, after many glorious feats in several Tours without a final victory, and was accepting the evidence and listened to advice, that added up to his 1958 victory. His path to victory was talent, training, suffering and self-discipline. Those are all the physical and the mental ingredients that makes a winner.

 I was always convinced that in modern cycling, apart from the good luck to have great natural talent, all other attributes get acquired by methodological and science based physical and mental training. You do have the magical manager who set the scene for Lance Armstrong's many victories. Don't fight the magic. Physical preparedness can be fixed. Be careful of the emotional side and the negativity of conflict. It messes up the whole team.

Emotional preparedness comes with adhering to the idea that you have the best managers, that you are motivated, that many people contributed to get you the best team, that the Luxembourg  public will again camp on the slopes of the Alps to fire you up. But you have to be motivated, stick together with that team, work hard, persevere, suffer, impress the competition not only with your skills, but also your willpower.

No one can answer questions like these more accurately, and hopefully honestly than you: Did I prepare thoroughly for the 2012 season, do I want very badly to win, not only for me, but my team and my public, did I get out of recent competitions too easily, was I at the limit of my suffering, do I have the discipline to follow my preparation plan, even when no one is watching and lastly can I really subdue my tendency to reject authority and submit to the directions of a manager? All it takes is a quiet moment of deep honest if not brutal introspection.

You have it all together on paper, an exceptional configuration of talent, team, management and  public support. That doesn't happen very often. You are in such a privileged situation to see this through. It now is up to you to have the willpower to make it happen. 

Memorial Day 2012

This man holds a particular place in my heart.  Though I was barely born when SSgt Turner died in Luxembourg, it seems to me that I met him often, at least every Memorial Day since the day in 1992 when I met his 5 sisters when he was honored in his Pennsylvania hometown. It was so overwhelming, that I went to visit his grave in Luxembourg.

     

                             SSgt Day G. Turner

     I want to share again my old blog from 2009: http://egidethein.blogspot.com/2009/05/memorial-day-2009.html

Visiting last year.

American Cemetery and Memorial, Luxembourg - Hamm.

Here is Day Turner's official story. It can be found on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_G._Turner

Turner joined the Army from Nescopeck, Pennsylvania in September 1943,^[ and by January 8, 1945 was serving as a Sergeant in Company B, 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division. On that day, in Dahl, Luxembourg, Turner led his squad in the defense of a house against an intense German attack. Fighting hand-to-hand at times, the squad successfully repulsed the Germans and took dozens of prisoners. Turner was later promoted to Staff Sergeant, but was killed in combat exactly one month after his actions in Dahl. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on June 28, 1945 and buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial.

Medal of Honor Citation:

He commanded a 9-man squad with the mission of holding a critical flank position. When overwhelming numbers of the enemy attacked under cover of withering artillery, mortar, and rocket fire, he withdrew his squad into a nearby house, determined to defend it to the last man. The enemy attacked again and again and were repulsed with heavy losses. Supported by direct tank fire, they finally gained entrance, but the intrepid sergeant refused to surrender although 5 of his men were wounded and 1 was killed. He boldly flung a can of flaming oil at the first wave of attackers, dispersing them, and fought doggedly from room to room, closing with the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand encounters. He hurled hand grenade for hand grenade, bayoneted 2 fanatical Germans who rushed a doorway he was defending and fought on with the enemy's weapons when his own ammunition was expended. The savage fight raged for 4 hours, and finally, when only 3 men of the defending squad were left unwounded, the enemy surrendered. Twenty-five prisoners were taken, 11 enemy dead and a great number of wounded were counted. Sgt. Turner's valiant stand will live on as a constant inspiration to his comrades. His heroic, inspiring leadership, his determination and courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest tradition of the military service.

Who’s Afraid of Greater Luxembourg?

An American friend, living in France sent me this New York Times opinion piece written by an author in London. Who’s Afraid of Greater Luxembourg? is a well crafted and interesting article about Luxembourg, its history and its present influence.

The author, Frank Jacobs, based in London, is very well informed and documented, and has some creative ways to picture key aspects of Luxembourg.

One goes back to the early speeches of Luxembourg Board of Economic Developemnt officials: Luxembourg is punching above its weight. The expression has recently become famous on Danish TV, where a reporter had stitched together almost a dozen of President Obama's comments about countries "punching above their weight". It has now become a category that includes everyone doing just great, like all students in a US elementary school.

I liked the "Bonsai State", though it may attract the ire of more sensitive compatriots. It well describes size, beauty, the need for daily care, survival and fragility.

We know De Gaulle's Europe from the Atlantic to the Ural. If after the punches, Luxembourg gains weight, will that be Lotharingia, or even Luxembourg from the North Sea to the Adriatic, the old buffer, a wedge between Merkozy?

When Juncker does a Krecké, Bloomberg is reporting.

SchaeubleCondemns Discord ’Nonsense’ Following Euro Spat

But of course, I have to say even more. How often do we catch political personnel blabbering? Including Maria Fekter AND Jean-Claude Juncker. I have heard from him: premature comments, one thing and its contrary, even a defense of lying to the public. But I'm never really annoyed. I think it is quite entertaining.

Frankly, if I had been the designated spokesperson at that Copenhagen meeting, I would have been annoyed too by blabbering Maria. But not to the point of ruining Maria Theresia's Dirndl and annoying everyone else who potentially had an interest to listen to Mr Juncker. Those are the journalists, whose mission is to report from any sources they can get. They traveled to Copenhagen to attend the press conference. If I were them, I would next time organize the venue for the press conference and invite anyone of the Finmins who wants to spill the news. I bet, many would show up.

Those interested are also the markets, that want to gauge Europe's chances to revive that monument of historic mistake that is the Euro, by preventing other PIIGS to go Greek.  But the markets stayed unemotional while witnessing the biggest news coming out of Copenhagen: Mister Euro was annoyed. The markets didn't budge. How annoying!  Actually to me that is an interesting climax for Mr. Euro's credibility in the markets. Here are my historic observations:

At first, several years ago, no one would listen to Mr. Euro, because no one knew who he was.

Then people and markets  got acquainted with that newly found Euro voice appointed by his peers, and markets tried to react to his every utterance.

After too many blabbers, the markets disregarded.

Then they advised, that maybe the blabbering was more or less reporting insider knowledge from secret talks by Merkozy, who by definition would not call a press conference about secret talks. So markets listened again.

Yesterday we are back to "So what!" However, the markets have discovered the girl in the Dirndl: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-30/europe-to-cap-rescue-lending-at-800-billion-euros-fekter.html

Let me prescribe him some anger management, trying to stay calm at home and fix Luxembourg's problems. After Mr. Krecké, Luxembourg's former Ecomin who recently left the Grand Duke stranded in the midst of  a State visit in Vietnam, this is the second incidence of heroic chivalry demonstrated by a member of the Luxembourg government in 4 months. Extrapolating, we are expecting 4 more before the year is over. The Press can't wait!

I hear that finally the homework in Copenhagen has not been completed. Yves Mersch is still strolling on the ECB waiting lists.

HuffPost: A Review Of James Hormel's "Fit To Serve"

Oh no! There go another two square miles!


The Huffington Post reviewed former US Ambassador James Hormel's Memoirs: Fit To Serve.


Quote; "From the summer of 1999 to the end of the Clinton Administration in 2000, James Catherwood Hormel was America's ambassador to Luxembourg, a tiny duchy of 997 square miles wedged between France, Belgium, and Germany."


We must protest. After France, Germany and Belgium, the Huffington Post amputates Luxembourg by two square miles. It is 999, (nothing to do with Mr Cain). Imperialism born again. In retaliation, we are going to amputate the Huff by two letters: the Hufington Pot.


The F and the S will only be restored after publication of a duly corrected article in the Hufington Pot, at the very same spot as the original . And by the way, that "tiny duchy" is a Grand Duchy. Take that Mr Been.

Luxembourg Pledges to Liberia’s Airport Security

Read this quote in the Daily Observer, Monrovia: 


"The Deputy Prime Minister of the Duchy of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, has pledged his country’s commitment to helping with the training of Liberian airport security personnel."


In fact Luxembourg is buying votes in Monrovia and Conakry for a silly ambition to get elected member of the UN Security Council. As if it mattered to anyone else as to a couple of zealous diplomats.


Here is the quid pro quo:


"Diplomatic sources told our reporter on Capitol Hill Tuesday that the Duchy of Luxembourg is seeking support from African countries to back its bid for a position on the UN Security Council."


Sad and embarrassing for a country that used to follow principled policies. But hey, we just borrowed Euros 1 billion. We can buy all the votes we need!


World! Vote for Australia! 

When Luxembourg imported manufacturing jobs, 50 years ago.

                   
             An old souvenir from the New York Times, 1959!

On October 29, 1958, Mr. Joe E. Gurley, a U.S. citizen residing in Luxembourg, sent a letter to the Luxembourg Government in which he urged the Minister of the Economy to consider a new economic policy. He proposed creating a task force, which he called "Board of Industrial Development" or "BID" with the goal of attracting U.S. investment and industrial corporations to Luxembourg. His argument was that a diversification of industrial activities in Luxembourg was probably desirable, even necessary, and that the U.S. industry, in the year 1958, swept into the emerging Common Market. Joe Gurley, who possessed the art of communication, brought up the argument that there was competition between the Benelux countries to bring U.S. investors into Europe. The score in this race was at that time: Netherlands 87, Belgium 38, Luxembourg 0. Read more: ..