Monday Morning Hangover

Alberto Contador will probably be viewed as a villain in Austin. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)

Cycling

After Alberto Contador took the yellow jersey, Lance decided to back off

Armstrong didn’t appear disappointed as he conceded the yellow jersey. It was more matter-of-fact. ‘I will be happy to be a domestique,’ Armstrong said. ‘I went as hard and as deep as I could. I didn’t have it today.’ Armstrong, who finished ninth in Sunday’s stage — 1 minute, 35 seconds behind the new leader — promised not to attack Contador as the Tour finishes its final week with three more mountain stages before a ceremonial ride in Paris next Sunday. The peloton will rest today. ‘There’s been a lot of drama between Alberto and me,’ Armstrong said. ‘But at the end of the day, we sit as a team.’ “

Minor League Baseball

Round Rock Express 7 – Oklahoma City Redhawks 4

“It’s been a dominant yet frustrating season for Norris, but one that got a little brighter Sunday after a 7-4 win over the Redhawks. He was good, not great, but his teammates gave him the rare luxury of a margin for error. ‘Bud pitched well,’ Express manager Marc Bombard said. ‘He wasn’t in trouble that often and when he was he made some big pitches. We did a good job with the bats in taking walks and allowing them to make mistakes.’ Norris (4-8) had lost four straight decisions despite allowing only 10 runs in 25 innings during the streak. A major reason for the losses: the Express have simply not scored runs for him. Round Rock (41-53) has averaged just 1.5 runs a game in Norris’ eight losses. Only three times did the Express score more than one run, including a 1-0 loss at Memphis July 6.”

Pro Soccer

Austin Aztex 0 – 1 Minnesota Thunder

“After a first half of buildup, the Minnesota Thunder offense secured a goal late in the first half that turned out to be enough to earn a 1-0 victory against Austin on Saturday night. Both teams started off sluggish as the first 30 minutes proved to be a battle of midfields as neither team was able to consistently link up with its attackers.”

Cruz Azul 1 – 1 Tigres

“With 90 minutes of play yielding only a 1-1 draw and travel arrangements not allowing time for penalty kicks, the inaugural Copa Aztex started with a bang but ended with a whimper, as Cruz Azul took home the trophy following a coin flip. That’s a big difference from the way the game started. Both sides were on the board within 11 minutes in an explosive opening salvo. Five minutes later, Tigres won a penalty, only to see it brilliantly saved by Cruz Azul goalkeeper Yosgart Gutierrez. It was everything the 7,044 fans could have wanted from the game, which had a party atmosphere in the stands throughout the event as the play on the field dropped a couple of notches in quality in the second half. ‘It was a good game,’ Cruz Azul coach Enrique Meza said through a translator. ‘It’s a shame we had to settle for a coin toss, but I think the public enjoyed the game.’ “

High School Basketball

The Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Basketball game is tonight at the Erwin Center

“[Dax] Hill, who will play on the North all-star team, was among Central Texas’ top basketball players last season, but he left his biggest mark by winning a state swimming championship. He will swim for the University of Texas. The 6-foot-9-inch Jefferson, a member of the All-Central Texas team, has signed with Baylor. He will play for the South squad. Joining Hill on the North team is Heath Hopson, a 6-4 forward from Lampasas. Among the top players from around the state who will compete are Argyle forward Caden Dickerson (Western Kentucky), Burkburnett forward Aaron Thompson (Sam Houston State), Tenaha guard Marlon McClure (Texas-El Paso) and Strake Jesuit guard Steven Rogers (Rice).”

Pro Football

A former Bobcat sprinter is in the af2 Arena Football league

“He was better known for his ability to speed around the track, winning the Southland Conference title in the 400-meter dash in 2004. But his speed and an uncanny ability to catch a football made Gill a needed commodity in the af2 league (the minor-league version of the Arena Football League). Gill was recently assigned to the Milwaukee Iron Gill by the af2 league office, Head Coach and Director of Football Operations Gary Compton announced today. Gill was expected to sign with the Utah Blaze of the AFL before the league decided to forego the 2009 season.”