Lance Mackey was first to arrive Sunday in the coastal town of Unalakleet, and he was uncharacteristically confident about his status in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Mackey pulled into the Alaska town about 260 miles from the finish shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday. Despite frigid temperatures and blustery winds, hundreds of people gathered next to a frozen slough near the town to watch Mackey arrive.
Mackey, usually very negative about his chances until he is across the finish line in Nome, exuded confidence about his five-hour lead.
"Awesome, absolutely awesome," he said, when asked how his team did on the 90-mile stretch of trail from Kaltag. "I've got zero issues."
When asked what he was thinking about on the trail, Mackey said, "What color truck I want."
The winner of this year's Iditarod will get $69,000 and a new truck.
POLITICS AND BASEBALL
Chavez stands up for Ordonez Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez came to the defense of Magglio Ordonez, slamming Venezuelan baseball fans who booed the major leaguer at the World Baseball Classic.
Chavez lamented that his friendship with Ordonez prompted catcalls from the mostly Venezuelan crowd in Miami during the team's 3-1 victory over the Netherlands on Saturday, saying fans who booed the Detroit Tigers slugger "have no shame." Ordonez appeared in a television ad last month supporting Chavez, who is very unpopular.
