Cycling is entering a clean chapter, says Phil Liggett

[Ninety5rpm]

“People still think that cycling is at a cross roads,” Mr Liggett told The Courier at the ORICA-GreenEDGE team launch in Melbourne yesterday.

“The sport has already moved on,” he said.

“The kids that are coming through are not like the old guard where, quite clearly, they were virtually all

taking drugs, which was a level playing field in their minds.

“I think that’s gone.”

How does somebody like that sleep at night?


http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2010489/cycling-is-entering-a-clean-chapter-says-phil-liggett

 

[the delgados]

If Liggett really cared about clean cycling, he'd keep his yap shut.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Bwaaahahhahahahah! Phil is still well regarded at the uci.

"Cleanest peloton ever" may get to be a drinking game yet!

Maybe mods should merge this with another Phil thread??

 

[movingtarget]

Phil doesn't know what he believes or hides his real thoughts. What he is doing is making the UCI and Amaury happy. At least Harmon sticks it up certain riders for doping. He might play favourites but he has a long memory for a few and does not try and paint a pretty picture of the sport as it stands.

 

[BroDeal]

Liggett is one of those guys who falls for an email scam from Nigeria then the next month falls for one from Zimbabwe that uses almost exactly the same wording.

 

[Bosco10]

Phil does have a good broadcasting voice, though.

 

[Berzin]

This coming from someone who until the very end defended Armstrong and US Postal, then acted surprised at the level of doping that was revealed.

As a commentator, he has the most experience. But he clearly doesn't know what's going on and never did, or he just played stupid all along for the sake of being a bandwagon hopper.

Either way his opinion holds no water, so no sense in making a big deal about it.

 

[Ferminal]

Yeh he's far more interesting when he just makes something up. That he thinks cycling has completely moved on is a valid opinion. Though you still have to treat the man as a spruiker, as he lost the benefit of the doubt on that one ages ago. Either that or he's borderline brain dead.

 

[mewmewmew13]

irritating to the utmost and can't believe he still can blather this with a straight face.

I need to ignore him

 

[Afrank]

Liggett is so out of touch with reality, he doesn't even deserve to be given any attention too.

And the things he says don't deserve to be regarded as anything but as comedy.

 

[MarkvW]

Phil Liggett is living proof that absolutely nothing has changed in professional cycling.

Keep up the bold-faced hypocrisy Phil!

 

[The Hitch]

Phil doesn't know what he believes or hides his real thoughts. What he is doing is making the UCI and Amaury happy. At least Harmon sticks it up certain riders for doping. He might play favourites but he has a long memory for a few and does not try and paint a pretty picture of the sport as it stands.

Unfortunately Harmon this year was replaced by single dumbest and least qualified person for the job they are doing, in the history of mankind.

 

[The Hitch]

irritating to the utmost and can't believe he still can blather this with a straight face.

I need to ignore him

No, the clinic needs to attack him.

For example, I see his twitter has a link to his wikipedia page.

A wikipedia page that reads like a personally written bio.

Theres nothing in there about the lenghts he went to defend Lance. Nothing about him appearing after USADA on a pro apartheid radio show saying that he had evidence that the fbi and aliens were paying everyone to lie about Lance. Nothing about him defending Landis even after the positive test with the wonderful logic "If Landis was doping why did he only test positive on only one stage." Nothing about the full bully mode "congratulations Ekimov on your gold medal" comment when Tyler testified. Nothing about him lying that he hadn't seen Lance in a year when the livestrong website had pictures of the 2 of them together at a livestrong fundraiser from the week before.

These are things that could be added.

Also any ****ed up organization that employs him also has twitter. Ive written tweets to itv cycling a few times. Might be futile but more people should let them know not everyone buys the ligget scam.

 

[Clausfarre]

The most uncritical commentator and Lance soldier has seemingly learned nothing. He should rewatch his own tours and listen to every silly statement he made.

If he could only acknowledge what he didn't know at the time AND realise he is talking out of his **** now... that'd be great.

Edit: you can't say ****?? Well, fudge me sideways!

 

[86TDFWinner]

If Liggett really cared about clean cycling, he'd keep his yap shut.

This. Especially with what's happened w/his support for Wonderboy, & his constant backtracking on the subject. I really think senility has finally kicked in.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

For context, Liggett said this AFTER the USADA Reasoned Decision came out, 10/15/2012:

“If he’s been taking drugs then of course it’s right [to sanction] but they still lack the absolute proof as far as I’m aware. I still am a supporter of Armstrong. Whatever way we look at it Lance has been good for the sport. No one can condone, if it’s finally proved, that he’s ridden his whole career on drugs. I had an email from an eminent scientist from the US yesterday. An SMS actually. It said if Lance Armstrong had taken the drugs outlined by USADA he’d have been dead ten years ago. He’s an eminent scientist and a very intelligent man. I don’t know his name, the SMS came from a secondary person.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/despite-usadas-evidence-liggett-remains-armstrongs-supporter

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Phil Liggett is living proof that absolutely nothing has changed in professional cycling.

Keep up the bold-faced hypocrisy Phil!

Correct. Same people, different spin. Still awaiting tangible evidence of change. Just low hanging fruits for now.

 

[Clausfarre]

For context, Liggett said this AFTER the USADA Reasoned Decision came out, 10/15/2012:



http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/despite-usadas-evidence-liggett-remains-armstrongs-supporter

Unbelievable!!! He just changed from a guy with zero credibility to a cartoon character! That quote is..... wow.

 

[Benotti69]

Why would Orica Greenedge allow a douchébag like Ligget at any team event?

Omerta lives. The culture of doping is healthy, fit and raring to go for the new season.

 

[movingtarget]

He talked about retiring years ago I think after the 2008 Tour and said he was losing his enthusiasm for the sport with the continual doping scandals. He actually did look shattered after he finally stopped supporting Armstrong and sounded it in interviews. Maybe he does believe in fairy stories ? But he must have one of the most recognizable voices in world sport for what it's worth. Even the bicycle ads he does remind me of the Tour.

 

[Wallace and Gromit]

Why would Orica Greenedge allow a douchébag like Ligget at any team event?

That makes it sound like he was a gate-crasher!

I suspect they invited him and paid him. Presumably as he's a "fan with a mike" and highly unlikely to ask any awkward questions, he's ideal for team event, which is a PR gig rather than an investigation or enquiry.

If Orica wanted to make the day an investigation they would presumably have slipped sodium pentathol in their riders' vitamin pills and invited Travis Tygart to do the Q&A session.

 

[Ferminal]

Travis Tygart fierce interrogator!

 

[simo1733]

No, the clinic needs to attack him.

For example, I see his twitter has a link to his wikipedia page.

A wikipedia page that reads like a personally written bio.

Theres nothing in there about the lenghts he went to defend Lance. Nothing about him appearing after USADA on a pro apartheid radio show saying that he had evidence that the fbi and aliens were paying everyone to lie about Lance. Nothing about him defending Landis even after the positive test with the wonderful logic "If Landis was doping why did he only test positive on only one stage." Nothing about the full bully mode "congratulations Ekimov on your gold medal" comment when Tyler testified. Nothing about him lying that he hadn't seen Lance in a year when the livestrong website had pictures of the 2 of them together at a livestrong fundraiser from the week before.

These are things that could be added.

Also any ****ed up organization that employs him also has twitter. Ive written tweets to itv cycling a few times. Might be futile but more people should let them know not everyone buys the ligget scam.

To be fair, I don't think Phil can remember what he was doing 5 minutes ago.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

For context, Liggett said this AFTER the USADA Reasoned Decision came out, 10/15/2012:



http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/despite-usadas-evidence-liggett-remains-armstrongs-supporter

Yea, I remember that quote. It shows an incredible amount of denial. He was back stroking because he knew that someone was going to bring up his other comment about how he would have to leave broadcasting if it were ever found that Lance doped. I really wish he'd honor his promise on that one.

 

[Benotti69]

That makes it sound like he was a gate-crasher!

I suspect they invited him and paid him. Presumably as he's a "fan with a mike" and highly unlikely to ask any awkward questions, he's ideal for team event, which is a PR gig rather than an investigation or enquiry.

If Orica wanted to make the day an investigation they would presumably have slipped sodium pentathol in their riders' vitamin pills and invited Travis Tygart to do the Q&A session.

No it sounds like the Aussie team dont give a fig for anti doping and hypocrites like Liggett.

They want to get maximum exposure and dont care who gives it.

Cycling has not changed it's spots.

Until cycling turns its back on those are part of the culture of doping nothing will change.