Did Armstrong try to silence Landis?

[thehog]

It looks that way. And who came up with a word Floyd-brication? That's bad.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m..._as_lance_armstrong_accusations_if_court.html

 

[Beech Mtn]

Interesting article - thanks for posting. So, LA apparently called Bahati. Wonder if he was trying to get Floyd fired or what?

Also, it was very cool of Floyd to purchase his recording device at RadioShack.

 

[JRTinMA]

It looks that way. And who came up with a word Floyd-brication? That's bad.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m..._as_lance_armstrong_accusations_if_court.html

It sounds more like Mr. Johnson tried to silence Floyd the way this story reads. I see a third hand account of a phone call from LA to Bahati, is that your basis for the surmising LA tried to silence Floyd. I have no doubt he tried but I don't see it in the article, maybe he was calling Bahati to discuss the hip-hop culture. Floyd-brication, it really is not smooth.

 

[Race Radio]

It should be no surprise that Johnson once again tried to impede an investigation into Armstrong's doping

http://www.sfweekly.com/2005-09-07/news/tour-de-farce/

 

[Dr. Maserati]

It sounds more like Mr. Johnson tried to silence Floyd the way this story reads. I see a third hand account of a phone call from LA to Bahati, is that your basis for the surmising LA tried to silence Floyd. I have no doubt he tried but I don't see it in the article, maybe he was calling Bahati to discuss the hip-hop culture. Floyd-brication, it really is not smooth.

That is the big news in this article - Landis spoke with USA Cycling CEO Steven Johnson as far back as 2007.

"It was your perception, having had these discussions, that USAC would not undertake any internal investigation or review."

Of course Johnson was made CEO in a deal Thom Wiesel didwith USAC:

Johnson, the widely quoted USA Cycling official, appears to suffer from a serious conflict of interest between his organization's role as a doping cop and his personal, institutional, and financial ties to the diversified business world surrounding Lance Armstrong. Financier Weisel is Armstrong's longtime patron, employer, investment manager, and friend. Weisel is also Johnson's longtime patron and friend and the founder of a nonprofit entity that employs him.

 

[Berzin]

...maybe he was calling Bahati to discuss the hip-hop culture.

Sources close to the investigation have stated that after Bahati was contacted by Armstrong, he decided to hire legal representation. When word got back to Armstrong as to who would represent Bahati in any future legal proceedings, the phone calls mysteriously stopped...

"The Law Office of Brother Mouzone...when mere intimidation is not enough".

 

[thehog]

For me the interesting point is the recording device that Floyd used. As I suspect this plan was devised way back in January. Its my understanding that several conversations have been recorded. I've heard but cannot confirm that wiretaps were put in place well before March. Floyd's recordings can't be used for much as both parties need to agree to the recordings but the taps will prove interesting. Especially those recorded in Europe. The case is becoming more significant not just because of Armstrong but finally the networks throughout Europe that provide the substances may finally be broken down. Something WADA could never do on their own. Expect to see strange results in the Vuelta. Bravo Floyd. Thank-you.

 

[Berzin]

What about this quote from attorney Brian Daley?

This doesn't seem an odd thing to say if Armstrong never doped?

"Assuming you were able to prove these allegations, what federal law has been broken?" asks Daly, who says Landis is lying.

 

[bianchigirl]

Floyd-brications is pathetic - must try very much harder. The 'Master of Disaster' seems rather poor value for money to me.

 

[happychappy]

Brother Mouzone is awesome.

 

[papisimo98]

. Expect to see strange results in the Vuelta.

Were today's results strange?

 

[thehog]

Were today's results strange?

Yes blood transfusions and EPO are only used for short prologue team time trials. They have no use in mountain stages or in 3 week Grand Tours to aid recovery.

Grow up.

 

[Barrus]

To be quite honest, some of these theories, as real as they may see, make it appear as though Flayd Landis was completely paranoid. It really makes you wonder what the reason for that may be. Did he either expect some form of retribution from Armstrong, or is it a sign of his mental distress.

 

[pedaling squares]

Floyd-brications is pathetic - must try very much harder. The 'Master of Disaster' seems rather poor value for money to me.

Yes it is pathetic. But those pathetic labels have been working wonders for Fabricat-ani for years now. His target media tend to love them. Sorry, that's the best I could do with a hyphen. I'm new at this. Flab-iani? Fabio-ani? I give up.

 

[jimmypop]

To be quite honest, some of these theories, as real as they may see, make it appear as though Flayd Landis was completely paranoid. It really makes you wonder what the reason for that may be. Did he either expect some form of retribution from Armstrong, or is it a sign of his mental distress.

Nice one. Not too subtle, though.

I think he knew what to expect as retribution given the sport he chose to participate it. Unless, of course, you think the Omerta in cycling is fictional.

 

[Tubeless]

To be quite honest, some of these theories, as real as they may see, make it appear as though Flayd Landis was completely paranoid. It really makes you wonder what the reason for that may be. Did he either expect some form of retribution from Armstrong, or is it a sign of his mental distress.

Landis is probably no different than many other whistler blowers. In the beginning, you're all alone, and fearful how the "system" you're about to expose will respond to or retaliate at you. It's hard to trust anyone. Landis did not have legal representation at the time. He knew or suspected that people at US Cycling were friendly with Armstrong. Same with the TOC organizer. Armstrong was known to attack his accusers. You start recording conversations for defensive purposes - he probably had no plan to try to use the recordings for any sort of prosecution, as inadmissible as they would be anyhow.

You've got to hand it to Landis for being brave enough to go through this. He must have been very nervous and all the labeling of being an untrustworthy character must have been hurtful. His cycling team folded. Slowly, things started working his way, the press took notice, the proscecutors who were already looking at Rock Racing got interested. It's hard to see how Landis would have or could have done this with any sort of a plan in mind. Motivation was probably half revenge, half to clear his own conscience after concluding that lying and sticking with the omerta paid no dividends in his case.

 

[Barrus]

Nice one. Not too subtle, though.

I think he knew what to expect as retribution given the sport he chose to participate it. Unless, of course, you think the Omerta in cycling is fictional.

Yes, but my point was more about what kind of retribution, as he no longer had a real career in cycling, and nothing to lose in a lawsuit, also there is no way Lance could start a lawsuit, just based on his opinion that Landis his statements are lies.. Thus the regular types of retribution by LA would not be applicable to Landis.

And my god, am I now seen as a Lance fanboy trying to attack Landis? Some of the people here are getting stranger and stranger. I am just intrigued by Landis his state of mind and his thought process in this case.

 

[The Hitch]

Expect to see strange results in the Vuelta. Bravo Floyd. Thank-you.

What do you mean by this. Who do you expect to perform above/ below par and why?

 

[The Hitch]

To be quite honest, some of these theories, as real as they may see, make it appear as though Flayd Landis was completely paranoid.

To merge these 2 together.

" Just because you are paranoid, doesnt mean somebody is not out to get you" Lester Freamon

 

[scribe]

What do you mean by this. Who do you expect to perform above/ below par and why?

In his fantasy world, the doping has officially stopped.

 

[Tubeless]

Yes, but my point was more about what kind of retribution, as he no longer had a real career in cycling, and nothing to lose in a lawsuit, also there is no way Lance could start a lawsuit, just based on his opinion that Landis his statements are lies.. Thus the regular types of retribution by LA would not be applicable to Landis.

And my god, am I now seen as a Lance fanboy trying to attack Landis? Some of the people here are getting stranger and stranger. I am just intrigued by Landis his state of mind and his thought process in this case.

Landis' accusations were particularly hurtful to Armstrong. First hand knowledge from a close former teammate. Doping, bribery, shady financial dealings. It's possible to push someone over the edge and cause them to do something irrational or illegal - certainly anything to hit Landis back with either figuratively or literally. And if there was any direct or indirect communication between Armstrong and Landis after the emails were shared privately, that could have been the message - or more likely implied. Can't blame Landis for being paranoid in that situation.

 

[Oldman]

That is the big news in this article - Landis spoke with USA Cycling CEO Steven Johnson as far back as 2007.

Of course Johnson was made CEO in a deal Thom Wiesel didwith USAC:

It'll be interesting to see how Johnson fares if he is found to be actually supressing an investigation. He's supposed to be paid with public dollars, not defending a private interest and could be a pressure point to get at Weisel. It's long been suspected but not brought up in mainstream press that he may as well be a direct employee of Tailwind.

 

[TexPat]

Landis' accusations were particularly hurtful to Armstrong. First hand knowledge from a close former teammate. Doping, bribery, shady financial dealings. It's possible to push someone over the edge and cause them to do something irrational or illegal - certainly anything to hit Landis back with either figuratively or literally. And if there was any direct or indirect communication between Armstrong and Landis after the emails were shared privately, that could have been the message - or more likely implied. Can't blame Landis for being paranoid in that situation.

I fully agree with that last line.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

What do you mean by this. Who do you expect to perform above/ below par and why?

Simple:
Those who perform above expectation are suspicious.
Those who perform below expectations are suspicious.

As this covers everyone - it is easy to claim 'I told you so' in future posts.

I enjoy most of 'The Hogs' posts - but this with 'wiretaps' that may or may not have happened and some of these in Europe has exceeded the limit of the forum 'Passport' - his subscription is due.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

It'll be interesting to see how Johnson fares if he is found to be actually supressing an investigation. He's supposed to be paid with public dollars, not defending a private interest and could be a pressure point to get at Weisel. It's long been suspected but not brought up in mainstream press that he may as well be a direct employee of Tailwind.

Kindof sortof;

Here is the SEC info from a Weisel company 'Weisel Thomas Partners Group' - and Mr.Johnson gets a few mentions there.

As the Wire has been mentioned previously:
Det. Lester Freaman.
"You follow drugs, you get drug addicts and drug dealers. But you start to follow the money, and you don't know where the fuck it's gonna take you".