For those with access to Dutch TV: Bruyneel tonight

[Cloxxki]

Johan Bruyneel was just announced as guest in "the evening stage", presented by Le Armstrong lover extraordinaire Mart Smeets. The love is someone mutual I think, although Lance has been known to let Mart work for his affection, always aware of the slightest word of vague critique expressed by him. Smeets and his crew seem to religically wear the yellow wristbands, as they have since the very first day.

Other table guest will be a Dutch polical TV reporter, after paliamentary formations just failed. Not one to persue the truth in sports either, at least for tonight, I suppose

I thought it might be nice to make some predictions of how the conversation will go. The questions that will be asked, left out, and even avoided.
It's a live program.

 

[Cloxxki]

It was mostly praise for the Great Texan, his victories, his manlihood.
How wonderful His atempt to try and do something in the getaway. That he radio'd he was F*cked well before the finish, knew he'd not win. So unique, this His last Tour.

Phinney was mentioned as the greatest talent ever.

Bruyneel: (loosely transcripted) Alberto Contador and I still speak, we've had our problems, but we speak now and then professionally.

Some talk about ethics in cycling, to wait or not to wait. Lance and Jan footage, of course.

They brushed on some admitted doping cases of '77-'78 which are nor long forgiven, Bruyneel didn't take part in this topic.

Bruyneel doesn't understand why Lance is still doing all this. The hard training, when he's got nothing lef to prove. He just seems to like to be involved in the competition, be apart of it all.

Mart : Lance is going to be Governor of Texas, and after he accomplished that, he'll go for the White House.

They all agree Lance is oh so intelligent as a man, a leader, and as a rider.
Mart does note that what Lance wants is power.

Did they miss any relevant current topic for an interviewer and the Lance&Co. directeur sportif? No, I think they covered it all.

 

[MacRoadie]

They all agree Lance is oh so intelligent as a man, a leader, and as a rider. Mart does note that what Lance wants is power.

You left out "Lance makes Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi look like Bonnie & Clyde."

 

[editedbymod]

The Hogs tells the story about the missing bikes:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ifIySctyQiVFRZ1Dh5lzWLWtlm0QD9H309N80

 

[powerste]

The Hogs tells the story about the missing bikes:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ifIySctyQiVFRZ1Dh5lzWLWtlm0QD9H309N80

And has "no idea" where the money went. I wonder who does then . . .

 

[Cloxxki]

I don't understand. All this effort to create black money.

Lance is so rich, he can fund a team program from his daily cash withdrawal. He doesn't need to show Uncle Sam receipts for the $100,000 he weekly spends on ho0kers and sports car upgrades, does he? Private expenses, period.

Was it against Lance's sense of righteousness, for him to fund the team program? Should the sponsors pay up, knowlingly or unknowingly? Lance can be a bit stubborn when he sets his mind on something...

 

[Mongol_Waaijer]

Mart Smeets is the reason why any Dutch person with a brain watches cycling on Belgian TV.

He really is tragic.

The only interesting thing about him is how much fatter he gets during the tour with all that wine on the table, and menu gastronomique in the afternoon.

He almost does seem sexually attracted to Lance, mirroring his movements, and blushing when lance makes a jocular personal remark.

It is deeply worrying.

 

[Mr.38%]

...with all that wine on the table...

Right, in Belgium there was Champagne on the table after the first stages.

But you're right. I spent holidays in Kamperland, watched Adam Hansen creeping along behind the bunch and Sporza was best channel to watch hands down. In fact I often watch Eurosport on TV but have Sporza on the speakers via the net. "Vive le velo" is mandatory as well.

 

[Cloxxki]

Right, in Belgium there was Champagne on the table after the first stages.

But you're right. I spent holidays in Kamperland, watched Adam Hansen creeping along behind the bunch and Sporza was best channel to watch hands down. In fact I often watch Eurosport on TV but have Sporza on the speakers via the net. "Vive le velo" is mandatory as well.

Champagne is considered very healthy even an aid in weight loss, I believe.

Smeets' books do tell stories about the reporter in the Tour, the wine, the food, the heat, the lack of sleep, as well as toilets and showers. Not a healthy life.

I have grown to like the voices of the NOS commentary, and learned to have my own take on the things they say.

 

[poupou]

I don't understand. All this effort to create black money.

Lance is so rich, he can fund a team program from his daily cash withdrawal. He doesn't need to show Uncle Sam receipts for the $100,000 he weekly spends on ho0kers and sports car upgrades, does he? Private expenses, period.

Was it against Lance's sense of righteousness, for him to fund the team program? Should the sponsors pay up, knowlingly or unknowingly? Lance can be a bit stubborn when he sets his mind on something...

I do believe that Lance is stingy : he didn't pay all his teammates (Vasseur),
he didn't help Landis,...

 

[Cloxxki]

I do believe that Lance is stingy : he didn't pay all his teammates (Vasseur),
he didn't help Landis,...

Likes to live life on the edge, I suppose... Landis could have been silenced long ago, by just keeping him part of his entourage. I for one am glad it went differently.

 

[Benotti69]

I do believe that Lance is stingy : he didn't pay all his teammates (Vasseur),
he didn't help Landis,...

there were stories that those who left the team did not get their share of the winnings...

 

[The Hitch]

is this mart sweets the same guy who did the tdf team presentation interviews. Cos those were horrible.

 

[Cloxxki]

is this mart sweets the same guy who did the tdf team presentation interviews. Cos those were horrible.

Gets a senior discount on the local bus even if the driver doesn't recognizes him. About 6ft6, used to shoot hoops when the word didn't exist yet.

As much as the Lance Love makes me puke (already did when I was a fanboy), I must say Mart is a very gifted broadcaster and novel writer. He's become a charicature of himself though.

 

[Bala Verde]

Mart tries to blend in at the Winter Olympics...