Is Walsh on the Sky bandwagon?

[thehog]

Forgot to mention how irritated I am with Sky's stupid "carer" moniker for the soigneurs.

How long until they refer to the domestiques as "race assistants" or "performance serfs"?

Still waiting for an "I like their credibility" from Walsh...

Mario Pafundi who is the lead "carer" at Sky was also the lead carer at Barloworld.

Join the dots on that one

 

[sniper]

Mario Pafundi who is the lead "carer" at Sky was also the lead carer at Barloworld.

Join the dots on that one

lead carrier, probably.

 

[ralphbert]

More and more it is looking like Walsh is staunchly anti-Armstrong rather than anti-doping

 

[Dear Wiggo]

More and more it is looking like Walsh is staunchly anti-Armstrong rather than anti-doping

He could get a job with USADA next

 

[thehog]

More and more it is looking like Walsh is staunchly anti-Armstrong rather than anti-doping

Not sure what he is. Maybe a bit thick?

Here's Walsh rewriting the Italian language.

Did anyone proof read this book? Kinda odd writing a book about a team and their attention to details when the book shows none!

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Not sure what he is. Maybe a bit thick?

Here's Walsh rewriting the Italian language.

Did anyone proof read this book? Kinda odd writing a book about a team and their attention to details when the book shows none!

Canio knew that his son would one day work for a team that did not even exist!?

Canio should buy lottery tickets if he isn't already filthy rich from his prescience.

 

[thehog]

Canio knew that his son would one day work for a team that did not even exist!?

Canio should buy lottery tickets if he isn't already filthy rich from his prescience.

True!

Gracie Papa?!!

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Perhaps he meant Gracie the BJJ experts from Brazil?

 

[42x16ss]

Not sure what he is. Maybe a bit thick?

Here's Walsh rewriting the Italian language.

Did anyone proof read this book? Kinda odd writing a book about a team and their attention to details when the book shows none!

I just threw up a little. So saddening to see this drivel coming from someone like Walsh

 

[Archibald]

here's a small story...
and here's a completely ridiculous conclusion I can draw from it...

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

We all seem to be a somewhat literate bunch in the Clinic.

Can anyone read this puerile drivel, and not think that it's nothing more than fan-fiction from an adoring pundit?

It's terrible.

Really terrible.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Good post hog, I skipped most of that BS part in the book.

So, a narcissist father [thinking of his own when his son is pouring his heart out] is in line with Team Sky years later? Team narcisSKY.

I think Walsh has written this book with covert messages

 

[rainman]

Extraordinary BS. Sounds like an excerpt from Pinnochio. Was his nose growing longer while he wrote?

 

[simoni]

I've not read the book other than the exerpts on here. I've listened to the podcast. I've read Seven Deadly Sins. Based on this, even beofre this sky book, I was of the opinion that he is a pretty poor writer.

Therefore, I don't think that Walsh is capable of telling us anything salient about Sky, positive or negative. It seems this book has been rushed out. Clearly he believes in Sky (and, lets face it, he will now know more about the team and people in it than anyone on here could hope to) but seems incapable of articulating it in a credible way.

I won't be reading it and most of what is on this thread is pointless and tells us nothing (because of Walsh's limitations as an investigator or writer). I'm still on the fence with Sky (I think there may be something going on but think its most likely due to lack of full oversight by apparently naive management rather than institutionalised doping) and hope that better writers and investigators than walsh continue asking the right questions.

 

[sideshadow]

Not sure what he is. Maybe a bit thick?

Here's Walsh rewriting the Italian language.

Did anyone proof read this book? Kinda odd writing a book about a team and their attention to details when the book shows none!

 

[Netserk]

Well he also thought Altopiano del Montasio was in the Apennines...

 

[The Hitch]

Well he also thought Altopiano del Montasio was in the Apennines...

Walsh was there + the clinic was not = Walsh knows more about it.

 

[JimmyFingers]

More and more it is looking like Walsh is staunchly anti-Armstrong rather than anti-doping

Interesting point: there's a definite personal edge to Walsh's pursuit of Lance. There's his anecdote about interviewing Emma O'Reilly in Ireland during the early part of one of the Tours and all he can think about if whether Lance has missed him and is wondering where he is. There is also an element of career building: Lance made Walsh, he's the reason he can sell books. It's certainly not his rather dubious prose. Now his crusade is being made into a film. Good times.

But that said he did go after Michelle Smith when no-one else was, and Stephen Roche and Christie and other athletes, so I don't think you can say he's only anti-Lance.

One thing I don't believe is that he would be supportive of Sky or Froome is he didn't believe they were clean though. I don't think he would lie for money, I don't think he needs the money if he's managed to sell the film rights to Seven Deadly Sins.

So maybe he's blind to what is right infront of his face. Maybe he's flattered by the attention from Froome to the same level he was irked by Lance's aggression towards him. I however do not think he is knowingly compromising his legacy by endorsing Sky and Froome i.e. he isn't covering for them, he isn't lying for them, he hasn't been paid to hide the truth and do a PR job for them all the while knowing there is doping behind the secenes. If he believed there was I think he would go after them, like he has in the past.

That said I agree with a lot of criticisms of his reasoning and in particular his writing style. But I do think he's being put on the spot as well. 'I believe Sky is clean' 'why?' 'because I've met them and like them and haven't found any evidence that they might be doping' 'why?' repeat ad infinitum. To me it just reads like he's voicing an opinion, he's not WADA, he's not the police or a lawyer or a member of the UCI, he's a journalist looking for stories.

 

[thehog]

Interesting point: there's a definite personal edge to Walsh's pursuit of Lance. There's his anecdote about interviewing Emma O'Reilly in Ireland during the early part of one of the Tours and all he can think about if whether Lance has missed him and is wondering where he is. There is also an element of career building: Lance made Walsh, he's the reason he can sell books. It's certainly not his rather dubious prose. Now his crusade is being made into a film. Good times.

But that said he did go after Michelle Smith when no-one else was, and Stephen Roche and Christie and other athletes, so I don't think you can say he's only anti-Lance.

One thing I don't believe is that he would be supportive of Sky or Froome is he didn't believe they were clean though. I don't think he would lie for money, I don't think he needs the money if he's managed to sell the film rights to Seven Deadly Sins.

So maybe he's blind to what is right infront of his face. Maybe he's flattered by the attention from Froome to the same level he was irked by Lance's aggression towards him. I however do not think he is knowingly compromising his legacy by endorsing Sky and Froome i.e. he isn't covering for them, he isn't lying for them, he hasn't been paid to hide the truth and do a PR job for them all the while knowing there is doping behind the secenes. If he believed there was I think he would go after them, like he has in the past.

That said I agree with a lot of criticisms of his reasoning and in particular his writing style. But I do think he's being put on the spot as well. 'I believe Sky is clean' 'why?' 'because I've met them and like them and haven't found any evidence that they might be doping' 'why?' repeat ad infinitum. To me it just reads like he's voicing an opinion, he's not WADA, he's not the police or a lawyer or a member of the UCI, he's a journalist looking for stories.

Excellent post and agree. Although the last line. I'm not sure he's looking for stories anymore. I think now he wants to be part of the story.

 

[BroDeal]

Due to size constraints imposed by the publisher, not all anecdotes made it into Walsh's book. He was heartbroken to be forced to leave this one out.

"As a young boy Luigi was fascinated by bike racing. He would watch races with his father on the family's telly, and the two would often travel to the Italian countryside and mountains to stand on the roadside, cheering the riders as they passed by in their colourful outfits. He had his heart set on becoming a professional racer. His mother, who was a devout Catholic like many Italians, had other hopes for her boy. She envisioned him growing up to be a priest. So one day Luigi asked his father what he should do. He did not want to disrespect his mother, but he loved cycling. His father told him, 'Follow your heart. Whether a champion or a gregario, you can still do good in this world, maybe even as much as a man of the cloth.' Luigi's mother was disappointed, but she she held her tongue and put her faith in The Lord.

"Luigi's mother's faith was finally rewarded when her son went to work for Team Sky. It was as though God himself and, perhaps, Jesus as well had guided her boy by giving him the cycling passion that would eventually see him work for a cycling team with a wholesomeness and piety would awe even the Saints."

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Interesting point: there's a definite personal edge to Walsh's pursuit of Lance. There's his anecdote about interviewing Emma O'Reilly in Ireland during the early part of one of the Tours and all he can think about if whether Lance has missed him and is wondering where he is. There is also an element of career building: Lance made Walsh, he's the reason he can sell books. It's certainly not his rather dubious prose. Now his crusade is being made into a film. Good times.

But that said he did go after Michelle Smith when no-one else was, and Stephen Roche and Christie and other athletes, so I don't think you can say he's only anti-Lance.

One thing I don't believe is that he would be supportive of Sky or Froome is he didn't believe they were clean though. I don't think he would lie for money, I don't think he needs the money if he's managed to sell the film rights to Seven Deadly Sins.

So maybe he's blind to what is right infront of his face. Maybe he's flattered by the attention from Froome to the same level he was irked by Lance's aggression towards him. I however do not think he is knowingly compromising his legacy by endorsing Sky and Froome i.e. he isn't covering for them, he isn't lying for them, he hasn't been paid to hide the truth and do a PR job for them all the while knowing there is doping behind the secenes. If he believed there was I think he would go after them, like he has in the past.

That said I agree with a lot of criticisms of his reasoning and in particular his writing style. But I do think he's being put on the spot as well. 'I believe Sky is clean' 'why?' 'because I've met them and like them and haven't found any evidence that they might be doping' 'why?' repeat ad infinitum. To me it just reads like he's voicing an opinion, he's not WADA, he's not the police or a lawyer or a member of the UCI, he's a journalist looking for stories.

Excellent post Jimmy. Bar the last sentence. Walsh 'selling'/telling Sky as clean does matter, he has 'authority' due to his past.

It is dissappointing a journalist with his credentials comes up with such a book. His book is the ultimate example of one of your favourite lines: you cant prove a negative

And yet he tries...

Due to size constraints imposed by the publisher, not all anecdotes made it into Walsh's book. He was heartbroken to be forced to leave this one out.

"As a young boy Luigi was fascinated by bike racing. He would watch races with his father on the family's telly and the two would often travel to races to stand on the roadside and cheer the riders as they passed by in their colorful outfits. He had his heart set on become a professional racer. His mother, who was a devout Catholic like many Italians, had other hopes for her boy. She envisioned him growing to be a priest. So one day Luigi asked his father what he should do. He did not want to disrespect his mother, but he loved cycling. His father told him, 'Follow your heart. Whether a champion or a gregario, you can still do good in this world, maybe even as much as a priest.' Luigi's mother was disappointed, but she she held her tongue and put her faith in The Lord.

"Luigi's mother's faith was eventually rewarded when her son went to work for Team Sky. It was as though God himself and, perhaps, Jesus as well, had looked out for her boy and given him his interest in cycling that would see him work for a cycling team whose wholesomeness and piety would awe even the Saints."

Thanks for spilling my coffee.

 

[The Hitch]

Interesting point: there's a definite personal edge to Walsh's pursuit of Lance. There's his anecdote about interviewing Emma O'Reilly in Ireland during the early part of one of the Tours and all he can think about if whether Lance has missed him and is wondering where he is. There is also an element of career building: Lance made Walsh, he's the reason he can sell books. It's certainly not his rather dubious prose. Now his crusade is being made into a film. Good times.

But that said he did go after Michelle Smith when no-one else was, and Stephen Roche and Christie and other athletes, so I don't think you can say he's only anti-Lance.

One thing I don't believe is that he would be supportive of Sky or Froome is he didn't believe they were clean though. I don't think he would lie for money, I don't think he needs the money if he's managed to sell the film rights to Seven Deadly Sins.

So maybe he's blind to what is right infront of his face. Maybe he's flattered by the attention from Froome to the same level he was irked by Lance's aggression towards him. I however do not think he is knowingly compromising his legacy by endorsing Sky and Froome i.e. he isn't covering for them, he isn't lying for them, he hasn't been paid to hide the truth and do a PR job for them all the while knowing there is doping behind the secenes. If he believed there was I think he would go after them, like he has in the past.

That said I agree with a lot of criticisms of his reasoning and in particular his writing style. But I do think he's being put on the spot as well. 'I believe Sky is clean' 'why?' 'because I've met them and like them and haven't found any evidence that they might be doping' 'why?' repeat ad infinitum. To me it just reads like he's voicing an opinion, he's not WADA, he's not the police or a lawyer or a member of the UCI, he's a journalist looking for stories.

Your clinic membership ID is now in the post.

 

[thehog]

Your clinic membership ID is now in the post.

With a certified theHog stamp of approval

Can't wait for the end of year Clinic party in Vegas.

 

[rainman]

Due to size constraints imposed by the publisher, not all anecdotes made it into Walsh's book. He was heartbroken to be forced to leave this one out.

"As a young boy Luigi was fascinated by bike racing. He would watch races with his father on the family's telly and the two would often travel to races to stand on the roadside and cheer the riders as they passed by in their colorful outfits. He had his heart set on become a professional racer. His mother, who was a devout Catholic like many Italians, had other hopes for her boy. She envisioned him growing to be a priest. So one day Luigi asked his father what he should do. He did not want to disrespect his mother, but he loved cycling. His father told him, 'Follow your heart. Whether a champion or a gregario, you can still do good in this world, maybe even as much as a priest.' Luigi's mother was disappointed, but she she held her tongue and put her faith in The Lord.
"Luigi's mother's faith was eventually rewarded when her son went to work for Team Sky. It was as though God himself and, perhaps, Jesus as well, had looked out for her boy and given him his interest in cycling that would see him work for a cycling team whose wholesomeness and piety would awe even the Saints."

This is a joke right? I feel like we're booing at the parolympics.

 

[thehog]

This is a joke right? I feel like we're booing at the parolympics.

The funny things about Bro's post is you have to double take. Half of me feels it was left on the cutting room floor. It is pure Walshary.