NovitzkyÂ’s European vacation

[JPM London]

ahaha... We need a thread for casting of the movie.

I'm wondering who would play the Chicken.

John Malkovich could do it - if losing anything resembling body fat...

And Andrew Sachs as Ferrari - "I know nothing, I'm from Barcelona!"

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

John Malkovich could do it - if losing anything resembling body fat...

And Andrew Sachs as Ferrari - "I know nothing, I'm from Barcelona!"

"I speak english very good. I learn it from a booook."

 

[Dettol]

ahaha... We need a thread for casting of the movie.

I'm wondering who would play the Chicken.

Christian Bale he did it for The Machinist.

 

[Elegant Degenerate]

Christian Bale he did it for The Machinist.

I had exactly the same thought.

 

[thehog]

ahaha... We need a thread for casting of the movie.

I'm wondering who would play the Chicken.

The producers will be casting one actress for the role of Lance's Mum and all of his girlfriends.

 

[Berzin]

Secretive talks suggest progress in doping probe
By JOHN LEICESTER and ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writers John Leicester And Andrew Dampf, Ap Sports Writers – Fri Nov 19, 3:53 pm ET

So there is significant evidence that has been gathered in the US. The European trip was just to cement what they already have. Very interesting. I assume this is from the testimony gathered from witnesses already interviewed.

There will be a transfer of evidence to the states (old TdF samples to be re-tested possibly?).

And this is the best Mark Fabiani can come up with-

Armstrong spokesman Mark Fabiani described the investigators' trip as wasteful and unnecessary.

"American taxpayer money is being squandered on a European trip for FDA investigators to dredge up old allegations that have already been thoroughly examined and completely discredited," he said. "All of Lance's samples were clean when they were first provided and tested, and no amount of tax-money-wasting European meetings can change that fundamental fact."

And introducing the new apologist catch-phrase (underlined above), now that the others have been thoroughly worn out.

So the defense strategy will be, judging from this current line of reasoning, that when the samples confiscated by the Feds come up positive, it will be because they were tampered with to execute a vendetta against Lance Armstrong.

Gotta love this new track Fabiani has put Lance on. Patently absurd, but definitely exiting.

Lance Armstrong via Twitter-"Question-where did our priorities go?"

Answer-"To exposing the truth".

 

[thehog]

To be honest it's all very sad. Lance for all his bravado is scared. And rightfully so. It's not nice what's pending for him. It's more than likely that he'll serve time. We shouldn't wish that upon anyone. Armstrong is currently trying to rationalise what he's done through the good work that came of his livestrong endeavours. It's really is a dire situation and I feel for him. Alas he brought upon himself - there is no one else to blame but himself. He'll be better for the end result. Cycling will be better for the end result as will society.*

The last touch is the UCI. They won't survive this. What comes from the fall out they will have to respond. If they don't they will be audited, investigated and shutdown. Ernst & Young will apply the pressure as their names are on the account. They won't be the next Andersens.

 

[theswordsman]

There are people in prison who have done a lot less, and hurt fewer people in the process. And look what it was like for Tiger Woods - all he did was have sex. Lance apparently cheated as much as anyone, gained far more from it than anyone has, and earned his position by claiming to have done it all the right way. It's not fun to think of someone going through a rough time, but think of all the people whose careers he messed up. Think of his former assistants. Think of Betsy, and Frankie, and Greg. Think of the guys who could have been Tour de France winners. Think of the people who bought the books, and the yellow bands, and the merchandise, because they bought into the fairy tale. Think of the cycling journalists who couldn't tell the things they knew. Think of those people in and out of the sport who were bullied. Think of all the press that were stifled by lawyers, and the people in the lawsuits. Think of the people at the AFLD who found EPO in the samples.

I saw what kind of a man he was in his dealings with Contador last year during their "rivalry". It wasn't just the way he treated him during the Tour, badmouthing him at the dinner table, Wheel Gate, etc., and making him look bad in English speaking media during and after the race - character assassination that many people still believe is true. They think Contador is dumb, an ungrateful teammate, etc., because Lance tweeted it. (It was a revelation for a lot of people this summer when Alberto showed up at the Radio Shack bus with the watches.) But a year ago, in the off season, he went out of his way in an interview quoted everywhere to tell vile lies about Contador and the Spanish media.

Feel free to feel compassion towards another human being, but I think that once everything comes to light and we see everything that he has done, pity will be harder to come by. And you don't have Interpol, the Federal government, and police in France, Italy, Spain and representatives from Belgium involved unless you've done some serious stuff. Just believe for a minute that Floyd told the truth this year, and look at what Lance and the people he influences did to him in the media.

The UCI needs a good shaking out.

 

[Berzin]

Hog, I must respectfully disagree. He brought all this upon himself. Armstrong doesn't come out of this a sad figure. He could have avoided much of the speculation that morphed into this federal investigation if he had been magnanimous with people he chose to marginalize along the way.

But his innate arrogance, monumental egotism, and the rabid pleasure he took in intimidating people he felt slighted him is coming back at him. Even if he doesn't do jail time, the destruction of his legacy, conceived and consolidated by the most effective doping program the sport has ever seen, will be his just rewards.

I didn't feel this strongly about the whole thing until he mounted that ridiculous comeback, where his worst personality traits were there on display for all to see-the lying, the backstabbing of a teammate, the incessant abuse of the cancer community strictly for personal gain-it was all just a bit too much.

He's a vacuous, amoral bully, and he deserves everything he gets.

 

[thehog]

One other difference of note is the way Armstrong "pushed" the drug use. Yes drug use was heavily prevalent in the peloton but there was a clear distinction here; Armstrong not only used but he openly pushed, pressured, trafficked and encouraged the drug use. He also ostracised anyone who didn't wish to use or spoke out against the use of drugs.*

It's still very sad. A lot of people believed in him and his story. It's sad he's going to serve time. It's sad he'll be locked away in legal wrangling's for the rest of his life. But to be honest and hence why the meetings in Lyon were heralded by the participants. The Europeans are sick to death of their borders awash with drug trafficking and the Americans are tired of legitimate life saving drugs bought and sold on the black market - some don't see the seriousness in all of this - but protecting ones borders and closing down illegal drug importation networks is not a waste of tax payers money.*

 

[Siriuscat]

One other difference of note is the way Armstrong "pushed" the drug use. Yes drug use was heavily prevalent in the peloton but there was a clear distinction here; Armstrong not only used but he openly pushed, pressured, trafficked and encouraged the drug use. He also ostracised anyone who didn't wish to use or spoke out against the use of drugs.*

It's still very sad. A lot of people believed in him and his story. It's sad he's going to serve time. It's sad he'll be locked away in legal wrangling's for the rest of his life. But to be honest and hence why the meetings in Lyon were heralded by the participants. The Europeans are sick to death of their borders awashed with drug trafficking and the Americans are tired of legitimate life saving drugs bought and sold on the black market - some don't see the seriousness in all of this - but protecting ones borders and closing down illegal drug importation networks is not a waste of tax payers money.*

Hog you are correct it is very sad however my SAD might be different!!

It's sad that one man built a brand through lies, deceit and pushing a doping culture through sport.

Its sad that he's used a charitable foundation to manipulate governments, business investors and ordinary people to donating to something thats doing more for Lance Armstrong than it's doing for Cancer.

Its sad that he's deceived the sporting public and a raft of three week fans with the lies of 7 tour wins.

Its sad that we believed him!!

The end can't come quick enough because EVERYTHING he's touched over the years needs to move on. Cycling needs to move on, needs to move from the doping culture and the tales of lies. Charitable Foundations built on sporting excellence need time to recover, what Armstrong has done is leading people to question EVERY foundation and how they manage their funding and expenses. When you give to charity as trusting individuals you give without question, you trust people to use the money for its purpose, what would most charities give for a $2M donation, how would that charity feel when the expenses came off first.

I have the ESPN film about Marion Jones, her admissions about BALCO and where she's gone as a person since, I have a great deal of respect for what she's done. Maybe Armstrong needs to watch it too.

We all need this to be over, would make a great Christmas Present!!

 

[Berzin]

I have the ESPN film about Marion Jones, her admissions about BALCO and where she's gone as a person since, I have a great deal of respect for what she's done. Maybe Armstrong needs to watch it too.

Off-topic for a quick second-I saw that Marion Jones documentary.

Maybe we didn't see the same one, because she came across as narcissistic and self-pitying to the point where I couldn't stand to watch the program.

She has to be one of the most unapologetic cheaters I've ever seen in my life.

She didn't exhibit a hint of humility or remorse over her actions and it appeared that she actually felt sorry for herself.

I gave her way too much credit before I saw her documentary, but that was because she's pretty.

We all need this to be over, would make a great Christmas Present!!

Would you settle for a couple of weeks after Three King's Day in January?

That would probably be your best bet for any type of announcement as to the conclusion and hopefully the public revelation of the charges to be filed.

 

[thehog]

The way Popo was brought in for questioning scared a lot of people. It was witnessed by many and for the first time Armstrong's people realised they are not in control of the situation. There are a lot of very frightened people. This cannot be brushed aside by a UCI whitewash report. I've been reliably informed that if Armstrong attempts to leave the country they will detain him and confiscate his passport. He won't be at the TDU.

 

[AussieGoddess]

wow - thats a big call Hog. we will see soon enough I guess.

I dont really know if the UCI will go down though - but agree its getting pretty scary for Lance.

 

[python]

fbi is there too

did anyone comment/notice the fbi rep presence in europe ?

tells me, that gj depositions were preceded by the extensive wiretapping and more activities only the fbi is authorized for.

i'd hate to be stephanie thinking 'all they got are those stale tapes'

 

[Benotti69]

did anyone comment/notice the fbi rep presence in europe ?

tells me, that gj depositions were preceded by the extensive wiretapping and more activities only the fbi is authorized for.

i'd hate to be stephanie thinking 'all they got are those stale tapes'

in relation to the point of phone tapping. It is legal in Italy for the authorities to tap phones of someone who they suspect of committing a crime. So Popo might have been tapped as soon as the Yanks asked and recieved his subpoenaed to the GJ.

 

[ferryman]

did anyone comment/notice the fbi rep presence in europe ?

tells me, that gj depositions were preceded by the extensive wiretapping and more activities only the fbi is authorized for.

i'd hate to be stephanie thinking 'all they got are those stale tapes'

From the CN news page. A serious deputation:

'At least six American officials were present in Lyon this week, including Novitzky, U.S. federal prosecutor Doug Miller, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart and FBI special agent Olivier Faraole.'

I can't quite get my head round the potential fall out this is all speeding to.

 

[Siriuscat]

Off-topic for a quick second-I saw that Marion Jones documentary.

Maybe we didn't see the same one, because she came across as narcissistic and self-pitying to the point where I couldn't stand to watch the program.

She has to be one of the most unapologetic cheaters I've ever seen in my life.

She didn't exhibit a hint of humility or remorse over her actions and it appeared that she actually felt sorry for herself.

I gave her way too much credit before I saw her documentary, but that was because she's pretty.

I don't know where you are from my friend but maybe that has an effect on what we percieve. I'm in the UK, Marion Jones was not a big mega star over here we have others, however what I know of her comes largely from my reading and TV. I don't know much about her before the BALCO thing broke other than the wins however knew little of her personality.

Anyway, I found the film compelling because this was someone at the pinnacle of her sport facing the biggest demon possible and she did it in publicand stood up to it, that took courage rather than running and hiding or running to CAS.

I can respect that but I'm not a fan of athletics and the lies were maybe more of an issue for Americans and fans of Track and Field, could I respect Armstrong the same way?? I don't think so, he has singularly done more harm to a sport I love more than any other, i don't think I can respect anything he now says.

 

[BroDeal]

did anyone comment/notice the fbi rep presence in europe ?

tells me, that gj depositions were preceded by the extensive wiretapping and more activities only the fbi is authorized for.

i'd hate to be stephanie thinking 'all they got are those stale tapes'

The FBI could be acting simply as a liaison. Lacking their own people on the ground, Notizky and co. would be assisted by the FBI, which does have people on the ground, even if it is just a matter of inter-agency courtesy.

 

[NashbarShorts]

Weakest comeback ever

New this morning:

"Armstrong spokesman decries “money-wasting” trip to Europe"

Really, for the money Lance pays these guys, that's STILL the best they can come up with??

 

[Benotti69]

New this morning:

"Armstrong spokesman decries “money-wasting” trip to Europe"

Really, for the money Lance pays these guys, that's STILL the best they can come up with??

wouldn't have been such a 'waste' if he leant them his Jet

 

[thehog]

That's the other key difference *on Armstrong. Most cyclist who use do so in silence. It's not spoken of. Armstrong built this entire "the French don't like winners" mantra to hide the rampant drug use. Everyone knew that day at Siestre in 1999 that he was doping. The French called it but were rebuked with "...after cancer do you really think I'd put that junk in my body?" - it was hard to argue against. In fact everyone could see it. Watch that stage again and it's like footage is on speed x 2. The public should have called it. But we didn't want to believe it. The story was too good.

 

[JA.Tri]

New this morning:

"Armstrong spokesman decries “money-wasting” trip to Europe"

Really, for the money Lance pays these guys, that's STILL the best they can come up with??

+++++++1!

And as if they have any credibility: you think they would hire a well disguised beard to sell that brand of hogwash.

 

[thehog]

New this morning:

"Armstrong spokesman decries “money-wasting” trip to Europe"

Really, for the money Lance pays these guys, that's STILL the best they can come up with??

“The samples were clean when originally provided and tested,” said Mark Fabiani, Armstrong’s attorney, in a statement released Tuesday. “So we have nothing to be concerned about. Period.”

- Not concerned? That's not what I hear. Appears they're going down the "never tested positive" route. This case has very little to do with positive samples. Shows no one is talking to Lance.

 

[Benotti69]

“The samples were clean when originally provided and tested,” said Mark Fabiani, Armstrong’s attorney, in a statement released Tuesday. “So we have nothing to be concerned about. Period.”

- Not concerned? That's not what I hear. Appears they're going down the "never tested positive" route. This case has very little to do with positive samples. Shows no one is talking to Lance.

which to me suggests he may be a puppet for others. Let Lance think he is in control but the serious decisions were made by Weisel and others????