reubenr said:
I simply do not believe in giving dopers a second, third or forth chance. This "I'm sorry" BS, or "Ooops, I made a mistake" BS, is just that, pure unadulterated BS. We have doping in cycling because we have doping in our society and people are sympathetic to people who use dope for all the obvious reasons. What we don't want to admit is that people who use dope are abusive to others in a thousand different ways. Ricco, himself, seems to believe that a lot of people will welcome him back because he knows doping is tolerated. Cheats like cheats. It affirms them and this forum seems to evidence the fact that he is correct. This, of course, is pathetic. Some people work hard to win, while others cheat in order to win. It is impossible for me to understand how the latter has become acceptable. Some body should ride over the guy and all the people like him. NOTHING SHORT OF A LIFE TIME BAN IS APPROPRIATE. I really do not want to see this guy again. He spoiled the Giro with his behavior and destroyed the TDF. Who knows how long he was doping. The fact that Patani is his hero should speak volumes. Patani's career was beset by drug abuse allegations after a failed blood test in the 1999 Giro d'Italia. He died after a cocaine overdose in 2004. This is a hero? Well, I guess that works for cheaters.
Frankly, some people are just better than others, and as long as they are able to perform at their peak, it will always be that way, but I like the guy who finishes second, third, on and on because they are making it a race. Advertisers would have you believe differently but we should be able to make up our own minds about things, and in this case, I do not welcome Ricco back.
While I eat, drink, breathe everything cycling, including training and racing at the highest level possible for me let's keep things in perspective here ok? We are talking about
racing bicycles, not running for the office president/prime minister, not running for the papacy, not teaching children in educational institutions, but a sporting event, something that is meant as entertainment. Do you deride all other sports with equal vehemence? Look at american football, baseball, soccer (football to the rest of the world) do you think there is any less doping going on in those sports? Or is that the fans really don't care about that aspect and sit back and watch it for it's entertainment value? Actually, for example, in american football the cheating has added to the entertainment, look what happens when you see players eye gouging or taking guys out at the knees, don't you sit there and say with a face twisted in mock pain, "Daaaamn! That $h!t had to hurt" and smile and enjoy the rest of the game. Or do you say anything when you see a soccer player running up and down the field in full out sprints for the entire game, taking command of the ball at will, do you think he is not doing "something"?
Personally I have raced with many people who have doped and I never let it get to me and the best feeling I had was when I beat someone I knew was on a program. Listen, I don't condone doping at all, it's just a part of sport, not just cycling, you can't take it personally when your favorite cyclist gets busted, it's not like he is coming to your house and smacking your mother in her head.
Now for the other part, if doping supposedly equals the playing field (which it doesn't) when we saw Ricco making fools of all the other climbers in the Giro, why couldn't they respond to his attacks? That difference is talent, better training, confidence in oneself (and we know Ricco sure as hell doesn't lack that), a sharp mind to know when to attack and the willingness to risk it all. In order to be a successful *doped* cyclist you have to have all of these characteristics without naturally or you'll just be doped pack fodder (and there are plenty of them). I am not a Ricco fan but just acknowledging the fact that he has these traits. And I still believe that he needs someone to kick him in the a$$.
Reuben, I'm not coming down on you just trying to convince you to not feel so personally wounded when someone dopes, gets busted and comes back, you are going to wind up feeling betrayed and hating the sport, a sport that you obviously have passion for, otherwise you wouldn't be here. If you are going to feel betrayed about something it's better you direct your ire to the politician that lied to you and is now taking more money from you when you helped put him in office.
That's just two cents
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