Rock racing, good or bad? (non-D)

[BroDeal]

Rock has shrunk their operation but they are still around. At first the loud bling approach turned me off, but I have come around to thinking that Ball's approach is probably a good one for the U.S. market. The Caddys and the Lamborghini and the deaths head kit might have an appeal to people outside the traditional cycling fans.

What say you?

 

[Merckx]

I despise the kit, I cringed every time I saw Mancebo attack in the ToC. I guess I'm fairly out of the loop, but I'm not entirely sure what the team is about? Having big Anarchy signs on their team cars and stuff like that? And what about all the *opeheads they have on their team? Is it supposed to be some kind of statement? If anyone knows this stuff, please enlighten me!

 

[BroDeal]

I despise the kit, I cringed every time I saw Mancebo attack in the ToC. I guess I'm fairly out of the loop, but I'm not entirely sure what the team is about? Having big Anarchy signs on their team cars and stuff like that? And what about all the *opeheads they have on their team? Is it supposed to be some kind of statement? If anyone knows this stuff, please enlighten me!

I think Ball hired riders with clouds hanging over their heads because he could get better bang for his buck. It has turned out to be true. Hamilton, Mancebo, Sevilla, and Botero have all performed won races. It probably also goes with the team's and Ball's company's bad boy attitude. It might even be viewed as an exercise in branding.

I have also decided that I like the jersey design. I don't care for the "death's head" insignia but the design stands out really well. It is brilliant for a clothing company to make race specific designs. The designs used in Britain had the Union Jack incorporated in them, and the design used at Qinghai Lake had dragons included in it.

 

[Merckx]

Eh.. looks unprofessional to me, although I assume that's partly what they're aiming for? (with the whole rebel, anarchy theme)

 

[BrandonT]

I do not like the team at all. Michael Ball has been less then professional with some of his riders. Cancelling contracts, asking for the riders bike's back and other rediculous things. Not to mention the one rider in particular that was caught doping when a photograph of him picking up the dope was released. Ball knew he was doping and didnt do a thing about it. Putting the jeopardy of the rest of his team at risk. Said rider is still in most of the team advertising in NA magazines as well!
I hope they get shelled at Vuelta a Castilla y Le?n.

 

[ridley]

I have to agree with BrandonT. It seems like Mr. Ball wants to be this rebel that wants to play hard-'ball' (pardon the pun) and get into races with a sense of flamboyant flare and stage an image of superiority. Not sure if it is the correct attitude when you are an up-and-coming team with some riders with a not-so-clean record.

 

[BroDeal]

I agree that Ball appears to be a giant tool. He is flakey, and the riders' jobs look like they could disppear on a whim. A bunch of the riders have been effectively black balled from european racing even though they have never been convicted or their suspensions have been served. They do not have much of a choice of teams.

As I said above, I did not like Rock for most of last year. Around mid-season I had a change of heart. Ball is still a tool, but he might be on to something as far as the flash, the bling, and the girls.

 

[BrandonT]

As I said above, I did not like Rock for most of last year. Around mid-season I had a change of heart. Ball is still a tool, but he might be on to something as far as the flash, the bling, and the girls.

You cannot go wrong with the girls. At Interbike they had some of the best looking women I have ever seen. Straight out of porn

 

[Anonymous]

I agree that Ball appears to be a giant tool. He is flakey, and the riders' jobs look like they could disppear on a whim. A bunch of the riders have been effectively black balled from european racing even though they have never been convicted or their suspensions have been served. They do not have much of a choice of teams.

As I said above, I did not like Rock for most of last year. Around mid-season I had a change of heart. Ball is still a tool, but he might be on to something as far as the flash, the bling, and the girls.

I like Bahati. Otherwise, I am unimpressed with the team. That being said, Ball is pretty good at marketing what he sells. The old adage that there is no such thing as bad press explains a lot about the riders he has chosen. They may have been dopers, but people know their names, and his whole gestalt is the skull/bad boy thing. His marketing is creating the image of his jeans on young males with disposable income who go to bars and sleep with lots of women. Bad boys. Kind of homoerotic in a way, but that is another topic all together. Regardless, he has an image of his product he has created, and all of his moves accentuate that image perfectly. I'll give the guy this, he knows his market well, and he hits them right where he has to. Selling $450 jeans ain't as easy as it looks.

 

[lookkg386]

In a way I commend how they are trying something different. Can't stand the jersey's either, but I always keep check on how Hamilton is going. Michael Ball has the money and seems to be used to doing things his own way, but he is a salesmen.

 

[VeloGirl]

Everyone's responses are interesting! I love most of their kits. I was just wondering, the other day, if they had standard kits if I would be as interested in their team as I am. I can honestly say - I don't know.

But, I agree with BroDeal: at first I didn't like them at all, but over time they are growing on me. I'm just not sure if I am dazzled by the image, or I am really liking the team.

I suspect I am dazzled by the image.

 

[53x11 in DC]

ANY COMPANY willing to shell out money (and in Ball's case, some of his own cash) to enable highly gifted cyclists to race their bike for a living, (no matter how meager), should get our utmost respect and thanks, EVEN if we don't like their "style".

Ball seems to have overstretched this year (financially), and he certainly didn't endear himself to the sport and various promoters last year, but hey, he's keeping people employed. And keeping things interesting.

I'm not a huge fan of the team, but I dig the white kit.

BRODEAL: THUMBS UP ON THE NON-D DESIGNATION IDEA. YOU'RE GROWING ON ME (NOT IN A THOUGHTFORFOOD KINDA WAY, THOUGH )

 

[VeloGirl]

I'm not a huge fan of the team, but I dig the white kit.

I like the 2008 Green kit.

 

[CapeRoadie]

I despise the kit, I cringed every time I saw Mancebo attack in the ToC. I guess I'm fairly out of the loop, but I'm not entirely sure what the team is about? Having big Anarchy signs on their team cars and stuff like that? And what about all the *opeheads they have on their team? Is it supposed to be some kind of statement? If anyone knows this stuff, please enlighten me!

Rock is what's wrong with pro cycling in the U.S. Ball is loud and brash and his kit is offensive to children. It's frightening. Cipollini and Andreu left in a hurry. Ever wonder why? I'm with Merckx on this one. Rock Racing would be more respected if they were promoting youth cycling programs. That's where a lot of the money should be going.

 

[schadenfreude]

i'm all for rock racing.

considering how boring the us domestioc scene is, anything to change that is welcome.

they're kit designs are also to be commended. i don't love all of them, but they're some of the most uique designs to hit cycling since the de stilj influenced la vie claire kit.

as for ball, and his idiosyncracies... well, that's another thread.

 

[last km]

When Cippo parted company with Ball ......for me that spoke volumes.

 

[tifosa]

It was a limited (probably foolhardy) business partnership: Cipo got some quick cash--or not--and left; RR/Ball were taken seriously for a moment, and found an inroad through Cipo to race in Europe. Neither of them could have expected more.

Does anyone believe Cipo came out of retirement strictly for the purpose of riding on a team packed with cyclists looking for various forms of redemption? I don't.

RR=not good for cycling. Michael Ball shouldn't quit his day job.

 

[53x11 in DC]

It was a limited (probably foolhardy) business partnership: Cipo got some quick cash--or not--and left; RR/Ball were taken seriously for a moment, and found an inroad through Cipo to race in Europe. Neither of them could have expected more.

Does anyone believe Cipo came out of retirement strictly for the purpose of riding on a team packed with cyclists looking for various forms of redemption? I don't.

RR=not good for cycling. Michael Ball shouldn't quit his day job.

Really not trying to be a jerk here, Tifosa, but let me make sure I am getting this right: You would prefer a sponsor leave the sport?

 

[tifosa]

Really not trying to be a jerk here, Tifosa,

Just putting in a mild effort were you now DC?

but let me make sure I am getting this right: You would prefer a sponsor leave the sport?

No. Sponsors are cycling's pot o' gold, but Ball underestimated by a long shot how much money such an endeavor takes. His team nearly flat-lined this year threatening the livelihoods of all connected to RR. Cadillac, bless, might have been an answer to his sponsorship prayers if GM wasn't fighting for its life too. Ball should not quit his day job, ever. He's a fashion designer. A bold effort by him to be sure, but his talents lie someplace other than cycling.

 

[53x11 in DC]

Just putting in a mild effort were you now DC?




No. Sponsors are cycling's pot o' gold, but Ball underestimated by a long shot how much money such an endeavor takes. His team nearly flat-lined this year threatening the livelihoods of all connected to RR. Cadillac, bless, might have been an answer to his sponsorship prayers if GM wasn't fighting for its life too. Ball should not quit his day job, ever. He's a fashion designer. A bold effort by him to be sure, but his talents lie someplace other than cycling.

Agreed on his incompetence, though I really do believe he made honest efforts to be a better team owner this year - economy didn't help him a bit.

I just think we shouldn't look a gift horse (even a horse's ****) in the mouth.

Wow, that last sentence is not going to come across well for those translating threads into other languages.

 

[Stani Kléber]

The team is like an embarrassment, full of unrepentant cheats and having to rely on a fake "bad boy" image. They don't subscribe to the UCI bio passport scheme. A sponsor should be in cycling for positive reasons.

Imagine if Pepsi decided to sponsor OJ Simpson...

 

[Anonymous]

to answer the question as concisely as i can...

BAD

 

[Angliru]

Let's see:
He announced after the usual period of riders changing teams was pretty much over that he could only guarantee rider salaries for half the season.

This after downgrading several of his riders to amateur status after lofty proclamations of some of the same riders taking part in European races.

Anyone recall Baden Cooke and his brief interraction with Ball? Ivan Dominguez? Both barely escaped in time to sign with other teams and likely teams that were not their first choices.

Ball has a record of less than upfront dealings with some of his riders and former riders.

His dealings with sponsors especially bicycle companies has been so chaotic that its difficult keeping track of what bikes his team is riding over the course of the season. He seems to have tried to change the way these transactions take place, making up his own rules as he goes along.

Who can forget his proclaimation that he'll make a "cooler, more aerodynamic, faster" wheel than a recently discarded/mistreated wheel manufacturer/sponsor?

To me all the anarchy now, tongue wagging, devil's horns hand symbols got old after the first season.

 

[TRDean]

Michael Ball...

is a jerk. I dislike him and his team. I was willing to give him a chance until he crapped all over Steve Hed, one of the nicer guys in cycling. I am still wondering when Mr. Ball will produce those wheels that are more aerodynamic than Heds? They can go away...cycling does not need a teenage juvenile image.

Thanks for reading.

 

[BroDeal]

to answer the question as concisely as i can...

BAD

Rock is no different than Astana hiring Bruyneel, Kloden, Armstrong, and the cream of Saiz' program. The "Oh, no, they are unrepentent dopers" excuse does not fly.

Ball's business must be getting killed in this economic climate. Yet he is still putting money into the sport.