The Sports Illustrated Article

[BotanyBay]

The view of a large portion of the American public for decades now seems to be that it is OK to cheat, as long as you cheat to win. The biggest and best-remembered sports scandal in US sport is the Black Sox affair, where a team deliberately lost the baseball World Series in 1919 for gambling purposes. The team was vilified and disgraced because they cheated to LOSE. With the exception of scapegoat Barry Bonds, an easy target thanks to his Cuddles-esque media skills, persecution complex, and maybe even the colour of his skin, the steroid-fuelled home-run kings of the 90s are largely still held to be heroes because although they cheated, they cheated to win. The same holds true with Lance: he may have cheated, but he cheated to win, and stick it to those damn Frenchies, so he is still a hero.

Until you stick it to little kids with Cancer. He should have stuck to adult literacy or something.

Once someone is willing to publish the stories about jet fuel and financial impropriety, the public will lose their hard-on for Lance. Because he defrauded Kancer Kids.

 

[Anonymous]

Rare poster - regular reader alert.

There is one person who's been implicit from day one with this affair, and that's Johan Bruyneel.

If the evidence gleaned from Popovich's arrest implicates Bruyneel, and he decides to squeal, then it's game, set and match.

 

[Mongol_Waaijer]

Rare poster - regular reader alert.

There is one person who's been implicit from day one with this affair, and that's Johan Bruyneel.

If the evidence gleaned from Popovich's arrest implicates Bruyneel, and he decides to squeal, then it's game, set and match.

I hope he squeals like a pig.

Talking of Popo - is he still racing? anyone know?

 

[BikeCentric]

The view of a large portion of the American public for decades now seems to be that it is OK to cheat, as long as you cheat to win. The biggest and best-remembered sports scandal in US sport is the Black Sox affair, where a team deliberately lost the baseball World Series in 1919 for gambling purposes. The team was vilified and disgraced because they cheated to LOSE. With the exception of scapegoat Barry Bonds, an easy target thanks to his Cuddles-esque media skills, persecution complex, and maybe even the colour of his skin, the steroid-fuelled home-run kings of the 90s are largely still held to be heroes because although they cheated, they cheated to win. The same holds true with Lance: he may have cheated, but he cheated to win, and stick it to those damn Frenchies, so he is still a hero.

Good post, I agree, that's pretty much how it went down with baseball in the US as I see it as well.

 

[BotanyBay]

I hope he squeals like a pig.

Talking of Popo - is he still racing? anyone know?

Dunno. Here's the TDU start roster:

TEAM RADIOSHACK (USA)
11. ARMSTRONG Lance USA
12. McEWEN Robbie AUS
13. CARDOSO Manuel POR
14. HERMANS Ben BEL
15. IRIZAR Markel ESP
16. HUNTER Robbie RSA
17. RAST Gregory SUI

Team Manager: AZEVEDO Jose (POR)

 

[BotanyBay]

The view of a large portion of the American public for decades now seems to be that it is OK to cheat, as long as you cheat to win.

If you remember the Fall of 1984, when the Olympic blood-boosting scandal happened, America wasn't exactly outraged. Just disappointed.

 

[frenchfry]

Yes just like everything it takes time I guess.

At the time I wrote that it was being talked about around here as if the story had once again been killed.

No worries because I had to laugh at myself on that one also.

I think the person with a WTF moment was Lance when he was either linked to the story in SI online or when his Blackberry alarm was in panic because of all the hits his name was getting during the drop of the story.

Even from here I can see that you didn't manage to clean all the egg off your face.

I must admit I was thinking on the same lines as you - I just wasn't stupid enough to post it on an internet forum read by millions!

I guess American multi-colored fish wrap can be just as pertinant as the French model. I really didn't think SI had the couilles to print what they have - even if it is the "light" version.

 

[Benotti69]

Good post, I agree, that's pretty much how it went down with baseball in the US as I see it as well.

baseball is a homegrown american national past time. cycling is a minority sport where the guys shave their legs....they aint gonna call him a hero when they all read about what he has done. it is more than steroids, which every jock in the gym knows about, this guy has done buckets of dope for a race, not a few pills.

 

[rattler]

Does L.A. have the goods on the UCI??

Lance isn't "worried on any level" about the S.I. article.
What are your thoughts on this?
Could it be that he knows so much about how the business of the UCI and how it "handles" things that the UCI, McQuaid & even Verbruggen are at risk if L.A. goes down?

 

[Mongol_Waaijer]

Lance isn't "worried on any level" about the S.I. article.
What are your thoughts on this?
Could it be that he knows so much about how the business of the UCI and how it "handles" things that the UCI, McQuaid & even Verbruggen are at risk if L.A. goes down?

if you are publically accused of something that you actually did, sh-eye-ting it or losing your rag is not a smart move.

same as berlusconi with the party girls.

Read nothing into this. Behind closed doors he will be livid.

 

[MacRoadie]

Lance isn't "worried on any level" about the S.I. article.
What are your thoughts on this?
Could it be that he knows so much about how the business of the UCI and how it "handles" things that the UCI, McQuaid & even Verbruggen are at risk if L.A. goes down?

I have a sneaking suspicion that Novitsky and the FDA aren't too worried about the wellbeing of the UCI/Vedruggen/McQuack....

 

[theswordsman]

"Our relationship with Lance remains as strong as ever. We are proud to work with him in cycling and to support his foundation. Nike does not condone the use of banned substances and Lance has been unwavering on that position as well."

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...nike-stands-strongly-behind-lance-armstrong/1

 

[frenchfry]

Lance isn't "worried on any level" about the S.I. article.
What are your thoughts on this?
Could it be that he knows so much about how the business of the UCI and how it "handles" things that the UCI, McQuaid & even Verbruggen are at risk if L.A. goes down?

This is way beyond the control of Verdruggen, Fatty Patty and gang.

It is starting to look like they may go down as well - then we can rejoice!

 

[Roland Rat]

Popovych...

Subpoenaed in the US 22 October 2010

Testifies before the Grand Jury before leaving for Italy

Raided in Italy 11 November 2010, about 3 weeks after being subpoenaed.

Either he is the dumbest motherhubbard ever to walk the earth or he wanted them to find his diaries.

I wonder how many other teammates have been exceedingly stupid...

 

[BotanyBay]

Lance isn't "worried on any level" about the S.I. article.
What are your thoughts on this?
Could it be that he knows so much about how the business of the UCI and how it "handles" things that the UCI, McQuaid & even Verbruggen are at risk if L.A. goes down?

Edited by Mod - Totally unacceptable comment

 

[MacRoadie]

Popovych...

Subpoenaed in the US 22 October 2010

Testifies before the Grand Jury before leaving for Italy

Raided in Italy 11 November 2010, about 3 weeks after being subpoenaed.

Either he is the dumbest motherhubbard ever to walk the earth or he wanted them to find his diaries.

I wonder how many other teammates have been exceedingly stupid...

I think Popo fell victim to a woeful miscalculation of just how long the reach is of the US Government.

Bag them all you want (and with my blessing for the things they truly deserve it for), but when push comes to shove, if they want you there are few foreign governments (especially in the EU) that won't provide whatever assistence is asked.

Italian officials raided Popo's pad, AT THE SPECIFIC REQUEST of the FDA. I'd be willing to wager the info went straight to the FDA and to no one else, which explains why the UCI hasn't begun an investigation. I'm guessing no one in DC is taking their calls these days.

 

[BotanyBay]

I'd be willing to wager the info went straight to the FDA and to no one else, which explains why the UCI hasn't begun an investigation. I'm guessing no one in DC is taking their calls these days.

The UCI is not calling anyone. That's like going out and looking for trouble. Ain't never gonna happen with McQuaid at the wheel.

 

[MacRoadie]

The UCI is not calling anyone. That's like going out and looking for trouble. Ain't never gonna happen with McQuaid at the wheel.

Exactly. It's amazing how many "well if they found all that in the raid, then why hasn't Popo been suspended" posts there are on here already.

 

[Anonymous]

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...nike-stands-strongly-behind-lance-armstrong/1

well of course nike stand buy him. They are making millions out of livestrong merchandise sales

 

[runninboy]

I do find the most interesting part the bits about the HemAssist.

So when they developed a test for EPO, Lance sourced and found a new HBOC to use .... I know its banned - but was there a test for it then?

And that is the part where he may come unstuck legally. If there is a trail of any kind (and there must be if SI got hold of it), and Novitsky follows it, there are substantial legal implications for all involved in the misuse of a drug undergoing clinical trials (or not approved).

this isnt just about PED's .... this is about supply of illegal drugs.

The Ferrari thing has some pretty wide implications as far as his reputation goes too.

And the USOC/Catlin stuff - that is going to go down well with the IOC and the Americal public.

Good post
As much as i despise cheaters i questioned all the blather about the government wasting money on this.
As controlled substances are a serious issue and the distribution of such is supposed to be well monitored this could be the big fish.
Somehow LA got access to a clinical trial drug?
maybe he just had a connection on a lower level, like a trial participant. Pretty much dumb luck & stronomical odds for that to happen. However if there were doctors monitoring trials on his behalf to find an appropriate undetectable PED? Or even worse if someone in the industry contacts the LA camp to provide them with an out of market drug?
that goes beyond simple cheating. That is violating many laws and the intergrity of our pharmaceutical system on many levels.

Much like money laundering, wire fraud, tax evasion, things that go far beyond simply cheating in sport. But hypothetically would be likely to go along hand in hand with such activity.
I had a next door neighbor who was an illegal bookie, but he declared it on his income tax form & paid his taxes. Same for people involved in other illegal activities. The smart ones declare their income and pay taxes. If you don't you will go down like Al Capone.
Basically what i am saying is the defenders of LA many times hide under the "big deal" declaration. But sometimes the details go far beyond what we originally think is the "crime".
Awaiting the details....

 

[Benotti69]

when are CN gonna contact uci and ask whether Popo has been suspended..

 

[Roland Rat]

It's brilliant that he got it from a US drug company and not one abroad, so there is no question over jurisdiction for the FDA.

 

[Roland Rat]

when are CN gonna contact uci and ask whether Popo has been suspended..

Keep an eye on the Radioshack team roster too.

 

[BotanyBay]

It's brilliant that he got it from a US drug company and not one abroad, so there is no question over jurisdiction for the FDA.

Even if manufactured overseas, if the substance is a controlled one, then it falls under FDA jurisdiction here. At least for the related crimes committed here.

 

[Roland Rat]

Even if manufactured overseas, if the substance is a controlled one, then it falls under FDA jurisdiction here. At least for the related crimes committed here.

But that was a question at the outset, wasn't it? If he acquired, trafficked and used abroad with no link to the US, it wouldn't be FDA jurisdiction? Either way, it's nice to know there's no problem there.