thehog
BANNED
- Jul 27, 2009
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http://staugustine.com/sports/2012-08-28/austen-gregerson-column-armstrongs-myth-greater-reality
Now having dropped his case against the USADA, forfeiting seven Tour de France titles and a façade so grand it defined who he was as a person, Lance Armstrong defiantly maintains his purity in a world so wrought with depravity his existence seemed impossible.
But that’s what made him great. When a lie is built upon one magnificent lie on top of another, the end result is a story so grand it’s almost better for it to be untrue. The bar set by Armstrong was inhuman. It defied reason.
And it was fiction.
Though sometime the greatest truth of all, fiction is not allowed in sport. That a man could overcome cancer to win one of the world’s most grueling endurance races seven times in a row seemed like eight victories too many. But it was told to be just that, a triumph of will and human spirit, proudly, tirelessly evoking all our society’s mysticisms through one extraordinary man.
That his wins now are without substance is of little meaning to Lance Armstrong. His cause was pure, his fellowship strong, so a missed adjective from his title of champion — enhanced — seemed an obsolete point to accept considering the grandiosity of what he had accomplished.
Killing our idols is never an easy thing to do. So many years of adulation and praise are poured into a figure now seemingly unworthy forces us to look inward at our own insecurities, inwards at our faults and shames that Lance Armstrong once compensated for.
But is the myth of Lance Armstrong enough to justify his existence? Despite the facts and examples to the contrary, does belief merit truth?
Now having dropped his case against the USADA, forfeiting seven Tour de France titles and a façade so grand it defined who he was as a person, Lance Armstrong defiantly maintains his purity in a world so wrought with depravity his existence seemed impossible.
But that’s what made him great. When a lie is built upon one magnificent lie on top of another, the end result is a story so grand it’s almost better for it to be untrue. The bar set by Armstrong was inhuman. It defied reason.
And it was fiction.
Though sometime the greatest truth of all, fiction is not allowed in sport. That a man could overcome cancer to win one of the world’s most grueling endurance races seven times in a row seemed like eight victories too many. But it was told to be just that, a triumph of will and human spirit, proudly, tirelessly evoking all our society’s mysticisms through one extraordinary man.
That his wins now are without substance is of little meaning to Lance Armstrong. His cause was pure, his fellowship strong, so a missed adjective from his title of champion — enhanced — seemed an obsolete point to accept considering the grandiosity of what he had accomplished.
Killing our idols is never an easy thing to do. So many years of adulation and praise are poured into a figure now seemingly unworthy forces us to look inward at our own insecurities, inwards at our faults and shames that Lance Armstrong once compensated for.
But is the myth of Lance Armstrong enough to justify his existence? Despite the facts and examples to the contrary, does belief merit truth?
LauraLyn
BANNED
- Jul 13, 2012
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Any ideas as to how De Telegraaf/Telesport came up with the names of the USADA witnesses against Lance & Co.?
De Telegraaf has been rabidly supporting Lance? What is their link?
The so-called "leak" is really questionable from a certain perspective. It seems to be more of a plant.
De Telegraaf has been rabidly supporting Lance? What is their link?
The so-called "leak" is really questionable from a certain perspective. It seems to be more of a plant.
- Apr 20, 2012
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Who needs enemies when u've got friends like these Lance:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/danish-official-dismissed-positive-drugs-test-095617119--spt.html
Danish official dismissed after positive drugs test
Reuters
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - A Danish Cycling Union (DCU) board member has been dismissed after failing a drugs test following a veterans race in June, the DCU has said in a statement.
Soren Svenningsen, 47, who owned the now disbanded Team Capinordic cycling team, was found to have traces of three banned substances following the race.
"On June 30, veteran cyclist Soren Svenningsen tested positive in a doping test in a Danish H40 race. The sample showed traces of two different glucocorticoids and testosterone," the statement said, adding that Svenningsen would leave the board and his position as chair of Holte Cycling Club with immediate effect.
"I am deeply shocked to have received the news of Soren Svenningsen's positive drug tests. We stand for a clear and consistent doping position in the DCU," the statement quoted union president Tom Lund as saying.
"That a leader in Danish cycling who is also a board member of DCU tested positive, and thus breaks our trust, is inexcusable.
"As president of DCU, I would like to emphasise that our anti-doping line will continue to be sharp and consistent, and we will continue to hunt down cheats," said Lund, adding that testing was necessary in the veteran classes to weed out the doping problems that have plagued cycling for decades.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor in Stockholm; Editing by John O'Brien)
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/danish-official-dismissed-positive-drugs-test-095617119--spt.html
Danish official dismissed after positive drugs test
Reuters
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - A Danish Cycling Union (DCU) board member has been dismissed after failing a drugs test following a veterans race in June, the DCU has said in a statement.
Soren Svenningsen, 47, who owned the now disbanded Team Capinordic cycling team, was found to have traces of three banned substances following the race.
"On June 30, veteran cyclist Soren Svenningsen tested positive in a doping test in a Danish H40 race. The sample showed traces of two different glucocorticoids and testosterone," the statement said, adding that Svenningsen would leave the board and his position as chair of Holte Cycling Club with immediate effect.
"I am deeply shocked to have received the news of Soren Svenningsen's positive drug tests. We stand for a clear and consistent doping position in the DCU," the statement quoted union president Tom Lund as saying.
"That a leader in Danish cycling who is also a board member of DCU tested positive, and thus breaks our trust, is inexcusable.
"As president of DCU, I would like to emphasise that our anti-doping line will continue to be sharp and consistent, and we will continue to hunt down cheats," said Lund, adding that testing was necessary in the veteran classes to weed out the doping problems that have plagued cycling for decades.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor in Stockholm; Editing by John O'Brien)
LauraLyn
BANNED
- Jul 13, 2012
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Fearless Greg Lemond said:
The sad thing is . . . if these old folks are doing it, what about the kids entering cycling today?
Athletes, doctors, and team managers who have been found doping should not be allowed near athletes younger than 21.
How is it possible that something so corrupting for our youth exists like the USA Cycling "Lance Armstrong Junior Race Series" or the "Bontrager-Livestrong under-23 Team".
Is Dr. Ferrari also involved with this "Series' and "under-23 Team" (with Sports Director, Axel Merckx, also a known doper and client of Dr. Ferrari).
- Jul 10, 2009
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I don't know if this has been posted, but, Rick Reilly wrote yet another article defending Lance.
I find it disgusting that people will continue to defend a person who thinks so little of them. Lance thinks everyone is an idiot, and will believe every word that comes out of his mouth. If he really was worth honoring, he would admit what he did, and move on. Instead he continues the myth that he beat all of those dirty riders while clean and backs it up with the lie that "He never failed a test." It's easy not to fail the tests when you know they're coming and how to beat them.
The reason he "Stopped fighting" wasn't because he didn't have any fight left in him, it's because he knew if he fought at a USADA hearing, he wouldn't be able to control the story anymore. That's the last thing he wants. Right now he can continue to use every means he has to perpetuate his myth of clean riding, and he can control the spin.
If he really wanted to do the right thing, instead of suing to stop the process, he would have negotiated a deal with USADA, WADA, UCI, and ASO. Maybe he could have done a deal where he accepted the ban, admitted what he did, and maybe even kept some of his Tour wins. I mean, they're going to have to go pretty far down the list to find a true winner of those races.
I'm over being disgusted by what he did. What I'm disgusted about is that he's not man enough to admit what he did.
I find it disgusting that people will continue to defend a person who thinks so little of them. Lance thinks everyone is an idiot, and will believe every word that comes out of his mouth. If he really was worth honoring, he would admit what he did, and move on. Instead he continues the myth that he beat all of those dirty riders while clean and backs it up with the lie that "He never failed a test." It's easy not to fail the tests when you know they're coming and how to beat them.
The reason he "Stopped fighting" wasn't because he didn't have any fight left in him, it's because he knew if he fought at a USADA hearing, he wouldn't be able to control the story anymore. That's the last thing he wants. Right now he can continue to use every means he has to perpetuate his myth of clean riding, and he can control the spin.
If he really wanted to do the right thing, instead of suing to stop the process, he would have negotiated a deal with USADA, WADA, UCI, and ASO. Maybe he could have done a deal where he accepted the ban, admitted what he did, and maybe even kept some of his Tour wins. I mean, they're going to have to go pretty far down the list to find a true winner of those races.
I'm over being disgusted by what he did. What I'm disgusted about is that he's not man enough to admit what he did.
LauraLyn
BANNED
- Jul 13, 2012
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The_Z_man said:
"In an email reply to me [Rick Reilly] Monday, Armstrong said, "Sorry, but I'm done talking about this, forever. I'm focused on what's ahead of me -- not behind. Regardless of the injustice that has been done. Onward and upward."
Any guess as to how long "forever" lasts? 3 weeks tops?
Sounds the same as "done fighting". Does anyone believe that either?
- Aug 13, 2009
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LauraLyn said:
Not saying it's relevant, but De Telegraaf is / has been on good terms with Verbruggen.
Here they interview him during the London Olympics:
http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/video_telesport/12741074/__Interview_met_Hein_Verbruggen__.html
Of course no mention of Lance.
Telegraaf is (of course also due to Bruyneel's column) one of the Lance-friendliest outlets in Holland (as far as I'm aware, that is)
Not a word on Lance:
http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/wielersport/
- Oct 26, 2009
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Benotti69 said:
I doubt it: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/story/2012-08-28/trek-backs-lance-armstrong/57373678/1
LauraLyn
BANNED
- Jul 13, 2012
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Benotti69 said:
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/25/3778976/armstrong-says-hes-at-peace-after.html#slide-9
Too soon for it to be Trek jumping ship. Lance is still part owner. It would be too complicated.
It is just strange to see this.
- Nov 7, 2009
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LauraLyn said:
Probably got a good deal on a DengFu. Gotta save money, folks like Tim Herman ain't cheap.
My guess is that this is a blank Trek frame. No reason to attract negative attention to Trek at this point, especially if he's part owner.
LauraLyn
BANNED
- Jul 13, 2012
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sniper said:
In general the Dutch media has been very pro-Armstrong.
There is money tied into this as well as the media. This is similar to the Sky team and its links to Rupert Murdock.
Sky Team is the UCI's new US Postal Team. But how all this is connected . . . more needs to come out. If it comes out at all.
- Jul 30, 2011
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ChewbaccaD said:
A couple other things: embracing and repeating are not the same. Doing the latter habitually to convince others that you aren't ignorant of basic facts sounds like a second grade exercise.
To that end, I never denied Floyds gift to them. However are you arguing that it's only because Floyd talked that others did?
LauraLyn said:
And this is the problem here. This is what is wrong with the sport of cycling at the moment.
It doesn't take much to see the UCI/US Cycling vs. WADA/USADA and see something more than simple anti-doping going on.
"The winner of the 1988 Tour, Pedro Delgado, now a commentator on Spanish television, described Armstrong as “a strong-willed character who has done a lot for cycling” but who nevertheless had many enemies.
He questioned the wisdom of returning to the issue so many years later, saying it made “no sense.”
“You talk about cheating but rather than trying to get justice, I think it’s more about a power struggle between institutions. You can’t now take away podium wins from a rider who’s given his all,” he added.
“It’s bad news for cycling and we know that the victims are always cyclists.”
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/08/news/cycling-world-reacts-to-lance-armstrong-decision_235762
So, what happens when a Dutch newspaper story, having previously been put in the middle of this fracticical fued with the Vrijman Report, apts ... not to agree or disagree, but to simply aboid the imbruglio?
Well, NOW there is a vast conspiracy about, one tied to money, and apparently inexhustable source of money that bribes, Swiss officials, drug testers, the UCI (and apparently WADA but not) and murderously hunts down critics?
Well, does anyone know what the best criteria is for dismissing the fake moon landing conspiracy? Fiscal reality. It costs more to fake the moon landing than it does to actually go to the moon.
If there were a conspiracy large enough to intimidate the National Press of an entire country? Well, then I think you would fairly difficult to hide sums of money that would quickly drain Lance's bank account.
I am sure that Brad Wiggins also appreciates the implication that Sky News is not just a sponsor ... but an enabling of doping and conspiracy.
These are the kinds of antics that have to stop. This kind of creative writing has no place in a profession. Processes must be linked to evidence. Speculation, particularly the kind done with massive implications, must be done under the clear guise of speculation, not coupled to demands for more evidence to follow.
At some point, institutions that govern cycling can be forgiven for turning a deaf ear to such criticism, rather than attempting to deal with it like its rational.
Evidence much drive processes, noty speculation and innuendo, and certainly not speculation and innuendo whose sole basis rests in anonimity to those not towing a particular view. These antics are destroying out sport far more than the reality of doping ever did.
- May 26, 2010
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gree0232 said:
One wants to control the sport and the other wants to eradicate doping cheats from sport.
gree0232 said:
Ah Delgado who tested positive in the 88 TdF but lucky the UCI were so slow putting the substance on their banned list he got off.
keep shaking that yella bracelet.
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