Whispers

[Polish]

Does anyone know where I can order a steaming hot plate of crow for delivery to the House of Polish when it all comes out? Sadly, there are no crows in NZ, and I'm afraid the dish would've grown cold and foul by the time it reached the shores of the good ol USA anyhow.

TexPat, I never said Lance is not going to Jail lol.
He is a bad bad man.

But it is going to take more than a "conflict of interest" charge to send him to the Big House. Anyway, speaking of prison - that is where you can send my steaming plate of crow.

I will be standing outside the prison gates as Lance arrives in cuffs.
Here is my picture to help with the delivery:

 

[Fausto's Schnauzer]

I will be standing outside the prison gates as Lance arrives in cuffs.
Here is my picture to help with the delivery:

[/IMG]

Number 1? Really?

 

[theswordsman]

Word is coming to me that there is going to be quite the story in next Wednesday’s Sports Illustrated. I’m feeling that this isn’t going to be a happy Christmas for a few people

That quote has me intrigued. For one thing, he didn't really say who the few people are. But if we assume that it has to do with the investigation, or the various aspects of bad behavior, but could they reveal that's so much bigger than what's already out there?

Lance has been called a doper for a decade, in books and articles all over the world. It's even been mentioned her once or twice. He's gone on banging babes and raking in cash without missing a beat. The Landis e-mails and other stories seemed pretty thorough. So what could SI have that a professional cycling journalist thinks would ruin Christmas for a few people? (I've been watching a Psych marathon and my own fake psychic powers make me wonder if a short bald guy might be included).

But seriously, with all the stories already out there, how big would this one have to be to not be considered more of the same?

 

[Berzin]

Just to add to this - as this is the 'whispers' thread.

There is another article due in the not too distant future but from the other side of the Atlantic that will be a tsunami by the time it hits the US.

Um, is there any way you could give us a little more detail than this?

You have us haters on pins and needles here!!! Not fair!!!

 

[Dr. Maserati]

That quote has me intrigued. For one thing, he didn't really say who the few people are. But if we assume that it has to do with the investigation, or the various aspects of bad behavior, but could they reveal that's so much bigger than what's already out there?

Lance has been called a doper for a decade, in books and articles all over the world. It's even been mentioned her once or twice. He's gone on banging babes and raking in cash without missing a beat. The Landis e-mails and other stories seemed pretty thorough. So what could SI have that a professional cycling journalist thinks would ruin Christmas for a few people? (I've been watching a Psych marathon and my own fake psychic powers make me wonder if a short bald guy might be included).

But seriously, with all the stories already out there, how big would this one have to be to not be considered more of the same?

I am hearing some chatter about it's content - nothing (for the good residents of the clinic) that would be a surprise to us.

But whats more significant is that this is a complete 180 from a huge publication. They have helped over the years build the myth with many articles and featuring LA on the cover. But now they are not merely questioning LA's history, they are exposing it.

When a publication like SI state something it cannot be ignored or dismissed- this sets a standard for all other publications who wish to remain credible. They cannot keep rehashing the old LA PR stuff.

As many of us have said here LA may not serve any sentence or bit hit with a fine that he cannot pay - but his legacy will be exposed as a fraud which for a narcissist like LA is its own severe punishment.

Um, is there any way you could give us a little more detail than this?

You have us haters on pins and needles here!!! Not fair!!!

Sorry but no.

 

[DirtyWorks]

I am hearing some chatter about it's content - nothing (for the good residents of the clinic) that would be a surprise to us.

But whats more significant is that this is a complete 180 from a huge publication. They have helped over the years build the myth with many articles and featuring LA on the cover. But now they are not merely questioning LA's history, they are exposing it.

The stories on the way up (possibly) attracted readers. There's a big opportunity to attract readers on the way down. Welcome to the mainstream media industry. It's good because it's corrects the myth, but it's temporary. For Pharmstrong, we're into the ugly back-side where the media outlets that pumped him up are going to shred him. Both attract readers. If he didn't deserve it plus some jail time, then I'd feel a little empathy for the guy. The BALCO stuff came out pretty slowly, if the pace is the same and they end up with prosecutions, then I'm happy to wait.

Slightly off topic, but IMHO, Wiesel/McQuaid want to find another Yankee who will play along like Pharmstrong to turbo charge their empire-building. People like Wiesel got the media working for them and is perfectly willing to feed it again. Mini-Phinney had the right stuff, (oh the back story he already has!) but seems like he won't play along. Yankees, this is where your USAC membership dollars are being used as seed money for Tailwind Sports investments.

Another comment was made about how other national law enforcement bodies seem to be catching onto the UCI's unlawful potential. That, IMHO, could be a much bigger story for 2011.

 

[DirtyWorks]

eonline

The deal with outlets like eonline is they break the story. Everyone forgets they did when a legitimate media source retells a part of eonline's original story, but this is where the news cycles start for people famous for no good reason.

 

[Merckx index]

From Velonation (reporting on a WSJ story):

The team faced several separate accusations of doping during the winning Tour de France sequence and, according to US Postal’s then-senior vice president of sales Gail Sonnenberg, some board members consequently wished to end the backing.

However she said that she was assured several times by Thomas Weisel, Mark Gorski and Dan Osipow, all co-owners, that the team was clean. She said that they told her that Armstrong was living like a "monk" and that while some other teams were dirty, that everyone knew that the US Postal Service team was not breaking the rules. She told the newspaper that she believed the team was clean.

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6...nd-investors-were-deceived.aspx#ixzz18XIa9TZ2

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704457604576011490820993006.html?KEYWORDS=armstrong

In a 2008 interview with the Journal, Mr. Weisel said he believed doping in cycling should be handled internally. "Handle the problem below the surface and keep the image of the sport clean," he said. "In the U.S. sports—baseball, basketball, football—most fans couldn't care less."

Backing [for Floyd Landis’ appeal of doping positive] from some of the same people who bankrolled Tailwind. Mr. Weisel chipped in $50,000, says Mr. Landis. Mr. Bucksbaum sent tens of thousands to Mr. Landis's law firm. Mr. Williams, the Connecticut businessman, and Mr. Cashin, the private-equity executive, sent money. Mr. Landis says he spent about $2 million on his defense, and that about 70% of the outside money he raised came from this circle of wealthy cycling backers.

 

[thehog]

From Velonation (reporting on a WSJ story):



Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6...nd-investors-were-deceived.aspx#ixzz18XIa9TZ2

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704457604576011490820993006.html?KEYWORDS=armstrong

You're about 45,675 posts behind. There is a thread for the article. This is the whispers thread not the printed article thread.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Thomas Weisel, Mark Gorski and Dan Osipow

Someone is expecting honesty from those knaves? Really?

 

[thehog]

Um, is there any way you could give us a little more detail than this?

You have us haters on pins and needles here!!! Not fair!!!

We need to keep our collective hats on per the supposed upcoming articles. We should take a few deep breaths on just how far we've come. Armstrong used to own this stuff. He'd choose which magazines he spoke to. Most pro cyclists talk to the cycling press. Armstrong was picking a choosing between Vanity Fair, Time etc. Now he cant speak to anyone because they want to know about the doping. And soon they'll want to know about the questionable links between himself, personal profit and Livestrong. That to me a is fairly significant step. It opens the tide for more questions. Soon Armstrong won't be able to speak to anyone because they'll want to know about the doping and soon he won't be able to use the charity as a shield because no one is really sure if it's above reproach. That's the killing blow. Floyd has pulled him apart bit by bit. We all wanted to see it knockout punch style but Landis has been slowing turning the screw all year on the truth meter. Armstrong & co. have hung themselves. To Landis's credit not once has he got into dog fight each and every time McQuaid/Armstrong call him an "epic liar". He stayed calm.

 

[frenchfry]

After what seemed like a break in the action, things appear to be getting interesting again.

Lots of new avenues to explore, there appears to be no end to the dark underside of the Armstrong story.

Jail time or not, he appears to be toast as a hero. Despite my early misgivings, I am so thankful for the comeback - hope definitely does ride again!

 

[python]

After what seemed like a break in the action, things appear to be getting interesting again.

Lots of new avenues to explore, there appears to be no end to the dark underside of the Armstrong story.

Jail time or not, he appears to be toast as a hero. Despite my early misgivings, I am so thankful for the comeback - hope definitely does ride again!

brilliant sarcasm !

 

[auscyclefan94]

You're about 45,675 posts behind. There is a thread for the article. This is the whispers thread not the printed article thread.

No need to humiliate someone.

 

[thehog]

"We have not received any target letter, and there has not been a lot of recent activity that we've heard about," Armstrong's attorney, Bryan Daly, told the Daily News on Friday.

But in recent weeks, the case has seemed relatively quiet. Daly said that if the grand jury decides not to bring any charges against Armstrong, he would seek a "declination letter" from the U.S. Attorney's office to formally signal that Armstrong is not in the government's cross hairs. "We certainly hope that we could convince the U.S. Attorney's office in Los Angeles to provide us with a declination of any possible criminal charges so that Lance Armstrong can close the book on the criminal rumors and allegations that have been swirling for about six months now," Daly said.

- Interesting.

 

[Beech Mtn]

The whistleblower suit

Landis has also filed a federal qui tam whistleblower suit, presently under seal, against Armstrong and four men who were his closest backers during Armstrong's historic seven consecutive Tour de France victories: Bill Stapleton, Bart Knaggs, Thom Weisel and Johann Bruyneel. Qui tam suits allow the Department of Justice to join as a plaintiff if the department believes the defendants defrauded government.

If the plaintiffs win such suits, defendants can be on the hook for up to three times the amount the government determines the defendants gained illegally through fraud.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m...red_landis_pedals_for_feds.html#ixzz18ZAWHwEu

One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

 

[thehog]

Why is Daly cutting the quotes now? What happened to the Master of Disaster?

 

[theswordsman]

These are old articles, but a reminder that Sports Illustrated joined the fray at least in May of this year. It was the presence in mainstream, well respected media like that, and the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, that for Americans at least, made this real and widely known to even non-fans of cycling. I can't wait to see what's coming.



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/magazine/05/25/lance.armstrong/

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_mccann/05/25/lance.armstrong/

 

[theswordsman]

Why is Daly cutting the quotes now? What happened to the Master of Disaster?

It wasn't really a Lance story, it was about Landis and Ball, so there was nothing "new" to deny. It's hard to discredit a guy who's wearing a Federal wire and a video camera. If this was news to them, I imagine a bit of a scramble to remember what interactions LA, JB and others had with Floyd before the news broke in the Spring.

I wonder what ever came of LeMond's assertion that Lance had offered someone in cycling $300,000 to claim that Greg doped? If the Feds spoke to that person, and they could document it, it would be a fun charge to add to the list. Also, the time when Lance was allegedly offering incentives to let him win the million dollar bonus for American races sticks in my mind.

Do you guys think he ever bet on or against himself in stages or events? That New Pathways paper had guys in breakaways some times making deals as to who would win a stage - either for cash or some other consideration. It makes me wonder about stage win "gifts" to teammates or opponents.

 

[DirtyWorks]

That New Pathways paper had guys in breakaways some times making deals as to who would win a stage - either for cash or some other consideration. It makes me wonder about stage win "gifts" to teammates or opponents.

This part is common and very old. End up in the lead two-man break making time on your pursuers with 5K to go and the opportunity to get more money for second is a real topic of conversation. Doing political calculations 'on the rivet' is a part of riding at that level. I wonder with radios if the DS isn't doing the negotiations in-car. Imagine doing the deal for second and first not paying!

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

This part is common and very old. End up in the lead two-man break making time on your pursuers with 5K to go and the opportunity to get more money for second is a real topic of conversation. Doing political calculations 'on the rivet' is a part of riding at that level. I wonder with radios if the DS isn't doing the negotiations in-car. Imagine doing the deal for second and first not paying!

Absolutely. Not only to set up finish results and deals, but lots of chatter between DSs (mobile phones) as to who can throw riders to the front to help chase etc.

It took me a lot of years to admit it, but I can finally see that radios are not good for cycling. Good to help speed up the learning-curve for young racers, and good for the egos of DSs (ahem), but they ultimately detract from pro cycling.

 

[Beech Mtn]

Absolutely. Not only to set up finish results and deals, but lots of chatter between DSs (mobile phones) as to who can throw riders to the front to help chase etc.

It took me a lot of years to admit it, but I can finally see that radios are not good for cycling. Good to help speed up the learning-curve for young racers, and good for the egos of DSs (ahem), but they ultimately detract from pro cycling.

Yeah, I thought Lance wanted the stage victory in the Tour this year when he and Horner got into that long breakaway on Stage 16. It was obvious that LA wanted a stage win since he wasn't going to figure in GC. The stage win could've been parlayed into a big media moment/cash, but apparently the deals within the break didn't go through. Would love to know what went on that day between those guys and their DS's from the various teams. Maybe the "evil French" wouldn't play ball?

 

[BotanyBay]

I wonder what ever came of LeMond's assertion that Lance had offered someone in cycling $300,000 to claim that Greg doped? If the Feds spoke to that person, and they could document it, it would be a fun charge to add to the list.

We've since come to learn that Lance is a tightwad. That threat was more likely the result of too many testosterone patches.

 

[Anonymous]

delayed till post christmas (si article) apparently

 

[Roland Rat]

delayed till post christmas (si article) apparently

Exactly the same as the first WSJ article. It gets leaked, we get excited, Armstrong's lawyers get on the case, it gets delayed and watered down.