A Very Bad Morning For Lance

[tandfman]

Meanwhile, Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal has interviewed the new winner of those 7 Tours de France.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 56816.html

[jazzcyclist]

Here is the top 15 of the final GC classification of the 2000 Tour de France:

1.Lance Armstrong (US Postal): 92hr 33min 8sec USADA Report
2.Jan Ullrich (Telekom) @ 6min 2sec Operacion Puerto
3.Joseba Beloki (Festina) @ 10min 4sec Operacion Puerto
4.Christophe Moreau (Festina) @ 10min 34sec Festina Affair
5.Roberto Heras (Kelme) @ 11min 50sec Tested positive & suspended
6.Richard Virenque (Polti)@ 13min 26sec Festina Affair
7.Santiago Botero (Kelme)@ 14min 18sec Kelme Scandal
8.Fernando Escartin (Kelme)@ 17min 21sec Kelme Scandal
9.Francisco Mancebo (Banesto)@ 18min 9sec Tested positive & suspended
10.Daniele Nardello (Mapei)@ 18min 25sec T-Mobile Scandal
11.Manuel Beltrán (Mapei)@ 21min 11sec Tested positive & suspended
12.Pascal Hervé (Polti)@ 23min 13sec Tested positive, Festina Affair
13.Javier Ochoa (Kelme)@ 25min Kelme Scandal
14.Felix Garcia-Casas (Festina)@ 32min 4sec Festina Affair
15.Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) @ 32min 26sec Tested positive & suspended, T-Mobile scandal

[Conor Dary]

Exactly. By the way, I suspect the Tour on tv is dead very soon. I can't believe NBC wants to get involved with that anymore. And American cycling will soon be a thing of the past. I am sure LeMond is happy.

[kuha]

I suspect the Tour on tv is dead very soon. I can't believe NBC wants to get involved with that anymore.

You'd really have to think so. The real story here isn't or at least shouldn't be Armstrong--it's what looks to be a total meltdown of credibility in the event itself. Which WAS the key issue all along.

Maybe we'll now see the Tour of Nebraska on TV.

[gh]

I've probably related this bit before, but i stopped in Paris on the way to Barcelona in '92. Wandered over from my hotel to the Champs d'Elysses to find a nice little sidewalk cafe for a morning beverage and was most distressed to find everywhere cordoned off and having to take very long walk around. oh, it was tour de france finish day!

At any rate, after the race and the guys were parading up and down the road I was fairly close to them and the first thing that struck me was that I hadn't seen faces that drawn, with eyeballs that sunken in the head since the Bataan Death March. I was stunned at how wasted they all looked.

I was even more stunned when the next weekend I picked up a copy of L'Équipe in Barcelona and noticed that everybody was up and hammering again at the tour-de-something-else.

I decided then and there that either these guys were all supermen, or......

[odelltrclan]

And American cycling will soon be a thing of the past. I am sure LeMond is happy.

Sorry, but that is pretty lame!

[jazzcyclist]

Now the Boston and New York Marathons are jumping in on the fun.

Lance Armstrong’s name is likely to be expunged from the results of the New York City and Boston marathons, in addition to the Tour de France.

Officials from both NYC and Boston races said they expect to follow decisions by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the International Cycling Union to ban Amstrong from competition and strip him of his seven Tour de France titles. However, both marathons are likely to wait until any appeals have taken place. Armstrong had been banned in late summer from running in the Chicago Marathon as well as the NYC race; those and the Boston race are governed by USA Track and Field rules.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ear ... sults-too/

[26mi235]

Exactly. By the way, I suspect the Tour on tv is dead very soon. I can't believe NBC wants to get involved with that anymore. And American cycling will soon be a thing of the past. I am sure LeMond is happy.

I doubt it, although the amount that they will have to pay will likely drop. Jazz, what is your opinion as the closest observer of the sport on this board?

[odelltrclan]

How long before Pat McQuaid is gone. Many calling for his withdrawal. This from Mr. Lemond tonight.

https://www.facebook.com/greglemond?ref=ts&fref=ts

[DrJay]

Now the Boston and New York Marathons are jumping in on the fun.

Lance Armstrong’s name is likely to be expunged from the results of the New York City and Boston marathons, in addition to the Tour de France.

/

Now that's getting a little absurd. Maybe next they'll expunge his name from all print and digital media for the last 20 years, like in Orwell's 1984.

[Conor Dary]

Now the Boston and New York Marathons are jumping in on the fun.

Lance Armstrong’s name is likely to be expunged from the results of the New York City and Boston marathons, in addition to the Tour de France.

/

Now that's getting a little absurd. Maybe next they'll expunge his name from all print and digital media for the last 20 years, like in Orwell's 1984.

All the boobs in authority trying to prove who is the most righteous. Puritans Unite!

[jazzcyclist]

Eddie Merckx weighs in.

Commenting after the UCI's release earlier in the week, Merckx said: "I'm sick, only for my sport. I met Lance many times, he never told me about doping, physicians or other things. He did not need to report to me, it was his problem but I fell into the trap. I am amazed at him, especially after what he went through." he told Le Soir.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/merckx- ... -armstrong

Is he for real or is he doing his best Inspector Renault impression?

[Conor Dary]

Eddie Merckx weighs in.

Commenting after the UCI's release earlier in the week, Merckx said: "I'm sick, only for my sport. I met Lance many times, he never told me about doping, physicians or other things. He did not need to report to me, it was his problem but I fell into the trap. I am amazed at him, especially after what he went through." he told Le Soir.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/merckx- ... -armstrong

Is he for real or is he doing his best Inspector Renault impression?

Shocked, shocked!! Yea, pretty moronic. All Armstrong's fault. The Tour is now the equivalent of a Child's Birthday Party only dirtied by LA.

General Ripper: Do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk, ice cream? Ice cream, Mandrake? Children's ice cream!...You know when fluoridation began?...1946. 1946, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual, and certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works. I first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love...Yes, a profound sense of fatigue, a feeling of emptiness followed. Luckily I was able to interpret these feelings correctly. Loss of essence. I can assure you it has not recurred, Mandrake. Women...women sense my power, and they seek the life essence. I do not avoid women, Mandrake...but I do deny them my essence.

[DrJay]

P O E

[guru]

Betsy Andreu on NBC's Rock Center tonight.

http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/201 ... drugs?lite

[jazzcyclist]

P O E

[DrJay]

P O E

Anybody?

[bambam]

P O E

Anybody?

POE = EPO, the nickname the cyclists used for it, or Edgar

[bambam]

Eddie Merckx weighs in.

Commenting after the UCI's release earlier in the week, Merckx said: "I'm sick, only for my sport. I met Lance many times, he never told me about doping, physicians or other things. He did not need to report to me, it was his problem but I fell into the trap. I am amazed at him, especially after what he went through." he told Le Soir.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/merckx- ... -armstrong

Is he for real or is he doing his best Inspector Renault impression?

Although Merckx is undeniably the greatest cyclist ever, he did get popped for doping 2-3 times during his career, even in the era in which there was very little testing.

[guru]

Terrific stuff on Rock Center tonight. Emma O'Reilly was particularly compelling.

It was also interesting to watch Andreu call interviewer Harry Smith onto the carpet as one of Armstrong's media sycophants.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500461_162- ... ColumnArea


Credit to Smith and NBC for not cutting those comments from the piece.

[DrJay]

P O E

Anybody?

POE = EPO, the nickname the cyclists used for it, or Edgar

Wrong answer, Dookie! But a good try. Conor posted a quote (rant) from Gen. Jack Ripper from Dr. Strangelove. Minutes later, after the crazed General offs himself, Mandrake is puzzling over a piece of paper with various permutations of P O E on it (P O E , O P E, Peace On Earth, On Earth Peace, etc) figuring the recall code must be some variation of those three letters.

[dukehjsteve]

Perhaps my all-time favorite movie. So many great lines, too many to repeat here !

[Conor Dary]

Thanks to Dr. Jay for pointing out the obvious and the Purity Of Essence of it all.

And I agree with the dukester, it is a great movie.

[KDFINE]

POE = Purity Of Essence.

[j-a-m]

Just stumbled upon the use of "to Live Strong" as a synonym for "to use PEDs"; interesting to see if that's gonna catch on ...

[tandfman]

Everyone will be asking for their money back, and to keep it he will end up having to fork it over to the lawyers instead. Why I think he will be headed for a new Chapter in his life, so to speak.

I assume you mean Chapter 7.

That wouldn't surprise me at all.

It turns out that Mr. Armstrong has salted away a good amount of money and may be able to fend off bankruptcy in spite of these actual and potential claims against him.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/27/your- ... arges.html

[odelltrclan]

Everyone will be asking for their money back, and to keep it he will end up having to fork it over to the lawyers instead. Why I think he will be headed for a new Chapter in his life, so to speak.

I assume you mean Chapter 7.

That wouldn't surprise me at all.

It turns out that Mr. Armstrong has salted away a good amount of money and may be able to fend off bankruptcy in spite of these actual and potential claims against him.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/27/your- ... arges.html

I have read other reports that put his net worth at about $25,000,000 or so. Who knows how accurate this information is. He probably will remain rich. But, I think he is still open to lawsuits from the likes of Emma O'Reilly, Betsy Andreu, and Greg Lemond (should they think about going that route) and others he has bullied and vilified in press, for defamation of character, etc. He also may be subject to punitive damages as well from some of these lawsuits, and who knows how much (if they happen) they might be.

[guru]

Ok, NOW it's time to start worrying about the Apocalypse being upon us...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/sport ... ml?hp&_r=0


Would have loved to be a fly on the wall at that Tygart/Armstrong sit-down

[tandfman]

The Onion ran this story more than 2 years ago:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/lance- ... but,17973/

Of course, it was a spoof at the time.

[gh]

from his column this morning, Scott Ostler's "Knucklehead Of The Week"

<<Knucklehead of the week: Lance Armstrong
Reportedly, Armstrong is considering a confession of his doping sins.
What, he's weary of the deception? He's guilt-stricken for all that cheating? He wants to be a role model for contrition and redemption?
Nah. Lance wants to get cleared so he can return to competitive sports. He wants to wipe away years of selfish cheating with a self-serving apology.
It will have to be a hell of an apology to make folks forget the self-righteous pit bull, denouncing and threatening doubters and accusers.
Proposed: a televised debate between Juicer Pit Bull Lance and Seen-the-Light Lance.>>


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/ostler/art ... z2HDgoy700

[Marlow]

from his column this morning, Scott Ostler's "Knucklehead Of The Week"

<<Knucklehead of the week: Lance Armstrong
Lance wants to get cleared so he can return to competitive sports.

This must be a stupid question, but . . . why would they let him compete again?!
Isn't a life-time ban the suitable punishment for all the cheating and lying?

Would not triathlon (presumably his next option) make him unwelcome also?

[guru]

USADA head Travis Tygart on Showtime's 60 Minutes Sports tomorrow night, talking about Armstrong and his intimidation tactics - including death threats

Preview - http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-5 ... ong-probe/

[slowjo]

LA will do a 1.5 hour interview with Oprah on the 17th. 9-10:30 PM on the OWN Network.

Is this confession time or more lies a la Marion Jones?

[tandfman]

LA will do a 1.5 hour interview with Oprah on the 17th. 9-10:30 PM on the OWN Network.

Is this confession time or more lies a la Marion Jones?

The British bookies are already taking bets on what he's going to say. This is from a Tweet I just saw:

Ladbrokes odds on Lance invue w/ Oprah: 1-4 he says `sorry' ; evens he confesses; evens he says he's innocent; 1-2 he cites `conspiracy.'

[tandfman]

Another Twitter contributor speculates on the Oprah/Lance intervew:

OPRAH: Did you cheat in the Tour de France? LANCE: No. I've never even been to France."”