Lance Armstrong : The Legacy !

TALL POPPY Syndrome is alive and flourishing ! Once again those seeking to " destroy " the person they envy most , have moved the " goalposts "! Didn't get the result they wanted in one venue , so they move to the next ! Over several years i have been watching the " mushrooms " gloating about having " the Goods " to convict Lance ! So many places where they dwell , can be found by tripping over a stone . That there are so very few of them that act in concert was shown when they tried to " Petition Pres. Barack Obama " shortly after the Fed's withdrew the Grand Jury action after spending countless millions during a two year span .

Based on the say so , of a disgruntled and disgraced cyclist , who thought he could reap some benefit , the Fed's launched an investigation to see if the US Postal Service had been " ripped Off "! Clearly that sanctimonious ex cyclist saw the possibility of " Millions of Dollars " , coming his way . Whoever put him up to this , is the entity that the Fed's should seek out for a recovery action , fat chance that flandis has two dimes to rub together . Of course there is more in the background that motivated an investigation . Some Feds build reputations on successfully revealing to the public the results of their inquiries .

Now we have USADA being encouraged to stir up the mud at the bottom of the pond , on the slim possibility that those informing them , will be treated as " credible witnesses " rather than malcontents seeking the OP. for a book or some time in the " limelight "!

WHAT USADA should be doing is drawing a line and saying the " Past has GONE "! From    1st July 2012 you have ONE MONTH to reveal ALL your past indiscretions , without penalty !

1st August2012 will be a new Era in the USA , any found to have covered up ANY WRONG DOING will be prosecuted . But here is the RUB ! All Athletes not revealing their past will " take Down " their " Handlers and Helpers "! That means IF WE WERE TALKING OF LANCE AS AN EXAMPLE then Johan Bruyneel , His Soigneurs , His Mechanics , His PR Staff would ALL receive " LifeTime Bans from ALL SPORT Activities !

CAN you imagine what pressure would be placed by these people on ANY Athlete to reveal their PAST  transgressions ? Nobody with any sense , will want to risk their current career even if it means being the " whistle blower "!

So many people who were Athletes are now on the Coaching and Admin staffs of a variety of sports . Are any of them " willing " to see their FUTURE come to a complete halt through an Athlete being embarrassed to admit to " Sporting Fraud " at some event , perhaps even 10 years ago ?  Testing of Athletes has reached the point where " samples " from 1999 are being thrust into the " limelight " as credible evidence , so it stands to reason that there are more such examples available .

Were i involved with a " Dubious Athlete " working in Sport , i would be asking my protege to reveal all , no doubt there will be those who will " cross fingers " and hope for the best BUT once the 1st August comes there will be nobody " let off "!  Did the " Crime , do the Time " !

SURELY IN THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT there are SOME HONEST PEOPLE who without fear or favour can dictate to WADA and through them the rest of the World that " SPORTING FRAUD " is nO LONGER ACCEPTABLE !

Parents letting their sons and daughters deserve to know the Credentials of those Training them in ANY SPORT ! Many countries do a Police Check on the background of those involved with children . So how much more important is it that the children are not influenced by those taking " Short Cuts " to get " Results "?

With a new generation of " Clean /known backgrounds " , coaching at grassroots level will eventually see Athletes arriving in competition with no doubts as to their ability to resist the influence of those currently advocating use of products proscribed by WADA .

ONLY THE ATHLETES CAN DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR FUTURE ! I as a bystander can only wish to see less of the " finger pointing " and i am , like many , heartily sick of the continuing " SAGA "  surrounding the career of a retired Cyclist .

An article that came out in a " CNF thread " recently :


http://www.sfweekly.com/2005-09-07/news/tour-de-farce/


CNF has really gone to town on Lance recently with threads such as :


http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=17076


http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=17534

Also this last thread a chart surfaced in that thread :

http://cyclismas.com/2012/06/lance-armstrongs-business-links-a-flowchart-by-dimspace/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lance-armstrongs-business-links-a-flowchart-by-dimspace

Sorry the chart is not copy-able so take a visit  

On the forum " happychappy " summed up what i personally think with :

" Exactly this. I'm not sure how these people can enjoy spending every day for years working themselves up into these little "hater" frenzies they all have. 

It always just boils down to bickering between themselves like schoolchildren in the end." !

Now you know why i call them " Mushrooms "! Perhaps I should call them Toadstools , because of their poisonous comments , about even those Racers who are as clean as a whistle !

Lance Armstrong : The Legacy !

A Weekend at the Giro d'Italia 2012

Friday evening brought me to the environs of Bra with the Arrivo being in Cervere . Once again i was invited into a home to share the balcony which overlooked the Finish line . Unfortunately the camera recorded the front wheel of Cav's bike so it will be little use to post the shot .

Later i rendevoused with members of the Cuneo Hand Bike Team whom i had met earlier in company with Francesco Moser . As King Cav was in Doping Control i suggested that the guys move around to a point where he would pass on his way to other appointments . Asked to shake their hands and pose for a photo , he found time to wave an acknowledgement but continued on his way to the more important appointments .

Earlier as reported elsewhere i saw Alexanda , the seasoned Presenter of RAI TV simpering like a school girl as Mark arrived on the stage of the program she was in the course of presenting live , " Processa Il Tappa "! Could not believe how she gushed as Mark made his arrival since she usually greets the likes of Vittoio Adorni and Gianni Motta , etc with aplomb , but then i guess Mark had just won his 4th Etappe at this Giro so it was a special and perhaps unexpected occasion ? Certainly she has interviewed the likes of Ramunas and Rodriguez  with less enthusiasm .

Saturday my great friend Ricarrdo , from Torino , that provided my accomodation during the Torino Olympic period , rode with me to about 50 km past Torino where we were stopped by the Polizia Stradalle, so that the race could pass . whilst awaiting the Peloton we were interviewed by " Vanity Fair " personnel who told us the story would appear the following wednesday .

Riding back into Torino with Riccardo , we joined a fast moving chain of riders and sat on at about a 40+kph pace that was rotating in an experience way during the 30 km we were with them .

Torino has the good fortune to have a new bike shop open in December last , speciallizing in BMC bikes and this includes the Bergamont range as part of their inventory . i sat in the shop watching the final 50 km of the Saturday Etappe on their big screen and watched as Ryder the Canadian sprinted in the final 2 km and thus recovered the Maglia Rose .

Later in Riccardo's home i saw Chelsea win the Champions Trophy in Football . Amazing to think that the team owner , a russian , has chased this trophy for several years and sacked a variety of trainers and in the year he has realised his dream , he sacks the Trainer who did the hard work to secure this acheivement for him ?

Sunday was an early start for the ride to Busto A., which is west of Milano , arriving in time to greet the Team Pullmans as they rolled into the parking area . The mystery of the whereabouts of Johan Bruyneel was solved when i photoed him sitting in the front of the bus and had a quick exchange of views with a variety of people .

Mushrooms of Cyclingnews Forum can now go back to what they do best , feeding on bullshit in the dark !

Enjoyed a long chat with Shane Bannon who i knew over the years as the Australian Team Boss and is now the leader of the GreenEDGE Team that is doing such a spectacular job of "showcasing " Aussie Cycling Talent !

Leaving the Partenza area enroute for Lecco , the rain moved in so i diverted to my friends' home in the Varese area . Arrived to find noone home but on checking at the family house nearby found Romildo was visiting whilst Luigia was attending her 92yo mother . Romildo was kind enough to serve me an impromptu lunch and then we watched the highlights of the 1979 Giro on RAI Sport until they presented Live Coverage of the day's etappe where Rodriguez recovered the Mglia Rose as he followed in secod on the day's etappe . He had passed the victor Di Marche in the final kms but then the finish was enlivened by the sprint . During the final 50+km there was only one man away , with 6 mins to start but that was eated up in the final climb . So good to see the Guy be able to take the Victory !

As i write this report i am watching the Italian Cup Final between Juve who i expect to win and Napoli !

Turned out that Napoli won 2 to nil !

A Weekend at the Giro d'Italia 2012