Matthew Miner
Let's give they guy a chance to defend himself. Aside from his attorneys
(and hopefully at least his spouse!) he doesn't exactly have many others on
his side. If you were in his shoes at end of stage 16, would you not weigh
the downside risk of winning the tour but getting caught and doing
irreparable damage to your reputation vs. not winning and but at least not
creating the biggest scandal in the history of the tour? I mean he KNEW he
would be tested if he won or placed highly.
And if you want to argue that he thought he could be careful to take just
enough testosterone to be undetected, well, it probably wouldn't have been
enough to make a significant difference in his performance anyhow.
Also, the fact he appeared angry as opposed to elated after the win doesn't
mean squat. The press--in their usual manner--had written him off after
stage 16. They called it a massive failure. The win was sweet revenge and
that's how many of us behave in situations such as that. It's just not valid
to draw any assumption whatsoever from it. I think throwing water bottles at
the press is just what they deserved.
I for one am not willing to convict him at this early stage--it ain't the
American way.
matt
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Jack Bennett
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 9:23 AM
To: adcampbell46@earthlink.net; obra
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] FLOYD and DRUGS, my thoughts
Well, at this point, it is looking like he's guiilty of something, and
it does make you wish someone who gets caught would just say "OK, I did
it. And I did it because I think that's the only way to compete." (or
whatever) And I guess that's what you were suggesting.
It still doesn't make sense to me that a guy who knows he'll be tested
if he wins the stage would take a drug. Nor does it make sense that he
would then claim it's a result of natural processes when he knows the
test could show that it's a synthetic. You're right--at some point, the
denials just start looking stupid.
--- Dave Campbell wrote:
> I am not saying throw the guy to the wolves or guilty until proven
> innocent, but I would like to see somebody just step up and really
> tell it...
> today his lawyer is talking about dehydration causing the reading...
> just seems like reaching, grasping...
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jack Bennett
> To: adcampbell46@earthlink.net
> Sent: 8/4/2006 8:33:30 AM
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] FLOYD and DRUGS, my thoughts
>
>
> Nope. Basically I'm saying 1) we don't know for sure either way yet
> and 2) Landis' guilt (or not) has nothing to do with prior history.
>
>
>
> Dave Campbell wrote:
> Do you REALLY think after all the evidence thus far (UCI notes Testo
> test
> shows exogenous) he is innocent.
> REALLY?
> Natural 3x a high with no prior positives?
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Jack Bennett
> > To: ; obra
> > Date: 8/1/2006 11:52:56 PM
> > Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] FLOYD and DRUGS, my thoughts
> >
> > Very eloquent, but implicit in your last paragraph is your belief
> that
> > Floyd is guilty of taking something ("What did you take, how did
> you
> > take it, and how long have you been doing this? Why did you do
> it?").
> > It is still possible to suppose, instead, that he has already COME
> > CLEAN and that he's not in fact guilty of anything. Regardless of
> all
> > the history of drugs in the sport of cycling, Landis' case deserves
> to
> > rise or fall on its own merits, not the guilt of Hamilton, Heras,
> or
> > anyone else, and the merits (or lack thereof) remain to be proven.
> >
> > Jack
> >
> >
> > --- Dave Campbell wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > OBRA-friends:
> > > You may see this in other publications in coming days, feel free
> to
> > > delete if you have heard enough! I felt compelled to state my
> views
> > >
> > > As a rabid cycling fan, I always watch the Tour de France
> > > with great interest and after nearly twenty-five years in the
> sport,
> > > I am in awe of the level of coverage we now get in this country.
> > > Twenty years ago the sport got a ten minute highlight once a week
> and
> > > now I choose from five different 2-3 hour time slots, including
> live
> > > coverage! It was devastating to watch Floyd Landis crumble while
> > > wearing the leader's jersey, but absolutely spectacular to see
> his
> > > audacious attack the following day. It was an exploit like the
> Tour
> > > hasn't seen in ages, a brave move of a true champion, a legend.
> It
> > > inspired my training, put a spring in my step, and I thought of
> how I
> > > could use Floyd's story of determination to motivate and
> encourage
> > > the athletes I coach or the students in my classroom.
> > > However, soon my friends, co-workers, and athletes were
> > > no longer asking my opinion on these exploits or sharing my
> > > enthusiasm for a great race but rather asking me about the
> ensuing
> > > drug scandal! We are hearing all the same rhetoric we have heard
> > > before as the rider, his coaches, and team grasp at straws.maybe
> the
> > > beer the night before triggered the positive (yeah, that seems
> > > likely.one beer tripled his testosterone) or even that it was the
> > > same French lab that was "out to get" Lance Armstrong. Keep in
> mind
> > > the limit is 4:1 and he tested 11:1. Some issues stick out.Floyd
> had
> > > fourteen tests (including six at the Tour) this year and all were
> > > negative, surely his own "naturally high levels" would have
> triggered
> > > another positive prior to the one taken after his key stage. And
> > > what of Floyd's angry, aggressive behavior beyond the line upon
> > > finishing his incredible breakaway? Clearly, he was fired up but
> we
> > > would also expect some elation and fatigue and not just h
> > > urling water bottles at pressing journalists, correct?
> > > Not surprisingly, the contrived responses, often through legal
> > > counsel continue to fly and continue to numb us: all the riders
> > > ejected before the Tour began each still proclaim their innocence
> and
> > > vow to fight on, Barry Bonds maintains he was given "flax seed
> oil",
> > > Tyler Hamilton (whose credibility is exactly ZERO after his name
> was
> > > all over the seized Fuentes files before the Tour) insists the
> blood
> > > test is flawed, and Justin Gatlin is the victim of a vindictive
> > > masseur. PLEASE. Most of the reports of what REALLY happens in
> > > sports today come from those with an axe to grind (Spanish pro
> > > cyclist Jesus Manzano) or a fall guy (Festina soigneur Willy
> Voet) or
> > > a borderline nut-case making some bucks (Jose Canseco). The stars
> > > maintain the status quo, which apparently is dope until caught
> and
> > > then deny! Meanwhile, the premier sporting events and
> achievements
> > > continue to be tainted by those who cheat. Instead of feeling awe
> > > and excitement for the victors, we are skeptical, doub
> > > tful, and have become jaded. In cycling, the LAST THREE GRAND
> > > TOURS, the pinnacles of the sport, have winners who have either
> been
> > > relegated (Heras in the Vuelta), are under suspicion (Basso in
> the
> > > Giro), or are currently having a positive test investigated
> (Landis).
> > > Is it any surprise that OLN dropped its planned highlight show
> last
> > > Sunday or that Germany's major station (their star Jan Ullrich is
> > > under investigation) will likely cease to show the Tour? In the
> > > quest for fame and fortune, the cheaters have bitten the very
> hand
> > > that feed s them!
> > > Mr. Landis, you clearly were raised by a family who taught you
> about
> > > honesty and hard work. Your sport is corrupt and dying. Now is
> the
> > > time.WHAT DID YOU REALLY DO? No lawyers, no excuses, just the
> truth.
> > > Why continue dragging cycling, your good name, the event, and all
> of
> > > the public's belief in sport's credibility through the mud for
> MONTHS
> > > on end while we split legal hairs??? What did you take, how did
> you
> > > take it, and how long have you been doing this? Why did you do
> it?
> > > Is it the riders decision to dope? The managers? Are their
> systems
> > > in place to help? How do so many escape the tests? The only hope
> of
> > > fixing this horrific and pervasive problem and restoring the
> trust of
> > > the public is to COME CLEAN. We need the voice of a champion who
> > > feels regret and wants to see things improve. You are the right
> man
> > > for the job, Floyd and THE TIME IS NOW.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dave Campbell
> > > adcampbell46@earthlink.net
> > > EarthLink Revolves Around You.>
> > _______________________________________________
> > > OBRA mailing list
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> > > http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> > > Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
> > >
> >
> >
> > .................................
> > Jack Bennett
> > drjackbo@yahoo.com
> > .................................
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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>
>
>
>
>
>
> .................................
> Jack Bennett
> drjackbo@yahoo.com
> .................................
>
>
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.................................
Jack Bennett
drjackbo@yahoo.com
.................................
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