In addition - while this news is horrible for the sport short-term, the good news is that most Americans are not even aware it is happening. They are paying attention to:
- Barry Bonds - see above
- Michael Vick - if you think Rasmussan's infractions were bad, read the indictment on this creep. At least PETA is not protesting outside ASO's headquarters.
- The NBA may literally be no better than professional wrastling. In addition, if this ref starts to name names, and it has been clear there was significant influence on the outcomes of games, this league is toast.
So - while we debate all of this TdF stuff, luckily, 5 people not on this board in the United States even know about it.
bac
07-25-07, 04:29 PM
Nice!!!! Education is key for sure.
Will this bring forth awareness of doping in American sports? Probably not, but I can dream, can't I?????? :D
... Brad
VT Biker
07-25-07, 04:49 PM
Some additional perspective. For the most part, all of the other sports scandals impact the entire point of the sport (i.e. - a fan of football, all they can be is a fan, watching from a sofa). But in cycling, regardless of how bad this get, no matter how far pro cycling will fall in terms of riders, money and overall exposure, we can still ride, race, tour or whatever you do on your bike.
After reading a couple of blogs highlighting the fact that almost all sports are mired in scandals affecting the ability to trust the competition on the field, I am complete fine giving up watching sports entirely. They soak up your time, which often we are short of anyways.
But unlike that poor sap who has poured so much time and energy investing himself into the NBA, he is most likely stuck. Sure - he can play at a rec league, but how many people older than 30 have the ability to handle the constant pounding of running up and down a basketball court? And there are no national amateur basketball tournaments like we have the the US Cycling and ACA groups.
Just be happy, that we have decided to take up a sport that offers so much back to ourselves.
USAZorro
07-25-07, 04:55 PM
How about this for perspective? Nobody will be talking about Vino for the next few days. Who'd have thought that?
PatD
07-25-07, 05:06 PM
FYI
NFL players caught doping:
Dominic Rhodes & Jarrod Cooper of the Raiders and these guys- http://www.nflplayers.com/news/news_release.aspx?id=6988
US sports are cleaning up. I sincerely believe that a much lower percentage of US pro athletes are doping than in the tour. It's not that they're better people, its just a different sport. Doping is not necessary or worth it for a guy like Peyton Manning or Ryan Howard.
ttopaz
07-25-07, 05:13 PM
FYI
NFL players caught doping:
Dominic Rhodes & Jarrod Cooper of the Raiders and these guys- http://www.nflplayers.com/news/news_release.aspx?id=6988
US sports are cleaning up. I sincerely believe that a much lower percentage of US pro athletes are doping than in the tour. It's not that they're better people, its just a different sport. Doping is not necessary or worth it for a guy like Peyton Manning or Ryan Howard.
So naive.
http://www.wayodd.com/funny-pictures2/funny-pictures-monkey-moe-ZAQ.jpg
PatD
07-25-07, 05:42 PM
So naive.
http://www.wayodd.com/funny-pictures2/funny-pictures-monkey-moe-ZAQ.jpg
Well 8uck you too for good measure;>
VT Biker
07-25-07, 06:04 PM
So naive.
http://www.wayodd.com/funny-pictures2/funny-pictures-monkey-moe-ZAQ.jpg
Well,
yes and no. I beleive there is more use of HGH in the big 3 pro sports than most are aware of. However, cycling, unlike baseball and football, is more succeptable to doping because the nature of the sport.
The ball and stick sports offer exceptional athletes who have developed the necessary hand-eye coordination and skills to compete without altering their physique or conditioning above their genetic limits. Cycling as well as the track and field sports are extremely succeptable, because you cannot out skill someone doping. I do not care how good your pedal stroke is, someone doping is going to out ride you.
Now - NFL Linemen: all are using some form of steroid, testosterone, or HGH. And drug use (not weed either) amongst NBA players is still a dark secret in the NBA.
chipcom
07-25-07, 06:25 PM
Just to add a little more perspective, none of this has anything to do with 'cycling' in general, just that subset called the sport of professional bicycle racing. I don't think Joe Public dopes to toodle down the MUP on his cruiser, commute to work, etc. ;)
SunSwingsLow
07-25-07, 06:40 PM
The overall health of cycling has been hanging by a thread and the scandals that this TdF has unveiled has pretty much assured us that the team sponsorships are going to look signifgantly different next year and with a ton less money.
Barry Bonds and Michael Vick have done nothing to harm the sports popularity. The NBA may face a serious problem if it turns out to be more than one ref.
But if you want perspective. The lets give it some.
Imagine the Super Bowl and in the 3rd Quarter its revealed that Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Brian Urlacher will no longer be competing for the rest of the game for various drug allegations.
Imagine the WS and in the 6 inning Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujlos are all kicked out of playing the rest of the game.
Imagine the NBA finals and Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Lebron James are all told they cant finish the game.
The only difference is that pro-cycling isnt nearly as popular as these 3 sports and thanks to the dopers we can be garunteed that the sport never will be. That is the perspective I think we should be looking at, and should stop trying to make ourselves feel better with the "he did it to" argument. The crimes committed by the other sports should not be our concern or used to gain "perspective."
crtreedude
07-25-07, 06:44 PM
I hate to bring it up but Chipcom, your hair looks like it is the result of drugs - I am sure it is completely normal but in light of all the recent events... :rolleyes:
chipcom
07-25-07, 06:47 PM
I hate to bring it up but Chipcom, your hair looks like it is the result of drugs - I am sure it is completely normal but in light of all the recent events... :rolleyes:
Doping has been a problem in cosmetology for centuries. ;)
bbattle
07-25-07, 06:49 PM
I hate to bring it up but Chipcom, your hair looks like it is the result of drugs - I am sure it is completely normal but in light of all the recent events... :rolleyes:
It's the Lindsay Lohan look. "Those drugs weren't mine."
JungleCat
07-25-07, 06:59 PM
I remember Kyle Turley estimating that 15% of NFL players are taking PEDs.
chipcom
07-25-07, 07:05 PM
It's the Lindsay Lohan look. "Those drugs weren't mine."
Well technically they aren't, since I haven't paid you for the latest shipment yet. :eek:
bac
07-25-07, 07:07 PM
US sports are cleaning up. I sincerely believe that a much lower percentage of US pro athletes are doping than in the tour.
So there is MUCH less testing than in pro cycling ..... but there's LESS doping. Okay.
... Brad
bac
07-25-07, 07:13 PM
Barry Bonds and Michael Vick have done nothing to harm the sports popularity. The NBA may face a serious problem if it turns out to be more than one ref.
But if you want perspective. The lets give it some.
Imagine the Super Bowl and in the 3rd Quarter its revealed that Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Brian Urlacher will no longer be competing for the rest of the game for various drug allegations.
Imagine the WS and in the 6 inning Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujlos are all kicked out of playing the rest of the game.
Imagine the NBA finals and Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Lebron James are all told they cant finish the game.
Nicely done, SSL. You can also tack on returning 1 year's salary .... and also tack on a 4-year ban from the sport ... and also tack on the total disgrace doping brings to a rider's career. There is just no comparison. I'll bet that Vick won't even get that and we all know of his sadistic crimes. Sad. really.
... Brad
SunSwingsLow
07-25-07, 07:39 PM
I'll bet that Vick won't even get that and we all know of his sadistic crimes. Sad. really.
... Brad
I think he will get some serious jail time.
fingers crossed though
bac
07-25-07, 07:43 PM
I think he will get some serious jail time.
You've got more confidence in our legal system than I, but I hope beyond hope that you are right!