RkFast

Following up on this...all your questions answered here, INCLUDING the "but he didnt fail any tests!!!" one. http://www.sportsscientists.com/2012/08/the-armstrong-fallout-thoughts-and.html?m=1

Once again, the current admin wants the makers to provide to the takers.

The President jokes about it, late night comediennes joke about it, everyone jokes about it. But when Mitt Romney jokes about it, its suddenly "sick." People who think like you worry me.

Thats the soft bigotry of low expectations, a hallmark of the left, at work right there. lybob.....OWNED Not reading the thread again, I see. The Ryan pick has NOT scared away seniors. The scare tactic of "Ryan's gonna change medicare as we know it!!!!!!" is actually working well. Becuase anyone who can add realizes the current system is unsustainable.

Its regional, for sure. Still not huge in the American sports conscience. But growing. More races, bigger crowds at them. For example, the Harlem Crit race used to get a small crowd, now its a major event. But youre not going to see that on the back pages of papers anytime soon.

Its as simple as this.....like baseball had its steroids period in the late 90s and early 2000s, cycling had the same. Riders dope to this day, but from about 1995 until about about...oh...2009, drug use was rampant. Frankie Andreu said it best. He was a support rider for Lance and said how one year he was riding in the front and the next year, the same clowns who couldnt touch him were now doped up and blowing his doors off and he had to do drugs not to win, but just to stay employed. Thats a powerful statement. Jonathan Vaughters who was also a Lance teammate and now runs his own squad had a good piece on it in the NYT. http://www.nytimes.c...?pagewanted=all The thing is...they were ALL doping. So the best guys were still on top, no matter what. The difference is for the lower tier guys. Im not condoning this behavior, or excusing it. Im just trying to show the rationale for it. Like Chris Rock said.."Im not saying its right, but I understand."

Just becuase he increased the interest in the sport, that doesnt exempt him for his crimes. And theres a bit of a disconnect in your theroy in that LA has been retired for years now and although he recruited many for the Spandex Mafia, present coompany included, cycling is still enjoying record growth and the races are bigger and more populated than ever. SECOND place? How about down to like, TENTH?

That, Im not sure of. Long story short, if you know the threshold for a postive test is X, you "dope" up to X minus 1. Small amounts, but STILL enough to make a difference,

Illegal at any time.

“Numerous witnesses provided evidence to USADA based on personal knowledge acquired, either through direct observation of doping activity by Armstrong, or through Armstrong’s admissions of doping to them that Armstrong used EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone and cortisone during the period from before 1998 through 2005, and that he had previously used EPO, testosterone and hGH through 1996. Witnesses also provided evidence that Lance Armstrong gave to them, encouraged them to use and administered doping products or methods, including EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone and cortisone during the period from 1999 through 2005. Additionally, scientific data showed Mr. Armstrong’s use of blood manipulation including EPO or blood transfusions during Mr. Armstrong’s comeback to cycling in the 2009 Tour de France.” http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/usada-bans-armstrong-for-life-disqualifies-all-results-since-1998

There are eyewitness accounts and sworn testimony that would come out if this went to arbitration.

It looks like WADA granted the USADA power to do it. And then if the UCI, the "NFL" of cycling goes along with the ruling, its all but done. And the UCI WILL go along with it becuase if they dont, then WADA can tell the UCI that cycling is out of the Olympics. Crazy political stuff.

My friend, you dont know LA very well. The guy has LIVED to win those tours. That was his LIFE. His reputation is shot. AND...he cannot race moving forward, something he was trying to do, getting back into Triathlons. He was scheduled to race the Kona Ironman this year before he was banned. So he did have a financial stake in this. Being stripped of his titles and being banned from future racing is BEYOND huge to him.

if you want a good rundown, this is it. Some of the info is outdated. For example, it says George Hincapie has been supoenead (I cant friggin spell). As of today, he ehas testified. http://www.bicycling.com/news/pro-cycling/you-jury

You had absolutely zero idea what youre talking about. None. Go do some research. I have. Im telling you I follow this sport closely, have read a lot about it and have follwed LA's career closely. Not his apperances on The Tonight Show. His actual racing career. But you just dismiss my opinion like I have no clue? So OK......go do some research on your own and get back to me. Google is your friend. Tom, there is sworn testimony made against LA. http://www.cyclingne...ferrari-in-2006

Seriously? THIS is your response to what I posted? I gave you a !@#$ing list of the allegations against him since 99. Did you even bother to click? And whats "hearsay?" You DO realize there are sworn, sealed testimonies made by former teammates that would have come out if it went to arbitration, right? You do realize LA made a $450,000 payoff through a swiss bank account to Michele Ferrari, considered the "Dr. Feelgood" of Pro Cycling two yesars after Ferrari was banned from the sport and LA swore off ever working with him again? Of course you do!

Whats damning for LA is the fact that there are a ton of former teammates, racers, soigners (assistants on the team) who have, from what Im reading, are ready to testify against LA. Still, its odd to me that the USADA has the jurisdiction to strip him of his titles, especially without an admision or a failed test from that specific event. This isnt the NFL with one governing body. Theres the USADA, WADA, CAS, UCI and the race organizers, ASO who all have a say. Confused yet? Yeah, me too. As far as testing goes, be careful. The "never had a failed test" thing is a weak argument. Its bloody EASY to foil a test, especially back in the day when Lance raced. All he needed to do was carefully keep his doping "doses", if you will, below the testing threshold, which wasnt hard and would still provide an advantage to him. I was a HUGE LA fanboy. And I watch the entrie pro cycling calendar from the Tour Down Under in Jan, right through the Tour de Faso in late Fall. I think there have been few riders with the talent, natural ability and mental edge that LA has. Think Bruce Smith's physical talent with Jim Kelly's brashness, leadership and "head for the game." He is that good. So its not like some punch and judy competitor "stole" anything. Doping or not, he was still one of the best ever. Even back when he was a kid, he would show up at local races and ride the whole field off his wheel like they were standing still. But with that said...he also did stuff that would be borderline impossible to do WITHOUT doping. He and the others racing in the early 2000s were going so damned fast it was insane. I can watch this year's tour, go back and watch a clip of the 1999 tour and see the difference in the flat out speed clear as day. NO WAY they werent all doping. And the fact that virtually every rider LA raced against has been dinged for doping confirms that. And there is a mountain of damning evidence and stories that is just too much to ignore. Its a huge list. Here is is.... http://www.cyclingne...-over-the-years Bottom line, its a sad day, but one the pro cycling world and the regular riding Spandex Mafia (proud member!) have been waiting on for a long time. There are some tears and a bit of anger, but mostly relief and feelings of justification.

Why is Bayless an "asshat" for suggesting a top tier athlete is taking PEDS in a sport where hundreds of others take them for their own performance enhancement, for injury recouperation, to stay on the field day to day, to remain competitive with their peers, or to extend their careers? As far as benefit of the doubt, have you met Mr. Lance Armstrong? Tons of his fans swallowed his brash claims of racing clean for decades now, present company included. Hows that working out for him now? Hey...Jeter is a great athlete and a great ballpayer. Personally, Id be surpised if he did. But if you think he is somehow "above" even being questioned about taking PEDS in a sports culture where they are popped like candy and spoofing tests is easy to do, youre nuts.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/17/13333450-no-papers-no-fear-illegal-immigrants-declare-themselves-on-bus-tour?lite

God Bless Hank Kleeman and Dave Venlet.

I guess its "racist" of me to say I think minories are flat out stupid for letting these politicos talk to them and openly mock them in this manner. And they swallow it up and hoot and holler when Hillary puts on a drawl, or Biden starts shucking and jiving. Even the President, himself does it. Unreal. I guess we all get pandered to in different ways, but at least if Biden showed up in Dyker Heights or Bensonhurst and started going "Uh...hey....yo Vinny! Get me some of dat Obamacare with sum tomata sauz from your mutta's house", he would get booed off the stage. Do these folks at these rallies have NO sense of pride and are they that brainwashed by the Democratic machine that they just accept being mocked? Right to their faces?

OK, the HUGE hole in your argument is that youre saying my kid really isnt a victim of a system now rigged against her (and me, as her parent) becuase "she has the opportunity to go somewhere else." But why should she be forced to go somewhere else so an illegal immigrant can get the spot in her school of first choice? Thats been covered. But the bigger issue is this....financial. Why should illegal immigrants now be given a leg up financially over an American-born child....white, black or whatever?

Tgreg...read both articles and then explain to me why this girl and those like her gets a spot in line for college and government favor before my child does. I would like a clear answer in plain language so I can understand it http://usnews.nbcnew...gal-status?lite http://www.nydailyne...ticle-1.1135794

Well, youre wrong. I may not be a rocket scientist, but Im smart enough to know Im not being "oppressed."

Wrong. I didnt say Im being "screwed." Im saying that people like myself, working class whites, are the ones who will NOT be on the receving end of whatever "check" Obama wants to hand out in the name of "sharing." That when he says "share", hes talking to me, the average taxpayer. Obama is pandering to the recipient class, not the producing class. its so funny how liberals love to say they "have enough" or can "give more." Last I checked, they use HR Block, too.