Armstrong charged and banned

[rich p]

FWIW, LD, I think most of us would agree, as the Monkey Man has highlighted in his other thread. The UCI is the main issue now and it may need to be the teams that force the revolution.
I still lay a lot of the blame for the excesses of the worst doping years at the feet of Bruyneel, USP and Armstrong who turned it into a science and for that reason I want to see them recieve their punishment.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

When does someone get to serve prison time?

Fraid you won't get to see that. Not going to go near a criminal court.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Most unfair. Marion Jones got some.

True dat.

But a pound to a bottle of Talisker no household names will ever face criminal prosecution in this case. in the unlikley event anyone goes to court it will merely be the foot soldiers, or the back room boys and girls or some PA or administrator offered up as scapegoats. Anyone higher up will plea bargain (a ghastly invention) their way out of real trouble to avoid a trial.

 

[mickle]

Right now all of LA's sponsors are standing shoulder to shoulder in 'support' of him after his 'enough is enough' statement. As some commentators have said, this was his least worst option when faced with the prospect of having to face the evidence and testimony thay had against him. It's obvious that the USADA wouldn't have taken it this far unless they had compelling evidence, and Lance wouldn't have jumped like he did unless he thought they had compelling evidence. So now it gets interesting. How long will his corporate supporters stay on his side? When the evidence sees the light of day the UCI's hand will be forced and Nike and Oakley and the rest will find their position untenable. The more that fall the less strong his position will be. I reckon they'll all be lining up to sue him in a couple of months.

 

[tigger]

Saw one of the Livestrong Giro helmets yesterday and wondered who will want these tarnished items now...

 

[Crackle]

Right now all of LA's sponsors are standing shoulder to shoulder in 'support' of him after his 'enough is enough' statement. As some commentators have said, this was his least worst option when faced with the prospect of having to face the evidence and testimony thay had against him. It's obvious that the USADA wouldn't have taken it this far unless they had compelling evidence, and Lance wouldn't have jumped like he did unless he thought they had compelling evidence. So now it gets interesting. How long will his corporate supporters stay on his side? When the evidence sees the light of day the UCI's hand will be forced and Nike and Oakley and the rest will find their position untenable. The more that fall the less strong his position will be. I reckon they'll all be lining up to sue him in a couple of months.

Par for the course so far. His corporate sponsors are still seeing a strong brand which won't damage theirs short term. You can bet your bottom dollar that behind the scenes they are making preparations to ditch the Livestrong co-branding but in the meantime they need to shift the stock.

 

[ufkacbln]

True dat.

But a pound to a bottle of Talisker no household names will ever face criminal prosecution in this case. in the unlikley event anyone goes to court it will merely be the foot soldiers, or the back room boys and girls or some PA or administrator offered up as scapegoats. Anyone higher up will plea bargain (a ghastly invention) their way out of real trouble to avoid a trial.

Certainly the case previously.

PS - is Talisker performance enhancing?

 

[yello]

Hah... on Big Tex I don't give a hoot and never have done, didn't like him as a racer or a man.

That's the way to do it!

I share many of the concerns you have voiced and I also want to see a top down shake up of the sport. But I'm not afraid or ashamed to say I want Armstrong to go down as a part of the deal the shakes up the UCI. He doesn't get cut any slack from me even though I'll readily agree he was part of an era of doping. What he did, imo - the bullying, the manipulation, the sheer scale of deceit - transcended any other rider or teams actions, made him more than just simply a part of the era.

I listened yesterday to an interview with Travis Tygart. He says USADA's intention was to get the doctors and ds's out of the game, he says he accepts Armstrong was to some degree a victim and a pawn. They offered Armstrong the chance to come in and talk - Armstrong declined. Had he talked... well, who knows? A real 'what if' scenario that one.

Seriously though, I am pleased that you have put your own cards on the table (as it were) since I found your one-liner style of commenting a little too cryptic. I couldn't work out if you simply had fanboy's denial as motivation. Now I know where you're coming from I can better interpret the one-liners!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Certainly the case previously.

PS - is Talisker performance enhancing?

Only if you micro-dose.

 

[yello]

Right now all of LA's sponsors are standing shoulder to shoulder in 'support' of him after his 'enough is enough' statement.

It is an interesting one. I'm hardly being a hater if I suggest they'll be reviewing their business strategies and making contingency plans though - that's just plain simple good business sense. I also think it fair to say that nobody will be signing him up either, or even renewing contracts at this point in time!

Trek and Nike are the one's I'm particularly interested. I wouldn't expect formal announcements as such, more of a phased drifting away from Armstrong the individual though perhaps retaining the Livestrong links.

 

[raindog]

Trek and Nike are the one's I'm particularly interested.

doesn't he part own Trek though?

 

[yello]

doesn't he part own Trek though?

I believe so, yes. I don't know what his role is or isn't, whether he's just a stock holder etc... so I didn't mention it.

 

[BalkanExpress]

I'm not trying to prove anything and I'm certainly not trying to get into a willy-measuring competition about how much or how little I followed cycling in the early 90s. A lifelong follower of Arsenal, I'm still told frequently by more ardent followers that I don't hate Spurs enough to be a true believer. That may be true.
.

Well let's check... just how much do you hate Sp*rs? or

 

[lukesdad]

That's the way to do it!

I share many of the concerns you have voiced and I also want to see a top down shake up of the sport. But I'm not afraid or ashamed to say I want Armstrong to go down as a part of the deal the shakes up the UCI. He doesn't get cut any slack from me even though I'll readily agree he was part of an era of doping. What he did, imo - the bullying, the manipulation, the sheer scale of deceit - transcended any other rider or teams actions, made him more than just simply a part of the era.

I listened yesterday to an interview with Travis Tygart. He says USADA's intention was to get the doctors and ds's out of the game, he says he accepts Armstrong was to some degree a victim and a pawn. They offered Armstrong the chance to come in and talk - Armstrong declined. Had he talked... well, who knows? A real 'what if' scenario that one.

Seriously though, I am pleased that you have put your own cards on the table (as it were) since I found your one-liner style of commenting a little too cryptic. I couldn't work out if you simply had fanboy's denial as motivation. Now I know where you're coming from I can better interpret the one-liners!

I'm neither a fanboy or a hater ( tho' it seems you have to be the second to avoid ridicule on this thread ) on the subject of those who've stood up to Big Tex, let's not forget Bertie shall we ? I'm a fan of Bertie by the way, tho' alas no longer a boy.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Well let's check... just how much do you hate Sp*rs? or

Umm.... I don't. It niggles me that I don't, but I can't help but like them.

That whole snarling disdain and enmity for The Spurs seems to have started (unhelpfully) in the past couple of decades.

I feel sorry for Spurs sometimes, because they don't even seem to be able to win a bottle of plonk in a raffle, never mind anything on the football field.... But coming from an Arsenal supporter that's a bit rich.