botto 

get over it.

merlinextraligh

Think about it. Do you really think Armstrong wants an extremely public trial to give Landis a national platform to broadcast these allegations for days on end?

And Armstrong would get to suffer through the testimony of this witness list: Ferrari, Emma O Reilly, Steve Swart, Mike Anderson, Betsy Andreu, Frankie Andreu, as well as Landis.

Then he'd get to hear again about the 1999 positive EPO test, and the steroid test.

It would not be a pretty 3 weeks for Armstrong.

Much easier to just dismiss the whole thing to the rantings of a bitter washed up has been with a reported drinking problem. Express pity for Landis and move on, case closed.

jzsoup

I never saw that. Got a link?

Kadowaki

I've tussled with this because I met him shortly after and judged that he was telling the truth, but over time the evidence seemed to contradict his innocence. I subsequently decided they are all dirty, and I still think that.

However, if you read the interviews in some detail, it turns out that he admits to using testosterone, HCG and transfusions. However, at the time he was "caught" he was not using testosterone. He now concedes that there is no point in pursuing this further since he did use testosterone at some point.

This makes sense to me: He did illegal things, but at the time he was caught, he was "innocent" of the exact deed he was accused of so he would have reason to believe he could challenge the testing and beat the rap.

It's resolved in my mind for now.

Surely there are competitors who are cheating and I believe that anyone that can compete must be doing the same.

merlinextraligh

can't acces youtube on this computer.

Google SNL all drug olympics.

HardyWeinberg

I appreciate Floyd's new strategy, and I figure he's probably telling the truth now. But after being that deep into denial for so long, it will take him a while to rise up to the believability level of Jose Canseco.

therhodeo

I think there is some merit to him saying that yes he was doping but the positive they got was wrong. Basically saying yes you caught me but for the wrong thing only emphasizing how screwed up your system is.

Greg180

If he was just trying to clear his conscious why not admit the truth, make restitution to those that believed in your lie and go enjoy your life. There is no upside here for Landis.

banerjek

He can write another one now which will undoubtedly sell more copies than the first.

DArthurBrown

Exactly. There is no scenario where this will end up good for anyone.

Unless there is some massive investigation that ends up condemning Landis as a liar and exonerating everyone else. I think that's unlikely.

Dubbayoo

If the believability level of Canseco is a significant step up he's REALLY got a long road.

GP

I've thought that for years. No rules. Turn pro cycling into a freak show like bodybuilding.

The downside is the kids that want to be just like the pros.

DXchulo

Now Lance crashed and abandoned the TOC.

Jed19

There'll be no libel or slander suit from Armstrong. See post #274.

And add Lance's ex-wife, Bruyneel, Sheryl Crow et al to the list of people who'll have to be deposed under oath, if there were to be a slander/libel lawsuit.

It's not gonna happen, period!

jzsoup

Just watched it. That's hilarious.


All I'm saying is that if everybody is doping (and I think they are) then just let 'em dope. If everyone is allowed to admit they're doping, then at least we as spectators know it's a fair race. I'm not suggesting that it's morally correct.

And if some guys legs explode on a climb, ala SNL style, then more people will watch, then a major network will pick up the coverage, and I won't have to upgrade my cable package during July just to watch the tour. Just kidding, but not really.

botto 

nice spoiler.

jrobe

Can you believe any cyclist these days - even in your local races?

https://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...22-1-P,00.html

patentcad

For a number of obvious reasons. In MLB for these big stars it's really stupid. Take the long view. Like Derek Jeter. DJ is going to the Hall of Fame, and he'll be stinkin rich. McGuire, ARod, Bonds... who knows? They would still have been rich without doping, still in the Hall of Fame, now they'll be rich and potentially a disgrace to their sport.

For cyclists it's quite different in my view. Far more to gain and less to lose. The difference between being Lance who won 7 Tours or Lance who didn't and only made a few hundred K annually and retired in obscurity may not be that great. A few years of clandestine and clever doping at the highest level. Greater rewards for a similar crime. My point is those ball players would have been still been rich (arguably in the long term richer) without doping in the first place. Hard to fathom.

Bacciagalupe

Landis lied to everyone, except for like 3 people, about his deteriorating hip. Including most of his teammates, who were relying on him being healthy. For years.

Then, he gets accused of doping, proclaims his innocence far and wide, says he never doped, pulls out all the stops in his defense, and mounts a massive PR assault on every organization remotely connected to the adverse finding. Now he's admitting that he spent years lying and fighting and soliciting donations for his defense.

It is possible he's (finally) telling the truth. I for one find it very likely that most pro cyclists, either briefly or long-term, indulged in PED's. Unfortunately he has clearly demonstrated that he is an accomplished liar. I don't see how he can be regarded as credible, let alone any indication that he is aware of how thoroughly he has damaged his own credibility.

telebianchi

If Landis could dope as much and as often as he is now saying he did but only get caught once, then anyone and everyone in pro cycling is suspect. For one, the dopers are ahead of the testers (not that that is saying anything new). Secondly, whether the specific people that Landis has named are involved may be contested I also doubt very much that he could cheat for as long as he says without somebody else in his teams' organization knowing about it.

Kadowaki

And pro wrestling. The problem is many of those guys die young.

I think a big deterent in the past has been Lance's legal team suing people who suddenly back down. I believe Floyd has nothing, literally and figuratively, to lose now. Every other doper got back on a pro team, he's on Bahati. I think the timing is related to his attempt to join Rock Racing and the announcement that they would not get to race in the big leagues in Europe.

cjbruin

+1

Thanks for that.

Tulex

Like I said, for some, fame is bigger than money. And, I imagine most of these people truely believe they can have both.

fly:yes/land:no

oh. okay.

jzsoup

I agree with you about the kids. I'm doing my best to make sure my kids don't think sports figures are heros. So many fall from grace, in every sport.