Go lance! The underdog rises!

Good for him.

Well, bravo for Lance, and his enjoyment of the good juices of athleticism. I wonder how much electricity all the combined effort in a bike tour could produce? Of course riding a stationary generator bike would not be as much fun.

who cares? He rides a bike. Good for him.

I saw an old timer walking across the parking lot, bent over at a 90 degree angle for the rest of his life.

who gives a right fuck about these guys that get to play games and make ungodly amounts of money? fuck them. take your money and help somebody for God's Sake. burn your tv. don't buy into the whole 9 yards. the whole system sucks like 40 miles of a bad rode-hard whore.

#4 | Posted by Stickman at 2008-12-02 12:00 AM | Reply | Flag:

That pretty much sums up what I've had to say about sports since I was 11. I've seen people in far more difficult circumstances who deserve adulation simply because they don't kill themselves. I've also seen athletes who train just as hard as an NFL linebacker, but also have to hold down a day job.

Way overpaid, treated as "heroes" simply because they won the genetic lottery and got lucky enough that a scout spotted them. Firemen are heroes. Sports stars are no different then actors.

Now mind you, I do not in any way think that professional sports should be eliminated, but their paychecks are WAY out of reason for what they do.

And BICYCLE RIDING? Eeesh. Bravo for recovering form cancer. He gets exactly as much respect from me as my aunt did. And not an ounce more. In fact, slightly less since my aunt had to do it without millions of dollars to back her up.

Stickman, have a beer for God's sake.

I don't think he has the balls.

I don't think he has the balls.

#7 | Posted by visuals at 2008-12-02 01:17 AM | Reply | Flag:

Funny flag. He had one removed from the cancer, if I recall.

I'd rather watch midget wrestling truth be told. With a case of Kokanee assholes

Way overpaid, treated as "heroes" simply because they won the genetic lottery and got lucky enough that a scout spotted them. Firemen are heroes. Sports stars are no different then actors.

Athletes get paid what the market allows. Calm down people. Get a life.

Athletes get paid what the market allows. Calm down people. Get a life.

I have one. That's why Lance Armstrong gets a "who gives a shit?" reaction instead of the typical "fall-all-over-yourself 'please mr. armstrong can i suck your dick'" reaction that athletes tend to receive. Undeservedly received, at that.

The guy rides a bike. Anyway can ride a bike.

What are you kidding stickman? I haven't heard you cry about baseball, basketball, football, or hockey contract numbers.Cycling has some of lowest paid athletes going. A few make good money, the rest get chump change at best.

I watch the tour (on tivo) every year, having a background in cycling and racing. Yet I am the exception to the rule. Less then 10% of the US give a shit about bicycling..........

Less then 10% of the US give a shit about bicycling..........

Not true.

I do give a shit on the weekend when those idiots want to hog the traffic lanes on PCH.

The jealousy of those unwilling to do the work it takes to become a world class athlete like Lance just makes you fat slobs look pathetic. Lance Armstrong has accomplished more in his life than you will ever even dream of, his come-back after cancer surgery was inspirational for millions of cancer survivors and he continues to work tirelessly for cancer research. He represents America proudly in a race where Americans are not popular and he even risks physical harm from some of the more aggressive French fans who don't like to see him beat their fellow countrymen over and over. Go Lance!

Dirty - the man is Dirty just like Barry Bonds is DIRTY!

Screw Lance Armstrong and his cult of personality.

I'd rather ride Cheyrl Crow.

"Dirty - the man is Dirty just like Barry Bonds is DIRTY!"

You can make idiotic claims but til you prove something it just makes you look more pathetic.

"I've also seen athletes who train just as hard as an NFL linebacker, but also have to hold down a day job."

Yeah, sure.

It's one thing to not be into sports. Its another to talk out your ass about sports after basically admitted you know nothing about the subject.

Its pretty easy to crap on other people's interests but not as easy to admit why you feel the need to do so.

"burn your tv. don't buy into the whole 9 yards. the whole system sucks like 40 miles of a bad rode-hard whore."

#4 | Posted by Stickman

...he types on his PC over the internet, one of the ultimate products of the system he seemingly so despises.

Burn your PC!! Don't buy into this particular whole 9 yards.

yay steroids!

yay steroids!

"yay steroids!"

When was a scrap of credible evidence ever produced indicating he used steriods?

Will he be introducing a new trendy rubber bracelet for all the sheeple to wear?

On topic, who gives a shit about cycling? If they had 300-lb linebackers coming out of the woods and knocking the shit out of them while they rode past, THAT would be a sport worth watching.

*singing*
OH, here comes Lance with his hypo in his hand,
he's a one-ball man and he's off to the Ro-de-OH..."

"If they had 300-lb linebackers coming out of the woods and knocking the shit out of them while they rode past, THAT would be a sport worth watching."

Actually there is a real danger that some of the French fans will do exactly that to Armstrong.

Yeah, but nobody in France is built like a football player. They'll probably just get stuck in his spokes.

mm hmm

lance loves the performance enhancers

lance loves the performance enhancers

^^^Klifferd hates all good Americans and is a radical muslim extremist^^^

if good equals taking perfomance enhancers

you are WRONG!

i am all about athletes taking steroids

they all should do drugs and fight more.

"They'll probably just get stuck in his spokes."

That too can be dangerous to the rider's health.

^^^Klifferd hates all good Americans and is a radical muslim extremist^^^

#29 | Posted by James_Dean

You're off the hook Klifferd - James Dean forgot to put FACT at the end of his post so his accusation is null and void. LOL.

sanantoniorogue

haha phew!

he's a one-ball man and he's off to the Ro-de-OH..."
#25 | Posted by SamBarber

Wow! You pulled that one out of like 25 years ago. Nice work, Sam.

^^^Klifferd hates all good Americans and is a radical muslim extremist^^^

FACT!

FACT!

#35 | Posted by James_Dean

Too late.

I guess lance found a new set of drugs that can't be detected. He was close to being found out before and thats why he got out - must have some new juice.

He is not a role model by the way - dumping his wife after she supported him through his cancer.

A year after they met, Kristin and Lance were married in Santa Barbara, California. Kristin quit her public relations job, rented her house, sold her Miata, and moved to France with Lance so he could focus on cycling. While Lance went on to beat cancer and win the Tour de France five times during their marriage, Kristin became a stay-at-home mom and raised their three young children (a son and then twin daughters) in the French Riviera. What appeared to be a perfect marriage ended after five years of marriage when Lance and Kristin announced their divorce in 2003.

Nice. I used to think he was great for the sport and a good rep for U.S.A. - we have enough cheaters - he really should move to France permanantly.

Cid, you think his wife got nothing out of the deal? for five years she lived a life that most women only dream of living. She and her children are being well taken care of.

She and her children are being well taken care of.

#38 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine
WTF? So it's ok if I divorce my wife and leave my family as long as the're "paid off"? Give me a break. She quit her job and moved to frogland for him and his hobby. He is a selfish tool.

WTF? So it's ok if I divorce my wife and leave my family as long as the're "paid off"?

#39 | Posted by ELCIDCE90

Worked for John McCain.

"The guy rides a bike. Anyway [sic] can ride a bike."

Running from Saturday July 4th to Sunday July 26th 2009, the 96th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometres.

2175 miles in 23 days. Yep, anyone can ride a bike.

he is dating Kate Hudson and before that Ashley Olson. Isn't Ashley a tad on the young side?

"Yep, anyone can ride a bike."

Posted by Mossadegh

And win the Tour seven times in a row.
So many have done it.

So it's ok if I divorce my wife and leave my family as long as the're "paid off"?
#39 | Posted by ELCIDCE90

Sure takes the sting out of it...

Isn't Ashley a tad on the young side?

#42 | Posted by rastaninja

If she's old enough to sit at the table...

Worked for John McCain.

#40 | Posted by SanAntonioRogue
McCain was selfish also. - now what do you base your argument on sanan - oh wait, I forgot monogamy is not in the gay dictionary. Look, when you get married - you are supposed to stay married - end of lesson.

"So it's ok if I divorce my wife and leave my family as long as the're "paid off"?"

It may not be ok with some but it does seem to be pretty common these days, all walks of life, all income levels. Has nothing to do with his sport, probably his ex-wife and kids are much better off because of all his success.

"oh wait, I forgot monogamy is not in the gay dictionary. Look, when you get married - you are supposed to stay married - end of lesson."

Bad news for you Cid old sod... I've been married to my partner for 13 years come January 6. We're just a disgustingly monogamous boring old married couple.

It may not be ok with some but it does seem to be pretty common these days, all walks of life, all income levels. - DUMMI

So that naturally makes the behavior right? Please. It may have nothing to do with his sport, but elevating him to "Hero" status is absurd. He rides a fucking bicycle. His kids and family should be a thousand times more important - I know this is a hard concept for you boomers to understand what with the motto of if it feels good do it - thanks for fucking up the family unit for us btw.

Bad news for you Cid old sod... I've been married to my partner for 13 years come January 6.

Congratualations on your civil partnership. You are the exception and not the rule - of course you already know that.

Believe it or not, that is my anniversery - exactly to the day and year. Jan 06, 1996. Lucky I found one that would keep me.

Congratualations on your civil partnership. You are the exception and not the rule - of course you already know that.

#49 | Posted by ELCIDCE90

Not a civil partnership. (We'll, we're civil, for the most part). We stood up in a real church, in front of a real minister, in front of family and friends. In my circle of friends and acquaintances we are not the exception. We know several couples celebrating 20+ years.

And Happy Anniversary.

Yeah, but nobody in France is built like a football player. They'll probably just get stuck in his spokes.
-Joe

Joe has never been to France; however that should in no way effect his ability to instinctively know everything he needs to know about French people.

I've been married to my partner for 13 years come January 6.
#48 | Posted by SanAntonioRogue

Happy Anniversary a month early.

God, I hope I didn't just jinx you. :-)

2175 miles in 23 days. Yep, anyone can ride a bike.

#41 | Posted by Mossadegh

Came into the thread to post exactly this. People talking about how "oh, anyone can do it!" or "man, bike riding isn't really a sport" have obviously never ridden a bike since they were about 10 years old. The amount of effort it takes to bike 50-75 miles in one day is incredible, let alone the amount of effort it takes to ride over 100 miles almost every single day for three weeks straight over mountainous terrain.

I don't idolize Armstrong. I think it's pretty much accepted that he, along with many other professional cyclists, regularly participated in blood doping or steroid use or whatever else. The difference is, he's been able to hide it. Doping is so widespread at the upper end of cycling competition that it's foolish to assume that people DON'T do it.

"Believe it or not, that is my anniversery - exactly to the day and year. Jan 06, 1996. Lucky I found one that would keep me."

So you've been married a whole whopping 12 years???
And that gives you the authority to preach.
Laughable.
I've got shoes I've had longer.

2175 miles in 23 days. Yep, anyone can ride a bike.

At the age of 14 and 17, my brother and I rode bikes and backpacked from the small town we grew up in to the coast of SC and back. Altogether, not a 2175 mile trip, but I didn't have a chase team to take care of me.

Lance has 5 star accommodations, a team of people looking after his well-being and he doesn't have to cook his own meals every night. Oh. If his bike breaks, he gets one off the top of the car that's following him.

Give him one bike, a backpack of food and water and a tire patch kit and send him on the same trip through france. If he survives, maybe I'll give a damn about his "triumphant return".

Give him one bike, a backpack of food and water and a tire patch kit and send him on the same trip through france. If he survives, maybe I'll give a damn about his "triumphant return".
#55 | Posted by Axiom

That would be a great race.

R8R- It was a fucking joke. In case you haven't noticed, a stereotype exists that says the French are wimps. Please, though, don't ever let a harmless joke stop you from wasting your time crafting an angry html-laden response.

looks like lance has found another "untraceable" performance drug...no one wins the tour without it, much less 7 times in a row.

"At the age of 14 and 17, my brother and I rode bikes and backpacked from the small town we grew up in to the coast of SC and back. Altogether, not a 2175 mile trip, but I didn't have a chase team to take care of me"

Watch out Lance, looks like you might have some stiff competition.

Didn't Armstrong get cancer because he was juicing?

He has always had a cloud over his head.

At the age of 14 and 17, my brother and I rode bikes and backpacked...
#55 | Posted by Axiom

In 23 days? At nearly 100 miles a day? Over the mountainous regions in South Carolina? Wow, you should sign up for the Tour de France then. Oh wait, you mean that your experience really isn't all that similar to Armstrong's? Thanks for sharing how a couple of teens cross country biking is in no way similar to the Tour de France.

The difference between your experience and the Tour de France (and any professional sport) is that these people are THE BEST at what they do - better than 6 billion people. While I don't think that is reason to idolize thenm, I do think they deserve a little credit. I can swim the butterfly, but I've never compared myself to Phelps - because he (and Armstrong) are at a skill level so much higher than the rest of us. Again, they shouldn't be idolized, but they do deserve some respect in their field.

Why are all these people babbling about drugs?

He's been tested as much as any athelete in history and no drugs found. The French are just pissed that their premier sporting event is dominated by an American and they've expressed their displeasure with poor sportsmanship and petty, unfounded accusations.

Just because the French are too small to admit their fault and apologize doesn't mean you parrots should keep mimicking their accusations.

"Didn't Armstrong get cancer because he was juicing?"

I have followed his career since long before he won his first Tour de France, I never read that once.
What I actually read was that he just trained harder than ANYONE else EVER!!!

R8R- It was a fucking joke.

Then where is the punchline, Dice? In case you haven't noticed, "jokes" are accompanied by something remotely funny.

Of course, I was only joking too. I wouldn't really find joy in watching you take a beating from someone like Patrick Vieria.

"What I actually read was that he just trained harder than ANYONE else EVER!!!"

He also has a biological advantage:

"Armstrong clearly has some great genetic advantages. His oversized heart can beat over 200 times a minute and thus pump an extraordinarily large volume of blood and oxygen to his legs. His VO2 max---the maximum amount of oxygen his lungs can take in, an important measurement for an endurance athlete---is extremely high." ... "In addition to a high VO2 max, Coyle's components include low lactic acid levels, and Armstrong has the lowest levels Coyle has ever seen. When people reach exhaustion, their muscles build up acid, which causes the muscles to stop contracting. But Armstrong's muscles produce about half as much acid as the average person's muscles do when they get fatigued. This allows him to recover much faster than other people."

So you've been married a whole whopping 12 years???
And that gives you the authority to preach.
Laughable.
I've got shoes I've had longer.

#54 | Posted by danni

Golly DUMMI, I don't know what to say. You have been married for how long? The only thing laughable is that you who sleep with someone of the same sex can even comment on marriage. That is really laughable.

What I actually read was that he just trained harder than ANYONE else EVER!!!

#63 | Posted by danni
And doped far better than anyone else too!

The only thing laughable is that you who sleep with someone of the same sex can even comment on marriage. That is really laughable.

#66 | Posted by ELCIDCE90

Back to dickhead status for you.

Back to dickhead status for you.

#67 | Posted by SanAntonioRogue

Thanks. Most appreciated from the likes of you and DUMMI - it's kind of like receiving an Oscar.

If there was a cure for Homosexuality Sanan, would you go through it?

"Then where is the punchline, Dice? In case you haven't noticed, "jokes" are accompanied by something remotely funny."

Yeah - talking about a French weakling getting caught in someone's spokes reeks of seriousness. Get real.

"At the age of 14 and 17, my brother and I rode bikes and backpacked from the small town we grew up in to the coast of SC and back. Altogether, not a 2175 mile trip, but I didn't have a chase team to take care of me."

#55 | Posted by Axiom

Yeah, that's certainly comparing apples to apples.

Last summer, my GF and I loaded up the Toyota with camping gear and drove almost 800 miles one way to Chaco in New Mexico, up and down the mountains, across the desert, over the Great Divide. We didn't have any pit crew taking care of us changing the tires, filling the gas tank, checking the oil, handing us water. WWe even had to set up our own camp. Yep, we did it all on our own. That should make those panty-waist drivers at Indy hang their heads in shame at what I accomplished, eh wot?

"I wouldn't really find joy in watching you take a beating from someone like Patrick Vieria."

Oh please. Learn how to say "sit" and "heal" in German and you can control any Frenchman.

And doped far better than anyone else too!
#66 | Posted by ELCIDCE90

Maybe, but ZERO proof has been found of him doping. So far, the only thing people have proven is that he:
1) Trains harder than anyone, and
2) Has unique genetic advantages that account for some of his success.

But there is NO evidence of doping. Saying he does with no evidence makes you appear small and vindictive - "there's no way I could ever do that without drugs, so Armstrong must be on drugs too."

Pure silliness.

But there is NO evidence of doping. Saying he does with no evidence makes you appear small and vindictive

If we eliminate the "beyond a reasonable doubt" requirement, the case for Armstrong being a cheater is very strong, if not completely conclusive. Let us examine the evidence at hand:

Armstrong was a medium-notable young rider, among many such others, when in 1996 he was struck with testicular cancer. He became at that time at least the third member of the US Cycling team to be afflicted by severe, life-threatening illnesses. The two other riders in this group, Greg Strock and Erich Keiter, ended up suing USA Cycling claiming that US coaches systematically injected them with performance-enhancing drugs that ultimately ruined their health. Among the coaches alleged to have injected the drugs was Chris Carmichael who is Lance Armstrong's long-time training coach.

After Armstrong survived cancer and raced again in 1998, he found himself unable to compete at a high level, and ultimately stopped racing altogether after abandoning a Paris-Nice race exhausted and looking very much as one would expect a man who has undergone cancer treatment to look. At that point, Armstrong went into seclusion with coach Chris Carmichael and emerged the next year to win the Tour de France. In the space of a few months, he had gone from collapsing by the side of the road to handily winning one of the top three cycling races in the world. The label that the press, fellow riders, and amazed fans put on this feat was unanimous: "It's a Miracle".

During the 1999 Tour de France, Armstrong tested positive for cortisone, a banned performance-enhancing drug. The test result, which carried with it an immediate disqualification from the race, was explained away by claiming that it was due to a topical cream legally prescribed to Armstrong. However, Emma O'Reilly, a key staff member of the US Postal team at the time and who was present when the team discussed what to do about the positive tests, has declared to various media outlets that the saving prescription was actually a doctored one fabricated with the express purpose of deceiving Tour officials. O'Reilly, who is a respected member of the cycling community, has nothing to gain with her allegations and has no ax to grind with Armstrong.

For many years, even as early as 1996, Armstrong's favorite doctor has been Michele Ferrari whom Bicycling magazine calls without hesitation "cycling's doctor most suspected of doping athletes". Dr. Ferrari is currently on trial in Europe for allegedly supplying riders with performance-enhancing drugs. Far from distancing himself from Dr. Ferrari, Armstrong has defended his association with him and gone as far as physically threatening riders who have decided to testify against Dr. Ferrari.

Starting in 2000, French police investigated Armstrong and the US Postal team for the illegal procurement and distribution of performance-enhancing drugs. The allegations were based on anonymous tips to police that even included syringes supposedly being used in the schema. The charges, of a criminal nature and carrying hefty prison sentences, were dropped for reasons of lack of evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Three-time winner of the Tour de France, American Greg Lemond, has labeled Armstrong's comeback from cancer as possibly "the greatest fraud" in the history of the race. To the idea that we have simple witnessed a miracle Lemond is even more blunt: "There are no miracles in cycling". Lemond suffered a shotgun accident in 1987 and had to make a difficult recovery of his own with a long path back to top competition. He clearly knows the limits of the human body at those performing heights and recognizes without reservations that his own return took a full two years and that he was "never the same".

In 2004, reporters David Walsh and Pierre Ballester published LA Confidential, a well-documented retrospective book on how Armstrong has allegedly used illegal drugs to further his career. The book includes extensive interviews with former US Postal team staff members and is but one piece away to be a final indictment on Armstrong: a positive test. Lance Armstrong sued the authors for libel in French courts, but his lawsuit was quickly dismissed.

One would think that with the ever-higher mountains of allegations and accusations against Lance Armstrong, the Tour would have by now implemented very strict controls designed to catch Armstrong cheating. But therein lies the problem. The Tour de France is the least interested party on Earth in wanting to uncover doping. By 1999, the Tour had just come out of a major doping scandal in the previous years' edition of the race. Attendance was down, the credibility of the Tour was at an all-time low, and French police were hounding riders and doctors. The Lance Armstrong "miracle" comeback was a Godsend story for the Tour that year. It took the focus off their lax testing procedures and brought back cycling to the front pages. The Tour was eager to accept any plausible explanation that US Postal could provide for Armstrong's positive test result. Tour officials knew well that another doping revelation, involving the Tour's leader nonetheless, could inflict lasting if not permanent damage on the Tour as a race. Ever since, Armstrong and the Tour have been basically married to each other, the fate of one clinging to the fate of the other one.

By a standard of comfortable satisfaction, Lance Armstrong is guilty of doping by a clear margin. He has disgraced the sport, made a mockery of the race, insulted fellow riders and fans alike, and trivialized the record wins of past great cyclists. With the failure of the establishment to unmask his deception, we are left with only the hope that history will bring him down to his right place. Fortunately, as Armstrong was winning a record sixth Tour in 2004, we witnessed a silent protest of sorts from the people who know and love cycling: not a single publication in Europe bothered comparing him to Indurain, Merck, or Hinault, the true standard bearers of what cycling and class are all about.

Sorry for the long post.

If we eliminate the "beyond a reasonable doubt" requirement... 73 | Posted by ELCIDCE90

Not the best way to start an argument. (It's like saying, if only we didn't require proof...)

The book includes extensive interviews with former US Postal team staff members and is but one piece away to be a final indictment on Armstrong: a positive test.
#75 | Posted by ELCIDCE90

But the fact remains that there has been no positive test! All known performance enhancing drugs are tested for, and not one has been found. I find it incredible that Armstrong and a few shadowy characters have been able to create, use, and conceal some newfangled PED that is totally undetectable to racing officials.

There are TOO many reports out there about his drug use to ignore it!

And they are not all wimpy frenchmen or whatever your EXPERT anaylsis has determined Sully.

Beginning with the former TEAM DOCTOR for the USA team who reported Armstrong was asking about injecting HGH.

Then there was the report of the former girlfriend who helped with the injection - she claims she witnessed it but again not exactly a wimpy frenchman making this report.

Don't need to go into all the reports now or whether or not there is enough Proof. As prolix stated he will always have a cloud over his head.

I did not make up these claims Danni and I am not sure what the proof is or who to believe. But I have heard enough to believe this is NOT just some disgruntled frenchmen causing this cloud to form!

Considering the many allegations I cannot understand all the Armstrong worshippers giving him their praise JUST becasue no one could prove the allegations.

Considering the many allegations I cannot understand all the Armstrong worshippers giving him their praise JUST becasue no one could prove the allegations.
#77 | Posted by Monstman

Like all my atheist friends like to say, it is up to those making the allegations to prove them right, not those who are accused to prove the allegations wrong. It's not Armstong's job to disprove every allegation; it's up to his detractors and accusers to prove that he did indded take PEDs. And so far, no concrete proof has been shown. Do you think the French would let him ride if proof has surfaced?

THIS is the most well attended thread on the Retort today?

S'rsly?

Yeesh!

Guess Spud should throw his 2 cents in then.

Lance Armstrong is a genetic freak not a steroid abuser.

Seriously, the guy's lung capacity is phenomenal.

That advantage plus his guts, determination and skill are wot allow him to dominate in the sport.

Be Well.

Lance Armstrong is a genetic freak not a steroid abuser.

Kinda like Michael Phelps.

The guy's physique is uniquely suitable for swimming excellence.

Kinda like Michael Phelps.

The guy's physique is uniquely suitable for swimming excellence.

Agreed.

Luck o' the draw.

Be Well.

And this is all due to genetic varations that produced a superman?

And I am supposed to accept this fantastic explanation over reports that enhancements caused this to happen...

Not buying it.

And this is all due to genetic varations that produced a superman?
#82 | Posted by Monstman

So you also think Phelps is a doper? or Usain Bolt? Or Carl Lewis? Same chances as Armstrong being one, based on the "proof" I've seen so far. That is, none at all.

It's been said already, but I'll repeat: Armstrong picked a sport that his body excels at due to genetic conditions such as a hugely oversized heart and high O2 levels in his lungs. Compared to the average joe Armstrong IS a "superman" at cycling, just as Phelps is a superman at swimming and Bolt is a superman at running. So, yes - you ARE supposed to accept this explantion as it is shown over and over in the sporting world. Just because people excel at certain sports, it does not mean they are doping, especially when NO - ZERO - PEDs have been found in any of these people.

"NO - ZERO - PEDs have been found in any of these people."

That doesn't mean he isn't a doper. It just means you can't prove it. They only test for drugs they think people are using. They don't and can't test for every substance there is. With all the allegations out there that he is in fact a doper, I think the situation is at least suspicious, and definitely not something that should just be dropped simply because he knows how to pass a piss test.

That doesn't mean he isn't a doper.
#84 | Posted by JOE

It also doesn't mean that he is, which is what so many people are saying. No proof means NO PROOF, and the burden of proof is NOT on Armstrong - it's on all his detractors. When I see proof that he's doping, I'll condemn him with the rest of you, but until then I'll withhold judgement. You know, the whole innocent until proven guilty thing...

They don't and can't test for every substance there is.#84 | Posted by JOE

My guess is that the French are so pissed that he's racing again they're going to test him for EVERYTHING!

I don't know? When you get two rare cancers associated with juicing I would not believe it was caused naturally.

Just because he never got caught doesn't mean he didn't do it.

Remember OJ didn't get caught for murder either.

Lets face it Armstrong is doing this to promote his herbal remedies and his nonprofit organization. He will not come close to wining being older and out of competition for several years. All the teams on the tour will have blockers to ensure Armstrong will not win let alone finish.

"My guess is that the French are so pissed that he's racing again they're going to test him for EVERYTHING!"

Again - if you don't know what someone might be taking, you can't test for it. Drug tests don't show you everything that is in someone's system - they only show you whether something you are already looking for is there.

Oi. Still no proof that Armstrong is doping. Just "what ifs", "maybes", and supposition. When you have concrete proof, let me know. Until then, I won't say he's not doping, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

"And I am supposed to accept this fantastic explanation over reports that enhancements caused this to happen..."

And I am supposed to accept this fantastic explanation over UNSUBSTANTIATED reports that enhancements caused this to happen...

Fixed.

I never said there was proof. And given all the allegations and the fact that he wins every time, I won't give him the benefit of the doubt.

I have a close relative by marriage who had the same cancer as Lance and he isn't an athlete and certainly never "juiced."

Robin Williams calls Lance "The Uni-baller".

And given all the allegations and the fact that he wins every time, I won't give him the benefit of the doubt.
#91 | Posted by JOE

Yeah, no one that Armstrong has ever beaten would ever make allegations to him doping now, would they? While you never said there is proof, you're leaning awfully hard in the direction that he's doping with no evidence. Do you base all your opinions on supposition and hearsay? Do you give Phelps the benefit of the doubt - after all, he wins all the time too....

"And given all the allegations and the fact that he wins every time, I won't give him the benefit of the doubt."

Alot of the "evidence" is "Lance worked with so and so who is known to have doped up atheletes......."

Given that cycling is full of cheaters, I would bet that many, if not all, top cyclists have associated with known cheaters at some point in their careers.

As far as winning every time - Its an individual race with no judges or refs to skew the results so the best guy should win every time. It would actually make less sense if he kicked ass one year and then flopped the next.

I read a bio on Lance once. It said he used to ride his bicycle from his home in Plano to Denison, TX up Texas hwy 5. That's about 60 miles.

My friend and I used to make that exact same trip to visit our grandmothers. If only I had one testicle instead of two, my life may have been completely different, ne pensez-vous pas?

'Robin Williams calls Lance "The Uni-baller".'

Don't tell me you think Robin Williams is funny....

Don't tell me you think Robin Williams is funny

He was bad in Mork and Mindy

He was good as a standup after M&M and up to "Fisher King", but got bad after that and has been there since.

Fisher King is an excellent movie and great acting from Williams, Bridges, Ruehl, and Plummer.

If only I had one testicle instead of two, my life may have been completely different, ne pensez-vous pas?

#96 | Posted by goatman at 2008-12-02 04:09 PM

Much as I'd love to, I'm not going to touch that comment with a ten-foot pole. LOL

Fisher King is an excellent movie and great acting from Williams, Bridges, Ruehl, and Plummer.

#98 | Posted by goatman

I thought he was good in Moscow on the Hudson.

Don't tell me you think Robin Williams is funny....

or that he can act.

He was OK in Peter Pan. I think those sissy roles suit him well.

One hour photo - his true identity comes out!

who gives a right fuck about these guys that get to play games and make ungodly amounts of money? fuck them. take your money and help somebody for God's Sake. burn your tv. don't buy into the whole 9 yards. the whole system sucks like 40 miles of a bad rode-hard whore.

#4 | Posted by Stickman

Ummmm...most professional atheletes do give their money and their time in helping others. In fact, it's usually part of their contracts that a certain percentage of what they make goes to charity. You sound very bitter. What's the matter, did you used to get picked last all the time during recess?

juicing doctors will always be two steps ahead of the testers. Right now they are working on genetic steroids, which are invisible to chemical tests.....

You have to give cycling the nod for their extreme testing. They are ahead of all others. Wasn't Marion Cambell tested some 120 times, all negative, yet she was found to have purchased roids....and stripped of her gold medals.

Wanna hear a good one? Why do you think Usain Bolt won all those medals, having never accomplished anything prior to the olympics?

Roids have been around for decades, and pro sports have ignored them. Then congress feins outrage that some may have used them! The world got what it asked for, and to pretend they didn't exsist, and to not test for them, was ignorant.....

"My friend and I used to make that exact same trip to visit our grandmothers. If only I had one testicle instead of two, my life may have been completely different, ne pensez-vous pas?"

Even with two I doubt you could finish the tour de france. Well, maybe in a year or two.

Of course, you all have got me thinking that maybe all that goony golf I played as a child means I could have been the next Tiger Woods.

Until Lance tests positive he is a great athlete and cyclist.

Don't you think that it would be a huge risk of getting caught if he was doping to go again next year?

That would be moronic!

As for Bolt--he just came up from the Junior Olympics and was injured one year.

The guy is super big and tall.

As for the rest of the Jamaica Team--they won nearly every event they ran in --Men and Women.

Phelps is just a fish.

It appears that the stars here just work their asses off and them some more.

Armstong has a huge lung capacity according to one report I read. More power to him. He has found a niche, the same as 350 pound football players, and 7 foot tall basetball players, who without modern day interest in their sports would have no market for their special attributes and skills.

Cool.