I think it’s a pretty interesting read…
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070731&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1
(a few somewhat similar posts to the Gerard Post thread…)
I just wonder why people persist in singling out Americans here.
In the first place, I’d bet that not more than 5% of Americans give a rats ass about the TdF, doped or not.
The Americans who do care about the Tour, I’d bet, share the same disgusted feelings about doping as European fans.
As noted, doping goes on in other European sports, say, soccer, and nobody makes any bigger deal out of that than we do over doping in baseball.
So why all these anti-American posts? It’s not OK for Americans to be disgusted with pro cycling?
Vitus, I see what you are saying, but I interpreted her article to be aimed more at “armchair quarterbacks” and people who don’t really follow the tour and hear snippets here and there about doping, and then dismiss the sport as sissy/worthless/bunch of drug users, etc They then turn around and go to their favorite football teams website and drool over 275lb men running a 4.6 40, or think steroids aren’t an issue in US prof sports.
I would guess that the focus on Americans is because Average Joe and Average Media Outlet only seem to even notice bike racing when there is a doping controversy, then they complain about how dirty cycling is and use that as an excuse to put in lists of “Sports that are not REAL sports” and such.
Euro fans are disgusted and frustrated because they know and love the sport and hate to have that love tainted by wondering if their favorite rider is dirty. There are fans like this in the US, but I would guess that they are a much lower percentage of the population.
" I just wonder why people persist in singling out Americans here."
Cuz this place is full or americans maybe??
There are WAY more “our shit don’t stink but yours does” posts from americans… don’t dish it out if you’re not prepared to receive it.
people who don’t really follow the tour and hear snippets here and there about doping, and then dismiss the sport as sissy/worthless/bunch of drug users, etc
Yeah, but be realistic: What do you expect? You have a sport with no history in the US whatsoever, it has some degree of exposure and influence because of Lance, and then the next thing we hear about is doping, rampant doping. The reaction is predictable.
The truth is that most Americans dont care about the TDF, the World Cup, and even the America’s Cup. We dont have those traditions, most of us grew up playing little league baseball, football, basketball or maybe hockey. Soccer seemed big when I was a kid so I dont know why that didnt take off? I dont think the author is representing us very well, most americans know there is a drug problem in sports but cant really do much about it.
“Last year, the most feared defensive player in the NFL…was suspended four games because he violated the league’s steroid policy.” Violated the steroid policy??? four whole games, wow that should send a msg. Actually violating the steroid policy is probably pretty far down the list when it comes to egregious behavior in football (after rape, murder, dog fighting). Let’s speculate, if Atlanta got huffy and dropped Michael Vick which football team would sign him (you know everyone needs a second chance, it’s the American way). I say Dallas.
The Raiders.
But why do you hate freedom?
They were my 1st choice but I think they drafted Jamarcus Russell #1 so maybe Vick with Russell at backup? I love my freedom, it’s other peoples freedom that gives me heartburn 