Aren’t the Europeans always ragging on the U.S because it’s such a litigious society? This thing is just getting out of hand. Can you imagine if Michael Jordan had called some 2nd string NBA hack a liar, then the guy files a lawsuit against him claiming libel. Then during a game, MJ is all over the guy like Jan on a Krispy Kreme and never lets him even touch the ball let alone get a basket. Do you think the guy would then go crying to the police about threats and intimidation and sports fraud? If he did he would lose any cred that he may have had to begin with.
No wonder sports writers think pro cyclists are a bunch of pu$$ies.
You can find this story on any of the major sports web sites, but here is a link anyway.
Hell, after years of accusations without any evidence, I’d probably say the exact same shit Armstrong did. I think suing someone falls outside the realm of sports and sportsmanship.
…isn’t “preventing me from continuing the breakaway” a tactic generally accepted in cycling? <<
It’d have been an understandable ‘tactic’ had Simeoni been a podium contender like Basso, Ullrich. However, the fact is that Simeoni was more than 2.5 hours behind. Armstong’s action can only be interpreted as ‘I don’t like you. I don’t want you to be in the breakaway and I have the power to do so. What can you do about it?’ Something only the HS bullies would do.
Simeoni was quoted by Gazzetta as saying that while he rode with Armstrong, the Texan said, “You made a mistake to speak against Ferrari, and you made a mistake to take legal action against me. I have money and time and lots of lawyers. I can destroy you”
a f.ck sportsmanship.
“No wonder sports writers think pro cyclists are a bunch of pu$$ies.”
it’s ok, noone really think these guys are writers anyway
First of all, this is what Simeoni claims Lance says. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to wonder if some of the conversation was exaggerated by Simeoni, but let’s see what Lance says in response.
Furthermore, I don’t really know about the whole Ferrari deal, but Simeoni did make a mistake in suing Lance, Lance does have the money to fight the lawsuit, and Lance can kick Simeonis ass in the Tour and probably in the courts too. (“Destroy” does sound a little harsh, but in the heat of the moment it could have been worse)
“ragging on the U.S because it’s such a litigious society”
Wife and I were in Cuba on a scuba vacation and we met an American guy there. We’re Canuk passport holders so it’s legal for us to be there but he was there illegally. Not a huge deal because a lot of Americans go to Cuba despite under GWB you’re the only people on the planet not allowed to go there.
Do you think Jeb might have something to do with this?
It’s quite easy for Americans to fly to Cuba from Canada, Mexico or one of the Caribbean islands.
We were planning 150 ft dive on the reefs in an area where sharks were common. We’re quite experienced divers but this guy was a novice type but still wanted to do this dive even though he’s really not qualified for it. He told us that if anything went wrong then he’d sue the dive operation.
Hmm… a guy in a country illegally who thinks American ambulance chaser lawyers can sue in Cuba. Wonder what Castro would have to say about that??
One thing that I started wondering about, how much of a gap did LA bridge up to that group? If it was a pretty good gap like 45 s or more, then why didn’t the breakaway speed up when they heard over their radios that he was coming. Also, Simeioni could have tried to attack LA in the break.
I know that it is “custom” that the mellow jonny won’t cover breaks that don’t threaten him, but come on. If you piss off a guy in a race don’t start crying when he doesn’t let you win.
Did any of you see the Lance Chronicles where they were touring his hotel room? I especially like the part where he says (paraphrasing) " I was gonna let him (Cloeden) win, but then I remember a couple of lugies in the face and thought, no you’re not gonna win."
Also, how about the “vitamins” that were laying out on his nightstand.
so it’s no surprise to see the news on the Italians investigating Lance.
Cerveloguy, FYI:
he was there illegally. Not a huge deal because a lot of Americans go to Cuba despite under GWB you’re the only people on the planet not allowed to go there.
(for some reason this was not showing on my previous post, to here it is again:)
Contrary to popular belief, U.S. law does not prohibit U.S. citizens from visiting Cuba, however the opportunites are limited generally to fully hosted visits, to gather news, attend professional conferences, athletic competitions, travel as diplomats and full-time journalists and researchers. Additionally the embargo against Cuba prohibits citizens from buying and/or selling goods to Cuba or Cubans.
despite under GWB you’re the only people on the planet not allowed to go there
God, you can be so one-dimensional. This is not new under Bush. This is not a defense of Bush, or any Bush policy. He did not sink the Titanic, either, or maybe you think his family was behind it so they could get an oil pipeline in Afghanistan.
But I love you, anyway. Its almost the weekend, and we can train our asses off all day Sat and Sun.
Ohmigod, you guys are unbelieveable. None of you are on any kind of supplements, right? This is really pissing me off. I am sure that with all of the controversy that LA would just leave drugs sitting on the nightstand while the TV crews were in there. COME ON.
Other than that, I agree with the rest of your post. By the way, it is pretty amazing how much crap this guy is getting for being an aggressive competitor and champion.
Thank you. Thank you, thank you. What a bunch of babies. This is a professional sport, the point is to win. Simeoni had no chance? Well, so what? He is suing Lance for calling him a liar. He can be treated like a bitch b/c he is one.
I think this is funny. I don’t know what Italian law on libel/slander looks like, and I don’t know exactly how Lance phrased his “Simeoni is a liar” comment… but if it’s as simple as Lance saying “Simeoni is a liar,” then I’d bet this case would be laughed out of court in the U.S., even if it was the other way around (Lance suing Simeoni for saying “Lance is a liar”).
As far as the intimidation and sports fraud… Intimidation… okay MAYBE that’s at least a colorable accusation, but I wouldn’t want to prosecute it. Sports fraud… What the hell is that? If it has anything to do with how fraud is defined under U.S. law, then where the heck was the misrepresentation?
Anyone familiar with Italian law on sports fraud? I’d LOVE to hear this one. Also… how in the heck does an Italian court have jurisdiction over something that happened in France?
"150 ft dive? If anything went wrong, I think suing the dive operator would be the least of his concerns! "
Looking back, diving that deep on compressed air is not a smart idea. The recommended maximum is 130 ft. Beyond that you should dive on a mixed gas called tri-mix which is a combo of oxygen, nitrogen and helium. We’ve actually been down to 175 ft once on compressed air and that was a stupid thing to do.
At those depths you run the risk of nitrogen narcosis also known as “rapture of the deep” due to the nitrogen/blood build up. You start acting like you’re drunk when this happens and have to really concentrate to keep your wits about you. This can happen on deep dives on compressed air. I’ve only been “narc’d” when diving once and that was in Lake Ontario on a wreck at about 115 ft. Not a good experience. I had been on that same wreck fifty times with no ill effects, but nitrogen narcosis is one o these things that can effect a diver at any time.
We dived that deep in Cuba because it was an area where the reef ended and fell off down a deep underwater cliff. This is an area where whale sharks and schools of hammer heads are known to migrate. Unfortunately we didn’t see any. We didn’t get narc’d and it was still a great dive.
I won’t dive that deep any more. In fact we don’t dive beyond 100 ft now. Most of the best fish life is usually between 60-100 ft any ways.
We still dive, in fact are planning a shallow wreck dive next weekend, but we don’t dive nearly as much now since getting into triathlon. Tri has displaced diving as our main hobby.
I think there was “…a failure to communicate”. I made the comment about vitamins kind of tongue-in-cheek. If you saw the episode of Lance Crhonicles, he is giving the OLN crew a “tour” of his hotel room. He mentions that some French crew had been trying to get into his room. He then points out some pills laying on his nightstand and says something like, don’t take pics of my vitamins, the french would love to see them. There were about 8 or so pills laying there.
And no, I don’t take any supplements or vitamins, although I do pop the odd Aleve now and then.
