While the media loves to slime the tdf, they seem to have outdone themselves this year. My local barely carried any coverage until Vino tested positive. NYT was pretty bad but at least cited problems with other sports.
Slate’s on-line was probably the worst ‘…there’s some evidence that the peloton is cool with doping. Consider the fact that it accepted confessed dopers David Millar and Erik Zabel back into the ranks, including them in the peloton’s strategies and camaraderie.’ Huh? Or this, ‘…in 2004, Lance Armstrong—who was said to be the “patrón” of the peloton in those days—turned his fellow riders against Filippo Simeoni, a rider with an undistinguished career. Simeoni had the temerity to testify against Michele Ferrari, a shady doctor who had worked with Armstrong (and, as recently as this year, Vinokourov).’ Poor Simeoni done in by the Godfather.
Does anybody believe this stuff, if so, do you believe they all dope? did Contador dope? Cadell Evans? Levi? Tom Boonen? what about Hincapie, Popovitch, the rest of the Disco squad. What about Cancellara, Hushovd, Zabriskie. Do Millar and Zabel still dope? What about Bruynell, Franke Abreu, hey maybe Bobke still dips his bic in testosterone?
I did not even see the final results of the Tour on Sportscenter this morning. They cover Mexican soccer in their ESPN Deportes section, but I didn’t see one mention of the Tour. This is from a Time magazine article about Lance, but sums up my feelings about Americans and the American media and the Tour.
“It’s a mystery: Why do we shun our pedaling heroes? The only explanation I can come up with is that we’re just intimidated by the whole cycling world. The physical and mental stamina required to win a Tour is worlds beyond anything demanded in traditional American sports (which may be why Americans are so put out by cycling — most of us realize we can never, ever be that fit, and it makes us vaguely uncomfortable). So we go back to our putting greens and swinging our little metal sticks, and avoid contemplation of our inadequacies.”
Nice quote. It is strange, while the media does tut tut over guys like Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi or Michael Vick (you think there won’t be teams falling all over themselves trying to sign Vick if Atlanta lets him go) there’s almost a gleeful smirk when endurance athletes are caught cheating. It looks to me like the average US sports fan is content to cheer athletes who appear to have inherent talent (football, baseball, basketball) but are uncomfortable with athletes who obviously have to work hard (swim, bike, run). Of course this ignores how much work it takes to excel at any of these sports and I guess that’s where US sports fans are content to be…God Bless America and pass me another bud (I do like a cold Bud but I may switch to Miller High Life, ‘there’s no cover charge for the high life’).
I watched this morning and saw the results, highlights of yesterday’s stage and Contador on the podium. Though last night on the sunday night sports show on Fox32 out of Chicago the mispronounced Bennati’s name (don’t they get paid to know sports names that are in the highlights???) and said he won the Tour.
The press really does give the NFL a free pass, and most other sports as well. Baseball didn’t even have a drug testing program til recently and it’s still nearly impossible to get caught unless you’re a complete moron. Anyone want to believe that the Chinese aren’t going to do whatever it takes to win Gold medals at the Olympics next year?
Good catch. Was he juiced, he said he was, does he know more than what he lets on, who knows. I’m one of the naive ones who was shocked/disappointed when Landis and Vino failed their drug test. I still believe (okay, really naive) they are innocent until proven guilty. Was drug use rampant (majority probably were juiced) in the 90s, yeah, is it still a problem, yeah, is it better now, I’m leaning toward yeah.
I just hate the way it’s portrayed in the media (don’t know why I’m disappointed in the media). And after all the bad press, I’m sure the media is baffled as to why people keep watching (what did the NYT call it, ‘the teflon tour’ all the charges but nothing sticks). I can’t really explain it either but I’m still a fan. The mountain stages with Rasmussen, Conta and Levi were terrific and Levi’s TT, great stuff.