Comments on: Omerta http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2007/05/omerta.html Pro IS PROGRAM GO Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:50:58 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: From Loved to Loathed | Belgium Knee Warmers http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2007/05/omerta.html/comment-page-1#comment-14843 From Loved to Loathed | Belgium Knee Warmers Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:47:00 +0000 http://66.147.244.157/~belgiumk/2007/05/omerta/#comment-14843 [...] not that Mr. Sixty had doped—there were plenty of rumors—no, our surprise was that he broke the Omerta and came clean. The shock we feel when a rider we believed or at least hoped was clean (say, Iban [...] [...] not that Mr. Sixty had doped—there were plenty of rumors—no, our surprise was that he broke the Omerta and came clean. The shock we feel when a rider we believed or at least hoped was clean (say, Iban [...]

]]> By: Carson http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2007/05/omerta.html/comment-page-1#comment-10905 Carson Thu, 10 May 2007 15:23:00 +0000 http://66.147.244.157/~belgiumk/2007/05/omerta/#comment-10905 <i>"This isn't a light bulb in the darkness but a flashlight pointed the wrong way."</i><br/><br/>Not that we need another villian, but I feel the sport shoots itself in the foot (again) with the quick public rehabilitation of dopers who are caught lying. I can't read a cycling magazine without seeing David Millar's image selling Castelli or Scott. He followed the same tired path of indignant denial right up until being caught. “This isn’t a light bulb in the darkness but a flashlight pointed the wrong way.”

Not that we need another villian, but I feel the sport shoots itself in the foot (again) with the quick public rehabilitation of dopers who are caught lying. I can’t read a cycling magazine without seeing David Millar’s image selling Castelli or Scott. He followed the same tired path of indignant denial right up until being caught.

]]> By: IB Rich http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2007/05/omerta.html/comment-page-1#comment-10904 IB Rich Wed, 09 May 2007 20:13:00 +0000 http://66.147.244.157/~belgiumk/2007/05/omerta/#comment-10904 Nicely said, Freddy. My favorable opinion of Basso was shot when he admitted his Fuentes involvement, but was destroyed when I read his "I didn't inhale" statement.<br/><br/>Contrary to one of the commenters here, I do not see this as a cycling problem, but as a societal problem. Just recently we heard of the mass cheating that took place at Duke University's b-school, for example. Where there is a reward or accolades awaiting the winners, there will be cheaters, unfortunately. <br/><br/>Where is the pro's "code of honor" as related to their fans? Nicely said, Freddy. My favorable opinion of Basso was shot when he admitted his Fuentes involvement, but was destroyed when I read his “I didn’t inhale” statement.

Contrary to one of the commenters here, I do not see this as a cycling problem, but as a societal problem. Just recently we heard of the mass cheating that took place at Duke University’s b-school, for example. Where there is a reward or accolades awaiting the winners, there will be cheaters, unfortunately.

Where is the pro’s “code of honor” as related to their fans?

]]> By: Radio Freddy http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2007/05/omerta.html/comment-page-1#comment-10903 Radio Freddy Wed, 09 May 2007 19:46:00 +0000 http://66.147.244.157/~belgiumk/2007/05/omerta/#comment-10903 Mike - I don't think the answer to the problem is as simple as Basso telling all. But I do think that what we are seeing is a manipulation of the legal aspect, and like all the excuses to come before this one, they feel like an insult to the fan's, and governing body's intellegence. Unfortunately the Omerta approach to doping insures that the 2007 season will be filled with false starts and abrupt finishes. The entire doping issue and its impact on the sport has the feel of an unreliable auto on a long road trip. Out of the driveway and onto the motorway, 10 KMs into the journey and the radiator begins to leak. Stop and repair. With the radiator fixed we are on our way. Then the alternator gives way. Stop again. Then with the alternator repaired we carry-on only to be stopped again by a flat tire. The system governing doping, riders and the team's involement is as reliable as a used auto and with all the stops and starts in the sport, our journey and the future of our sport may be in jeapordy. When you consider that cycling is a way to a better life for many of the PROs it is hard to fault them for considering doping, especially when the playing field is not level. The helplessness the fans feel as we roll our eyes at another PRO falling victim to Puerto begins to take its toll and create a strong bitterness. I take comfort that, like you, I am a cyclist first and then a spectator. At the end of the day what matters is that I still ride my bike despite the scandals, despite the comments from my non-cycling buddies and despite the loud sucking sound created by my favorite PROs being plucked from the peloton. Mike – I don’t think the answer to the problem is as simple as Basso telling all. But I do think that what we are seeing is a manipulation of the legal aspect, and like all the excuses to come before this one, they feel like an insult to the fan’s, and governing body’s intellegence. Unfortunately the Omerta approach to doping insures that the 2007 season will be filled with false starts and abrupt finishes. The entire doping issue and its impact on the sport has the feel of an unreliable auto on a long road trip. Out of the driveway and onto the motorway, 10 KMs into the journey and the radiator begins to leak. Stop and repair. With the radiator fixed we are on our way. Then the alternator gives way. Stop again. Then with the alternator repaired we carry-on only to be stopped again by a flat tire. The system governing doping, riders and the team’s involement is as reliable as a used auto and with all the stops and starts in the sport, our journey and the future of our sport may be in jeapordy. When you consider that cycling is a way to a better life for many of the PROs it is hard to fault them for considering doping, especially when the playing field is not level. The helplessness the fans feel as we roll our eyes at another PRO falling victim to Puerto begins to take its toll and create a strong bitterness. I take comfort that, like you, I am a cyclist first and then a spectator. At the end of the day what matters is that I still ride my bike despite the scandals, despite the comments from my non-cycling buddies and despite the loud sucking sound created by my favorite PROs being plucked from the peloton.

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