tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post1827925537464870245..comments2024-01-01T06:40:52.523-08:00Comments on Inane Asylum: Is it snowing in Hell?Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10517087265569164625noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-21096667694392635182013-01-23T21:30:05.129-08:002013-01-23T21:30:05.129-08:00Thanks, I will call them and see if I can get anyw...Thanks, I will call them and see if I can get anywhere!CMehlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-81857010358903677952013-01-23T13:48:48.088-08:002013-01-23T13:48:48.088-08:00www.Notify.USDOJ.GOV. But it says you need your VI...www.Notify.USDOJ.GOV. But it says you need your VIN & PIN# & have to enter your last name.<br /><br />There is also a phone# : 1-866-365-4968, but they also need the VIN# & PIN. Maybe if you get ahold of someone & give them your old email address?<br /><br />The letter was autosigned by Becky Moreno (Victim Specialist) in the San Diego office of the DOJ. That ph# is 855-499-7555.<br /><br />Since it's taken 3-5 (?) months since Landis testifed that he HAD committed fraud & the judgement was handed down to even get this letter, I'm not excecting to see a dime for years. And all Landis has to do is not work or get a low paying job & he doesn't have to pay ANYthing! The FEDS will just say "BYGONES!". Our tax dollars at work!<br /><br />Still, I at least had the fun of humming The Boxtops all night ("The Letter") & this at least RECOGNIZES us a CRIME VICTIMS. May come in handy when I sue Landis if he gets a nickel in that whistleblower suit. The PAIN & SUFFERING has been immense... Hey, if Betsy Andreu can convince the stupid media that her "LIFE IS RUINED" because she was called a "crazy bitch" on cycling websites, I can wail about 'pain & suffering' when MY money was actually stolen!susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-29106677187360374272013-01-23T10:08:59.839-08:002013-01-23T10:08:59.839-08:00Hey Susie, can you put the website info on here? ...Hey Susie, can you put the website info on here? I changed my email address in 2010 so they won't have the right one and I want to file a claim. If I get money back, I'm donating it to Livestrong.CMehlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-24162818162798871382013-01-23T07:25:16.635-08:002013-01-23T07:25:16.635-08:00"Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane
I ain't ..."Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane<br />I ain't got time to take a fast train <br />Sad days are gone, FINALLY feels like I'm HOME <br />'Cause the US Dept of Justice-San Diego just<br /> WROTE 'ME' A LETTER!"<br /> <br />Hot damn. Just another 5 years & maybe, MAYBE we'll get our STOLEN MONEY BACK!<br /><br />The funny thing is 2 emails showed up the last few weeks about "Being a Crime Victim" & I deleted them without even opening as I thought they were SPAM. LOL!<br /><br />Doesn't say anything about getting any money back but does say I will "likely not receive additional correspondence regarding the status of this case". But they did give a website to go to (I'm assigned a VICTIM IDENTIFICATION NUMBER & a PIN" (WHOO-HOOO! About freakin TIME they acknowledged we VICTIMS of POS Landis!<br /><br />And we got 2 pamphlets : HELP FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME & The Dept of Justice VICTIM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM (which states it is a service provided by several Fed depts & (GET THIS!) "in cooperation with the UNITED STATES POSTAL Inspection Service". I laughed for 15 freakin minutes last night!<br /><br />I hope to log into the website some time this week (can't right now because of work) & I'll fill ya'll in what I see.susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-16123329227109578352013-01-22T20:08:41.574-08:002013-01-22T20:08:41.574-08:00I'm currently back up in Sunnyvale for the nex...I'm currently back up in Sunnyvale for the next 2 weeks...drove up yesterday (Monday). I hadn't planned on traveling right now, as we're dealing with our little furry bundle of joy, but this one I didn't have a choice (well, I guess I ALWAYS have a choice...but being unemployed isn't really that much of a choice). <br /><br />Jeannie took PG down to an oncologist down in Santa Barbara today (I was supposed to be there too)...we have lots to think about and digest from that appt...we chatted for some time tonight on the phone discussing everything. At the moment all is well...however he reciprocated the surgeons belief that the tumor WILL return if we do nothing. We just need to try to balance quality of life and cost. More to follow when I have time...right now I'm beat and it's bed time...(travel wears me out). <br /><br />I brought my MTB with me on this trip and managed to slip in a ride last night. I wass hoping to ride again tonight, but was late getting out of work...darkess is my mortal enemy right now...and traffic...especially traffic. And cold...it's decent temp (deep in the trees mostly) when I start around 3:30pm...but by 5 it's getting DARK down in the trees, and cooling off by the moment. <br /><br />ANYWAY...have a great week!Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10517087265569164625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-54776156156621871682013-01-22T19:55:15.885-08:002013-01-22T19:55:15.885-08:00Hey Barbara...no, didn't get any email...but I...Hey Barbara...no, didn't get any email...but I didn't really donate that much...I'd assume they will work their way down from those who paid the most...I'd think Susie should be in line (hopefully). I wonder where they think he got some money from....Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10517087265569164625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-82889424751360667482013-01-22T18:32:59.174-08:002013-01-22T18:32:59.174-08:00Did anyone else get a letter from the Victims'...Did anyone else get a letter from the Victims' unit of the FBI starting out "As a victim specialist for the FBI-San Diego, I am contacting you because you have been identified as a possible victim of a crime as a Floyd Fairness Fund donor." What's the chance we get our money back? (and as you said much earlier, Matt, Floyd has still maintained his innocence of the T he got busted for...)<br /><br />BarbaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-87773710602391751322013-01-21T10:54:03.316-08:002013-01-21T10:54:03.316-08:00"I will certainly not follow Armstrong's ..."I will certainly not follow Armstrong's example and speak before an audience of millions". (Jan Ullrich).<br /> <br />Ok, show of hands, who thought Ullrich would ever be smarter than Lance in anything? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? ;)susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-21207205722555211892013-01-20T09:26:49.791-08:002013-01-20T09:26:49.791-08:00I have to correct myself re: Christophe Bassons. ...I have to correct myself re: Christophe Bassons. He never rode for USPS, he was riding for FdJ! He had written in a column during the TdF about how remarkable/suspicious LA's performance was, and was shunned by the ENTIRE PELOTON from that day on, including his own team. And, yes, Lance did ride up to him to say that if he didn't like the way things were, he should quit. Which he did! He himself states that he was never threatened, he couldn't take the ostracising. He says that Madiot was furious with him, his OWN TEAM didn't want to share their winnings with him. THAT IS HOW STRONG the omerta and the doping culture was then -- NOT ALL LANCE"S DOING, yet now Lance is being cast as the one who "ruined" his career. <br /><br />This is what I object to. Lance was, indeed, WAY over the line with his behavior in some cases (suing people who were telling the truth) but this doesn't seem to me to be one of them.<br /><br /><br />OH, and I SO totally agree about Floyd. Really, I don't get how he can have standing to file a whistle-blower suit. In Ohio, there is a law against profiting from your crime. Since Floyd took part happily and eagerly, by his own admission, in the doping and secrecy, wasn't he part of the conspiracy? He shouldn't be rewarded for getting caught!<br />RaeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-36458341599616798902013-01-19T18:23:24.124-08:002013-01-19T18:23:24.124-08:00You GO Sooz! THIS is why you CAN NOT leave cycling...You GO Sooz! THIS is why you CAN NOT leave cycling...we NEED your rants on things! <br /><br />I'm surely torn by the whole thing, but there is a lot that bothers me about the reaction. You'd think he killed people, a BUNCH of people. Little kids. Babies. There is that much hate for him. I just don't understand it....unless you were married to him, or were personally bullied (steamrollered) by him, then any huge moral outrage is just WAY over the top. It's a guy who was riding a bike for crying out loud! <br /><br />A PRO athlete doing whatever it takes to win. And it turns out that he's not the most moral person in the world. HOLD THE PRESSES! GOOD GOD! Isn't THAT a FIRST! A public figure (Hollywood, Sports, Politics) being really good at his job but not being a good person. OMFG! What a shock! OFF TO THE GALLOWS WITH HIM! BURN THE WITCHES! He TURNED ME INTO A NEWT! (I got better). <br /><br />And to think Floyd is now the hero here...who stands to get MONEY (Taxpayer Dollars!) if the whistle-blower suit goes thru and wins. Isn't THAT a kick in the pants. Lets see...Floyd, who was also doping and lying about it, takes OUR money as he looks us in the eye, shakes our hand, signs our books, and says he didn't dope. THEN, when no team will take him because he is radioactive, he blackmails Lance to get on the team, and when Lance doesn't bow down to the blackmailing, only THEN does he come clean and admit he doped, and then tells the dirt on Lance. And he's a hero. <br /><br />I'm no lawyer here, but I just don't see how the whistle-blower suit has merit. Maybe there's language in there I don't know, but I would think for the Gov to win that one, they would have to prove they were damaged and suffered loss. Had this happened DURING the USPS years of active sponsorship, then yes I could see a case. But as Greg said in his comment yesterday, their sponsor dollars were returned many times over. In fact, during the years of the Reign of Lance there wasn't a better investment out there. But hey...that's just my take, it will be interesting to see how it comes out. Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10517087265569164625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-840701602124328042013-01-19T14:09:13.804-08:002013-01-19T14:09:13.804-08:00Oooh, oooh, back to the Lance-Les Miz mashup : Bet...Oooh, oooh, back to the Lance-Les Miz mashup : Betsy Andreu as Javert! And Lemond as Thenardier & his wife Kathy as Madame Thenardier (love that lyric when she sings "not much there".... ;)!susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-6191804430635768772013-01-19T13:43:46.865-08:002013-01-19T13:43:46.865-08:00This country is a nation of HYPOCRITES. We wail ab...This country is a nation of HYPOCRITES. We wail about the "evilness" of Lance Armstrong & how he supposedly treated so many people so badly. Well, GEE, he should get his own TV show! What has a been a THEME on TV the past 20 years? J.R. Ewing. Dr House. Oh, those are just fictional pricks you say. Alright, Chef Gordon Ramsey, Donald Trump, almost every winner of SURVIVOR, etc, etc. We applaud the ruthless when they are "winners", but lo, they begin to show weakness or worse, actually fail & we are like those little creatures in Galaxy Quest - turn on & devour in frenzied minute. Bullshit.<br /><br />The more I think about this, the more ENRAGED I become. What other society & in what age, does a nation demand anyone NOT indicted of an actual vicious crime to bare himself on national TV for an inquest into not just his career, but EVERYthing he may or may not have ever said or done & into his character as a whole? And then the nation gets to pick every utterance, facial expression, leg postion change apart & assign motives as fact? It's a public Star Chamber as contradictory as that sounds. And that this was just an interview & NOT a legal deposition let alone testimony in a court of law seems LOST on not just the RALF but the hypocritic, assinine media.<br /><br />Personally, I salivate at the thought of Betsy Andreu being CROSS-EXAMINED. "So, when did you discover your husband had doped? So, you are testifying that HE was a doper? Just like Lance? Did he dope the years Lance Armstrong could not ride as he was fighting cancer? How did he ride the 2000 TDF? Any troubles or weakness? Read aloud in court the following excerpts from evidence #150, Frankie Andreu's TDF 2000 BLOG, please. Has your husband ever lied to you about ANYthing? Next witness - Frankie Andreu.susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-40366655863837479112013-01-19T13:40:51.139-08:002013-01-19T13:40:51.139-08:00I totally agree with you Rae about Anderson. I hav...I totally agree with you Rae about Anderson. I have admired Anderson Cooper for years, thought he was the most prepared, professional, passionate newspeaker on TV of the last 10-15 years. Very, very disappointed in his Lance Trash shows, part 1 & 2. Not only was his knowledge of the sport almost nonexistent (would have been a shock if the opposite) but he had no idea of ANY of the "players" in the drama. No idea of the history, the 'stories', the motivations of ALL involved. For god sake, couldn't his staff have given him a 10 page Cliff Notes before the show? He also took what everything his "guests" said as "THE" truth. And he set up clips from the Lance interview completely emphasizing the wrong things. And WHY were there no ex-teammates on the CNN shows? Why was Betsy Andreu on there & not Frankie?<br /><br />But one of the worst things was last night. This time Betsy Andreu only called in on the phone, was not on set. AND she HAD NOT SEEN THAT NIGHT'S INTERVIEW, the Part 2 of the Lance-Oprah sit-down. So, Anderson then proceeds to play highly edited clips & B.A. responds. ARE YOU KIDDIN ME? Really, THIS is the best Anderson could do? Betsy Andreu should have kept her mouth SHUT last night until she WATCHED the entire Part 2. Disgusting.<br /><br />And Daniel Coyle? Smug, insufferable prick? No, not Lance, THIS GUY. I have a book by this guy!<br /><br />Only Bill Strickland gave a respectable critique. Even though he & I will never totally agree on Lance, his "analysis" is the ONLY critique by ANYone in sports "journalism" (ESPECIALLY the vile cycling media) that is even remotely trying to be unbiased.<br /><br />And can someone, ANYONE sit Betsy Andreu the hell down & tell her that Lance Armstrong did NOT "ruin" the sport of cycling! Why does no one call her on this?! Pantani. Ris. Ulrich. Fignon. Festina. Telecom. Rabobank. Operation Puerto, on & on. & on. And please, please someone PROVE to me how Indurain got his ass over those moutains WITHOUT using EPO. Betsy Andreu has been pissed about ONE thing - that Frankie was let go from the Postal team. She tries to convince everyone that it was solely because virtuous Frankie would NO LONGER dope. That he could NOT CUT IT ANYMORE is brushed aside. And, how did Lance keep Frankie off other teams? You don't think other team managers wanted to BEAT Lance?!susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-13505782601770959612013-01-19T13:32:26.695-08:002013-01-19T13:32:26.695-08:00Wonder if the 'Les Miserables' soundtrack ...Wonder if the 'Les Miserables' soundtrack played in the background while Oprah interviewed Lance? Hmmmmm, Lance singing as Jean Valjean -<br /> <br />"One day more, <br />Another day, another destiny, <br />This never ending road to Calvary; <br />These men who seem to know my crime <br />Will surely come a second time, <br />One day more... "<br /> <br />OR as Fantine!<br /> <br />"I had a dream my life would be<br /> So different from this hell I'm living<br /> So different NOW from what it seemed<br /> Now life has killed the dream I dreamed"<br /><br /> <br />Back in Oct, I bet Rant that Hollywood would be dying to make a movie now of Lance's rise & fall, but HOW COULD I BE SO BLIND - the REAL venue for his story is the BROADWAY MUSICAL! Lance just has to work on his "3rd Act" & we'll be all set. Think I'm kidding? Do you KNOW the plots of musicals? This is golden!susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-22074686676559059002013-01-19T10:22:14.406-08:002013-01-19T10:22:14.406-08:00Yes, Greg nailed it!
You too, Jessica, that is a v...Yes, Greg nailed it!<br />You too, Jessica, that is a very apt comparison. <br /><br />Further thoughts after last night:<br /><br />It was personally very painful to me to watch him talk about his conversation with his kids. I really wished that he hadn't gone there in so much detail. I wonder at his willingness to expose them, this private moment with him, and yet he still wants to protect those who knew, aided, abetted, or even probably instigated the doping and coverup. Well, I guess that I can see that this really wasn't the proper venue to point the finger at anyone else, so I am just hoping that he is not going to maintain the omerta. <br /><br />I think that he explained pretty clearly why he maintained his innocence for so long, even after all his rivals and predecessors were either caught or confessed. "The story was just so perfect" (-- and his life before then was just so NOT perfect--)<br /><br />I think that anyone who has seen him over the years and who was looking closely could see that he WAS emotional at times, very tightly bottled, but visible; sometimes his ears were flaming red! I don't get those who wanted to see more. Tears or something I suppose. What I saw was congruent with what I think I know about his personality. <br /><br />But I also think that he was not being truthful at a few other points. Again, those body language tells, although he is much better at hiding it than Floyd was! Oddly, it seemed that he was more comfortable at those moments though, like he was back on familiar ground.<br /><br />I soooo agree with you Matt, it is nice to be able to come here and express my sometimes mixed feelings. You know that I have been convinced of the doping for years, and was not at all surprised by ANY of the recent confessions -- or upset either, except at the way the don't-know-much media have covered the issue, and people who should know better have piled on. <br /><br /> But I still admire him, and feel that he DID win, that that WAS the pro culture of the time, and he is NOT solely responsible for it, and the cries of SOME of the victims are overblown (however, in the case of Lemond and Trek, sounds like Lemond's case is strong even if he isn't a paragon of virtue himself) Last night Christophe Bassons was mentioned. So, LA's team was the ONLY team in the universe, that his career was ruined because he wouldn't dope for them? Really? I am so tired of that.<br /><br />But that point of view was getting knocked down at the other blog I visit (as much as I like it), moderation was not the theme of the night!<br /><br />Rae <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-45557791153595926192013-01-18T17:37:53.273-08:002013-01-18T17:37:53.273-08:00T minus 30 minutes to liftoff...(I mean letdown). ...T minus 30 minutes to liftoff...(I mean letdown). Thanks everybody for stopping by and chatting...just like old times...and I love to hear everybody's take on things. I'm pretty sure our little band of inmates is all of roughly the same mind on current affairs...it's nice to have a 'safe zone' where no-one is going to come and trash us for our thoughts (and know that I have no problem issuing lifetime bans from the asylum is someone shows up and gets nasty).<br /><br />I just joined the 2013 LIVESTRONG Davis Team Fat Cyclist once again (it's my FIFTH YEAR, can you believe it?) I thought it was important to make a statement to LIVESTRONG that I've still got their back...and now seemed to be a really good time to say that.<br /><br />Anyway, my bro Greg and were chatting yesterday (via email) and he sent this, which I really liked...so I'm posting his comment for him (because he never comments). <br /><br />"I still maintain that lance wasn’t the first professional athlete to dope, the practice was organized on a team wide basis and thriving when he arrived on the scene (think Festina). Did lance “bully” his team-mates into taking part- maybe/ likely so. Why is that different than many other professional teams before/ during/ after the lance era? Lance was very successful at his craft, and raised the tide for popularity of cycling immensely worldwide. Is it that hard to accept that a manically driven and fierce athlete and competitor looked to exploit every single aspect at his disposal to gain any advantage over his competitors to be successful/ (think equipment- recall greg lemond and the controversy of the aero bars and helmet). Did sponsors such as US postal get their money’s worth in advertising from the team? I would expect likely in multiples or even orders of magnitude. Did professional cycling reap a huge benefit in popularity in cycling- gauged by the numbers of individuals taking part in races? Absolutely. <br /><br />There are many lance haters that see this like religion- either your with me or against me. Lance being the most success cyclist ever (one could argue that, if he is not the top, he certainly is the top 2 or 3), he is a scapegoat for everything that is perceived to be evil in professional sport. I suggest the bottom line is money- across the board. Oh gee- a professional athlete and his sponsors trying to make money- who would have thought!"<br /><br />Thanks for posting Greg! (GRIN!!!)<br /><br />Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10517087265569164625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-26585255965457882252013-01-18T16:29:02.953-08:002013-01-18T16:29:02.953-08:00My mom asked today what I thought of the interview...My mom asked today what I thought of the interview. And I told her it felt like watching an addict, fresh out of rehab, trying to make amends. But even while trying, it's clear they don't fully understand yet why they went so far into the addiction.<br /><br />Not saying he was addicted to meds, rather addicted to his type of denial.<br /><br />Listened to Tyler being interviewed on the radio today and I used to be such a fan of his. I'd LOVE someone to ask him, now that he's removed a number of years--what exactly compels you, as rider w/ a tainted blood sample, to tell people you had a "missing twin"?! Tell me, how does one reconcile w/ your own deceit?<br />JessicaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-14914274437538310272013-01-18T16:20:01.072-08:002013-01-18T16:20:01.072-08:00Learn from my mistake - typed for 20 mins and then...Learn from my mistake - typed for 20 mins and then POOF, it disappeared! Copy before hitting 'publish'. =)<br /><br />hi ya Matt! I'm w/ you Barbara, numb.<br /><br />Lucky to still have a tv, as I too went to CNN afterwards and found the Survivor tribunal going on there (and on Public Radio/BBC) to be full of horribly arch, self-important nattering nabobs. Horrid. Listening to Piers Morgan talk about cheaters and trust.....how does he live w/ himself?<br /><br />I expected Lance to do one of two things: either name all names and say "good luck defending yourselves" OR be vague on names to protect himself and them and focus only on his deeds. He seemed to do #2.<br /><br />I appreciated when he said he didn't think it was cheating because he viewed other riders as having the same opportunity. Not because I enjoy listening to someone I've lauded for years to now be reduced to splitting hairs but because it seemed OBVIOUS to me that he was really saying "go look around, it was the norm".<br /><br />Maybe I'm hearing what I want to hear. In the same way David Epstein of SI was incensed on CNN last night that he didn't hear Lance unequivocally admit to suing the masseuse. I heard Lance dance around it. And I *assume* that is related to on-going or potential lawsuits.<br /><br />It seems completely believable that an ambitious member of the team, asking how to get to the head of the pack would be told "you have to do the work to get there". Even I know what choice that implies in professional circles. <br />JessicaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-2270822165851400992013-01-18T12:25:56.585-08:002013-01-18T12:25:56.585-08:00All there is to the Mike Anderson story is, he tho...All there is to the Mike Anderson story is, he thought LA promised to front him the money to start a bike shop, but after he questioned LA (or something) about the PEDs in his medicine cabinet, LA cut him off then fired him. Totally understandable, why keep on the payroll someone who is expressing suspicions about your darkest secret--who isn't someone you think you can trust with the secret? Anderson's life wasn't "ruined" by a long shot. You can't lose a bike shop that you don't have, and he isn't the first person to lose a cushy job. <br /><br />And I do have little sympathy for Betsy A. If her life was ruined, that was a choice that SHE made, instead of shaking the dust off her shoes and moving on. I was accused of dishonesty and falsification of records (VERY VERY serious in my line of work at the time, a drug research coordinator) once, but have I built my identity around revenge or getting an apology etc? NO. I knew it would never happen, and I moved on. Why couldn't she?<br /><br />I was shocked really, at how totally unprepared Anderson Cooper was to address the story. He didn't even know who Hincapie is, clearly knew little to nothing about the sport, or even the scandal itself, didnt seem to really care, accepted everything said at face value... very disappointing. Was he just following the producer's directive in taking on the topic?<br /><br />Yes, LA looked very tense and uncomfortable. Yes, Oprah started out strong, but later let him avoid a few tough questions, get away with several non-answer answers. Overall, I was left with pretty much the impression that I had going in of him, and I do think that he espressed some insight into himself (that surprised me). The question is, how deep does it run, or does he really want to deal with his "flaws". I've known people, who got very good at "frankly" admitting and apologising for their "mistakes" -- like doing one of the 12 steps of AA -- but inside, it really wasn't touching them, they had no intention of trying to be different! It was either just another form of manipulation, or just trying to meet expectations. I wonder which it is for LA.<br /><br />He hinted at the effect on his kids, esp. mentioned his oldest son -- I wonder if THAT really is the motivator for the public confession. I guess we will find out tonight!<br /><br />RaeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-55086195266045977742013-01-18T11:55:14.681-08:002013-01-18T11:55:14.681-08:00I watched it online, Matt, livestreaming from opra...I watched it online, Matt, livestreaming from oprah.com, so you can too @ 2100 est and repeated at 2100 pst<br /><br />RaeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-54145966960661351942013-01-18T09:05:50.587-08:002013-01-18T09:05:50.587-08:00On the other hand. You know - since I found out Fl...On the other hand. You know - since I found out Floyd Landis actually DID dope in the 2006 Tour de France & throughout his career & thus STOLE MY MONEY that I gave to him to help his defense, why, I can't sleep, can barely work as my emotional trauma continues to affect me, can't trust people, why, it's RUINED MY LIFE!<br /><br />How many times do you think I have to say & write this before it becomes accepted as "FACT"? Better get busy. ;) Think B.A. does "consulting"?susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-15251231061242710862013-01-18T09:00:58.255-08:002013-01-18T09:00:58.255-08:00Oh, another thing that bothers me & has for th...Oh, another thing that bothers me & has for the past several YEARS - when "journalists" or anyone else states emphatically what Lance's "MOTIVES" were for any action or at any time. HOW THE HELL DO THEY KNOW?! They do NOT. I don't. You don't. And yet, there they are, spouting off repeatedly, day after day, month after month, not saying they THINK 'x" must be his motive, they state it as FACT.<br /><br />My OPINION as to why Lance may be admitting his PED use now? For his family. His mother & kids & maybe for Liverstrong to not totally implode. As I keep, er, screeching (getting to sound like you know who! ;) - the level of hatred & vitriol being thrown at this man is unlike anything I have EVER seen for someone who did not mow down people with an assault weapon. It's unbelievable! He's a BIKE RIDER! He used performance enhancing drugs like 90% (at least) of all the other cyclists at the time! He defended himself against attacks & he denied the doping. Just like EVERY OTHER rider who ACTUALLY tested positive.<br /><br />And have you ever heard of this DeCanio guy? This guy is trying to convince everyone that Lance affected his "career opportunities" because he spoke out against doping. Who the hell was he? Did he ride in the pro-Tour in Europe or the minor league domestic level? These people are ascribing EVERYthing to Lance & the public is accepting it as "truth" because NO one will now defend Lance. I know Lance has always been a control freak but why the hell would he care what some nobody talked about in 2004? <br /><br />I KNOW Lance Armstrong was an SOB to several people. But he is NOT responsible for all the doping in cycling, let alone all sport & do I wish he didn't defend/attack/sue as forcefully as he did back in 2001-2007? Yes. But for him not to defend his very identity at all means he would NEVER have been the kind of guy who could win 7 Tours in a row.<br /><br />I also hope he does not even try to "apologize" to certain people like Mike Anderson or, argggggh, Landis. The Anderson guy HATES Lance, thinks he should go to prison. For what?! Seriously. Did he murder? Rape? Sexually abuse a kid? Run someone off a road? Steal their identity? Key their car?! If Lance really ruined this guy's business or whatever, I hope the most LA does is pay him some money & then never has to hear from/of him again.susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-67567191086229667872013-01-18T07:20:59.679-08:002013-01-18T07:20:59.679-08:00And finally - how can ANYone wonder why Lance woul...And finally - how can ANYone wonder why Lance would "attack" his attackers? Legally & verbally. These people were attacking not just his achievement but his very identity. Of course he would defend his self by counter attacking. Do these people know nothing of WAR? And it was a war.<br /><br />And BTW, did Lance call E.O'Reilly a "prostitute" or a "whore"? BIG difference. But it means the same thing you wail. NOT ONLINE it doesn't. And not in a playground fight. Let me explain - if a female comments online in various forums, message boards, blogs, etc, & she uses a FEMALE posting name, there is a 100% chance that if she writes ANY kind of strong opinion, especially critical of the Alphas ruling the space, she will be called one of the following - whore, slut, bitch, lesbian. Not every day & not in every online area but it's more common than not. These words are THE slam-downs of choice for a female. If every woman called any of these names online can say their lives are "ruined", you're looking at almost every single female poster. My LIFE is RUUIIIIIIINNNNNNED!<br /><br /><br />Bottom line - if Lance had shown up in sackcoth & ashes & sang the following -<br /> <br />"I only want to say<br /> If there is a way<br /> Take this cup away from me<br /> For I don't want to taste its poison<br /> Feel it burn me,<br /> I have changed<br /> I'm not as sure<br /> As when we started<br /> Then I was inspired<br /> Now I'm sad and tired<br /> Listen, surely I've exceeded<br /> Expectations<br /> Tried for 7 years<br /> Seems like thirty<br /> Could you ask as much<br /> From any other man?"<br /> <br />He would have been CRUCIFIED for not being "genuine". As I said - he could not win.susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-80915373479014466872013-01-18T07:17:53.784-08:002013-01-18T07:17:53.784-08:00If you went to CNN afterwards, you would have been...If you went to CNN afterwards, you would have been SUBJECTED to 2.5 hours of straight Lance trashing. And GUESS who was one of the 4 guests on Anderson Cooper. Guess! Oh come on, you'll "NEVER" guess! Oh, you beat it out of me. Hold on to your shorts - Besty Andreu! Yep, I'm SO shocked too! Anyway, my thoughts -<br /><br />I watched 'The Worldwide Exclusive" twice last night, back to back. Then clicked over to ESPN & listened to them rehash/trash for a bit & then went to CNN where the viewer was subjected to a 2.5 hour skewering/trashing. As I've said for the past week, Lance would NOT satisfy the haters no matter WHAT he said or how he acted. And the RALF has done the job of convincing the country that Lance Armstrong is unredeemable. These people make me SICK. Rick Reilly cares more that Lance lied to HIM & to his "FACE" more than any supposed cheating. Dana Jacobson (who's claim to journalism is "hosting" First Take?! LOL) & Christine Brennan just shit all over him. My memory must be failing, but I don't remember EITHER one of these women ever attending an entire Tour de France let alone cover cycling for years. Who the hell are THEY to be calling Lance "souless"? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?<br /><br />Anyway - my take on Lance's mea culpa so far. For the 1st time since 1999, thought he looked uncomfortable & unsure in front of a camera. NOT "cold', NOT "heartless", NOT "souless". (Give me a freakin break). I've not been surprised at anything. My only criticsm so far was I think he was being disingenuous when he tried to intimate he was NOT the sole decision maker for his Tour teams. Do I think Lance encouraged the rest of the guys to use the PEDs? Why not? It was accepted by most of the sport at that time that it was part of your "preparation", so of course. And why is ANYone shocked that he didn't think of it as "cheating"? I don't think of it as cheating NOW! They were almost all using! I also winced when he said he "probably" sued that soeigneur as he sued so many back then. The latter was true, but it was still a cop-out & even worse, I could hear the gnashing of teeth & screaming by the RALF thru the night air.<br /><br />(cont)susie bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849348372908281816.post-63081374418110644282013-01-17T21:08:51.870-08:002013-01-17T21:08:51.870-08:00First things first...WELCOME BACK JESSICA!! LOOOON...First things first...WELCOME BACK JESSICA!! LOOOONNNGGG Time, no hear! Glad you are still alive and kicking and checking in! <br /><br />And now on to the train wreck. Great Googly-Moogly! Just finished watching THE show...I have to admit I truly didn't expect it to be this brutally honest...I had it figured that there would be some patty-cake and lots of Lance thinking and hedging his answers. They are for the most part pretty point blank. <br /><br />One thing that totally surprised me though (other than his brutal honesty)...when asked about the USADA report over his bio-passport blood testing from his comeback years 2009 and 2010...the report that said something to the like of "the values in his samples are so unlikely to be natural that they are only one in a million odds that he wasn't blood doping"...and he said that report made him quite upset because he totally denies ANY ped use in his comeback. THAT is quite interesting, as it was the comback years that pretty much opened him up to this entire thing...had he not made his comeback they wouldn't' have been able to touch him. <br /><br />I'd say I was mesmerized, and kudo's to Oprah for her questions...she is certainly NOT giving him lob's...they are major league fast balls, curve balls and knuckle balls. And he's not dodging them either....though he did stop short of saying Betsy wasn't lying about her saying he told the Dr's of all his PED use in that Indiana hospital room. <br /><br />I looked and looked and can't find the next episode on the guide tomorrow...it just shows this one over and over. THAT has me worried...I MUST see this next episode! <br /><br />I'll be anxious to hear everybody else's take on things so far. I'm still processing. My mind is blown, that is for sure.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10517087265569164625noreply@blogger.com