2012 Anti-V Moment of the Year: Bullies are really just pussies
As referenced in the 2012 V-Moment of the year article and ensuing discussion, it was a most Vawesome year for cycling. It’s been hypothesized here and on cycling sites with more integrity that the fantastic racing of 2012 may be, at least in part, attributed to a cleaner peloton. Unless you watched the Tour de France you’d think the days of foregone conclusions and three week coronations are quickly becoming a thing of the past. It is in this vein we bring to you the Anti-V Moment of 2012: Lance Armstrong’s ceasing to fight the charges against him.
Now usually, we try our best not to delve into the seedy side of cycling. There is just way too much cool about our sport to focus our collective energy and attention on asshats. Besides, we’ve got bikes to ride. But the COTHO’s public announcement that he would no longer fight, er, defend himself against allegations of systematic doping, money laundering, blackmail, intimidation, and international douchebaggery has to be the biggest Anti-V moment of the year, if not in the history of pro cycling.
The COTHO could have feasibly taken one of three tacks as the winds of pressure, evidence, and public opinion continued to blow against his house of cards. Tack one would have been to continue lying, bribing, and digging an ever deepening hole as he steadfastly proclaimed his innocence. This obviously hadn’t been working for the past 10-odd years but at least it allowed him to maintain his base of supporters. Even as it became more difficult for him to maintain the façade he still had a sizable group of survivors, apologists, journalists, and mis-guided cycling fans who believed.
Tack two would have been to come clean (pardon the pun) and admit to the whole sordid mess he created but he didn’t have the ball to do this either. Who knows what his reasons are for not being honest? Best guesses are he’s rationalizing a set of excuses ranging from mitigating his financial liability, evading criminal implications, and blaming the corruptness of the sport. Maybe he’s trying to save face in some twisted way. But for as cliché as Tyler Hamilton even admitted in his tell-all; the truth will set you free. The COTHO could have stood in front of those microphones and cameras and said “Hey, you know what, I doped. I made some poor choices and lied to everybody and for that I’m deeply sorry.” Had he done so his detractors would probably still be his detractors and he would have given his supporters a legitimate reason to continue supporting him but at least everybody could say he fessed up and there is some integrity in doing that.
Alas, he took the Anti-V tack. He stopped defending himself, er, lying without admitting to anything and seems to be hoping to just fade into the background. In essence, he’s taking his toys and going home. What’s striking about this is that it is contrary to what we’ve come to understand about the guy. If anything, we’ve come to know him as a fighter, both in life and on the road. But this latest, and hopefully last maneuver was just plain weak. (Notice I’ve added the categories of “Evanescent Riders” and “In Memoriam” to this article in addition to “Awards”. The first two are much more fitting.)
Perhaps it belies the true nature of the man. A nature that involves intimidation, serial emotional and physical aggression and even violence. A nature that includes socially isolating his victims, arguing them into submission, and propagating rumors, gossip, and lies about them to sway public opinion in his favor. A nature that involves amplifying the mistakes of others in order to strengthen his own self-image. A nature whereby there are many innocent bystanders who are too fearful of repercussions to come forward themselves. The nature of a man who may be trying to compensate for his own insecurities and feed his own narcissism and megalomania. The nature of a simple bully who ultimately shows himself to be a big pussy.
Amerckx to that.
Is this the greatest contrast between The V and Anti-V ever?
Could the potential between the two poles be used to generate unlimited amounts of free electricity thus freeing the world from its reliance on fossil fuels?
Time will tell…
Winner here is an easy, easy choice, and I wholeheartedly concur with Marko. Interesting, and as noted, this…situation…far transcends not only our sport, but sport in general. There are high politics involved, and it is just because I prefer to avoid such politics that I enjoy sport. COTHO’s lies…umm…”story”… ruined that for everyone, and the whole world is a little less bright because of it. Thanks for the lesson, ya fuckwad.
That said…we did learn a lot, didn’t we? But that’s not sport. Reminds me of the guy that taped the TV showing of the lotto number drawing; then bought those numbers on a ticket for the next drawing. He serruptiously ran the tape, passing the ticket and asking his wife to “check their numbers” while he went to the next room. Screaming ensued. “Are you sure? Are you sure?” Perhaps cruel, but his wife now knows the feeling of knowing they’d won. Even though, in the end, it was a hoax.
I have a bike to ride. That is all.
The price you pay for international douchebaggery is that the world eventually catches on and you just become another Donald Trump. In the end justice will prevail and we’ll be left with a cleaner sport, better, more exciting competition and another name to add to the already long list of douchebags from Texas.
Excellent choice of image, there.
Lance who? In more important news, 22 more days till the Tour Down Under!
“….but he didn’t have the ball to do this either…”. Fucking awesome. Chapeau @Marko!
@Tobin
Was it in 2005 that the TdU organizers went apeshit over COTHO comitting to going to that race? And it becoming hugely popular and successful because of his presence? Tour of the Gila got SRAM to sponsor them the same way. COTHO might ask: “yeah, I haven’t done much for you lately. Sorry it wasn’t good enough for you. Choads.”
I am now convinced – when I go to hell, it’s going to be full of people arguing and pontificating over Lance Armstrong..
I can hardly wait. ;-)
Maybe I’ll luck out and my karma will change so that I’ll be reincarnated as an intestinal parasite. That would be better than the hell I envision. A little better, anyway.
@PeakInTwoYears
It seemed to fit the title of the piece as well as the season and had the added benefit of not being of the COTHO on the lead article.
@theChaz
Keep in mind, you make your own karma by displaying the V in life and on the bike. The Velominatus has no place in hell for this reason so you should have nothing to worry about.
@theChaz
Ha!
As long as I have my bicycles, there will be no COTHO.
Like @eightzero, Ive no interest in the politics of most things. So many hills to find, so many roads undiscovered, so many good honest friends to make, that it takes even more effort to try and keep up to date on the shitholes others have dug themselves.
@PeakInTwoYears
I’m sure its sacrilege to say seeing as I’m from Cleveland, but I actually hate that movie.
Nice piece, Marko, but this is really the anti-V moment of the past decade.
For 2012, I have to think it must be the utter mismanagement of all things Leopard-Nissan-Radioshack-Trek. From sponsorship (with two auto sponsors) to injuries to totally screwing over Fuglsang’s season to the separation of the siamese Schlecks to endless in-race gaffes to Grimpelder playing with the laxatives to Bruyneel’s investigation to Nissan’s departure. Less than two years ago, this was THE team to like. That went pear-shaped faster than the period between Andy or Frank looking over their shoulders in search of their brother.
@VeloVita
Yeah? Why? I spent a few eternal years of my childhood in NW Indiana (aka “The Region”), in forced exile from the San Francisco bay area, where everything cool had been happening, and the movie captures a hint of the bleakness I felt, even as it makes me laugh.
Oh, yeah, COTHO. Ball. Hell. Good stuff.
@Steampunk
As always, astute analysis on your part. Certainly the Nissan/Schleck/Brunyeel/Trek affair was no coincidence to the whole COTHO affair, dominoes being what they are and negative culture being what it is. The Anti-V discussions in the boardroom didn’t even mention the Schlecks – that’s how anti-v they were this year. Although Andy getting blown off his bike should receive honorable mention.
The only other nomination I could think of besides these things was ChrisO riding the sidewalk through the Arenberg on the Keepers Tour. If he hadn’t redeemed himself in that stage race recently he just may have won with that move.
Yeah, isn’t that Mark Renshaw aka Prince Harry on the right?
@Marko
Fuuuuccckkk. Harsh.
@PeakInTwoYears
Maybe just because we’re overloaded with talk about it every holiday season since the house is here.
@Marko
nice selection by you and the Keepers on the Anti-V moment. Along the bullying lines, other Anti-V moments could have included McQuaid and Co. touting their win in the Landis defamation case, seeming proud a court stated they couldn’t be called ‘full of shit’ or ‘clowns’, or suspending their suit against Kimmage once they they realised he actually had the means to defend himself.
@eightzero I think it was 2009 and to add insult to injury they paid him to make the appearance – which i think puts them in a loooong line of people who want their pound of flesh.
@Marko
I’m hoping to improve on that this year by riding a full suspension mountain bike the whole week. With an electric motor.
well written Marko!
@G’rilla
were you expecting that would raise an eyebrow?
Agreed.
Let’s not mention this again.
Great movie pic, it was filmed in my hometown too ! Right there on Niagara St.
@strathlubnaig
I know not of this movie of which you all speak…
@the Engine
A Christmas Story (198?….) and filmed in various locations, the school and schoolyard was Victoria School Niagara St, St Catharines, ONT. Pretty good family xmas viewing.
American movie a Christmas story. Infamous for getting tongue frozen to flag pole, and a leg lamp.
Whilst I agree with all of the above, I still find it hard to swallow how Tyler Hamilton and crew no come out of this looking and smelling of roses …… Note. I have not read his book yet so am coming in blind but forgive me in thinking that werent all the USPS crew and Discovery Crew very happy to take the limelight and cash surrounding themselves in his COTHO’s glow ???
Now they have have “jumped ship” they are taking the spoils of book deals and interviews etc ……… arent they just as bad ??
Please set me straight and Im more than happy to be critisized for the alternate view..
As a whole I do agree that the whole mess has left a nasty taste in the mouth for 2012 …. Lucky we still have “cuddles” chin to shelter under down here in Oz.
@roger
And, arguably, for popularizing the phrase “triple dog dare,” as in, “I triple dog dare you to have another tripel and ride the rollers on the bar.”
@Barracuda
Reading the book helps have the same conversation. Armstrong isn’t guilty of different technology or doping crimes; its about all the other stuff. Hamilton and others dont sell themselves as the innocent.
@gaswepass thanks….. will endevour to thumb the pages of that book and also Walsh’s “SEven Deadly Sins”
@strathlubnaig
I am enlightened and will rent it at the earliest opportunity…
Marko, nice piece……definitely the final closure after 10yrs+ of lies and deceit, just a shame he could not go out like a man and admit it.
While that was definitely the lowest point, the year in my opinion had some other anti-V moments: Schlek the elders doping that still doesn’t have a result after 3 hearing, Veino winning the Olympics made even more suspicious by Urans comical head turn, Ferrari taking out Cav in the sprint swerving dramatically across the road, Rabobank abandoning cycling to name but a few.
Overall though a great year..looking forward now to 2013.
I hope this end to COTHO is truly the end & I no longer have to discuss him & his actions with non-cycling folks. I’m quite weary of those conversations. When I now see him in his younger days I have trouble squaring that dude with what he has become. At some point he seemed likeable.
I’ve always liked “A Christmas Story.” Been watching it since I was a kid & the marathon is kind of annoying, but it’s still funny & still holds lots of great memories for me. Farkus!!!
International douchebaggery should be added to the list of punishable crimes in the highest international courts. Sean Avery should be convicted of this, though I think he’s mainly done this only on one continent, so maybe that doesn’t count? Hopefully he’s played in Europe so he can be convicted.
Well done, Marko and spot on on all accounts….international douchebaggery is an instant classic!
@roger
well said, Roger! I’ve gotten pretty wrapped in all the gossip, but your outlook would be a healthier standard to go with.
@the Engine this is one of many classic scenes, but certainly this is the most famous one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RgCbcT8eEU
Crap I still cant embed, stuff….whats wrong with me? Anyway, try this link
Well said Marko, you laid it right out there. Let us now ride forward in 2013. As @roger said, it dosen’t touch us as long as we are out riding and having fun.
Fragile. It must be from Italy.
I was so unsurprised by the Reasoned Decision I feel like I had an inside peek. But I didn’t, am I the only cycling fan that pictured the dopage As exactly as described by by Tyler? The UCI executive should be shot with a ball of their own bullshit, because they fuckin’ knew man. Like Taylor in Platoon said, “it’s in the fuckin’ eyes man.”
in that vein.
@Ron
I have to disagree. He was born a COTHO. Steve Hed said he was the most obnoxious shitbag he’d ever met but was so talented he sponsored him. I wonder if he now regrets that? Anyhow, I always believed it it’s too good to be true it usually is. I liked that Dallas News called him Texan of The Year; albeit for the wrong reasons and ‘a steely-eyed liar’.
Enuff said
He is the arch Anti-V, there will probably never be another one like him. As to why he stopped defending himself, even if you put aside the cowardice of not wanting to have the sponsors sue him for return of bonuses, there is a more serious reason.
He would have wound up being someone “bitch” in a penitentiary somewhere and I am not sure his “ball” could have survived that. He had originally stated under oath that he had no doped in the original investigation. If he continued to lie he would have been have had to lie under oath again and the evidence is pretty convincing. He he came clean he would have admitted to purjuring himself and that would have led him straight to incarceration. He had only one choice and that was to do nothing.
Having said that the shitbag dug his own hole so I hope he stays there for many years to come, and with a bit of luck we will all forget about him and he will become a non-celebrity, a fate, which I suspect for him, is worse than death!
@the Engine
you’ll shoot your eye out
@itburns
+1
@Ron
wrt Sean Avery, for once I agree with Don Cherry when he said “I’ve known this kid since he was about 16 years old; Once a jerk, always a jerk”
But I dont think he quite plumbs the same depths as COTHO there, he’s just a douchebag.
Surely this must rate.
Excellent article Marko, LA deserves a good kicking on his way down.
It has been said that sport’s greatest problems come when people take it too seriously. The LA story surely proves that to be correct.
In contrast to LA, Mark Cavendish has been quoted as saying – “I never wanted all of this (fame and fortune), I just wanted to go out and ride my bike”. Sheer class.
@Harminator
Exactly ….. absolute joke …… bordering on race fixing …….. liar, liar, pants on fire
@Marko
Gee I wonder what would have happened if Tom Boonen had launched an attack to get away and then taken a wrong turn up some suburban street… that could have been the V and anti-V moment in one.
But nobody would be that stupid would they? Not with signposts and arrows on every friggin corner of the main fucking road.
Of course if they were then the bitterness of being beaten to the finish would probably eat away at them for months, like rust corroding a shiny steel frame from the inside… I guess, I mean I can’t really comment. It’s so hypothetical.
@ChrisO
Jesus, you mean I am not the only person who took a wrong turn? I missed the turn in the town of Hem after finishing the pave’ section and added abefore three k before I realized my mistake. Talk about hitting the wall and dying. I did not even realize that I had left the route until all of a sudden I was all alone and there were no markers. Painful!
@strathlubnaig
Yup