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.
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Oh wow, I completely forgot about the "but I didn't call her fat," discussion. WHAT?!!! Even as someone who puts his foot in his mouth often, then just might make things worse by trying to explain them, I couldn't believe this.
A friend or uncle or someone pulled me aside long, long ago and said, "Whatever you do, no matter how innocent you think it might be, NEVER, EVER bring up weight with a woman."
Maybe as the world's greatest cyclist who just knew he was going to win the Tour, he felt he was allowed to...
@Sauterelle
Love it! +1
@Marko
I did think that exchange, perhaps petty as it was, allowed #Doprah (without a doubt the best hashtag of the evening) to really get at the way the COTHO operates and views things - he said yes I called her a bitch and jealous, but I never called her fat and Oprah responded with something to the effect of 'So that's how you see things then? if one part isn't exactly as it was, the whole thing is false even if the other parts are 100% accurate'. From a legal prospective that may work for you, but in the court of public opinion you may as well just hang yourself.
@Sauterelle
Well, I apologize for posting that. Maybe someone can remove it. »
Having lost my mother to cancer (Pancreatic) in 2012 and now nearly 5 years cancer free, I did not find the fun in the Takei post but was gratified by the community's reaction and your truly sincere apology.
Thank you to all.
@Buck Rogers
Doping, motors in the frame and now a magic carpet. What's next?
Not seen the 'interview' though it is Sky+'d and on 'series link'. Not likely that I will bother now, no need to other than to see if he is sitting there stroking a fluffy white pussy...
@Marko Look at the expression on Cav's face at he end - pure annoyance and exasperation about being asked about Lance, Lance, Lance. Cav has a mouth for sure and I dare say he's a wee bit of a PR nightmare in his unpredictability, but in this case it was justified.
Press release from the UCI:
The UCI welcomes Lance Armstrong's decision finally to come clean and to confess to using performance enhancing drugs, in the first part of his interview with Oprah Winfrey.
UCI President Pat McQuaid said: "Lance Armstrong's decision finally to confront his past is an important step forward on the long road to repairing the damage that has been caused to cycling and to restoring confidence in the sport.
"Lance Armstrong has confirmed there was no collusion or conspiracy between the UCI and Lance Armstrong. There were no positive tests which were covered up and he has confirmed that the donations made to the UCI were to assist in the fight against doping.
"It was disturbing to watch him describe a litany of offences including among others doping throughout his career, leading a team that doped, bullying, consistently lying to everyone and producing a backdated medical prescription to justify a test result.
"However, Lance Armstrong also rightly said that cycling is a completely different sport today than it was 10 years ago. In particular the UCI's introduction of the biological passport in 2008 - the first sports federation to do so - has made a real difference in the fight against doping.
"Finally, we note that Lance Armstrong expressed a wish to participate in a truth and reconciliation process, which we would welcome."-http://www.uci.ch
So because COTHO all the sudden "quits lying"(*snark*), Pat and pals have decided that his testimony let's them off the hook? Fuck them too............
@scaler911 To summarize the UCI statement, "Whew! Nothing more to see here folks, let's all move on, ok?" Wow. So Fat Pat says a confirmed liar has said nothing untoward happened so let's take that as gospel truth? FFS. Also, Cycling is a completely different sport today than it was 10 years ago. Yeah? well 89 was different from 99 and 79 was different from 89 etc, etc. Put Nicole Cooke in charge of the UCI and we might see some progress.
Merckx to that. Fuck them.
Recent issue of some trade magazine I pay way too much for, but fits nicely in the basket in front of the toilet, had an article about trying to find an economic model for bike racing. Espoused were ways to keep traditional access avaialble: fans can stand by the side of the road, buy beer and get piss drunk, cheer their heroes and get sold advertizing when they do. Others have tried selling VIP access and others suggest an attempt to monetize TV coverage, making "reality TV" out of pro cycing.
It is all bullshit. Truth of the matter is that professional bike racing for monetary gain is a failed economic enterprise. As one of my fencing team mates said so eloquently after hearing about COTHO, "so now the world can go bak to not giving a shit about cycling?" Yeah. How well we know being participants in a very niche sport; one that can never be anywhere near as exciting to the spectators as it is to the participants.
Bike racing is about participation. See the article about the selection equation. If your ass hasn't been on a bike, and you've not heard that little Voice say, "dude. you could go faster, your know?" you likely can't appreciate the product so many people are trying to sell. OTOH, wacth an NFL game. This is a gladiatorial contest through and through. Seeing large men hit each other in ways that can kill them makes instant entertainment. Same for NASCAR - most people drive cars like that themselves (and I mean that both ways.) Those are easy to monetize.
Cycling and bike racing are for the participants. We ride. Fuck the UCI. I will never, ever hold a USAC license. Had a one day license to try it, and it was...uninteresting and scary to me. Fuck USAC. Fuck ASO. Fuck Tailwind and the rest of these assholes trying to make money off the hard work of people they've duped into dedicating their lives to making money for their masters.
VLVV.