http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570 Always select Genuine Rant™ Brand. Everything else is just words. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:27:08 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47272 William Schart Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:46:40 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47272 I figured it was probably something like that. I never got into that, I figure I am too old. Many things younger people dig today do nothing for me. But then 40 or 50 years ago . . . The more things change, the more they're the same. Pretty cool t-shirt.
Pretty cool t-shirt.]]> http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47271 Jeff Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:11:16 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47271 "OK, I am probably woefully out of touch with modern culture, but the references to Officer Brady Barr go completely over my head." A: South Park on Comedy Central and a movie. (adult cartoon: I find it funny. It’s often sophomoric, sometimes reverts to potty humor (or worse), but frequently provides cutting edge social commentary for those able to filter) I seldom do this, but I agree with the total of the rest of your post. Here is a link to my favorite new olympic t-shirt: http://www.bustedtees.com/winterolympics
I seldom do this, but I agree with the total of the rest of your post.

Here is a link to my favorite new olympic t-shirt:
http://www.bustedtees.com/winterolympics]]> http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47270 William Schart Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:51:46 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47270 OK, I am probably woefully out of touch with modern culture, but the references to Officer Brady Barr go completely over my head. If the Olympics were ever at one time about world peace and brotherly love in a spirit of friendly competition, as they would like us to think, that time is long past. There is really only one thing the Olympics are about any more and that is money. I wish that cycling, for one sport, would tell the IOC to go take a hike and leave the Olympics behind. After all, cycling has its annual world championships. At one time, when cycling was a very minor niche sport here in the US, there was perhaps some value, as cycling could point to its status as an "Olympic Sport" when looking for some sort of support, like getting the cops to close off a few blocks for the local crit or whatever. But I think even here cycling has progressed to the point where it can stand on its own, in part thanks to the exploits of people like the 84 Olympic team, Lance, and yes, even Greg. I see where the Olympics is doing away with the pursuit, one of my favorite track events and one with a long history. My guess is that it is not considered to be a big draw, especially for TV. $$ rules again. Why should cycling modify to please the IOC?
If the Olympics were ever at one time about world peace and brotherly love in a spirit of friendly competition, as they would like us to think, that time is long past. There is really only one thing the Olympics are about any more and that is money. I wish that cycling, for one sport, would tell the IOC to go take a hike and leave the Olympics behind. After all, cycling has its annual world championships. At one time, when cycling was a very minor niche sport here in the US, there was perhaps some value, as cycling could point to its status as an “Olympic Sport” when looking for some sort of support, like getting the cops to close off a few blocks for the local crit or whatever. But I think even here cycling has progressed to the point where it can stand on its own, in part thanks to the exploits of people like the 84 Olympic team, Lance, and yes, even Greg. I see where the Olympics is doing away with the pursuit, one of my favorite track events and one with a long history. My guess is that it is not considered to be a big draw, especially for TV. $$ rules again. Why should cycling modify to please the IOC?]]> http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47269 Rant Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:37:03 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47269 William, Thanks for the link to that article. Nice to see a story like that in a mainstream publication. Very balanced, from how I read it. Good to see someone else raising the question of whether or not WADA and its minions have gone too far in their pursuit of cheaters. Jeff, No need to be gun shy. Every news organization, freelancer, and even some of us bloggers make mistakes sometimes. I just hope CyclingNews learned something in the process.
Thanks for the link to that article. Nice to see a story like that in a mainstream publication. Very balanced, from how I read it. Good to see someone else raising the question of whether or not WADA and its minions have gone too far in their pursuit of cheaters.

Jeff,

No need to be gun shy. Every news organization, freelancer, and even some of us bloggers make mistakes sometimes. I just hope CyclingNews learned something in the process.]]> http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47268 Jeff Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:46:34 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47268 After my Cycling News/CAS cite, I worry about accuracy & Cycling News and have grown a bit gun shy as a result, but here is a partial answer wrt Floyd: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/landis-wins-bahamas-time-trial and http://neilbrowne.com/2010/01/floyd-landis-nails-time-trial-at-the-tour-of-bahamas/ Thank you William Schart for the link to the Outside Magazine article. It seemed well balanced. The quotes from Travesty Tygart, especially as they relate to Zach Lund are a dead ringer for Officer Barr Brady. Love the WADA cover-up of finasteride never being a "masking agent" (for anything but baldness) and denying Zach Lund any redress. (Another Barr Brady moment: "Move along people, nothing to see here") I think "Bob Stewart, a sports-and-doping expert at Australia's Victoria University", has it right. WADA, and its affiliates, work in a East German-esque Stasi like manner. It disturbs me that governments reported to be non-totalitarian, like the USA and Australia, have so easily been convinced to give near totalitarian control/power over their athletes to an international bully organization, originally created to cover the IoC's filthy backside so that the money will continue to flow in. Boycott anything to do with the olympics. All it does is screw up the scheduling of an otherwise excellent Alpine World Cup season and give some sort of false hope to athletes like Lund, who get the stage for a few moments every four years. I admire how Lindsey Vonn skis, but the olympic commercials of her, Ohno, and Belbin singing the praises of the olympic (bowel) movement are nauseating. YMMV. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/landis-wins-bahamas-time-trial
and
http://neilbrowne.com/2010/01/floyd-landis-nails-time-trial-at-the-tour-of-bahamas/

Thank you William Schart for the link to the Outside Magazine article. It seemed well balanced. The quotes from Travesty Tygart, especially as they relate to Zach Lund are a dead ringer for Officer Barr Brady. Love the WADA cover-up of finasteride never being a “masking agent” (for anything but baldness) and denying Zach Lund any redress. (Another Barr Brady moment: “Move along people, nothing to see here”)

I think “Bob Stewart, a sports-and-doping expert at Australia’s Victoria University”, has it right. WADA, and its affiliates, work in a East German-esque Stasi like manner. It disturbs me that governments reported to be non-totalitarian, like the USA and Australia, have so easily been convinced to give near totalitarian control/power over their athletes to an international bully organization, originally created to cover the IoC’s filthy backside so that the money will continue to flow in.

Boycott anything to do with the olympics. All it does is screw up the scheduling of an otherwise excellent Alpine World Cup season and give some sort of false hope to athletes like Lund, who get the stage for a few moments every four years. I admire how Lindsey Vonn skis, but the olympic commercials of her, Ohno, and Belbin singing the praises of the olympic (bowel) movement are nauseating. YMMV.]]> http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47267 William Schart Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:20:50 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47267 There's an article in the current issue of Outside magazine, available here: http://outside.away.com/outside/culture/201001/zach-lund-wada-1.html on WADA. As the link suggests, it's largely based on Zach Lund and his case, but does mention some aspects on the Landis case too. Much of what it discusses has cropped up here and elsewhere in out discussions, but it is interesting to see these ideas crop up elsewhere. The general gist is questioning whether or not the WADA and subsidiaries are overly zealous and arrogant in pursuing doping, and whether it adversely impacts athletes' rights. Although the article made no specific conclusion on these, I thought that I read in between the lines the author was inclined to believe that WADA was in fact overly zealous, etc.
http://outside.away.com/outside/culture/201001/zach-lund-wada-1.html

on WADA. As the link suggests, it’s largely based on Zach Lund and his case, but does mention some aspects on the Landis case too. Much of what it discusses has cropped up here and elsewhere in out discussions, but it is interesting to see these ideas crop up elsewhere.

The general gist is questioning whether or not the WADA and subsidiaries are overly zealous and arrogant in pursuing doping, and whether it adversely impacts athletes’ rights. Although the article made no specific conclusion on these, I thought that I read in between the lines the author was inclined to believe that WADA was in fact overly zealous, etc.]]> http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47266 Jeff Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:37:04 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47266 Bye bye AFLD @ the 2010 TdF. http://in.reuters.com/article/worldOfSport/idINIndia-45632320100123 (~ 4 years too late) (don't let the door hit you in the backside on your way out) http://in.reuters.com/article/worldOfSport/idINIndia-45632320100123
(~ 4 years too late)
(don’t let the door hit you in the backside on your way out)]]> http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47265 Rant Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:30:31 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47265 Debby, No idea at this point. Rock Racing seems to be out at the moment, what with their difficulties securing a Pro Continental license and all. There are a couple of teams that I think Floyd would be a natural fit for, but it's hard to say whether those teams have the wherewithal to hire him. Times are pretty tight right now, and Floyd isn't the only pro out there without a contract. I'm hoping he finds a place, even if it's only on a domestic squad. But more to the point, I'm hoping that wherever he lands, he has fun racing and that he does well. William, I think you're pretty close to the mark there. It's possible he may land a position on some team, somewhere. There are certainly those who think that any publicity is good publicity, and an owner or team manager with that point of view might hire Floyd -- assuming that they have the budget to do so. Time will tell, I guess.
No idea at this point. Rock Racing seems to be out at the moment, what with their difficulties securing a Pro Continental license and all. There are a couple of teams that I think Floyd would be a natural fit for, but it’s hard to say whether those teams have the wherewithal to hire him. Times are pretty tight right now, and Floyd isn’t the only pro out there without a contract. I’m hoping he finds a place, even if it’s only on a domestic squad. But more to the point, I’m hoping that wherever he lands, he has fun racing and that he does well.

William,

I think you’re pretty close to the mark there. It’s possible he may land a position on some team, somewhere. There are certainly those who think that any publicity is good publicity, and an owner or team manager with that point of view might hire Floyd — assuming that they have the budget to do so. Time will tell, I guess.]]> http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47264 William Schart Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:08:07 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47264 Landis faces two potential problems in landing a berth: one, he is somewhat, rightly or wrongly, "damaged goods" with a tarnished reputation. Given the attitude that ASO, and possibly others, have regarding such riders in general, and Landis in particular, some teams may avoid him; two, his less than stellar season in 2009. Granted, there may be good reasons for lack of results that may not affect him, at least as much, in 2010, but still, had he obtained some good results in 2009, he would be in a stronger position. Still, he may land a position somewhere. His name is well-known and pro cycling teams exist for the purpose of bringing publicity for the sponsors. Some do thing that there is no such thing a bad publicity.
Still, he may land a position somewhere. His name is well-known and pro cycling teams exist for the purpose of bringing publicity for the sponsors. Some do thing that there is no such thing a bad publicity.]]> http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47263 Debby Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:42:30 +0000 http://rant-your-head-off.com/WordPress/?p=2570#comment-47263 Thank you for updating us on Floyd Landis. I am really hoping to see him on TV at the spring classics; hopefully it isn't too late for him to find another team. Any guesses as to one that would welcome him?