Things I’m Thankful For

Seeing as today is Thanksgiving, it’s good time to reflect on the things I have to be thankful for, such as:

I’m thankful that my life is not nearly as closely scrutinized as the average pro cyclist. Who would want to live under the constant shroud of suspicion that the anti-doping agencies appear to have about the whole sport? As a group, they seem to approach the subject of doping in cycling as a matter of when we catch you, not if. The underlying assumption being that everyone is doing it.

I‘m thankful that I don’t have to endure what Floyd Landis is enduring just to clear his name and perhaps return to the world of pro cycling, which given his recent interview with Bryant Gumbel is clearly a world he loves. To have that taken away must hurt Floyd more than he could possibly say. And speaking of Bryant Gumbel …

I’m thankful I don’t have to be interviewed by someone who, while presenting a fairly balanced interview, blew it in a couple of instances. Yeah, this is the journalist in me nitpicking again. At one point, Gumbel looked straight into the camera and said Floyd had too much testosterone in his system on Stage 17. Bryant, check your facts. Not too much testosterone, too large a T/E ratio. There’s a big difference. If you want to learn more Mr. Gumbel, might I suggest reading this.

Gumbel also allowed Dick Pound to make his points unchallenged. In fact, I’m not even sure where that clip of Pound came from. Gumbel wasn’t in the picture, and there was no back and forth between the reporter and Pound. As tough as he was on Landis, he should have been tough on Pound. Instead, Pound was able to affect the air of a reasonable person, which we know from his many pronouncements is not the case.

One question that should have been asked: Mr. Pound, as the head of WADA, isn’t it your job to ensure that the system runs properly and to ensure that the process is fair in its treatment of the athletes? By your many public statements, it seems like you are presuming Landis to be guilty before all the facts are in.

Pound’s segment was put in to balance the story, but it should have been handled better. But all-in-all, it was a reasonably balanced interview. I certainly haven’t seen any better (which is only because the Stade 2 interview won’t run on my Mac for some odd reason).

I’m thankful that you come and read this blog. The web is a wonderful place that allows people to publish their opinions, even if they don’t work for the mainstream media. It’s the essence of free speech. I’m glad I live in a place where one can speak freely without fear that the government will put you away in the gulag. Rant Your Head Off would be here whether or not anyone came to look, but it’s nice to have regular readers who add many thoughtful comments and corrections to my posts.

I’m thankful for three extra years with my dad. Despite Kaiser Permanente’s best efforts to kill him in 2003, we managed to get my dad referred to Johns Hopkins. The surgeons and oncologists at Hopkins did great work, and for most of the his last three years, my dad had a good life. Treatment was tough at times, but he kept up his spirits and was strong. If you’re looking for a great place for cancer treatment, Hopkins can’t be beat. Especially if you’re looking for pancreatic cancer treatment. They’ve got the leading experts in the world.

Most of all, I’m thankful for the love and support of my wife, our two besnouted-Americans (Siberian Huskies) Alex and Icy, and the rest of my family and friends. That’s what’s important in life. Not what car you drive or where you live or what toys you own. Without the love and support of friends and family, what else is there?

And now, I need to go tend to a turkey smoking away in the backyard grill. I hope eveyone has a happy and joyous Thanksgiving.