PhatmonB6

I know I have not been posting much trumpet related stuff.....but I have always admired Lance with all that he has been thru..cancer and winning 7? tour de frances in a row. So he retires and this happens:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc

Manny Laureano

Don't be too quick to judge, I caution. They tried to accuse Lance of something that didn't hold up last time, remember? Also, testosterone is something that does increase with athletic work. I have to question why all these things seem to come out AFTER Americans win this race. Don't they test before? Why now? Are they intimating he shoots up testosterone during the race?

I'll assume innocence before proof of guilt. I may have to eat my words but I'm willing to take the chance. I don't trust the guys administering the test. The timing doesn't smell right.

ML

PhatmonB6

Yes Manny ,what gets me is the testing DURING the race...should they not have tested before the race? IF the participant tests positve then he does not participate plain and simple...testing after the race?.....what good does that do....kinda like pulling the trigger and saying I did not do it....anyways I do miss hearing Armstrongs name mentioned when the tour deFrance comes around. For him it was like taking candy from a baby...and if he did not retire I could easily seeing him win the next two with no problemo. I sometimes think he retired just to break the monotiny and give someone else a chance...I honestly mean that.

ROGERIO

Testing is done in 2 ways. Riders are all tested randomly throughout the year and winners are tested after each race. To test every rider before a race is way too costly. Another point that is often ignored is that tests are very specific in nature. They only test for X. If a rider is now on Z, then the X test does not reveil anything but possibly abnormalities (from Z). Very specific or too broad.

Lance... Well, I'm a great admirer and have followed his career since he was a "fat" racer with a tri body (big muscles). I admire him even more for knowing when to step away. There's a good chance his record will stand for years to come. He retired at the right time.

No, it was not like "taking candy from a babe". He may have made it look that way, but much like our "sport" of trumpet playing... it takes a lot of prep and hard, hard work to make it look easy. During the spring, Lance would train (mostly just him and Bruyneel) in the Alps for weeks... often blocked by snow. If you were to follow his TdF wins closely you would see that his victories did not come easy. There were many occasions he struggled and then overcame.

ML is right on Floyd...we will see once the dust settles.


FYI... all just commentary...

PhatmonB6

S he failed 2nd test who would the title go to now? Does Lance still retain untill the next TDF?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060805/..._landis_doping

Manny Laureano

Wouldn't it go to whomever came in second (assuming he doesn't beat this rap)?

Too bad if it's true... with all the hype about using illegal substances why would any athlete in his right mind take the chance knowing full well that he'll get caught? That's why I didn't want to believe it: because it would be too easy to get caught, so why take the chance?

ML

Vulgano Brother

Know any musicians that take beta-blockers for stage fright? Drink coffee to stay awake? The issue is one of "fair play" for the judges and fans, and "performance enhancement" for the athletes. Maybe these guys who get caught are chasing the dream so hard and so fast that they'll fall into what we might call temporary insanity.
Do these guys do the wrong thing? Heck yeah! Should we feel a little pity for them? A little, yeah. But I feel especially sorry for the "runners up," the ones who missed out on the glory and honor and euphoria and applause and champagne they rightfully deserved.