Good morning. Black Friday for sure for Vino and crew. But you know what they say, money talks and bullshit walks. Anyone in the World Tour or Congress would agree, I think. Vino’s wallet might be a little light with crude prices down. But then the Saudis want them pesky oil shale fields shut down. Too much oil, even poor quality, upsets the nature of things.
Wow, I am cynical today. Must be time for a ride to the ranch.
“These young guys are crazy if they don’t realize doping has no place in cycling,” Vinokourov said, adding, “I mean, who do they think I are? Me in the ’90s?”
Ya can’t make this s__t up, as they say. Mr. Cookson’s operation has a chance here to make a U-turn from the corrupt ol’ days of Mr. Mars and The Mad Hatter. But I’m betting they won’t, fearing some legal moves might thwart their effort to pull the license of this team. ASO showed some cojones when they told Astana to take July 2008 off, but Vino and Co. seemed to not have learned any lessons. I think they oughta tell ’em to take July 2015 off as well…and while they’re at it. go ahead and skip the other events promoted by ASO too.
Like I said, money talks…….. Maybe if the teams and riders had more financial skin in the game, and sway over the calendars and routes, the incentive to dope would be less. But that might require a rider’s union, and we can’t have that. Who do they think they are, employees? Rights? You don’t need no stinking rights!
I guess you will all have to excuse my growing cynicism. In another story about someone in high places being “shocked, shocked, to find out that frat boys are abusing women”, the President of the University of Virginia has now “expressed rage after reading of an alleged rape by seven fraternity members in 2012.” Those nice boys, according to the victim, finished off their fun by raping her with a beer bottle after each had their turn. According to a Rolling Stones article, the university administration actively discouraged reporting since, of course, it wouldn’t look so good for the school. Your winnings, Captain Renault?
Me, cynical? I think the women’s studies program at U of VA should have free showings of Sudden Impact for its co-eds, if you get my drift.
Doping is still endemic in racing–who can really be surprised anymore? The fact that a smug cynic like B. Riis can continue to prosper in ‘pro’ racing is proof that the UCI is still akin to FIFA and is slow to change its wicked ways.
Mr. 60% is certainly one of my least favorite personalities in pro cycling. I think it started for me when he whined “we should have raced” after the go-slow day on the Tour following Fabio Casartelli’s death. Watching his moto (he was on the back) swerve in front of a rider from an opposing team during the Giro years later was another classless move. But if all the cheaters were banned guys like Vaughters would also be casualties….and I hate to see a guy who seems to be trying to clean things up get swept away with the trash…though in the end it might be worth it?
Mad Blog Media 
Good morning. Black Friday for sure for Vino and crew. But you know what they say, money talks and bullshit walks. Anyone in the World Tour or Congress would agree, I think. Vino’s wallet might be a little light with crude prices down. But then the Saudis want them pesky oil shale fields shut down. Too much oil, even poor quality, upsets the nature of things.
Wow, I am cynical today. Must be time for a ride to the ranch.
C. Douglas McMillion told me the same thing. “We help people save money so they can live better.”
Ah, Jaysis, it is depressing, isn’t it? This is one reason why I don’t miss drawing cartoons for Velo. Different actors, same old movie.
But the ride definitely helped. That, and 73 degrees on the patio with a beer and a book. At least the bastards are getting any of my money, I think?
Aren’t. Shit. But, I loved the Darth Vader thing!!!
LMAO! Russ
“These young guys are crazy if they don’t realize doping has no place in cycling,” Vinokourov said, adding, “I mean, who do they think I are? Me in the ’90s?”
Dude should move to the States and run for Congress. He’d fit right in, no?
Again….even those who read/study history are doomed to repeat it!
Or is it: “Dope springs eternal!”
Ya can’t make this s__t up, as they say. Mr. Cookson’s operation has a chance here to make a U-turn from the corrupt ol’ days of Mr. Mars and The Mad Hatter. But I’m betting they won’t, fearing some legal moves might thwart their effort to pull the license of this team. ASO showed some cojones when they told Astana to take July 2008 off, but Vino and Co. seemed to not have learned any lessons. I think they oughta tell ’em to take July 2015 off as well…and while they’re at it. go ahead and skip the other events promoted by ASO too.
Here’s what Roger Legeay at MPCC has to say. Indication of things to come re: Astana’s WorldTour license?
In other news, we hear that insider trading has no place on Wall Street.
Khal: Do I detect a slight subliminal undertone of cynicism here? Or, as I prefer to call it, is it “enlightened, experienced pragmatism”? 🙂
Then there’s this
http://cyclingtips.com.au/2014/11/project-avignon-becomes-velon-as-top-teams-combine-as-new-stakeholder-group/
where it seems a newly formed corporation plans to fix all the ills of pro cycling while mentioning NOTHING about the continuing doping scandals. Kind of like……….Wall Street?
Like I said, money talks…….. Maybe if the teams and riders had more financial skin in the game, and sway over the calendars and routes, the incentive to dope would be less. But that might require a rider’s union, and we can’t have that. Who do they think they are, employees? Rights? You don’t need no stinking rights!
As we all know, shit rolls downhill, and the riders are definitely living in the valley.
Khal, it was all coincidental – honestly. Who could have thought?
I guess you will all have to excuse my growing cynicism. In another story about someone in high places being “shocked, shocked, to find out that frat boys are abusing women”, the President of the University of Virginia has now “expressed rage after reading of an alleged rape by seven fraternity members in 2012.” Those nice boys, according to the victim, finished off their fun by raping her with a beer bottle after each had their turn. According to a Rolling Stones article, the university administration actively discouraged reporting since, of course, it wouldn’t look so good for the school. Your winnings, Captain Renault?
Me, cynical? I think the women’s studies program at U of VA should have free showings of Sudden Impact for its co-eds, if you get my drift.
Me, cynical? Nah, but this is.
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/cover-story-2014-12-08
Doping is still endemic in racing–who can really be surprised anymore? The fact that a smug cynic like B. Riis can continue to prosper in ‘pro’ racing is proof that the UCI is still akin to FIFA and is slow to change its wicked ways.
Mr. 60% is certainly one of my least favorite personalities in pro cycling. I think it started for me when he whined “we should have raced” after the go-slow day on the Tour following Fabio Casartelli’s death. Watching his moto (he was on the back) swerve in front of a rider from an opposing team during the Giro years later was another classless move. But if all the cheaters were banned guys like Vaughters would also be casualties….and I hate to see a guy who seems to be trying to clean things up get swept away with the trash…though in the end it might be worth it?