EZRider

Where, on this thread, has blame been laid at only one man's door? Which contributor here stated that LA was the only, or even the most culpable, of the cheats? The OP expressed his shock at learning the truth after reading Hamilton's book. Why then are there posts stating, it's only LA. It starts to seem as if LA apologists need to blame others. There are many guilty parties here but what many of us find shocking, myself included, is the extent to which LA clean image was false. No one was really amazed when Vino was bust, or Ricco, but LA's guilt is shocking to most (except maybe Peta and the colonol).

He isn't satan. You did not defend him per say but each and every LA dope thread has a variation of your post. Basically goes like this: He isn't the only one. They all did it. What makes you surmise we don't know that. Makes your posts, plural, pretty meaningless.

You are correct, except that this "riling"happens on all the LA dope threads. Life is unfair. He was the biggest star and will attract the most of the dumping. Fairness? Really? That's what you are worried about? The world is being unfair to Lance by dumping it all in his doorstep? I feel so sorry for the multi million dollar hero adored by millions because he is being unfairly treated because he was not the only and perhaps not even the biggest cheat... Oh my goodness! It's not that we are naive... It's just that burning one witch actually means that there is one less witch.

This thread isn't about the others. Why is it that you continuously justify his actions by insisting that others did the same? You are missing the point. There were cyclists that did not dope and they are the ones that were hard done by. What is it about LA that makes you defend him like this? Is it the inherent unfairness of others receiving less negative attention or lighter sentences? If so then: seriously???? Fairness???? For one of the biggest cheats of all time? Is it the good he has done. Cancer good? Okay. Cycling good? All broken now. Good deeds never excuse bad ones. That's a slippery moral slope that leads to disaster. Or is it that you were just taken by his square jaw and American promise? Hypocrisy at the highest level. He is a bad man. The sooner you realise that the sooner you will stop posting on LA doper threads with "they all did it" bollocks. They didn't all do it. Only the successful ones did. That's why we are so peed off!

Lance has done more damage to pro cycling in the last week than all the others put together. Rabobank, one of the biggest, oldest sponsors of women's, Pro Tour and MTB teams has left the sport. What have I done that Lance did on his worst day? Easier for me to tell you what I haven't done: cheated other honest athletes out of their wages and careers, bullied and blackmailed my competitors and team mates, lied to my fans, been a clean cut, confident and completely fake public figure espousing a cause that is so noble none would dare question me. To sum up: a liar, a cheat and a fraud. You are right, he will be remembered, but the memory will be forever soiled by his lies. Remember that guy who won a whole lot of TdF's but then... there will always be the BUT. It's a pity. He was a great cyclist and he probably would have won clean, especially if there wasn't a culture of doping. A culture he didn't create but one he helped perfect and entrench. He was so good at it he has people like you, people he has never even met, jumping up and down and going "yay Lance".

I can't wait for the tour! Wiggins/Froome vs Contador, JRod promising to try and put the hurt on and a resurgent Andy wanting to show he has more balls than LA. It's going to be awesome. First the Giro and that will be even better. The he doped/didn't dope game is for WADA to sort out afterwards and the we can look forward to more 150 + page threads on the Hub

Dangle, was just a lame and tongue in cheek reference to your spat with Fitzy on this thread. Nothing more meant by it. Cheers.

I guess.

He must have some level of charisma, didn't see you lot arguing the case for Vino, Contador, Ulrich, Ricco or... anyone else bust for being a cheat.

No, just thought the two of them have been getting closer...

Ask Dangle...

Heroes are fun, fallen heroes better. Too much zen takes the giggle out of life.

Oops.

That Goya dude with the clapping emoticons.

I feel foolish enough...

I just did. Sorry. It's Friday. Let's take the day off...

@ Dracs: No insult meant.

Thinking for yourself doesn't seem to be working then... To clarify: You inferred the others were weak to be influenced by Lance into doping. Are you surprised he was able to influence people? He is a cheat, a liar and a fraud and yet there are a host of supporters on the Hub crying foul and asking: why him? what about the others? it isn't fair? let the past be the past? he has helped people! Look past what is or isn't happening to others and see his infringement for what it is. Ask yourself about the rights of athletes that refuse to cheat, athletes with integrity. That would add weight to your "I can think for myself" statement. Has that helped?

He is managing to influence you, someone whose name he doesn't even know living across an ocean in a place he doesn't care about. The rules are the same for everyone. He chose not to participate precisely to continue to hold influence over people he doesn't know living far away.

Wasn't there a retirement in 2005?

Usada claim they would only have enforced the stripping of two titles had he appeared at arbitration.

I hope this Dredd is worth watching. The Stallone version almost ruined 2000 AD for me. As for boring, the frailty of the contenders during the Vuelta made it the most exciting ever. Maybe they weren't clean but they sure were cleaner!

You burn the witches you can catch. The statute of limitations protacts some and empty podiums arent the end of the world.

You are upset because some were punished more than other? Some had more glory than others, got more out of cheating than anyone else. Life isn't fair. Funny thing is, had he chosen to partake in the proceedings the life ban would not have been enforced and only two titles would have been stripped... His own ego betrayed him this time.

It isn't about the past or punishing LA or Bruyneel or even about us and how we relate to idols fallen or otherwise. Only a supreme egoist would think so. It's about protecting current and future athletes. Cyclists who chose not to dope could not compete and their careers were terminated or who did speak up at the time and had their careers terminated by the system. I can understand why Hincapie didn't do a Floyd or Hamilton, those guys were crucified for speaking up even though they did so after being caught. To stop the doping the system has to hunt witches, even politically connected and powerful witches, and burn them at the stake. Knowing that you might be nailed, even the future, may prevent you from cheating now. Look at the triathlon he did last week, was he clean? Was it fair to some aspiring champ who is clean? He isn't bigger than the sport. Burn him to clean out the rot. Go, Goyagoya, go.