"Steroids are as american as apple pie".
From the documentary Bigger Stronger Faster. The hole thing (not only the trailer) is availabe on Youtube.
Last edited by 100LL; 24-08-2012 at 03:16 PM.
To deny there is any interesting juxtaposition between those two cases is absurd. Shiwen wasn't that unknown in China. The fact that Armstrong is well known in the West is all the more interesting. No massive PR machine can now so convincingly argue that Armstrong was innocent. Yet they still go on and on about what a great guy Armstrong is. Ha, and among some circles in the Western press, they almost pronounced the guilt of Shiwen already.
I doubt it, but that doesn't change my point. And I have yet to hear any American opinion pieces condemning Armstrong.
Have the Chinese gone after high profile Chinese athlete in the same manner as the USADA after Armstrong? I don't recall any cases like that of Armstrong in China. Nevertheless, here we are with much more solid proof on Armstrong yet strangely no huge condemnation of him in the Western press.
Last edited by Watercooler; 24-08-2012 at 03:23 PM.
Sure it is and as I said, many other sports are in bad shape but cycling is not really dealing with it as much as we think.
If they were really dealing with it many more things would have changed in 15 years
They are dealing with it the same way (I chose an outrageous example on purpose) as the americans are dealing with guns.
It's in the open, every now and then there is some sort of action but that is about it.
The problem is no one can really deal with it because the way you deal with this would trigger huge financial losses and they all live (officials..) from cycling..so they ain't going to cut their own branches...
There is too much money in cycling (and in money other sports) to bring doping down.
It's a sad fact but that is what it is.
keep in mind the press release was from Thursday night, so the UCI may be preparing a statement at the moment...they've back this scumbag up til now, but now with the overwhelming evidence against him, so much so that even he had to fly the white flag, they might change their stance..wait and see...in any event, I would agree that I really don't care where or not they're doping, just don't come across as some white-than-white hero to the people...under current rules, you're just another cheater, Lance (tho a damn good one!)
another reason for the sympathy (or percieved apathy) in the American press and public is that they've backed him and adored him for so long, wouldn't they all look like fools now that he's been exposed? so better to pivot towards his great charity work and victory over cancer, and minimize the gory details of his career of cheating...
Last edited by anothercanuck; 24-08-2012 at 03:34 PM.
Last edited by Watercooler; 24-08-2012 at 03:35 PM.
I have to wonder how Floyd Landis is feeling at the moment...on the one hand, there must be a lot of satisfaction at seeing Armstrong burn after Landis tried and failed to bring him down...and yet, seeing all the support Armstrong is getting as the fallen hero in the US, while Landis was crucified from the start...that's got to sting...