I AM thankful this Thanksgiving season. I have a loving wife, the health at 50 years old to let me go beat myself to a pulp and race cross every weekend, no personal issues or other crisis to bring me down. All in all a great life right now, and I am quite content. I am also thankful I am comfortable enough in my own suck-itude as a bike racer to not get tied up in the Pro-Wanna-Be life. It seems to get you into a place where one does things you must know are FAR from right.
I've not been much for paying much attention to the "Big Stars" of cycling in the last 10+ years. In my early bike racing career, I did follow the pros (usually the "lesser" underdog types...) like so many. Then later on, I lost interest in them, just too far removed from the world I know to make much of a connection. Sadly, I kind of replaced that admiration to the pros with a more localized version. I saw some of the local masters riders as more "human" people, ones I could actually see (briefly..) in a race, and could get a true appreciation for their talents by lining up and getting my rear handed to me by "Working Stiff" riders of a more down to earth level. I've Joked about getting on EPO, both with friends and even on this blog. I've joked with friends about those guys at the front of these local "masters" races as needing to get drug tested. Sat & compiled our list of "suspects" needing testing over beers. Never did I really think it might really be needed.
I don't Know this guy. Nor do I care. I only know what I've seen in the press, and frankly, if this is the best story you can come up with after being busted for buying Performance Enhancing Drugs online, I can't see you as being any better than the legion of big-time pro dopers who try and whine their way out of being caught. At least the other 45+ guy in Michigan busted in the same way had the PROFESSIONAL-ISIM to come clean, admit his errors, and even explain why he did it. Lots of people are on the cusp of being a "Pro" bike racer. Pro means a lot more than what color your bar tape is or how fast you ride. It reflects your approach to what is now a job. Based on the story so far, one of three things happened here
1 - Bought & used PEDs for own use
2 - Knowingly Helped teammates buy PEDs
3 - Cluelessly allowed teammates to use your identity to buy PEDs.
None of these are Pro. All are stupid. No matter what really happened, it's just one more black eye to the sport I love & Enjoy so much. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Happy Thanksgiving from you.
I am going to go race my sorry, slow, clean ass this weekend. I'll still have fun. You will not.
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