I was going to let sleeping dogs lie, but when I read this article at Cyclingnews.com, I couldn’t pass it up. The article quotes an attorney for Lance that implies that USADA and big tobacco are in cohootes to bring down Lance. The article states that one of Lance’s lawyers, Timothy Herman, sent a letter to USADA’s General Councel, William Bock, that among other things states, It points to an impending “farce” with the release of the USADA report “written by USADA with the significant assistance of lawyers from one of Big Tobacco’s favorite law firms at a time when Lance Armstrong is one of America’s leading anti-tobacco advocates.

I don’t even know where to start here. I guess it would have to be with what happened to Lance’s “move on” catch phrase. Here it is in case you missed it. “Yeah, others won’t move on. It’s sad. I’m aware that it’s out there. It’s like, why are you continuing? You got what you wanted; Lance Armstrong never did anything in his life. Great. For some, it’s like, shouldn’t you be out training and focusing on what you’re doing? Fucking move on. So strange.” I guess Tim missed the memo.

Then 2nd, it would be that I thought he was done defending and particpiting in this silliness. Maybe no one is paying this Tim Herman guy and he is just sending letters out on his own. But, the article does state that he is an attorney for Lance, so that seems a little ridiculous.

And third, where do they come up with this shit? Can you imagine a bunch of high paid attorneys sitting around, strategizing, and coming up with this spin? Let’s tie USADA in with big tobacco and make it seem that big tobacco is behind this since Lance is “a leading anti-tobacco advocate”?

I’m not an expert on Lance Armstrong, and I realize that smoking and cancer go hand in hand, but I wouldn’t call Lance a leading anti-tobacco advocate. I’m not sure who I would call that. It is readily known that smoking is not good for people. And that 2nd hand smoke is bad too. I’ve never seen Lance do a commercial on anti-tobacco. I’ve seen the new anti-smoking commercials, but it is usually a sick, dying person that shows the ill effects of a life time of smoking. No elite athletes that I’ve seen yet.

Even the most stanch Lance supporter has to realize this idea was asinine. This is all going to be moot when the USADA evidence is released. It just amazes me the extent that these guys will go to spin doctor the whole thing before the information is released. It’s not like Lance didn’t have a chance to defend himself originally. Public perception is important I guess. It doesn’t really matter much to me, but when you are down to grasping for straws, it might be all you have.

The news is coming out fast and furious. First we have the article at Cyclingnews.com that George Hincapie is admitting to doping, but not since 2006. In this article it states – “USADA confirmed in their statement that Hincapie and the other riders have been suspended and disqualified appropriately in line with the rules.”

Then we have this Velonews.com article that Sean Petty of USAC says – “In every previous doping case, USA Cycling has been informed by USADA and asked to suspend those riders. We are the body that would suspend riders, as they are licensees. They would tell us the terms of the suspension, as well as in the cases of riders with international licenses, they would also tell the UCI,” Petty told VeloNews. All I can tell you is that we also read USADA’s statement that the riders have been suspended, and at this point we have not been informed about any riders involved in this other than Lance Armstrong.”

But in the same article it has a quote by USADA’s Travis Tygart that says – “The riders who participated in the USPS Team doping conspiracy and truthfully assisted have been courageous in making the choice to stop perpetuating the sporting fraud, and they have suffered greatly. In addition to the public revelations, the active riders have been suspended and disqualified appropriately in line with the rules.”

Whatever the deal, I guess all these guys are getting a slap on the wrist. A 6 month suspension during the winter is total, complete, utter bullshit.