The Big Dope

Okay...I didn't really comment on the Tour de France too much because I don't care a whole lot. If you think baseball is a dirty sport, you haven't watched cycling. But the story of Floyd Landis was pretty inspiring...a man overcoming a degenerative hip disorder to win the Tour and keep the championship in the United States. Of course, it pales in comparison to Lance Armstrong's seven championships. Anyway...

Yesterday the reports started that "someone" tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in the Tour. And, of course it didn't take lone before that "someone" was identified as Landis. Naturally, as if by instinct, Landis denies doping. And, well, I don't know if he did or not...I'm definitely not indicting him here. But, as far as the world is concerned, he's guilty no matter what Test B says.

Personally, I don't care all that much. I figure whatever Landis was doing, everyone else riding a bike in France was doing the same (call it Baseball/Steroid mentality). I don't think cycling will ever be cleaned up. Even with the suspensions passed down before the start of the Tour, the temptation to cheat is too high. Additionally, several of the "supplements" these guys are using can't really be tested for.

If Landis is stripped of his championship, there is no assurance the second place guy wasn't just as dirty. And third and so on. Cycling is just a dirty, dirty sport and it's going to take a long time before anyone looks at it any differently.