Basso to Liquigas

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Eldrack, I have mentioned this in a few other threads, but Basso has managed his public image very shrewdly here in Italy (at least). He continues to tell everyone he is not interested in any 'discounts on his suspension', that he made terrible mistakes, that all is he is interested in is racing. Complement this with regular interviews in major cyclng magazines and the Gazzetta, and then his charity work with Indian homeless children (big deal Italy) and regular magazine spreads on how much he loves training...

Of course, he is says his 'intention to dope' was a terrible mistake, a misjudgement. And that he will now put himself in the hands of trainers who will be able to follow him and test him regularly for anything and everything to help ensure he is riding clean.

Whether he is being honest or not is a different issue, but he is definitely talking the correct talk!and it probably helps that he's gorgeous http://cyclingforums.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

and it probably helps that he's gorgeous http://cyclingforums.com/images/smilies/cool.gifLet us just say he is not my type. But his sister is my type. I would love to... erm... never mind. She is very, very, very yummy.

sounds like Armstrong PR

Let us just say he is not my type. But his sister is my type. I would love to... erm... never mind. She is very, very, very yummy.doesn't do much for me tho.

But Basso looks at you with those gorgeous brown eyes and of course you believe he's now clean http://cyclingforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

sounds like Armstrong PRFair enough, had not thought of it that way. Well Ivan definitely looks up to Lance, so there you have it.

doesn't do much for me tho.

But Basso looks at you with those gorgeous brown eyes and of course you believe he's now clean http://cyclingforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
fake tits, no thanks

fake tits, no thanksIvan Basso has fake tits?

how does that help cycling? no really aerodynamic...

doesn't do much for me tho.

But Basso looks at you with those gorgeous brown eyes and of course you believe he's now clean http://cyclingforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gifOf course. Bruyneel is a closet gay. No wonder he made allowances for pretty Ivan... :D

What happened to cyclingheroes? He could give some valuable inside information on what is going on with the teams and their relation to UCI.
busy at races

[cyclingheroes is] busy at racesThat's no excuse. We should be his top priority. We are the Cycling Forums Mafia. Ignore us at your peril... :D

Of course. Bruyneel is a closet gay. No wonder he made allowances for pretty Ivan... :Ddamn - now it all makes sense.

Of course. Bruyneel is a closet gay. No wonder he made allowances for pretty Ivan... :DI'll echo Edie's sentiment. The efficacy of the "Bruyneel test" for whether a rider is clean or not makes perfect sense now. :D

Eldrack, I have mentioned this in a few other threads, but Basso has managed his public image very shrewdly here in Italy (at least). He continues to tell everyone he is not interested in any 'discounts on his suspension', that he made terrible mistakes, that all is he is interested in is racing. Complement this with regular interviews in major cyclng magazines and the Gazzetta, and then his charity work with Indian homeless children (big deal Italy) and regular magazine spreads on how much he loves training...

Of course, he is says his 'intention to dope' was a terrible mistake, a misjudgement. And that he will now put himself in the hands of trainers who will be able to follow him and test him regularly for anything and everything to help ensure he is riding clean.

Whether he is being honest or not is a different issue, but he is definitely talking the correct talk!

..............and whether we like it or not, Joe Public and the cycling industry allow good PR (doing work for charities etc etc) to mitigate the fact that all of these guys (Basso is only one of many) to cheat.


Good post PP.

..............and whether we like it or not, Joe Public and the cycling industry allow good PR (doing work for charities etc etc) to mitigate the fact that all of these guys (Basso is only one of many) to cheat.


Good post PP.Dude, we live in a society of forgiveness. He committed a 'crime' has been punished and now should be able to cycle. I think this is the basis of a fair and free society.

Any other solution is too extreme and would not be possible to run justly as it is impossible to catch all so life bans are just not plausible.

Dude, we live in a society of forgiveness. He committed a 'crime' has been punished and now should be able to cycle. I think this is the basis of a fair and free society.

Any other solution is too extreme and would not be possible to run justly as it is impossible to catch all so life bans are just not plausible.Except that protour rules of UCI say that he cannot ride for a pro-team for another 2 years. If they are not going to enforce that rule, then at least scrap it!

Dude, we live in a society of forgiveness. He committed a 'crime' has been punished and now should be able to cycle. I think this is the basis of a fair and free society.

Any other solution is too extreme and would not be possible to run justly as it is impossible to catch all so life bans are just not plausible.
Yes they should be forgiven, but considering it is VERY likely they will continue cheating it puts a very nasty look on their return. It is clear that when there is a crime for something, once you've served your punishment (what ever that be) you should be able to continue living/doing things the way you used to.

But let's take an example: a guy you know from work is sentenced to jail for two years for murder and then after the two years he returns to the same work place to work. Wouldn't you look at that guy differently? And if the guy is caught of pickpocketing someone, you'll surely look at him in a different way than if he hadn't. So that's one reason why many of us here take Basso's "purity" with a grain of salt. It's ok to let him race again (though actually he shouldn't ride in the ProTour) but it's just normal to be a bit suspicous about him.

He's done just what he needed to do: associate himself with all those good things such as helping children. That way the public especially in Italy forget his wrong doings pretty quickly and some even start to believe he just "attempted doping". Fortunately people more into cycling see straight through his trash talk. But it's questionable if a guy who still lies about his doping use is going to be honest when he comes back to cycling. And I am certain that the guys at Liquigas know very well what Basso has done in the past - and they still hired him. No is unethical or what...

Yes they should be forgiven, but considering it is VERY likely they will continue cheating it puts a very nasty look on their return. It is clear that when there is a crime for something, once you've served your punishment (what ever that be) you should be able to continue living/doing things the way you used to.

But let's take an example: a guy you know from work is sentenced to jail for two years for murder and then after the two years he returns to the same work place to work. Wouldn't you look at that guy differently? And if the guy is caught of pickpocketing someone, you'll surely look at him in a different way than if he hadn't. So that's one reason why many of us here take Basso's "purity" with a grain of salt. It's ok to let him race again (though actually he shouldn't ride in the ProTour) but it's just normal to be a bit suspicous about him.

He's done just what he needed to do: associate himself with all those good things such as helping children. That way the public especially in Italy forget his wrong doings pretty quickly and some even start to believe he just "attempted doping". Fortunately people more into cycling see straight through his trash talk. But it's questionable if a guy who still lies about his doping use is going to be honest when he comes back to cycling. And I am certain that the guys at Liquigas know very well what Basso has done in the past - and they still hired him. No is unethical or what...I defended you before against an ad hominem attack... but I probably won't be anymore. 80% of the peloton dope to varying degrees. Why is he going to continue doping? Is Millar still doping? Quite often people who have been punished go the other way... like a reformed smoker. And in any case... there are rules there... it's just going to be interesting to see how it plays out. You're are talking about a person's thing that they do that defines them. Sure he doped. Everyone farking did. Let's just give these cyclists a chance to compete in a newer, hopefully cleaner era.

It's the guys in suits who I want to see get punished. The ones that usually dish out the punishment and criminal judgment... but are themselves immoral corrupt cheats.

I defended you before against an ad hominem attack... but I probably won't be anymore. 80% of the peloton dope to varying degrees. Why is he going to continue doping? Is Millar still doping? Quite often people who have been punished go the other way... like a reformed smoker. And in any case... there are rules there... it's just going to be interesting to see how it plays out. You're are talking about a person's thing that they do that defines them. Sure he doped. Everyone farking did. Let's just give these cyclists a chance to compete in a newer, hopefully cleaner era.

It's the guys in suits who I want to see get punished. The ones that usually dish out the punishnment and criminal judgment... but are themselves immoral corrupt cheats.I understand your argument, but Basso still DENIES doping. He is still sticking to the ridiculous story that he only thought about it!! Does that not seem ludicrous to you? To use RDBiker's analogy, if your coworker was caught red-handed stealing from you or the company but the guy continued to deny it, was fired for two years, then was allowed to return to the company but still stuck to his story, you would be crazy to think he was 'reformed'. You would know at the very least he is a liar and cannot be trusted, and furthermore reformation requires acknowledgement of your crime or wrongdoing.

I understand your argument, but Basso still DENIES doping. He is still sticking to the ridiculous story that he only thought about it!! Does that not seem ludicrous to you? To use RDBiker's analogy, if your coworker was caught red-handed stealing from you or the company but the guy continued to deny it, was fired for two years, then was allowed to return to the company but still stuck to his story, you would be crazy to think he was 'reformed'. You would know at the very least he is a liar and cannot be trusted, and furthermore reformation requires acknowledgement of your crime or wrongdoing.Point taken.

Point taken.Thanks. And I agree with your point that the 'guys in the suits' are the ones that need the scrutiny at this point.