I know Lance well

Originally Posted by Martin Jackson

Please take this movement to allow me to introduce myself.

For four years I played college football...

[etcetera]

Originally Posted by Martin Jackson

Allow me this brief digression. The NFL is rife with performance enhancing drug abuse. I myself have many connections into this world and have used steroids to improve my athletic performance on many occasions.

Anyway, nearing the end of the ride, I told Lance, "If you need any help beating those guys in the Tour de France, just let me know. I can bring the power like Scotty. I can get anything you need," and he knew exactly what I was talking about.

Lance said, "I don't need that shit. I win without it." And then he smiled that Texas smile that says, "Don't tread on me."

I've been reading a lot in the media about Lance taking performance enhancing drugs and it really bothers me. I believe the French laboratories, the Tour de France organization and Greg LeMond are behind this attack on my friend Lance. I've decided to right the wrong where ever and whenever I can. This is just the beginning of my fight to help restore the reputation of someone who is still very dear to me.

Originally Posted by Martin Jackson

Please take this movement to allow me to introduce myself.

For four years I played college football at the University of Texas and later I played seven years in the NFL. During that time I came in contact with many celebrities who were professional athletes.

In 2001, at a charity golf tournament I promoted in Austin, I had the honor of meeting Lance Armstrong. We had several in-depth and stimulating conversations at the awards banquet and after it was over I told him I'd like to go for a ride with him sometime and that I'd like to learn more about his sport. I didn't think I'd hear from him.

Later that week I got a call on my cell phone from Lance. He invited me for a ride later that afternoon. I told him that I didn't own a bike other than a K-Mart Spring Shock Cruiser to which he replied, "don't worry about that."

I packed my K-Mart Spring Shock Cruiser in the trunk of my benz and headed over to Lance's house. When I showed up, there in the driveway was a new Trek bicycle for me to ride and Nike shoes that fit. We began riding. I think Lance could have easily "dropped" me, but he didn't. He rode at my pace, which was about 14 mph. For the next two hours we chatted. Beside both being pro athletes, we had many other things in common, one of which was, we both came from broken homes with absent fathers, but we both strove to achieve our goals using every tool at our disposal. By the end of the ride there was a definite bond, a brotherhood between us.

Allow me this brief digression. The NFL is rife with performance enhancing drug abuse. I myself have many connections into this world and have used steroids to improve my athletic performance on many occasions.

Anyway, nearing the end of the ride, I told Lance, "If you need any help beating those guys in the Tour de France, just let me know. I can bring the power like Scotty. I can get anything you need," and he knew exactly what I was talking about.

Lance said, "I don't need that shit. I win without it." And then he smiled that Texas smile that says, "Don't tread on me."

I've been reading a lot in the media about Lance taking performance enhancing drugs and it really bothers me. I believe the French laboratories, the Tour de France organization and Greg LeMond are behind this attack on my friend Lance. I've decided to right the wrong where ever and whenever I can. This is just the beginning of my fight to help restore the reputation of someone who is still very dear to me.

Originally Posted by Martin Jackson

No, not the same at all. In cycling there are a few riders who are clean. Some are clean but still get busted. That really bothers me. Take Tyler Hamilton's case. There is clear evidence that the test was bad and that there were more than a few possible genetic explanations for the test results, nevermind the fact that Hamilton's team was being blackmailed by a man on the phone at the airport.

I saw that man making the call. I ran after him in the airport like OJ in the Hertz advertisement, but when I tried to hurdle a suitcase I tripped and plowed into a baby stroller. It was ugly. The bad man got away. I think he might have been gay.

Hamilton was riding for USPS earlier, supporting Lance in several of his clean Tour victories. I became a close friend with Tyler. We spoke at length about our dogs and I was surprised to find out that his dog was named Tugboat. My dog at the time -- he's dead now, I backed over him with the benz -- was Norwegian, like the cruise line, so we formed a bond, a brotherhood if you will.

One day I ask Tyler, "If you need any help beating those guys at LBL just let me know. I can bring the power like Scotty." But he said, "No. It wouldn't be right. What would Tugboat think?"

Man, it got me. I really did. The man is sterling. Na, na, make that platinum.

Originally Posted by mitosis

Great trolling. Sorry I made a serious reply. I lose.

Originally Posted by mitosis

Great trolling. Sorry I made a serious reply. I lose.

Originally Posted by patch70

I am so glad that I read on before replying. Funniest thread in a long time.

Originally Posted by youngda9

I think the year was 1997 for Pantani, not sure if they did that climb in 98 when he was caught cheating...can anyone verify.