Steve McGinty wrote:
> On Mon, 17 Feb 2003 18:35:47 +0000, Richard Bates
> <
[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Noticed in a newspaper pinned above a urinal today that Pantani has had his ears flatenned by
> >surgery to make him more aerodynamic.
> >
> >I thought it was so amusing I nearly missed the pot!
>
> Ewoud posted this link to the pics in another NG
>
>
http://www.radsportnews.com/images/pantani2003ohren.jpg
>
> up there with Museeuw's "hair"
>
I thought this was a real wind-up until I read this:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/cycling/news/2003/02/15/pantani_ears/
Extract: "ASTI, Italy (Reuters) -- Former Tour de France winner Marco Pantani has undergone cosmetic
surgery to pin back the large earlobes that earned him the nickname "Dumbo" as he aims to make a
comeback this year with his new team.
Pantani, who is currently suspended, unveiled his new look while still wearing bandages on his
right ear at the official presentation of his new Mercatone Uno-Scanavino team in Asti, near Milan,
on Saturday.
Pantani described his ear operation as "a minor act of physical violence which symbolizes having the
serenity to look at myself in the mirror and being ready to make changes in his life."
His ears had inspired American rival and four-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong to call
him Dumbo after the Walt Disney cartoon elephant." <ends>
So we won't be seeing Pantani 'flying' up the mountains again then ;-)
Not that he could without assistance from dru....
John B