Bob Schwartz <
[email protected]> wrote:
> Nick Burns <
[email protected]> wrote:
>> "Crank Yanker" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
news:[email protected]...
>>> In the spirit of the "greatest crashers in cycling" thread, who were the "greatest" riders that
>>> never fulfilled the promise they showed early in their career?
>>>
>>> In recent years, Kloden and Vainstains come to mind.
>> Here are more:
>> Joel Pelier Luc Roosen Fabio Baldato Eugeni Berzin Abraham Olano Giorgio Furlan Pavel Tonkov Raul
>> Alcala Jose Maria Jimenez Andy Hampsten Roy Knickman
>> (OK, there are too many more but I am getting bored...the point is that most pros fail to meet
>> the lofty expectations of their fans)
"They said I was supposed to be the next Willie Mays. When they told me that, it was an honor.
You're talking about a guy who I considered the greatest player to ever wear shoes. I probably had
more success than anyone they ever put that label on. You show me another guy who's going to do
30-30 five times. But all the writers kept talking about was potential. You haven't reached your
potential yet, they say. Well, unless you win a Pulitzer Prize, you're not living up to your
potential either, are you?"
(Bobby Bonds riposte to journalists)
> With respect to the grand tour riders in that list, neither Hampsten or Jimenez ever established
> themselves as the complete riders that you need to be in order to be a force over three weeks. So
> I think a Giro, several single week tours, and several great mountain stages are about what anyone
> could have expected from Hampsten. Jimenez never came close to accomplishing that much. His career
> is awash in lost opportunity.
> A guy like Olano, OTOH, comes much closer to the grand tour ideal. A great career, sure. But you
> would have to think that if he had had Indurain's exceptional drive there would have been more
> than a single Vuelta accomplished through the overwhelming superiority of his team.
> Maybe it's time to stop screwing around and list everyone that has ever ridden for ONCE, the kings
> of Spanish one week stage races that no one outside of Spain pays attention to. Steve Perryman,
> are you out there?
> Bob Schwartz
[email protected]