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Friday's Mailbag: Names, Games and a Contest
Published: Oct. 6, 2006
Friday's Mailbag: Names, Games and a Contest
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
What's in a name?
Editor:
Sometimes it is the little things.Here is a small idea, with the potential to prevent a significant negativeimpact. It is irresistible to come up with a shorthand or abbreviatedreference to something like a doping scandal. Something catchy orrelated to those implicated. Let's try this idea out. Insteadof calling it the "Festina affair" or the "Cofidis affair", why not gowith something nicely catchy like "Operación Puerto?"A sponsor puts itself, and a lot of money, on the line when choosingto sponsor a team. When it comes to the scandals, I think you wouldbe hard pressed to find anyone associated with a sponsor who would haveanything to do with the wrongdoing.So instead of dragging the good name of the sponsor through the pressin such a negative light, let's try to go with something less damagingto the people who actually fund this sport that we all love so well!
Don Wilson
Evanston, IllinoisOkay, "DoperGate" it is. EditorHigh crimes and priorities?
Dear Velo,
I just read that Interpol and WADA are teaming up on drug cheats insports. Awesome! That must mean that all the organized crime,terrorist organizations and serial murderers have been cleaned up, right? I mean, Interpol wouldn’t seriously spend time and money on this kind ofthing unless they had done that first, right?Seriously, though- these people play games for a living! Let the sports govern themselves and use the police for what they are therefor- keeping people safe!
James Park
Bellevue, WashingtonThe UCI is gonna do what?
Editor,
The headline read UCIwill challenge Ullrich license.Who exactly does the UCI think it is? Before we destroy what littleis left of Jan Ullrich's career, let's not forget that not only has henot been found guilty of anything, but has yet to even be charged!While there may be strong evidence against him, and he may indeed beguilty of using every drug under the sun, there has to be some sort ofdue process in this whole mess. The UCI should have it's head checked ifthey think it's reasonable to deny a cyclist a license based on accusationsalone. If they are so confident that Ullrich is guilty then bring him beforea board and let the case be heard.Either bring the case to court, or let the man race. There should beno middle ground here.I hope I am not alone on this.
Mark Bertram
Atlanta, GeorgiaA welcome change
Dear Editor,
Any news on the overhaul of the current structure of the NRC is goodnews (see "Mr.Rogers' Neighborhood: 2007 domestic racing news, Vegas rumors") I'vebeen asking for months what
the relevance of the NRC could possibly be if Floyd is winning thething since last April.Now, hopefully, USA Cycling will create a marketable series that willattract a title sponsor, broadcast TV coverage and thereby, lotsa spectators.Creating a two-tier set of races is interesting, but care
must be given to overlapping races and starving events of teams andriders, or sending teams from coast to coast and back every month, breakingthe budget of many of the teams.
Wil Matthews
Producer, Carrera de San Rafael
San Rafael California
And now for something completely different
Dear Readers,
Here's a good off-season VeloNews.com quiz:
Who is this ex-professional cyclist and what is he doing with thetractor?
Editor
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
