Home » Top Stories » News and Features »

Monday's mailbag: Hamilton, liberals and PO'G

Published: Nov. 22, 2004

The Mail Bag 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.

Don’t just question Tyler, question the test
Dear Editors:
Either I've missed it or no one has brought up the validity of thescience behind the blood test employed in these cases. How was thistest developed? Who funded the research? Was the scientist hiredto develop the test? Is he remunerated for its use?My point being. . . the developer of the test has repeatedly defendedhis work, portraying it as beyond reproach. We are very quick tocondemn a man, vilifying him for cheating, without ever inquiring as tothe validity of the test which cast him as "guilty."Has anyone questioned that maybe the science behind these allegationsis flawed?
Peter B. Erdmann
West Palm Beach, FloridaKeep them lib's quiet. They lost!
Editors,
I must take issue with the Jeff Fortin’s email on Tyler Hamilton(see “Wednesday'smailbag”).He says “ like W, Tyler is another American who refuses to admit whenhe has done something wrong.” Jeff, get real man.First, why bring W into cycling and your silly rant on Tyler?Second, I assume you are not American. If you don’t like our Presidentget over that too. You can go back to where you came from anytime.Third, maybe Tyler is telling the truth - like W - and that is why heis not doing what you think he should.Fourth, like all liberals you are the one, not Tyler, who is not lettingthings go. Bush won and so did Tyler. Until it is proven that Tyler cheatedhe should keep his medal.So Jeff, let the election go and stick to cycling. You are wrong tobring W into this. You are wrong to bring all Americans into this. Typicalbed-wetting liberal.I think posting in support of Bush is fair. I don’t think youshould have posted Jeff’s email. Why make your conservative readers angrywith an anti-Bush post?
John N Lilly III
Gainesville GeorgiaStand by your man
Editors,
I have to commend Mark Oberlatz on his excellent note (See “Wednesday’sMailbag”) on the UCI’s disturbingly heavy-handed tactics of late.Mark, it was a pleasure to read the well thought out comments of a realfan who is interested in finding out the truth rather than jumping on someovercrowded “come clean and confess” bandwagon.I had quickly turned on Phonak after they suspended Tyler the day afterseemingly standing by him, but I’ve since developed a lot of respect forthem as they’ve committed themselves to finding the truth. I hope thatSanti Perez’s case doesn’t sway them from this commitment, and I’d readpage after page of letters from readers like Mark who are simply callingfor fair treatment of all riders until their cases are resolved. The UCIseems to be doing everything possible to foster an air of “you’re guiltyuntil you can prove you’re innocent” that is destroying careers beforeany due process may just happen to force them to say “Oooops… we’re sorry…you’re clean.”
Jim Santagata
Brooklyn, New YorkFunny
Editors,
That's some funny sh*t. It's been a while since I've laughed out loudreading anything on a cycling website. (See “Friday'sfoaming rant: Believe O'Grady”)Thanks,
Joe Lynch
Woodland, CaliforniaLies and the ranting liar who told them
Velo,
Its the only real news in the morass of liberal propaganda and lies.Your foaming rant boy needs to get a clue.
Mike Barnhart
Indianapolis, IndianaI believe!
O'Grady,
I'm going to support your cause. The check is in the mail!
Tom Murphy
San Diego

Tax and spend
Editors
O’Grady says: "I vow to spend every penny I have, just as long as Iget every dollar you have."

Spoken like a true liberal, O'Grady (sigh).
John Olsa
Grand Rapids, MichiganCheck his I.D.
Editors,
Surely O'Grady didn't write this. It seems almost reasonable.
Duncan Carter
Boulder, ColoradoR-E-S-P-E-C-T
Dear VeloNews,
I need to restate that www.believetyler.orgis not started by Tyler or Haven. It is started by friends of Tyler. Themoney will not be used for his defense!
I quote:
Believe Tyler is organized by his friends Chris Davenportand Deirdre Moynihan. Tyler and Haven Hamilton are fully aware of our efforts.The defense of Tyler will be paid for with personal funds by the Hamiltonsand the funds from Believe Tyler will be used to fund the medical and scientificresearch needed to compliment his defense, as it is this information thatwill help educate the cyclists of tomorrow.

The 'believe Tyler' buttons were also not made by Tyler. Tyler didn't askfor them.Most disappointing to me is that velonews.com, a website that I havealways loved and visited every day, has now turned into nothing more thanan online tabloid. Is this the same magazine who printed all the 'TylerTunes' columns and didn't hesitate to use Tyler for their own success?It's very disapointing to read the articles now, laughing at Tyler, makingTyler appear ridiculous. I feel ashamed for you.Of course VeloNews has to cover Tyler's doping case, but it alsocan do so in a different way: respectfully. And don't start with "it wasjust meant to funny." It's really not funny to me. I think it's reallydisgusting.
Julie De Clerck
Brussels, Belgium


The Mail Bag 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.