My response, which is nitpicking facts, and doesn't address the drug issue
at all; just so Lafferty can't call me one of the "Lance tifosi":
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Ms. Knapp --
Regarding your recent article on sfgate.com about drugs in sport and Lance Armstrong:
Point of fact ... You wrote: "Still, why ask Armstrong to the White House for a summit aimed at
sports officials?
"First, he works for a government-backed monopoly. The U.S. Postal Service sponsors Armstrong's
team, despite operating at a deficit steeper than any mountain he climbs."
Actually, Lance Armstrong works for Tailwind Sports (tailwindsports.comtailwindsports.comOpen ↗), a sports
marketing company owned by Thom Weisel (of San Francisco's own Thomas Weisel Partners). Tailwind
Sports owns and operates the cycling team, as well as the T-Mobile International cycling race,
formerly known as the San Francisco Grand Prix.
The US Postal Service is the title sponsor of the team, which means that they are paying Tailwind
Sports to advertise the Postal Service. The team is also sponsored to one extent or another by Berry
Floor (a Belgian laminate flooring manufacturer, similar to Pergo), Trek bicycles, Visa, Suburu,
Thomas Weisel Partners, AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), Dial Corporation (the soap manufacturers) and
Coca-Cola and a host of cycling related companies.
Lance Armstrong has personal sponsorship from Nike, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Oakley.
Of all the above-listed companies, the only one other than Tailwind Sports which has "employed"
Armstrong was Oakley, who made him an employee so he would be covered under their benefits plan when
he was undergoing treatment for testicular cancer.
I don't know if he is still listed as an employee, or if he has gone back to his independent
contractor status with them.
Armstrong is definitely NOT a government employee and does not work for the Postal Service.
On another note:
The United States Postal Service had $63.9 billion in operating expenses in 2003 (Source:
usps.comhighlights.htmOpen ↗). The $4-6 million (estimated) they spend on
the cycling team is a negligible part of their overall operating expenses, and a very small part of
their estimated $160-200 million annual advertising budget.
Personally, I think their advertising money is better spent on sponsoring a cycling team than on
running television commercials during other sporting events ... A 30-second spot during the Super
Bowl costs what, about $2 million?
Their sponsorship of the cycling team generates exposure throughout the entire year; peaking during
July ... Lance wins the Tour (the only bike race most Americans even know about), and "USPS" is on
everyone's lips for weeks.
And it's worked ... I certainly ship more packages via the USPS now, rather than via UPS or Fed-Ex
... They support my sport, and I support them in return.
Kindest regards,
Steven L. Sheffield (a former City of San Francisco resident, currently residing in Utah)
Sierraman said:Interesting article about Armstrong potential as a role model in the drug war, but with a touch of
Cynicism.
Armstrong has turned into an icon, a fairy-tale hero who beat cancer and then subdued the Alps.
His connections to Italian doctor and trainer Michele Ferrari don't square with the fairy tale, so
they are routinely overlooked.
Ferrari is on trial in Italy, charged with illegally administering drugs to cyclists there. His
work with Armstrong was revealed in the London Sunday Times almost three years ago. The doctor
already had been charged at the time. His trial has lasted an eternity, hinting at the
complexities. The latest delay was called to allow the defense to gather more expert testimony.
How often do we read Ferrari's name in stories about Armstrong?
sfgate.comarticle.cgiOpen ↗
B-
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Steven L. Sheffield stevens at veloworks dot com veloworks at worldnet dot ay tea tee dot net bellum
pax est libertas servitus est ignoratio vis est ess ay ell tea ell ay kay ee sea aye tee why you ti
ay aitch aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you double-yew double-ewe
dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash
