haroldsnepsts

I saw that too. But wouldn't people start to notice if all the cyclists had red powder on their hands when they went to take a leak? Yeah, I feel bad for Jan. even beyond this latest scandal, he is clearly one of the most talented cyclists in the world. He just can't quite seem to get it all together to win the Tour again. To win the tour when you're that young, then finish 2nd five times, has to be painful. and with Basso and Ulrich out of the race, Landis's win already would've had an asterisk next to it, even before he was busted. I think it's B.S. the way most teams act when a rider is busted for doping. Immediately firing them for breaking their ethic policy, or whatever reason they can come up with. If a cyclist is doping, you know damn well that there are plenty of people who work for that team that are aware of and possibly encourage it. They can't just punish the rider. If they want it to stop, they've got to start penalizing people up the chain of command. The director sportif, team manager, etc.

It's hard not to think the peloton is full of dopers. So disappointing. The thing that irks me though, is that cycling isn't helping itself by the way it handles the tests. It's gone from trying to clean up cycling to becoming a witchhunt. I'm not saying Landis is innocent. At this point I find it hard to believe anyone in cycling is clean. But one, it doesn't make sense that he would take a massive amount of testosterone that one day. He was tested several other times during the race and didn't turn out positive. I can't figure that one out. Secondly, the way the lab and the UCI and pretty much everyone involved handled the situation is so unprofessional and unethical it's unbelievable. The lab can't follow it's own protocols and ethical guidelines. It's also worth mention that this is the same lab that violated pretty much every ethical guideline there was in alleging that they had a Lance Armstrong sample from 1999 that they now tested positive for EPO. Plus the director of the Tour and our buddy Dick Pound are shooting off their mouth before Landis has even seen the results of the test from the lab. He found out his B sample was positive by reading it in the press. So guilty or innocent, it puts the athlete in the ridiculous position of having to defend themselves in the media to charges they themselves have not even seen. Landis was suspended from his team before even seeing the test results. He was fired before he has even had a chance to respond to the charges (other than in the press). Whereas when the sprinter Gatlin tested positive, they followed the guidelines laid out for testing and the process continued quietly until there was a confirmed result. He tested positive in April, and we weren't hearing about it until recently. I still love cycling and the sport definitely needs cleaning up, but the way they handle these cases on the presumption of guilt is doing even more damage to the sport. Exactly. Imagine if they drug tested baseball players after they hit a homerun. I think Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chasing the homerun record would've been a tad different. Cycling's reputation is taking a huge hit from this scandal, but it's because they are actually trying to clean up the sport instead of ignoring the problem.

Doping is a massive problem in cycling. Part of all the bad press is because they are actually catching the cheaters, as opposed to some other sports who ignored the problem for years... *cough* baseball *cough*. As for Landis, I'm hoping the guy turns out to be innocent. Testing positive for elevated testosterone levels in not how riders usually get busted for doping. The unfortunate thing with a lot of these cases is there never is a definitive answer one way or another. A rider tests positive on a controversial test. They test the other sample, bring in experts, draw mixed conclusions, and it comes down to the fan to decide for themselves if he's a doper or not. Even if Landis's B sample is clean, or there's a plausible explanation for the positive, this Tour win will always be tainted.

Yes. He basically cracked in half on one of the big mountain stages and lost all this time. Everyone pretty much said his tour was over. Then the next day he went on this amazing, long solo breakaway and made up almost all the time he had lost. Then he won it today in the Time Trial as he made up enough time to go from third to first.

We better not sign him for $5 mill a year. anyone know off the top of their heads what other wingers have pulled in that kind of salary?

I've been a fan for over 20 years. I no longer live in Detroit, but last season I had the Center Ice package and watched damn near every Wings game, and a ton of other teams as well. This year though I've been busy and don't get to see that many games (though I still follow them obsessively online), so I downgraded myself to moderate.

How is Colorado not on there?? From my personal interactions, I would have to say they are among the worst. Obnoxious and generally ignorant. I don't know how many Avs fans I've talked to that didn't realize they used to be the Nordiques. So many fans seem to think they were one of the fastest expansion teams to win a championship. Vancouver is in the running too, mainly from all the crap around the Bertuzzi incident.

You said you'd never seen or heard of Ovechkin taunting anyone. I was merely pointing out an instance where he had. It's not like it's unprecedented for him.

I agree it was absurd, but I don't think a lot of rookies would've said that to the press. (and i'm pretty sure that quote was actually from a translation). I like Ovechkin, like I said, I just think he's got a wilder personality less suited to captain. I think he's a better player if you let him be him. I agree about your take on Crosby, JSwift. He's been a little immature and whiny, but I think it's definitely been a case of giving him the A way too soon.

yap isn't really the right word. Maybe more brash. He does do some trash talking now and then, from what I've heard, and running his mouth a bit like a Roenick or Hull. Ovechkin on Crosby being named alternate captain: Didn't he and Malkin taunt the fans at the world juniors? Apparently he's toned it down in the NHL, but it's not like it's unprecedented for him. I don't think he's an Avery in the making or anything. Mainly just that he's sort of a loose, passionate guy. Something about the personality seems like he's the kind of guy you want to let have a long leash. And that's not the kind of guy I'd pick for captain. Much in the same way that I think Hull wasn't the right guy for captain.

wow, big surprise. you're disagreeing with me. I agree that he shows a ton of passion and can fire the team up. But that doesn't necessarily make him the right personality for captain. I think Ovechkin is one of the guys you want to be able to turn loose. To let him shoot his mouth off, go nuts, do whatever he wants. He'd have to reign that in some as captain. It usually doesn't go well if the guy yapping and taunting is the one talking to the refs about penalties. I'd rather he just be able to do his thing without having to worry about the leadership role. Crosby has plenty of learning to do before he's ever gonna be a good captain, but I could see it in his personality more. Yzerman wasn't exactly a rah rah guy on the ice early in his career.

exactly. Detroit is what, first in the West? who's going to give us something for nothing? It would cost too much to bring in any name guy to the Wings. I'm rarely a Holland defender, but think he generally doesn't do much come trade deadline because he'd have to give up too many of our picks or prospects.

If we hadn't dumped Rivers and brought in Cross, people would just be bitching that Holland didn't do anything at all. If only we could've gotten Witt for a seventh rounder...

Crosby is 18 years old. That mean's he's 2 years younger than Ovechkin (who played with the Dynamo for 4 years), and 5 years younger than Svatos and Prucha. He's had a whopping 2 years in the CHL before stepping up to the NHL, and he has 29 goals and 39 assists this season. I know there's all sorts of hype around him, but when it comes to his abilities, how exactly is he overrated? Overhyped? yes. Overrated? no way. EDIT: For reference, Zetterberg has 29 goals and 37 assists. Two fewer than Crosby. And Hank has a considerably better team around him. And for voting, I'd take Crosby. In terms of just as a player, I'd pick Ovechkin. But if you include leadership, I think Crosby has more potential to turn into a great leader than Ovechkin.

I don't mean to nitpick, but since it's actually happened, it's not really a rumor. There's a lot of folks talking about this in the General Discussion forum.

I love.... lamp.

I don't really want Nash, but I would like for the Wings to get some energy player from a team that's not a playoff contender. Someone who goes like hell every shift and hits guys, and is sooo thankful to be on a playoff contending team like the Wings. I think it's good to have that sort of reminder for players who have been on the Wings a few years.

These hockey rumors crack me up. For guys that supposedly follow hockey, can't they see the 5 to 10 obvious reasons a deal like that would be extremely unlikely to happen?

I still say no because he's a cheapshot artist. I just don't want a guy like that wearing the Winged Wheel. Let him stay in Toronto.

I know a lot of people are high on this kid. I haven't seen him play, but it's hard for me to get excited about yet another small forward. This guys' even smaller than Dats, so I sure hope he's better (or will be in the future) if we keep him.

Thoughts on Tucker. He dives, is a cheapshot artist and a poor skater. No thanks.

Nah, he watched that here in Detroit last playoffs.

For what it would likely take to get him here, I just don't see Giguere as much of an upgrade. The guy has too much headcase potential, which is the last thing Detroit needs in net. Though it wouldn't surprise me that they are still looking for better goaltending heading into the playoffs. They're constantly trying to upgrade in net for the short term.

As much as I think he'd help in the playoffs, I can't ever see him coming back to Detroit after what happened last season. (and I can only imagine the flame wars taking place here if our goaltenders are Ozzy, Manny, and Cujo)

While in many cases I think you have a point, in this case, we are talking about Nick Lidstrom. This isn't just sentimental attachment. He's one of the best defenseman to ever play the game (three norris trophies and counting, and is a workhorse in terms of games played and minutes per game. Even though he's 35, he's still got a lot of games left in him. There aren't that many players in the NHL that would be a good trade for Lids. And Mccabe certainly isn't one of them.