An open letter to Ivan Basso
Posted by Ben on | May 9, 2007
Dear Ivan Basso,
I have watched you compete in the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and “got to know you a little” in Overcoming.
You are one of my favourite cyclists. Not because of your talent but because you are such a gentleman. Like the time you won a stage of the Giro holding a picture of your newly born child or the time you called Lance for advice when your mother was diagnosed with cancer. Sensitive and vulnerable actions like those are rarely seen in professional sport and never seen in Australia. Consequently you won me as a fan.
You were the leader of the world’s best cycling team and had several years of dominance to come. With Lance gone you had a few yellow jerseys waiting for you in Paris.
So why did you get into blood doping? Why? Why? Why!
I understand the reasons must be varied and almost justifiable. Nothing is ever black and white. The pressure put on your shoulders must have been immense and I guess it only takes one moment of weakness to make you a doper.
Maybe you are not such a gentleman after all? Maybe you just have good PR skills? Its a cliché but I don’t know what to believe anymore. Infact drugs in cycling is getting rather boring.
I don’t believe a super star like you has to justify his actions to the “ordinary” man. What you do is your choice and yours alone.
Having said that… fuck you and every other sports person who takes drugs!
Regards,
Ben
P.S. I still like you and really hope you do you time and come back and win some races. Hopefully a team good enough for your talent will want to work for you… but I doubt it.
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6 Responses to “An open letter to Ivan Basso”
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May 9th, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
Not only could he ride, but this lad was nice to look at. Yes yes there are the lycra-clad buns and the sculpted tanned calves, but he had a face that nanas would trust. Doubt we will see much of it from his possie on the bench.
May 10th, 2007 @ 10:30 am
I feel you… I share the same sentiments! I had been the biggest fan of Basso since the day he won the stage at La Mongie. He’s the reason why I’m nuts about pro cycling…. not so much of Lance Armstrong, strangely enough, being an American.
Anyway, I’d been praying that he’d come out of this whole mess a better rider and a bigger person (assuming he’s innocent like he claimed). Even when he came out admitting to involvement in OP, I still applauded for his courage to own up to his action. I was even prepared to purchase the 2005 TdF DVD to watch over summer. However, I’m utterly disapointed by the statements he made at the press conference.
yesterday.
I’m sad that I finally find closure in this whole mess this way –> Basso guilty of doping and pretty much denying it still with a bunch of rediculous excuses!
May 10th, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
What is blood doping? Do you think it would help Gary, Simon, Rachel and I on the marathon next weekend?
May 10th, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
I agree OC. Basso saying that he only “attempted doping” is a bit much.
Campbell - I added a link to blood doping in the post. It is a pretty nasty and complex process.
May 12th, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
Thanks Ben. I think I’ll stick with jelly beans.
May 18th, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
There is always Paolo Bettini