On 10/19/2011 2:15 AM, Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> No, I think that "Because they are 'pro-cyclists'" is exactly the reason
> nothing has happened. Could be that "pro cyclists" just doesn't resonate
> very well with potential jurors. As in, who cares? You know how Cat-6
> Prima-donas are regarded by the cycling community? Well that's probably
> about the same as how the general public regards "pro cyclists."
>
> Unless one of Brian's earlier thoughts are correct, that maybe they have
> something they can use to go after some really big players (Wiesel? Is
> he really that big?), the whole Lance/doping/USPS/whatever thing might
> be putting people to sleep. Is it really that interesting to someone not
> familiar with cycling? And if someone on the outside did think it
> interesting or worth their time, how would they regard their star
> witnesses like Floyd? Keep in mind that they don't know George Hincapie;
> his credibility to us carries now weight with them. Most here will take
> George's word on whatever, but we're likely mistaken to think that
> that's a universal truth.
I know I keep going back to this, but people really don't have a
sense where the line is between criminal activity and violations
of the WADA code.
Doping for a bike race is not a criminal act. The cyclingnews
article that was linked to described an investigation in Italy,
where doping for a bike race *is* a criminal act. The article
talks about money laundering, but while this might be the case
for the Italian authorities it is of no concern for the US Feds
with the possible exception of a investigator obsessed with
chasing headlines. Laundering money to participate in a legal
act is not only not criminal in the US, much of our political
process is funded that way.
I think it is entirely possible that one of the end results of
all this could be that LANCE can't go do the tourist ride the
day before Milan-San Remo. But if that happens it ain't going
to be Novitsky that does it. And it'll cost the Italians way
more than it's worth. But they seem to groove on that sort of
thing.
There are two places I don't go to for legal advice. One is
Laff, the other is pro cyclists in California.
F