AP Breaking News: Prosecutors close Armstrong inquiry, no charges

On Feb 3, 8:11*pm, tritonrider wrote:
On Feb 3, 9:40*pm, Jimmy July wrote:

On 2/3/2012 6:17 PM, William R. Mattil wrote:

Hope LAFF doesn't go off the deep end with this announcement.......

When has Laff ever been out of the deep end?

Believe it or not Brian is one of the most rational, objective, and
reasonable people I know with the exception of one or two minor issues
related to *doping in sports.

What about chess?

On Feb 3, 10:11*pm, tritonrider wrote:
On Feb 3, 9:40*pm, Jimmy July wrote:

On 2/3/2012 6:17 PM, William R. Mattil wrote:

Hope LAFF doesn't go off the deep end with this announcement.......

When has Laff ever been out of the deep end?

Believe it or not Brian is one of the most rational, objective, and
reasonable people I know with the exception of one or two minor issues
related to *doping in sports.
*Good friend, great guy
*Bill C
Thanks, Bill. It will be interesting to see if the DoJ says more about
why the Central CA US Attorney closed the investigation without
indicting. IMO, it lilely has to do with fallout from the Bonds
case,the PR campaign of the cancer fighter and perceived statute of
limitations issues. That said, it is pretty clear that Armstong's
clean athlete reputation is in the landfill. The downside of non-
accountability, if USADA and WADA don't act, is the the sport's
credibility is in the toilet whirlpool. I look for Contador to be let
off. RIP competitive cycling. I won't be following it at all anymore.

On Feb 4, 9:33*am, Brad Anders wrote:
On Feb 3, 8:11*pm, tritonrider wrote:

On Feb 3, 9:40*pm, Jimmy July wrote:

On 2/3/2012 6:17 PM, William R. Mattil wrote:

Hope LAFF doesn't go off the deep end with this announcement.......

When has Laff ever been out of the deep end?

Believe it or not Brian is one of the most rational, objective, and
reasonable people I know with the exception of one or two minor issues
related to *doping in sports.

What about chess?

We did get an indictment and a guilty plea there of Polgar's
webmaster, Gregory Alexander. He is awaiting sentencing on March 22.
His allocution will be interesting. Stay tuned.
:-)

On Feb 4, 8:19*am, BLafferty wrote:
On Feb 3, 10:11*pm, tritonrider wrote: On Feb 3, 9:40*pm, Jimmy July wrote:

On 2/3/2012 6:17 PM, William R. Mattil wrote:

Hope LAFF doesn't go off the deep end with this announcement.......


Thanks, Bill. It will be interesting to see if the DoJ says more about
why the Central CA US Attorney closed the investigation without
indicting. IMO, it lilely has to do with fallout from the Bonds
case,the PR campaign of the cancer fighter and perceived statute of
limitations issues. That said, it is pretty clear that Armstong's
clean athlete reputation is in the landfill. The downside of non-
accountability, if USADA and WADA don't act, is the the sport's
credibility is in the toilet whirlpool. I look for Contador to be let
off. RIP competitive cycling. I won't be following it at all

Because he didn't get his man, Brian would like us to believe that
nothing has changed for the better in pro cycling since the good old
days of shooting heroin, washing down handfuls of amphetamines with
cheap wine & 60 percenters climbing like they're in elevators. "Après
moi, le deluge."

With the threat of prosecution removed and the grand jury testimony
sealed, the chances of WADA, et al, pinning anything on LA are as
likely as Brian winning the Tour clean. Not to mention that LA will
probably be more likely to pursue libel actions now that the Feds are
no longer a stalking him.

It's sad Brian will no longer be following any more competitive
cycling, and presumably no longer posting here. (What would be the
point?)

And since he's not a hypocrite, I assume he has written off viewing
all other pro sports too, most of which are not nearly as rigorous in
dope testing as cycling. Have fun watching those reruns of Bewitched!

Zeno

On Feb 4, 1:44*pm, Zeno wrote:
On Feb 4, 8:19*am, BLafferty wrote:









On Feb 3, 10:11*pm, tritonrider wrote: On Feb 3, 9:40*pm, Jimmy July wrote:

On 2/3/2012 6:17 PM, William R. Mattil wrote:

Hope LAFF doesn't go off the deep end with this announcement........

Thanks, Bill. It will be interesting to see if the DoJ says more about
why the Central CA US Attorney closed the investigation without
indicting. IMO, it lilely has to do with fallout from the Bonds
case,the PR campaign of the cancer fighter and perceived statute of
limitations issues. That said, it is pretty clear that Armstong's
clean athlete reputation is in the landfill. The downside of non-
accountability, if USADA and WADA don't act, is the the sport's
credibility is in the toilet whirlpool. I look for Contador to be let
off. RIP competitive cycling. I won't be following it at all

Because he didn't get his man, Brian would like us to believe that
nothing has changed for the better in pro cycling since the good old
days of shooting heroin, washing down handfuls of amphetamines with
cheap wine & 60 percenters climbing like they're in elevators. "Après
moi, le deluge."

With the threat of prosecution removed and the grand jury testimony
sealed, the chances of WADA, et al, pinning anything on LA are as
likely as Brian winning the Tour clean. Not to mention that LA will
probably be more likely to pursue libel actions now that the Feds are
no longer a stalking him.

It's sad Brian will no longer be following any more competitive
cycling, and presumably no longer posting here. (What would be the
point?)

And since he's not a hypocrite, I assume he has written off viewing
all other pro sports too, most of which are not nearly as rigorous in
dope testing as cycling. Have fun watching those reruns of Bewitched!

Zeno

Even if the grand jury testimony remains completely sealed, there is a
good deal of collected evidence, including sworn affidavits and
documentary evidence, that is likely to go to USADA. Much of it will
become public knowledge eventually. Armstrong's reputation as a clean
rider is effectively trashed. Polls have consistently shown that the
public is increasingly skeptical of his purity claims. Hopefully,
people damaged by Armstrong and his lie(s) will still find a way to
make themselves whole. If you think Armstrong is going to pursue libel
actions anywhere, you need to rethink the dope you're using. The last
thing Armstrong wants now is to be placed on a witness stand under
oath. He's dodged this bullet, but I doubt he so stupid as to put a
loaded gun to his head a dare someone to pull the trigger. Then again,
hubris does make people do destructive things. Carry on. lol!!

On Feb 4, 12:55*pm, BLafferty wrote:
On Feb 4, 1:44*pm, Zeno wrote:









On Feb 4, 8:19*am, BLafferty wrote:

On Feb 3, 10:11*pm, tritonrider wrote: On Feb 3, 9:40*pm, Jimmy July wrote:

On 2/3/2012 6:17 PM, William R. Mattil wrote:

Hope LAFF doesn't go off the deep end with this announcement........

Thanks, Bill. It will be interesting to see if the DoJ says more about
why the Central CA US Attorney closed the investigation without
indicting. IMO, it lilely has to do with fallout from the Bonds
case,the PR campaign of the cancer fighter and perceived statute of
limitations issues. That said, it is pretty clear that Armstong's
clean athlete reputation is in the landfill. The downside of non-
accountability, if USADA and WADA don't act, is the the sport's
credibility is in the toilet whirlpool. I look for Contador to be let
off. RIP competitive cycling. I won't be following it at all

Because he didn't get his man, Brian would like us to believe that
nothing has changed for the better in pro cycling since the good old
days of shooting heroin, washing down handfuls of amphetamines with
cheap wine & 60 percenters climbing like they're in elevators. "Après
moi, le deluge."

With the threat of prosecution removed and the grand jury testimony
sealed, the chances of WADA, et al, pinning anything on LA are as
likely as Brian winning the Tour clean. Not to mention that LA will
probably be more likely to pursue libel actions now that the Feds are
no longer a stalking him.

It's sad Brian will no longer be following any more competitive
cycling, and presumably no longer posting here. (What would be the
point?)

And since he's not a hypocrite, I assume he has written off viewing
all other pro sports too, most of which are not nearly as rigorous in
dope testing as cycling. Have fun watching those reruns of Bewitched!

Zeno

Even if the grand jury testimony remains completely sealed, there is a
good deal of collected evidence, including sworn affidavits and
documentary evidence, that is likely to go to USADA. *Much of it will
become public knowledge eventually. Armstrong's reputation as a clean
rider is effectively trashed. *Polls have consistently shown that the
public is increasingly skeptical of his purity claims. Hopefully,
people damaged by Armstrong and his lie(s) will still find a way to
make themselves whole. If you think Armstrong is going to pursue libel
actions anywhere, you need to rethink the dope you're using. The last
thing Armstrong wants now is to be placed on a witness stand under
oath. He's dodged this bullet, but I doubt he so stupid as to put a
loaded gun to his head a dare someone to pull the trigger. Then again,
hubris does make people do destructive things. Carry on. lol!!

Brian, for a practicing lawyer, you have a remarkable distain for due
process and the rule of law.

He who laughs last laughs best.

On Feb 4, 1:55*pm, BLafferty wrote:
On Feb 4, 1:44*pm, Zeno wrote:









On Feb 4, 8:19*am, BLafferty wrote:

On Feb 3, 10:11*pm, tritonrider wrote: On Feb 3, 9:40*pm, Jimmy July wrote:

On 2/3/2012 6:17 PM, William R. Mattil wrote:

Hope LAFF doesn't go off the deep end with this announcement........

Thanks, Bill. It will be interesting to see if the DoJ says more about
why the Central CA US Attorney closed the investigation without
indicting. IMO, it lilely has to do with fallout from the Bonds
case,the PR campaign of the cancer fighter and perceived statute of
limitations issues. That said, it is pretty clear that Armstong's
clean athlete reputation is in the landfill. The downside of non-
accountability, if USADA and WADA don't act, is the the sport's
credibility is in the toilet whirlpool. I look for Contador to be let
off. RIP competitive cycling. I won't be following it at all

Because he didn't get his man, Brian would like us to believe that
nothing has changed for the better in pro cycling since the good old
days of shooting heroin, washing down handfuls of amphetamines with
cheap wine & 60 percenters climbing like they're in elevators. "Après
moi, le deluge."

With the threat of prosecution removed and the grand jury testimony
sealed, the chances of WADA, et al, pinning anything on LA are as
likely as Brian winning the Tour clean. Not to mention that LA will
probably be more likely to pursue libel actions now that the Feds are
no longer a stalking him.

It's sad Brian will no longer be following any more competitive
cycling, and presumably no longer posting here. (What would be the
point?)

And since he's not a hypocrite, I assume he has written off viewing
all other pro sports too, most of which are not nearly as rigorous in
dope testing as cycling. Have fun watching those reruns of Bewitched!

Zeno

Even if the grand jury testimony remains completely sealed, there is a
good deal of collected evidence, including sworn affidavits and
documentary evidence, that is likely to go to USADA. *Much of it will
become public knowledge eventually. Armstrong's reputation as a clean
rider is effectively trashed. *Polls have consistently shown that the
public is increasingly skeptical of his purity claims. Hopefully,
people damaged by Armstrong and his lie(s) will still find a way to
make themselves whole. If you think Armstrong is going to pursue libel
actions anywhere, you need to rethink the dope you're using. The last
thing Armstrong wants now is to be placed on a witness stand under
oath. He's dodged this bullet, but I doubt he so stupid as to put a
loaded gun to his head a dare someone to pull the trigger. Then again,
hubris does make people do destructive things. Carry on. lol!!

"They'll (lots of 'theys' being possibilities) will get him yet".

The "libel" I'm interested in is Betsy Andreu's comment about buying
people in the "Feds".
Fair is fair, after all!

Not only that, but:
http://teslaw.org/images/journals/vol.%2019-2%20fall%202010.pdf
Reading the "Did the Feds have investigative jurisdiction?" article,
gosh gee whiz, maybe the reason the investigation got dropped was fear
the whole expensive mess was just gonna get dropped the first time a
judge had the chance to drop the case?

And then the other black eyes, etc. would have hit the fan:

(quoting from http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/
CYC_DOPING_ARMSTRONG?SITE=OHCIN&S)

At the center of the investigation was federal agent Jeff Novitzky,
who also helped bring the charges against Bonds and Clemens and has
been criticized for targeting athletes and wasting taxpayer dollars.

"The enormous bill for this fruitless trophy hunting expedition led by
agent Jeff Novitzky needs to be totaled up and those responsible
should be held accountable," said Victor Conte, the BALCO founder and
president, who spent four months in prison after pleading guilty to
steroids distribution. "Especially in this economic crisis it's
important to make the highest use of the available tax dollars and
that certainly does not seem to be the case with this investigation."

Indeed, the government spent plenty of time and resources
investigating Armstrong. Federal prosecutors traveled to Europe and
met with foreign officials and they called some of Armstrong's former
teammates and associates to testify before a grand jury in Los
Angeles.

Government officials declined to say how much money was spent on the
Armstrong probe.

Going forward, some legal experts said, the government's time may be
better spent prosecuting other crimes - rather than sending a message
to the professional sports community.

"In light of this decision and the Bonds and Clemens investigations,"
Rosengart said, "the government may be more willing to defer to the
regulatory agencies to police alleged misconduct of athletes." (end
quote)

So go after Wall Street already with your federales. Eee-nough.
--D-y

On Feb 4, 3:53*pm, Zeno wrote:
On Feb 4, 12:55*pm, BLafferty wrote:









On Feb 4, 1:44*pm, Zeno wrote:

On Feb 4, 8:19*am, BLafferty wrote:

On Feb 3, 10:11*pm, tritonrider wrote: On Feb 3, 9:40*pm, Jimmy July wrote:

On 2/3/2012 6:17 PM, William R. Mattil wrote:

Hope LAFF doesn't go off the deep end with this announcement........

Thanks, Bill. It will be interesting to see if the DoJ says more about
why the Central CA US Attorney closed the investigation without
indicting. IMO, it lilely has to do with fallout from the Bonds
case,the PR campaign of the cancer fighter and perceived statute of
limitations issues. That said, it is pretty clear that Armstong's
clean athlete reputation is in the landfill. The downside of non-
accountability, if USADA and WADA don't act, is the the sport's
credibility is in the toilet whirlpool. I look for Contador to be let
off. RIP competitive cycling. I won't be following it at all

Because he didn't get his man, Brian would like us to believe that
nothing has changed for the better in pro cycling since the good old
days of shooting heroin, washing down handfuls of amphetamines with
cheap wine & 60 percenters climbing like they're in elevators. "Après
moi, le deluge."

With the threat of prosecution removed and the grand jury testimony
sealed, the chances of WADA, et al, pinning anything on LA are as
likely as Brian winning the Tour clean. Not to mention that LA will
probably be more likely to pursue libel actions now that the Feds are
no longer a stalking him.

It's sad Brian will no longer be following any more competitive
cycling, and presumably no longer posting here. (What would be the
point?)

And since he's not a hypocrite, I assume he has written off viewing
all other pro sports too, most of which are not nearly as rigorous in
dope testing as cycling. Have fun watching those reruns of Bewitched!

Zeno

Even if the grand jury testimony remains completely sealed, there is a
good deal of collected evidence, including sworn affidavits and
documentary evidence, that is likely to go to USADA. *Much of it will
become public knowledge eventually. Armstrong's reputation as a clean
rider is effectively trashed. *Polls have consistently shown that the
public is increasingly skeptical of his purity claims. Hopefully,
people damaged by Armstrong and his lie(s) will still find a way to
make themselves whole. If you think Armstrong is going to pursue libel
actions anywhere, you need to rethink the dope you're using. The last
thing Armstrong wants now is to be placed on a witness stand under
oath. He's dodged this bullet, but I doubt he so stupid as to put a
loaded gun to his head a dare someone to pull the trigger. Then again,
hubris does make people do destructive things. Carry on. lol!!

Brian, for a practicing lawyer, you have a remarkable distain for due
process and the rule of law.

He who laughs last laughs best.

Bull****. We'll see who laughs last.

Ken Prager wrote:
Federal prosecutors dropped their investigation of Lance Armstrong
on Friday, ending a nearly two-year effort aimed at determining
whether the seven-time Tour de France winner and his teammates
participated in a doping program.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...G?SITE=OHCIN&S
ECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

yawn

-S-

On Feb 4, 12:55*pm, BLafferty wrote:

Even if the grand jury testimony remains completely sealed,

Isn't that a virtual certainty? It took 35 years before Richard
Nixon's Watergate GJ testimony was unsealed and that was
done at the chief judge of the circuit's discretion as a matter
of compelling historical interest. I can't see a similar appeal
succeeding in this case.

... good deal of collected evidence, including sworn affidavits and
documentary evidence, that is likely to go to USADA. *Much of it will
become public knowledge eventually.

where it will be fought over on the cyclingnews forums, but
everyone else will have ceased to pay attention. USADA can
do what it likes, but if they suspend Armstrong (from what?
Leadville?) the general public isn't going to give a damn - the
general public will see it as sour grapes (or worse yet they'll
see it as rotten Frenchies trying to undermine Our American
Hero, although that isn't how I see it).

Armstrong's reputation as a clean
rider is effectively trashed. *Polls have consistently shown that the
public is increasingly skeptical of his purity claims.

and that most of the public doesn't really give a ****. Especially
because he didn't make a fool of himself in front of Congress
like Mark McGwire.

Hopefully,
people damaged by Armstrong and his lie(s) will still find a way to
make themselves whole.

Who is that? You, the Fraudbytes Blog, and all the people
with cancer that are going to die now that Armstrong is a known
doper, instead of like before where they weren't going to die
because he wasn't?

If you think Armstrong is going to pursue libel
actions anywhere, you need to rethink the dope you're using.

I agree, except maybe to restrain David Walsh-type books.
Libel is hard to prove (especially if the underlying facts are
not false), except in the UK, and Armstrong, having
scored a major PR victory, doesn't need to refight the battle
in another court. He can have his flacks brush off any
allegations with the formula that the Feds cleared him.

The last
thing Armstrong wants now is to be placed on a witness stand under
oath. He's dodged this bullet, but I doubt he so stupid as to put a
loaded gun to his head a dare someone to pull the trigger. Then again,
hubris does make people do destructive things. Carry on. lol!!

This is more than a dodging-the-bullet victory for
Armstrong. His credibility is dented among the blowhard
sports columnists of the world, but for the Feds and the people
who naively thought that nailing LA would clean up cycling, this
is a debacle. For the public and even most cycling fans it's reaching
the "acceptance" stage of the LA-doping-Tour nexus. That is,
10 years ago most fans denied Armstrong doped to win the Tour;
now many have passed through that stage and accepted that
he did, but that it is all in the past and they don't really care.

As we close the book on LA's cycling career, several years
after it ended, I get the feeling we're closing down Usenet RBR
as well. At least, so the post count totals lead me to think.

Good night and good luck,
Fredmaster Ben