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The People's Voice recycles the trash

Yahoo Sports

Have you ever wondered why the entire spam mail business is still in operation – like, seriously, who in the world could still be falling for those emails promising lost fortune, dates with 19-year-old Russian blondes or instant magical growth of one part of the anatomy or another?

I think I have the answer.

Cycling fans.

Judging by the feedback that just keeps on coming and coming, these guys will believe anything. Floyd Landis? He is just the victim of a French plot to embarrass America. Or something like that. And there are thousands of these people.

I hereby apologize to San Francisco Giants fans, who, in the past, I had called the nation's dimmest rubes for holding onto the belief that Barry Bonds was clean. At least BALCO Barry never failed two drug tests.

Cycling fans remain believers and aren't happy with anyone (like the rest of the world) that thinks Floyd Landis cheated. Next up, Maurice Clarett is a good dude. I actually think this is heart warming; I had no idea so many villages allowed their idiots to use the computer.

It's been awhile since I had a People's Voice, so let's reset the rules: Have a point, keep it to the point and include name and town. My comments are italics. That's it. And while I'd love to write everyone back, it's impossible due to the volume of emails, so I apologize for that.

Now, without further ado, onto The People's Voice …

FLOYD THE FRAUD ("Shameless pursuit," July 27, 2006)

Danny, Danny, Danny. Where in the hell have you been for the last 20 years? The French hated Lance Armstrong because he was an American winner and dominated "their sport." Did you really think they were going to let that happen again? The only people in position to cheat on the drug test were the testers. You may not have any character, but the Mennonite boy from Pennsylvania does.

Mike Quinlan
Hopewell, Va.

Please send me your bank account info; I think there is a wealthy Nigerian businessman who wants to send you a million dollars. If they were so mad at Armstrong, why didn't they just frame him in any of the last seven years?

Aren't you rushing to judgment bozo?

Ed Doogan
Philadelphia

Considering you emailed me on August 8 – a week after the two positive samples – what else am I supposed to be waiting for? More "I drank too much Jack" excuses?

OK, seven negative tests and one positive test equal testing positive in your head. Whatever, sorry to disturb you. Go back to sleep.

A.I. Marvin
Houston

That's what the anti-doping people say, so I go with them. And don't write in telling me I need to go get a PhD in biology before addressing this stuff. If the officials in charge say he cheated, I write it. If this turns out to be a big conspiracy, I'll apologize to Floyd and write nasty stuff about the French.

Nice article about "shameless pursuit." I was in France watching Floyd's remarkable ascent back into contention, and we all wondered. I agree with your comment about the only clean guy coming in 38th place … except it was 59th place – David Millar, who was banned for doping two years ago and came back clean this year to race for Saunier Duval-Prodir. We (cyclists) all want to believe in someone. Ugh.

Todd LaBerge
San Francisco

Go figure. A San Francisco guy with a reasoned opinion on performance-enhancing drugs. My world is getting rocked here.

Your article is so dead on. In the 1980s and 90s I competed as a power lifter. I did well in the initial stages. People would tell me, "Man, if you are lifting that now, imagine what you will be like in 10 years." However, I had a coach who cared more about his lifters as people than athletes. He purposely kept us naive till we reached levels that we were soon outclassed.

I often wondered why I did not have the same look as other competitors. I could never seem to work out heavy five days a week, the way they did (which by the way I think is the greatest advantage to steroids: recovery from crazy training … try spending six hours on a bike one day and see what happens to your legs the rest of the week.)

The truth is you are 1000 percent right. There is no way that Armstrong is that special. The other thing that gets me nuts is the "corrupt French labs." Yeah, OK. Whatever.

Anyway, I chose to simply quit the sport I so loved instead of competing in a world where you were always going to have to find some way of getting around those "corrupt labs."

Please keep up the reality check. The kids need to hear it. But it won't be easy chasing heroes. Some can't accept it.

Mike Bisaillon
North Bay, Ontario

GEORGE STEINBRENNER ("The Boss is back," July 30, 2006)

I agree with you regarding your article about George Steinbrenner. I grew up in New York and became a fan at four years old in 1978.

As my friends and colleagues get more and more disgusted with George, I happen to cheer him and my New York Yankees on. He is never shy to speak his mind and, as we all know, never shy to spend the money. He has revolutionized what free agency is all about and how putting money where your mouth is will reap more money.

Next stop should be the Hall of Fame.

Shea Hunt
West Palm Beach, Fla.

I couldn't agree with you more about Steinbrenner and the Yanks. Yeah, they make a boatload of money and find revenue in every nook and cranny – they probably profit off guys going to the bathroom in the Stadium – but they put it back into the product. Where I come from, that's called perpetuating good business. Sure, they might overpay, but how many bad signings have they pulled off in recent memory? Other than Steve Karsay, I can't think of any.

Tony Cooper
Oakland, Calif.

They've made bad deals, but that is always going to happen. No one wants to win more than Steinbrenner.

Your recent column on the Yankees and their payroll, like so many others, misses the larger problem they present to the rest of the league. The reality is that even other large-market teams cannot compete with the Yankees (in terms of spending potential), and therefore they do not have the margin of error that the Yankees do. As a Boston Red Sox fan, I'm not about to cry poormouth about team salaries because the Sox are No. 2 on the list.

But consider that, with the Bobby Abreu-Cory Lidle trade taken into account, the Yanks' payroll is now around $210 million. The difference between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams ($90 million) is more than the difference between the No. 2 and the No. 29 team (the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at $35 million). And why did they make this trade? Just in case Gary Sheffield or Hideki Matsui don't play well when they come back from their injuries, and to get a fifth starter who is mediocre instead of terrible. No other team has the ability to make such a trade.

Rich Andriole
Framingham, Mass.

That's MLB's system, so it is MLB's fault. As I wrote in the article, if the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers ran their businesses as well as Steinbrenner has run his, I think they could spend $200 million. Boston began running a smart business a few years back – reinvesting in Fenway Park, buying NESN, etc. – and it is reflected in payroll. Give the Red Sox another 10, 15 years of cultivating and growing that and they too could rival New York. It isn't Steinbrenner's fault for being better at business than his fellow owners.

You're 100 percent correct. Would you put Mark Cuban in the same category as far as doing what it takes to win championships? I think yes.

Mike Stone
Stamford, Conn.

Absolutely. Cuban will do anything he can to win. But he isn't just spending his fortune. He built up the Dallas Mavericks business and continues to reinvest. The NBA is smart enough to realize that it needs a salary cap to even the field.

NOTRE DAME ("Easy bein' green," August 6, 2006)

You nailed it right on the head. I'm a huge Irish fan and for the last 10 years I've been shaking my head. Your article describes exactly what all of us Domers have been going through. Granted, (Charlie) Weis has only one season under his belt. However, you could see and feel the change last year, especially the USC game. We have swagger, confidence, real talent and the best coach in the game.

Mike Badarack
Satellite Beach, Fla.

No, we're all not thrilled by the rise of N.D. football. With their own network and a gang full of reporters with shamrocks in their eyes, the Irish always get much more credit than they deserve. When they are 6-6, they are still getting votes for the top 10. At least under the present (still not a playoff) system, it is harder for guys like you to just vote them No. 1. They will, at least, have to win a big game to get it.

Bill Moriarty
London, England

While I am an Irish hater, I do like Charlie Weis. His lack of a holier-than-thou attitude is a welcome relief from what one might expect from Notre Dame, particularly a good Notre Dame.

I'm not sure I believe the hype. Their only real accomplishments last year were running USC close and not faltering against a mediocre schedule. Teams losing to Michigan State and barely beating Stanford are not legit BCS teams in my book. But if they can run the table against the schedule they face this year, there will be no room for doubt that they are a great team.

Alan Johnson
Long Beach, Calif.

Count me among the Notre Dame haters. The reasons to hate Notre Dame far outweigh the reasons to like them.

  • The arrogance, despite not winning a bowl game in 13 years, not having a Heisman winner in 19 years, and the illustrious careers of Bob Davie and Gerry Faust. (Side note to ESPN: Davie is not a good commentator at all. Stop the madness.)

  • The vicious turn on Ty Willingham. Remember, Notre Dame: Ty had more wins in his first year than your new saint, Charlie, did.

  • The constant sucking up by sportswriters like yourself. Notre Dame would be irrelevant by now if it wasn't for media types writing glowing articles and NBC glorifying them with their own TV network.

  • The preseason ranking of Notre Dame at No. 3. This year's defense returns nine starters, but last year, opponents outgained Notre Dame 3.9 to 3.6 yards per carry, 14.6 to 13.5 per catch, and 21.2 to 19 per kick return. Opponents averaged 396.9 yards per game in total offense. Outside of Navy and Syracuse (option teams), Notre Dame gave up 302 yards passing per game. Six different teams had touchdown passes of 54 yards or longer. Isaiah Stanback of Washington – WASHINGTON! &nash; threw for 353 yards against Notre Dame. Don't use the line "Notre Dame returns nine starters on defense" unless it's a good thing.

Derek Martin
Alamogordo, N.M.

Derek went on (and on). Trust me, he really, really hates Notre Dame. Anyway, I don't know if Notre Dame is No. 3 – I don't vote – but Ohio State lost nine key defensive players and they are No. 1. So who knows?

The program just makes you feel good no matter what your needs are. If you need to be challenged, you are challenged. If you need to feel superior, you can feel superior by rooting for Notre Dame. If you need to win, don't worry. If you need to be beaten, don't worry.

Emmett Smith
San Jose, Calif.

I just read your column about Notre Dame. My question is, as a media member, why you feel compelled to discuss Notre Dame regularly? Why is Notre Dame so relevant? Why can't they fade into mediocrity like other programs cycle in and out of? I think college football has never been more fun as it has since the millennium changed. … We've seen powerhouses falter (Nebraska, Notre Dame, Florida, Penn State, etc.), traditional powers reclaim past glory (USC, Oklahoma, LSU, Penn State), and others enjoy unprecedented success, like the Iowa Hawkeyes. There seems to be a more level playing field and more opportunities among college football teams now, more than ever. Isn't that what makes college football better?

Matthew Putman
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I plan on writing about the Hawkeyes this season, maybe even before the season. I like good stories. Anyway, two reasons to write about Notre Dame. 1) They are ranked in the top five. 2) They generate massive readership which tells me people are interested. For the record, the last time I wrote about Notre Dame was January of 2005, a column on Weis juggling recruiting duties while preparing for the Super Bowl. I don't consider that regularly.

I enjoyed your article concerning Notre Dame, but I disagree with your sweeping assumption that a reemerging Notre Dame is good for college football. How? I also think N.D.'s star is ascending, but I wonder why, as your article suggests, this should be looked as a good thing. I have found college football much more attractive and enjoyable after the NCAA changed rules to introduce parity, and thus not allow a handful of teams (to include Notre Dame) to dominate the conferences and the major bowls year after year as it was in the 60s.

Dave Dingley
Melbourne, Fla.

The parity is certainly a good thing and the Irish will never dominate like they used to. But Notre Dame is a star-caliber team. It generates increased exposure and excitement for the sport. It just does. More people watch and get excited when Notre Dame is involved. It is that way with any sport. A NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers gets bigger ratings than Detroit-San Antonio. Notre Dame is good for a great sport.