Okay, now, watch the dancing lady...
VeloNews,
So, the sport of cycling has this allegedly rampant drug problem,and riders are getting sacked for getting a little in the sack? (See"Ex-Kelmerider promises doping revelations") There's nothing likea little sex scandal to get everyone to forget about life's realproblems, no?
Neil Hickey
Seattle, WashingtonYoung guns!
Editors,
That is some awesome writing! (See "Youngguns: Playing poker with Team Money") I will definitely befollowing these guys.
Tschuss!
Steve O'Dell
GeorgiaHe an icon of what?
VeloNews,
Your characterization of Marco Pantani as an "icon" is accurate. Heis an icon, an eternal one, symbolic of those who eschew the path of honesteffort in favor of the quick and easy fix, in his case, a needle. Wheredid the real Marco end and chemical Marco begin? We willnever know.

He also demonstrated a monumental lack of respect, not only for hisown God-given talent but for the athletes around him who chose to competeon an equal footing with their fellow racers and in addition, the sportof bicycle racing which provided the stage upon which he strutted and preened.

His autopsy results reveal that, ironically, he died of cocaine poisoning,an end to his sad and sordid story which speaks for itself.
Skip Nevell
Los Angeles, California

It was a symptom of deeper problems
Editor,
In reference to the letter from Dean Cahow on Sunday (see "SeeSunday's Mail bag"), I think some study about depression and it'sdeadly consequences are in order for Mr. Cahow.Pantani was diagnosed as being clinically depressed. Self medication,whether through legal substances like caffeine or alcohol, or illegal suchas cocaine, is a symptom of depression and is quite different from 'simple'addiction by somebody that is not depressed. These people are not depressedbecause they are self medicating, they self medicate because they are depressed.

Cocaine didn't 'take over his life', depression did, where cocaine wasthe unfortunate thing Marco chose to abuse. If there are any villains inthis story, it is his family or care givers that where not successful inidentifying his problems, but this only goes so far. If the individualchooses to not be helped, he will not be. A tragedy in itself.To paint Marco Pantani as a wild young man recreating with dangerousdrugs for the thrill of it ignores his real demons and places him in apigeon hole he doesn't deserve to be in.
Peter Chisholm
Republic of Boulder
(which we believe is in Colorado)What about Marco's victims?
Editors,
The "great" Marco Pantani had been addicted to drugs for longer thanwe probably want to know. EPO, cocaine, who knows what else?

Before you shed one tear, think of this: How much money do you supposehe stole from clean cyclists, he beat on race day? People shouldbe feeling sorry for all the hard-working clean cyclists, with noresults to show for it. "Death of an icon"? Hardly.
Jeff Bergen
Omaha, Nebraska

There are drugs and there are drugs
Editors,
In reference to Ryan Powell's letter on Sunday (see "SeeSunday's Mail bag"), I just have one question: Is this guy crazy?Sure de Galdeono was tested high for Salbutamol, a brand-name drug thathelps his asthma condition. This is the same lunacy that kept JonathanVaughters from finishing the Tour after a bee stung him.You cannot compare these types of drugs to real performance enhancerslike EPO. Every time someone writes this kind of babble like, "It's hardto respect a man in the yellow jersey that got there by cheating" it reallyhurts rider credibility.Based on this, I suppose cheating is hitting your asthma medicine a few too many times. Get real!
Almon Watson Poole
Florence, Alabama

Hey Mullet head, that reminds me of a song
Editor,
Regarding Blake Terry's letter "In praise of the Mullet Men" (seeSunday'sMail bag), the ultimate statement on mullets, and those who wearthem, is surely the South Austin Jug Band's song "The Ballad of Eddie Mullet."
Sincerely yours,
David Parish
Houston, Texas

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