LeMond accuses Landis of blackmail

[Perry White]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070517/ap_on_sp_ot/cyc_landis_hearing_26;_ylt=Ag8EDeVtgJvm6f9Q_DwkWh8E1vAI

The Floyd Landis hearing took a chaotic twist Thursday when fellow American Tour de France champion Greg LeMond revealed he had been sexually abused as a child and claimed the Landis camp tried to use it as blackmail to keep LeMond from testifying.
...
[LeMond] said he used the story of his being sexually abused when he was 6 as an example of how it's good to get things out in the open.

"It nearly destroyed me by keeping the secret," LeMond said.

He said he told Landis that very few people knew that about him, then accused someone in the Landis camp of using that information Wednesday night to intimidate him from appearing as a witness.

LeMond described receiving a call that he said he later traced to the cell phone of Landis' manager, Will Geoghegan.

"He said, 'I'll be there tomorrow and we can talk about how we used to' perform a sexual act, LeMond said. "I thought this was intimidation to keep me from coming here."

He said he was so distraught by the call, he filed a police report, which was presented as evidence by attorneys. Malibu sheriff's officials, however, declined to release the report or details about it, saying the case was under investigation.

 

[IU90]

This **** goes back many years with LeMond, he's been been spewing contempt for Lance Armstrong almost since the day he began winning Tours 7-8 years ago, and that contempt seems to have broadened toward all U.S. racing recently. Not sure exactly how he got that oversized bug up his ass, maybe it has something to with the French last name.

 

[Breakyoself]

maybe that he is not the biggest name of US cycling, and ego is making him bitter?

 

[Idaho]

Floyd Landis, please go away.

Greg LeMond -- after I interview you next month -- please follow him.

 

[da man]

Did you read the original version on ESPN.com? The AP version cleaned up the details of the threatening call:

LeMond described receiving a call Wednesday evening from someone who claimed to be his uncle. He said he later traced the call to Geoghegan’s cell phone.
“He said, 'I’ll be there tomorrow and we can talk about how we used to’ " perform a sexual act, LeMond said of the phone call. “I thought this was intimidation to keep me from coming here.”


The original ESPN version, by their stringer on the scene, wrote it this way:
“He said, 'I’ll be there tomorrow and we can talk about how we used to play hide the weenie,' " LeMond said.

 

[IU90]

Again, his claims would have more credibility if LeMond had not already been demonstrating such contempt for anything associated with Armstrong, and recently US cycling in general, for quite a few years now. He went in to this with a huge pre-existing bias, and I'm sure was looking for any opportunity to stick it to those guys.

 

[slappy4428]

Floyd Landis, please go away.

Greg LeMond -- after I interview you next month -- please follow him.

BE sure to get pointers and an autograph first!

 

[Seahawk]

I am not a fan of cycling, nor do I care one iota about LeMond.

But if what he is saying about the sport is true, why would we want him to go away. If he was making stuff up, why would reps for Landis even think about such a sick attempt at blackmail?

If cheating can ben exposed in any sport, for any athlete, I'm for it.

 

[Oz]

But if what he is saying about the sport is true, why would we want him to go away. If he was making stuff up, why would reps for Landis even think about such a sick attempt at blackmail?

If cheating can ben exposed in any sport, for any athlete, I'm for it.

Exactly. I doubt he would make that up under oath.

 

[Idaho]

I used to really like LeMond -- still like him more than Landis, especially after this little ploy -- but he's been on a witch hunt himself against Armstrong but with no evidence whatsoever to back up his insinuations.

He smacks of being a jealous, bitter guy who was replaced in American cycling's cool circle. He's still a legend, but he's not involved in the sport's governance or regulation. I'm not sure why he is on the stand in this case.

 

[da man]

He's on the stand because he had a conversation with Landis in which Landis seemed to indicate his guilt. When LeMond asked Landis if he would come clean if his B sample tested positive, Landis said no, not because he wasn't guilty but because of the consequences. 'I don't see anything that . . . . What good would it do? If I did, it would destroy a lot of my friends and hurt a lot of people,' he said.

As for the veracity of LeMond's claim, the manager admitted he had made the threatening call.

 

[sportschick]

Manager was also fired by Landis' lawyer before the day was over too.

 

[D-3 Fan]

Tonya Harding and her goons think that this mess is ****ed up beyond belief. ???

It's apparent that Landis is willing to squeal to cover his ass, LeMond wants to take down Landis and Armstrong, and if anyone thinks that USA Cycling isn't cheating, ask the French.  But what do I know?  I'm eating American Fries right now, as the Cubs are trying not to do what they do best:  blow leads.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Shocking update of the day!


Former Landis manager enters rehab

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) - Floyd Landis' former manager was set to enter rehab Monday, a revelation made in the hours before the Tour de France champion was to take the witness stand for what promised to be a hostile cross-examination.
In a letter written by Brent Kay, Landis' new manager, and posted on the "Trust But Verify" blog, Kay acknowledged Will Geoghegan is "entering a rehabilitation program today in an effort to address his problems."
Geoghegan called Greg LeMond last Wednesday night and, posing as LeMond's uncle, threatened to reveal the secret that LeMond had been sexually abused as a child if LeMond showed up to testify.
Moments after LeMond told that story Thursday, Geoghegan was fired. When he testified Saturday, Landis said he had no idea Geoghegan was making those phone calls.

 

[Left_Coast]

This whole thing is a disaster.

The panel will find Landis guilty and he'll appeal to CAS and probably lose.

The more this goes on, the more I think Landis did it and is just as dirty as most everyone else in the sport.

 

[cranberry]

Not particularly shocking considering Geoghegan said he'd been drinking when he called LeMond.