Monday’s mailbag: Hypernationalism, Big Al, suckers and double standards?

The Mail Bag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

All Americans all the time
Editor:
What’s up with the lack of Olympic track event coverage on the majorAmerican networks? It was great that some of the networks covered the roadrace and time trial, but track coverage has been almost non-existence onAmerican TV. Track events have been some of the most attended events ofthe games so far (most event tickets are sold out). It would seem thatif the rest of the world is interested in watching why have the Americannetworks tuned out?Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me to be a case of “if theAmericans can’t win, then why show other countries winning medals?” syndrome.

Michael Haydo
Grand Cayman, Cayman IslandsThere are other countries in the Olympics? – EditorAttack of the killer Al
Editor,
Listening to our good friend Al Trautwig butcher the Olympic Gymnasticscommentary, his work during the Tour for OLN doesn’t seem so bad afterall. If there is a website for gymnastics similar to VeloNews, I’dlike to see what they think of Al’s insightful comments.

Russ Berkowitz
San Francisco, CaliforniaTakes one to know one…
Editors,
Does anyone find it ironic that Greg Schmidt’s letter about the pro-roadies’comments on a hot and hard Olympic race is really just whining and complainingabout whining and complaining? As I read mailbag, however, I find he’snot the only one. This feature of VeloNews.com is full of such letters.In fact, I think mailbag is a celebration of whining…Oh my God! I’m whining and complaining!Stephen Jansa
Atlanta, GeorgiaThere’s one born every…
Dear Editor:
As all are probably aware the “Livestrong” wristband campaign has beenso successful that the yellow wristbands have become quite difficult tolocate. The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) website indicates that alltheir wristbands are on “back order.”This is great news for LAF, but I was recently on E-bay and noticedthat there were a very large number of “Livestrong” wristbands available.It disheartens me that people are trying to profit from the popularityof these wristbands by auctioning to the highest bidder on E-bay. I amhighly pessimistic that 100 percent or even a portion of proceeds fromthe sale or re-sale of wristbands on E-bay are being directed to the LAF.Individuals or organizations need to ensure that the funds they utilizeto purchase wristbands are directed to the LAF. Otherwise, it seems todefeat the purpose.
I wonder what Lance would think?
Regards,Angus Cowan
Calgary, CanadaAngus, you can find anything on E-Bay… even our 2004Tour de France Guide, which in some cases went for nearly 80 bucks,even though at the same time the very same publication was available onVeloGear for $5.99. Kinda wish we’d have thought of that first. – EditorDouble standard?
Dear Editor-
When Armstrong (I’m sorry, that’s “Lance”) blew off his country inthe Olympics, your headlines gave him the kid-glove treatment-somethinglike “Lance Decides Not to Ride the Olympics” – no questions asked. However,when Ullrich makes the decision not to represent his team at Zurich, its”Ullrichbails on Zurich.” That’s objective!Have you guys been bought out by OLN, or Fox or something?Regards,
Bob Tamburri
Chaplin, ConnecticutTamburri… er… Bob, we actually felt guilty about the whole thing until we went back and checked our archive. Our story actually said “Armstrong to skip Olympics.” On the other topic, no worries, we haven’t beenbought out by Fox. We can’t yell loud enough to be heard on their Newschannel. OLN wanted to buy us, but even we had to admit our bull ridingcoverage sucks! – Editor

The Mail Bag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.