Quick Hits: Floyd Landis Is A Dope

Today, Floyd Landis admitted to years of performance enhancing drug abuse after several years denying it since he tested positive during the 2006 Tour de France and had his title stripped away. However, not only did Floyd come out today and finally admit to his own PED use in a mea culpa, but implicated basically every other major cyclist in the world in steroid abuse... most notably Lance Armstrong.

Landis tested positive for a testosterone level that was 11 times above normal in 2006 and subsequently went on an endless crusade to clear his name. Everywhere you looked after that tour, you saw Floyd Landis going on a Rose-esque mission to clear his name of the doping verdict. Even after appeals failed, Landis maintained his innocence against all odds. And now, he's just another Pete Rose - a guy who lied for years and now suddenly wants us to believe that he's the beacon of truth that's trying to clean up his sport. Remember when we all thought that all it would take was Pete Rose to come clean to get into Cooperstown, then we realized how mad we were at lying for so many years? Landis will find a similar lack of sympathy.

And, this is the problem with Landis. He spent millions of dollars and several years trying to clear his name when he knew all along that it wasn't true. Oh, well, it's kinda true... Landis still disputes the elevated testosterone result but admits to using HGH that year. Whatever.

And in truth, this is the real shame of Floyd Landis' case. Even if all of his intentions are suddenly noble, and even if all of the Canseco-like allegations are true, nobody is going to take his word for it. Lance Armstrong will rely on his credibility, public persona, and lack of a positive test to defend himself against these accusations. Floyd Landis just looks like another guy out of a ride either looking to take the sport down with him, or gain vengeance on other cyclists. Let's be honest, even Jose Canseco has more credibility than Landis at this point.

So, we'll most likely brush aside these wild accusations unless some real proof shows up regarding the extent of PED use in cycling. The sport of cycling desperately needs cleaned up... but Floyd Landis ain't the guy to do it. Meanwhile, the American sporting public will sit through another drawn out steroid scandal and wonder if the end is somewhere in sight, or if this is just one more tough climb through the Alps.