The kiss of death???
DISCLAIMER: I am not accusing anyone in this post but myself of “ASS-(of)-U-(and)-ME”…..assuming in another. By the way any of you assholes out there that accuse me of taking performance enhancing ROCKET SAUCE can…in the words of Double D “HAVE A DAY!” now read on please……………………………..
I was wondering when this photo would get circulated through the peloton blogs/cycling cyberspace and end up coming back to haunt me. You want the story well here goes…..
So there is this guy named Kayle Leogrande that a friend introduces me to back in the late summer of 2006. Well Kayle seemed like a great guy and pretty damn funny, so I do not mind talking with him at all. Kayle mentions that he is very interested in winning the up coming Elite Criterium Nationals in Downers Grove and asks me for some advice as I won the Elite title in 05. I talk with Kayle a few times and attempt to help calm his nerves about the big race while providing him with all the “in the race tactics” that I can think really helped me to achieve my dream of winning crit nationals. NEVER NEVER ONCE was there talk about anything else but actually racing our bikes. So the big race day comes and I find out that Kayle actually won the Elite race, he achieved everything we had talked about on the phone so many times and I was ecstatic for him. Now I have to use my own race advice to hopefully achieve my dream of winning back to back Criterium Championship titles….although not Elite/Elite but Elite/PRO! With amazing team work and some pretty damn good riding on my part I was able to achieve my personal dream of winning….well best placed American which still gets me the Championship Jersey. At this point I can not believe what is going on, the fact that both Kayle and I won, just like we talked about would be so crazy if it actually did. So I see Kayle as I am heading up to….no shit…..doping control….and I give him the biggest hug and we both are beaming with glee with what we had done. So his girl friend starts to take our picture and me being me I just reach over and gave Kayle a big kiss.
Kayle went along with it well…actually his girl friend was a little more freaked out than he was. So that is how the kiss came about.
Since then Kayle has been under direct fire, several of my friends kept asking me why in the hell I was even talking with that guy and/or calling him my quote un quote friend when he obviously lied to me, and probably much more than I or we even know. So am I upset with all that has come up over Kayle? YES! Have I confronted to him (via phone) about certain information that I heard concerning him? YES! Did he understand why I would be so upset with my name be involved with his if all the information comes out as true? YES! Am I still pissed? YES! Have I expressed my anger to my close friends? YES! Am I happy with his choices (if they are correct)? NO!!! Although you know what, after talking with Kayle (not recently, but several several months ago) I really feel for the guy. We talked about how quick people are to point the finger, how quick they are to judge, how terrible this sport of cycling can be on the mind, how much cycling requires of an individual, how unfair it is how certain individuals in the sporting world (not just cycling) are considered GOD’s even though they have been slapped on the wrist once, twice, or even more times than that, and what are we really doing wearing all this spandex anyways? So is Kayle on my shit list? YES! Would or will I still be Kayle’s friend? ohhh this is a tough one….yes…..because well…I am too nice as Friedman would say…even though I think that Kayle could care less. I really hope this helps shed some light on Kayle Leogrande and myself?
February 27th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Yentas.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Brad, you’re all good man. I wouldn’t sweat a thing, there is no such thing as guilty by association. If everyone was judged by the company they keep, we would have all done jail time at one point or another. Keep rolling, and making Missouri proud.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:55 am
I am a little hot after the photo. I was barely able to finish the story below the pic. Who cares if you are still friends. Everyone that rides at the pro level is friends with a doper or a reformed doper. Your old team acts like everyone else is below them, but they hired a reformed doper. DM just got caught and now he condemns those that do it so he is now cool for everyone to associate with. It is like a pornstar making a lot of money from doing movies and then quitting the biz and then looking down on the industry.
Stay clean and no one can touch you unless you get tested in France. Then who knows what will happen. They might tell you that you are about to start menopause.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:30 am
would you be my friend? Maybe our picture with my Panda will surface
February 27th, 2008 at 11:15 am
will you be my friend? Maybe I will even post the pictures of us with Shin Shin the Panda!
February 27th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I believe in second chances. Maybe even more. But, Kayle’s behavior has nothing to do with you. You didn’t make any decisions for him. I’m tired of cyclists getting the “mark of Cain” when they get caught and do their time. That’s why I’m not throwing rocks at Rock Racing. Michael Ball may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he believes in giving guys jobs after they had their suspensions.
Your former team, I still love (after all, some of my VERY favorite racers are on that team; except for one!) But I can’t abide this “holier than thou” attitude. Who hasn’t made a decision, and then had to pay the price for it??
I will say I love the picture! It’s so cute! And Phillup Holes is right about France!!
February 27th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Oh I forgot to tell you how AWESOME you look in the GT bicycles ad!!! I must get that autographed the next time I get to see you!!! And I love this year’s JB kits!!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Can I have a kiss too???
February 27th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I guess it’s good that you give your side, but I can see where you don’t need to talk about these things… although I can guess it is on your mind and bothers you more than you imply, even here. I just wish you’d put your valuable energy into moving forward… gaining ground on your important goals and objectives, not spending time over stuff that has passed. Whatever the deal there, things are gonna be what they are gonna be…. be true to yourself. PS - Don’t let your videos out either….
February 27th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Millar didn’t test positive but it wasn’t exactly his choice to come forward:
http://www.velonews.com/article/6353:
The Scottish rider had been held in police custody for 48 hours after being picked up an a restaurant on Tuesday in Biarritz, France. Police sources have confirmed that empty vials of Eprex (EPO) were found during a search of Millar’s home, and Millar is said to have admitted during questioning that he has taken the banned blood booster, according to a police official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Brad… Breath deep, use heaps of mouthwash, everything is fine… ahhhhh
February 27th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
hum,there is so much to get caught up in cycling with these days besides just going on riding/racing your bike. Even though it’s a fun photo- you know who you are, why you ride and your natural talent- dont listen or put up with the other bullshit! Anyways- I liked your last post about Zirbel! Now there’s a cool guy.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:24 am
See… we [your faithful followers] want stuff going forward, not old Chi-town reruns/clarifications.
So does this mean you’re coaching over the phone…? man, I know a “few” who could so really use a little “ringy-dingy” from someone who know’s what’s up.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Just imagining Friedman’s story about a dude that called himself Jack Mehogoff while making a presentation has me laughing in pain.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Brad -
I’ve been following you for awhile now and happen to think you’re very talented and your sense of humor, great spirit, and friendship with Mike are what got me hooked into wishing you the best. I came across a video and if you have about 11 minutes, I think it might be a motivational, “get focused on what’s important” clip worth the watch. I’m almost sad to read so much focus on things out of your control when you’ve got the talent, vigor, and certainly the heart for the hard work to be amazing this year. I hope you take a look as I for one would love nothing more to see a glimpse of the rider and person that hooked me into being his fan… http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw
February 28th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
You already have the dedication. Use this to make you ride harder. We all believe in you.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Sure am proud of you, hoping rehab is going well. Reload and go again,I’ll pray for your success.
February 29th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Brad,
We hope things in your world are going well. Thanks for taking the time to keep us fans up-to-date! We wish you the best on your healing.
Pray for “Right Action”. It is amazing how it will come to you!
Best,
Your fans from KY
Larry, Terri and Mark
February 29th, 2008 at 11:28 am
As my friend says “Don’t Hate - hating is for haters - let them BITCHES do their Job…”
Don’t sweat it. Move the fuck on. The best way to combat doping is to win clean, which is what you do. Now after looking at that pic I need to go watch Top Gun about seven times to scrub the geighness off. LOL
February 29th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Back to what’s really wrong with that photo…your lips are touching his. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…well, except, your girl is going to be pissed.
March 1st, 2008 at 11:43 am
Brad, nobody that knows anything thinks anything ‘bad’ about you. No worries! Keep your head up!