Sarah Palin rumored to consider Alaskan sponsorship for Amore & Vita

by Tiki on Nov 30, 2008 7:09 AM EST

Hot off the wire: Will the former Italy-based cycling team sponsored by the Vatican as a way to promote and publicize the pro-life politics of the Church wear the Blue-and-Gold of the 49th state? Protestant fundamentalist governor Sarah Palin is said to be considering the move largely because her husband Larry or Ted (something like that) has taken up MTB riding in the off-season (Ted or Larry is a professional ski mobiler... no seriously, he is). News conference planned from Juneau on Monday.

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I can see the bike race from my house

by Sui Juris on Nov 30, 2008 10:17 AM EST reply actions

Hot off of what wire?

What’s the source of this “hot off the wire” rumor? Are we talkin’ like a wire between soup cans in the secret clubhouse after school? ;)

-Greg

by gregm on Dec 1, 2008 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

OK

I’m ready to label this one a hoax. Good thing too, I’d hate to see us break down the separation between church and… church.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 1, 2008 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

ya think?

I see no named source. No source, no story.

by Jen See on Dec 1, 2008 8:30 PM EST up reply actions

That Tiki

is a bit of a trickster. Trust me on that one.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 1, 2008 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

lol, well, it definitely made me chuckle :-)

So it’s all good.

by Jen See on Dec 1, 2008 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

is this for real?

Is there a link??

Also, dear god no.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Nov 30, 2008 10:37 AM EST reply actions

Let's see: which one of these is not like the others?

Oil revenues way down? Check.
In the middle of a severe recession? Check.
State has to scramble to make ends meet? Check.
Hubby likes to play with bikes? Hmm.

"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it."- H. L. Mencken

by ursula on Nov 30, 2008 11:31 AM EST reply actions

Nooooo more Palin!

now she want’s to get involved in cycling? This women is seriously out to ruin my life. She must not realize you don’t go shooting innocent moose that you don’t even eat, from bikes. Also mtb is not road cycling, not even close! Plus cycling should not get involved at all with religion, religious issues have no place in pro sports.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 30, 2008 12:24 PM EST reply actions

You mean you've never pray to god (any of them)

before or during a race?

;-)

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew Davis on Nov 30, 2008 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

why not?

Why is it that only corporate entities or government agencies can sponsor cycling teams? (btw, Amore & Vita has been sponsored by the Pope/Catholic Church for years),

And while I agree with John Spong that praying to a tribal god for victory over another group of people is barbaric, that doesn’t mean I can’t conceive of a place for religious concerns in pro athletics. (I mean, after all, isn’t pro athletics really little other than a series of quasi-religious cults with odd rituals of belonging and transcendence?)

(And besides, I couldn’t find a source for this, although I didn’t really look that hard).

by R Mc on Nov 30, 2008 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

Issues such as abortion and gay marriage have nothing to do with sports

and the Vatican was trying to get people to shift views on the issue of abortion. I don’t care if someone is religious and if they thank their God after they compete. But IMO it isn’t right for religious groups to try to spread their beliefs through sports, just as they aren’t supposed to be allowed to spread their beliefs through government(although it happens all the time). I mean it’s a breach against separation of Church and Sport :)

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 30, 2008 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

I was on the Alpe d'Huez in '99

That means I’m qualified to ride for a PT team, right?

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew Davis on Nov 30, 2008 1:39 PM EST reply actions

as much as she was qualified, yes.

by Sui Juris on Nov 30, 2008 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

I, for one, welcome Alaska's money

It’s time they actually contributed something to society.

by Sui Juris on Nov 30, 2008 4:25 PM EST reply actions

Excuse me

they have given us the lovely “bridge to nowhere” They have also given comedians a lot of good material. And Polar Bears! :)

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 30, 2008 4:30 PM EST up reply actions

and they've given Federal prosecutors lots of work

so I suppose they’re contributing to the economy.

Seriously, I’ve never been (only state I’ve got left), but Alaska strikes me as much a strange and different land as Louisiana. Of course, I totally want to go check it out. But if I hear anyone talk about how it’s a land of self made and self sufficient people, I’ll go to town on it.

by Sui Juris on Nov 30, 2008 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

It does seem very creepy

just the number of high rape cases is scary in its self. I guess it’s tough to live out there. Not much to do and very far way from most of US society. Unlike Hawaii it’s a cold and dark place(or nether dark, depending on the season).

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 30, 2008 4:42 PM EST up reply actions

Alaska is strange and wonderful

and completely unlike any other state in the union. I lived in Alaska for twelve years, and I had the time of my life up there. The hiking and mountain biking are out of this world.

by Susie Hartigan on Nov 30, 2008 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

It does seem like a beautiful place

but it’s the things that go on in the smaller towns, like Wasil,,,oh never mind, that seem sort of freakish. But I’m sure the good majority of Alaskans are very nice people.

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Nov 30, 2008 8:21 PM EST up reply actions

Sui, are you calling them socialists?

:-)

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew Davis on Dec 1, 2008 6:59 AM EST up reply actions

Oy

Not a fan of cultural wedge issues, or of elected officials mixing business and family. And I really don’t want to talk politics after every race. So if this is real, hopefully they’ll dump their money on the sport and stay the fuck out of the way. There are a lot of sponsors in cycling and I doubt few people can say they actively approve of every last one of them. But if they can be sponsors without shouting at me about whatever their agenda is, that’ll do.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 1, 2008 12:26 AM EST reply actions

The only good thing that can come from this

is that CNN will start showing the Giro and other races live. Huh how about it, who doesn’t want to hear Wolf Blitzer commentating a pro cycling race?

"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt

by Phil H. on Dec 1, 2008 12:51 AM EST reply actions