R.I.P. Rock Racing- Rock is Dead!
by DemonCats on Mar 7, 2010 1:41 PM EST
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It seems that with all the excitement of the start of the the season and especially the start of the VDS season, we have forgotten to say Rest in Peace to that colorful band of misfits- Michael Ball and Rock Racing!
Whether you loved them or hated them, they made their presence felt! But it ended up being no more than a Potemkin team that really didn't have a good structure in place. Imagine if Dan Snyder owned Rock Racing instead of the Redskins! Shit, at least Dan Snyder puts his money where his mouth is. Something Michael Ball talked about doing, but never really quite did.
If you visit the Rock Racing website now, it takes you directly to their store! Any takers for one of those RR bikes? Anyone up for one of those TRON jerseys?
Ahhhhh. Thanks for the memories, MB!
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Wow...
Really? I don’t know how you can get like that…
Wait, nvm, I do…Evidence is Matt Decanio who went off the deep end after he admitted to drug use after being clean for a loong time.
read the interview
I’m just wondering how close to reality Mr. Ball is if he assumes that some of those guys will ride for his . . . amateur team.
Yeah...Apparently some of them will though because they got nothing else and want to keep riding
so maybe his delusion is reality
I don't follow the "highest paid amateurs" bit.
How much can you be paid to ride, and still be an amateur? (OK, literally nothing, but how about legally)?
"When we didn't get our license, what am I supposed to do? Give them free money? What do I get out of it – nothing."
Wow! Now go back to your millions and models and leave bike racing to those in the know!
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
Yes Michael
Yes you are. That’s the right thing to do asshat. You conned these guys into riding for you, then fucked up the application process. Nice job of trashing guys that rode their asses off too. I’m really glad Bahatti got his own team going this year.
"Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs."
Doesn't a rider typically sign a contract to ride for a team...
…which isn’t contingent on a particular license? I mean, I know some riders will sign only if a certain license is available, but that is more to protect the rider, not the owner. An owner, it would seem writes a contract promising payment – regardless of the license, right? They’d also have int he contract certain bonus opportunities for winning races, etc.
I get the dude’s an ass – but who would ride for him without a contract guaranteeing payment of some kind? To me, that’s stupidity…WAIT, if you signed to race for him in the first place…OK, so maybe I just answered my own question…
by JustJoshinYa on Mar 8, 2010 10:53 PM EST up reply actions
This isn’t mtb racing.
You can’t just show up to a race and do it as a pro without a registered team.
So, now these riders have no team and in order to get a on a new team in the future, they have to race to show they are competitive.
THAT is why they will use any team affiliation they can until a better opportunity comes along.
Correction...
You can show up and race as a pro without being a member of a registered team. It’s called “unattached” and it works in the pros as well as the amateur ranks.
by Chief Commissaire on Mar 9, 2010 8:48 PM EST up reply actions
What is a pro?
An unattached rider is not a pro, in my view. If you are not getting paid to race, you are not a professional racer. That said, UCI rules only allow “Mixed Teams” (of which unattached riders could be part) in races classed 1.2, 2.2 or Ncup (U23) of continental tour events.
It's Apples To Oranges
You might not be getting paid by a team, but if someone is paying you to race your bicycle, you’re a professional. Under your argument, Burke Swindlehurst isn’t a pro this year. And that’s just plain wrong.
by Chief Commissaire on Mar 11, 2010 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
Schmemantics
I don’t think he cares whether he is called a pro or not, as long as he can ride. Fine by me, let him do what he loves to do, delusional or not.
So anyway, riding unattached doesn’t work as well in the pro ranks, now does it? At least not in UCI races where you do need a team to enter and mixed teams are only allowed in the lowest category. That was what I was trying to say in my previous post.
One less mega-douche in cycling
balances out a mega-douche returning to cycling(I believe you know who).
March 14, 2010: The great one returns!
feel kinda bad for the 5 or so guys who trusted Michael Ball
or maybe i should just think them ignorant to reality as Ive been for thinking he may have a shred of decency. Tough business not for the weak of sense, Ball…go away!
I was feeling sorry for them too...
…then realized they rolled the dice with this dude and lost. I kinda expected contracts would exist to get some pay guarantees for riders, but it sounds as if Ball set it up that at any point he could walk if he wanted – f%$# the riders. Definitely don’t need him in the sport, regardless of any attention he might bring to it.
by JustJoshinYa on Mar 8, 2010 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
I beg to differ...
… that’s not what the crotch of their kit reads.
I miss Paolo Bettini. That is all.
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