zzzz wrote:
I agree with Armstrong's argument that the USPS suffered no damages and got what they wanted in terms of exposure, so I hope he wins the court case. The USPS Cycling team was highly visible through those years, and certainly got the kind of attention that that kind of advertising aspires to. They certainly got way more advertising value from winning the TDF than if the USPS was a run-of-the-mill team. And they want ALL that money back? Free, top-level advertising for years?
I disagree.
I thought it was great that the USPS invested in advertising in a competitive market by sponsoring a US based pro cycling team. Better than advertising in Playboy or with billboards IMHO.
I did not mind so much paying a little more and more for stamps and packages. I liked supporting their service because I was supporting this team.
After one of the biggest organized doping programs ever was exposed, my confidence in the ability of the US Postal Service to make sound decisions was shaken. How could they be so unprofessional so as to be deceived? What was my money being used to support? Would my letter be delivered?
Would my packages be delivered in the empty briefcases of drug runners on the return trip?
I, for one, did not want to support cheating in sports. I felt deceived by the USPS. Given the choice, I started to use other methods of shipping and I will continue to do so.
I know I am just one person, and USPS has not/will not suffer $100 mil in damages because of me alone, but there must be others like me. Yes they benefitted from the positive exposure before things blew up, but long term the association with LA is a black eye and will cost them much more than they made.
More people know about and associate LA in connection with cheating than for winning. Cheating is a bigger story than winning. I do not recall him being in Oprah just for winning. Much more media exposure for drug use than for winning.
I believe responsible parties should be punished for their actions, especially when they egregiously deceive people to gain an advantage. I do not know if this can be factored in, but I would feel much better/more confident about using USPS if they are successful in making responsible parties accountable.
I believe that if USPS does not pursue this, it could indicate that they had knowledge of and condoned the actions of LA.