FLCC> ESG qualifiers - Cookies Crumbling ?

Tue Jun 3 10:01:36 EDT 2008

 Well Stated Karen!!!!  Thank you!

-------Original Message-------

From: Holm, Karen
Date: 06/03/08 09:18:38
To: Cameron Cogburn; Matt Plumb
Cc: mgarcia at borgwarner.com; cookies at icycle.org; tvc at yahogroups.com;
FLCC at icycle.org
Subject: Re: FLCC> ESG qualifiers - Cookies Crumbling ?

As one of the volunteers and officials for the ESG Qualifiers, I would like
to offer my viewpoint on the disqualification of the two riders and
hopefully end this painful discussion:

1)       Rules were distributed via email by the ESG Coach for our region,
Margaret Thompson, prior to the event. These same qualification rules are
listed on the ESG website. The ESG rules state explicitly that only 2 forms
of ID are acceptable, a drivers license listing home address or student id
for juniors. The riders refused to show their drivers license for various
reasons like “I don’t have my wallet” or  “I rode down with someone else”.
Margaret asked if they were currently enrolled in school and the response
was “no not this semester” and “I’m doing independent study”.  A racing
license does not offer proof of residency, only the state is listed. Only
later did the cyclists admit that their residency was Long Island and that
was the address listed on their drivers licenses. 

2)       ESG is not about fielding the “best team” or “dream team”, whatever
that means. It’s about representing your region at the games which is an
honor. By replacing our local racers with out-of-region riders (in this case
from Long Island), we are not fielding our “best team”, we are fielding a
Long Island team. We are denying our region’s riders their chance to compete
and risking expulsion of the entire team (mens & womens) from the games. I’m
not as familiar with the athletes chosen for the mens team but I do know the
women. I’m excited about the athletes we are sending to the games.

3)       Most of us know Margaret to be serious athlete and competitor, as
well as a well-respected official and professional coach. I’d like to ask
the ESG competitors to be supportive of Margaret and the difficult decisions
she has had to make. For any of the race participants to refer to Margaret
as a “ESG bureaucrat” only shows their ignorance of her credentials and
racing legacy.

We can continue to spend endless hours trying to soothe egos via email but
these riders need to take some responsibility for the days events. Maybe the
race officials would have come to a different conclusion had the riders been
more forthcoming with identification or had arrived before the ESG field had
left for the Time Trial. Instead the TimeTrial Start was held up due to the
riders late arrival after registration had closed for the ESG events.  And
as a result the following races also started and finished late making for a
long day for the volunteers and officials. And yet, I have not heard one
complaint from those athletes who gave up their time to prepare for and
staff the days races. Nor have I heard many thank-you's.

karen

Karen Holm
Staff Database Architect
Lockheed Martin EIS
607-725-4492 (mobile)
607-741-2240 (office)

-----Original Message-----
From: flcc-bounces at icycle.org [mailto:flcc-bounces at icycle.org] On Behalf Of
Cameron Cogburn
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 7:42 PM
To: Matt Plumb
Cc: cookies at icycle.org; mgarcia at borgwarner.com; FLCC at icycle.org
Subject: Re: FLCC> ESG qualifiers - Cookies Crumbling ?

I was canned as well - not having a New York state driver's license was my
downfall. But there will be plenty of more opportunities for the Cookie's to
be seen on the podium and I look forward to racing with everyone through the
rest of summer. After 2 weeks of essentially no biking because of
parents/graduation and then a nasty virus, I was left riding the weakest and
most conservatively I have all season at the qualifiers. All the fitness has
come back quickly though, and I look forward to using this week to train
hard in the mountains and put Cookies on the podium this weekend at the
Settlers Life Omnium in Tennessee. The finishing climb for the RR is an 8
mile 7% average finishing at Carvers Gap at 5512'. This is what it's all
about. See you guys next week. 
-Cameron

On Jun 2, 2008, at 4:45 PM, Matt Plumb wrote:

                I know what it would have been.  10 yellow and orange
jerseys up the road at the games! 

                 As far as getting kicked out of the qualifier, as Brian
said and I certainly took the time to express to the race promoter, I'm very
disappointed.  Not only because I felt several of us were unduly treated,
but also because I'd have had a great time riding with you guys. But any how
 no worries. I've got faith and know you guys will ace it. 

                On the plus side Brian and I got to beat up on each other
for a couple of hours yesterday (we warmed up and used our little rings
occasionally for that so it was a little more fun than the fall out of car,
get yelled at, Red Bull and muffins way too close to start time, get DQ'ed
TT). Also saved a bit of energy to carry me through a long, hilly ridiculous
ride this morning.  

                Any how, my legs are coming right along and am very much
enjoying my summer riding around Ithaca with y'all.  Doing a couple races
the following weekends to prep for Fitchburg and hope to see lots of you out
for Balloon fest this coming weekend (if not, go help out at ESG
Seniors!!!!).  Balloon Fest is a great race and worth the drive.  I'm
probably heading out with Brian friday and we'll probably be looking to
split a super 8 close to the start so let me know if you going/interested. 

               Also, as far as the "Cookies Crumbling" insinuation goes, we
ve got an awesome team heading out to big races this year. So "crumbling",
plainly I'd say not.  I'm out riding with these guys all the time and we've
actually got a big batch of those sheet pan sized, 1000kcal frozen Gorilla
cookies that are about ready to be taken out of the oven. 

            Congrats to the qualifiers! 

            Matt 

            -----Original Message-----
            From: mgarcia at borgwarner.com
            To: flcc at icycle.org
            Sent: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 2:45 pm
            Subject: FLCC> ESG qualifiers - Cookies Crumbling ?

            Maybe Bill Lodico can take up our cause and help us appeal to
CAS?
            I hear they will be finishing up with the Landis case soon.

            All kidding aside, I agree with Glenn that we are left wondering
            what might have been with the "Dream Team" .

            -Ano

            > We might have been even more prevalent if it were not for the
fact
            that bureaucratic 
            > elements stepped in and voided perhaps three of our strongest
Cookies 
            > riders. I am disappointed that Matt Plumb, Brian Lawney, and
perhaps 
            > Cameron Cogburn as well, were deemed ineligible for the games
because
            of 
            > changing definitions of what constitutes proof of address
(racing
            license ? 
            > place of residence for the last number of years ? driver's
license ?
            birth 
            > certificate ? ...)

            Mariano Garcia 
            BorgWarner Morse TEC Inc.
            Ithaca Technical Center
            770 Warren Rd.    Ithaca NY 14850
            Ph: 607-266-2136 (desk) 607-266-2243 (recep)
            FAX: 607-257-5033
            email: mgarcia at borgwarner.com

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