Rock Racing - Interview with Michael Ball

[the other Steve Dennis]

Don't know how much these guys are in the news in Europe other than their suspicious signings, Tour of Cali denial and dodgy dealings with Cippollini - let alone their kit! But they are making some waves over here - winning some of the National Series and just getting in everyone's face. With the infamous Philly race this weekend Fast Freddy may well catapult Rock Racing into the headlines again.

Anyway the crew at http://www.nyvelocity.com managed to get an interview with the rock'n'roll god of cycling Michael Ball! [url]http://www.nyvelocity.com/article.aspx?ID=2276&CID=58[/url]

He almost started to win me over:
he injected cash into races including $10'000 into the Harlem Skyscraper (prizes used to be $100's),
he does speak from the hip especially about the branding,
he is passionate,
he has Fast Freddy, Bahati and Botero on his squad,
and the balls to produce that kit and charge $250 for shorts.

But then he still pisses me off because:
he disses on the work of teams like Slipstream and High Road who I guess are too Euro and understated,
sure he will punish his team's dopers but won't publicly acknowledge them, won't make them accountable to the authorities (whoever that will be)..
he is a cocky arrogant S@*t,
claims he doesn't want to make it all about doping but then signs the usual suspects that no one else will touch - I would feel better if those who are guilty admit it and serve their suspensions and come back clean,
come on - it really is all about marketing your $250 jeans isn't it Michael. Is this race the Harlem Skyscraper or will it be remembered as the Rock Racing event smothered in cheap babes and expensive trucker hats?

Anyway I just wanted to point you in the direction of the interview and then I ended up ranting without thinking.
I wait and see what responses you have.

I will be watching the Harlem race this year - it's my first Father's Day event as a Dad and I'll get to introduce Molly to some ex team mates - and I do want to see Freddy take those nasty 90degree corners across manholes at full tilt!

We'll see if that influences me further.

Steve

[Scott]

The Black and Lime Green kit rocks! My only problem is that he is a friend of Posh Spice and helped her to launch a range of Jeans. That kills the image dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!