~ I Believe In Floyd ~

Like many of my neighbors in Murrieta, I celebrated Floyd's spectacular victory at the 2006 Tour de France. When I heard the news that he'd tested positive for steroids, I was disappointed. But then I saw an interview Floyd and Amber gave, and realized what the feeling was that had been bugging me. I believed Floyd. So I dismissed the accusations and stopped following the story. End of subject for me. Or so I thought.

Fast forward 5 months...

I met Floyd Landis in December 2006 when I was asked to shoot a portrait of him for the New York Daily News. I spent a few hours at Floyd's house waiting for Wayne Coffey to complete his interview for the story called "After The Fall - Landis Battles To Clear His Name". While I waited, I was made to feel at home, and I talked with Will Geoghegan, Floyd's business manager and longtime friend about the doping charges they were fighting. I had the privilege of looking at some of the documents that proved Floyd's innocence, and they blew me away. I asked the $64,000 question which was "Why is this happening?"

In February 2007, I was hired to photograph a charity ride Floyd hosted to raise money for the Floyd Landis Foundation which raises money for osteoarthritis research. During that event, I met everyone and then some. Dr. Brent Kay, Floyd's personal physician; Dr. David Chau, Floyd's hip surgeon; Marc H. Colbert, the Executive Director of the Floyd Landis Foundation; Rob Roll, Cycling Hall of Fame Inductee and TdF commentator; and many others whose names escape me at the moment. I also had more time to speak with Michael Henson, Floyd's spokesman, whom I met back in December at Floyd's house, but didn't really talk to. During the day-long event, the one thing that struck me was that here is a person who is in the battle of his life, and he's out raising money for charity. Pretty cool.

Photographers by definition are professional observers. Our eyes are trained to see things the average person doesn't because that's how we make our living. Our hearts are trained to see things the average person doesn't because that's how we tell a person's story. I've looked at Floyd with my heart (every photographer reading this knows what I mean by that statement), and I've seen Floyd. Not the embattled Tour de France winner, but Floyd - the human being. I saw resolution and determination in his eyes. I saw a man willing to risk everything...everything to stand up for what he believes is right.

You see, Floyd isn't fighting only to clear his name, and I think this point has been lost in all the drama of the hearing and the media buzz. Floyd Landis took a stand for every athlete out there by standing up to the system and forcing it into the public eye. For those of you who don't know, the anti-doping conglomerate is something that most people can't fight. Unlike our justice system, an athlete isn't innocent until proven guilty. It's the other way around. Because of this, many athletes don't have the means to fight a doping accusation and have no choice but to accept a two-year suspension, and get on with their lives. It's usually the only choice they have. I get what Floyd's trying to do, and I admire him for it. For more information, please go to the Floyd Fairness Fund website.

There are people out there who will never believe in Floyd - no matter what the arbitration panel decides - and they have a right to their opinion. But I am going on record saying that I do believe in Floyd - no matter what the arbitration panel says - because I have a right to mine.

~ Jody ~