Spin Explanation On David Witt's Suicide

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

He was stressed over the opening of his restaurant earlier this year. Yep....that's certainly the cause. We all know how stressful it is when you're rich and open a second restaurant...it's a traumatic experience. I remember the time when I opened my second restaurant. So much stress that I just wanted to put a bullet through my head.

But at least Landis knows he's innocent. Good thing, since he doesn't need to harbor any blame for this tragic event.

I'm sorry, but I still say there's a connection, and I still say that Landis cheated and thought he could get away with it. Then he did what any true Amerikan would....he lied and tried to cover it up by thinking up any number of possible explanations.


"The Landises are devastated by the news of David's death," family spokesman Michael Henson told The Associated Press. "They loved him dearly, and they miss him."

Witt was the stepfather of Landis' wife, Amber.

Landis' close friend, Dwight van Slyke, said he did not believe the recent doping allegations against the cyclist directly led to the suicide.

"It could have been a few percentages of the whole maybe, or just another negative thing that he was depressed over," said van Slyke, adding Witt had also been struggling under the strain of opening a new restaurant earlier this year.

An avid amateur cyclist, Witt met Landis through a mutual coach in 1998 and at one point the two shared an apartment in San Diego, Henson said. It was Witt who introduced Landis to his future wife and has been credited with introducing Landis - a former mountain biker - to the world of road racing.

Witt and Landis served as best man at each other's weddings, Henson said. Witt married Amber Landis' mother Rose, a schoolteacher, a short time after the younger couple married in 2000.

[Demobrat]

1. People actually think he killed himself

because his son-in-law was accused of cheating? Wow.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

2. Are You Being Sarcastic?

Not just accused of cheating, mind you.

Kicked Off His Biking Team, which is a HUGE embarassment.

First Tour De France Winner In 130+ Yr. History To Have Title STRIPPED. No biggie.

Banned From Professional Cycling For Up To 4 Years. An eternity for a cyclist, and death sentence in terms of his career.


Yeah....these are minor inconveniences.

He knew the truth, and as Jack Nicholson would say....he couldn't handle it. The son-in-law he had believed in, trusted, publicly supported, introduced to his daughter.....had CHEATED. He probably felt there was no other way out of the nightmare which would not go away, especially given that he may have found out the truth.

[Demobrat]

4. Or maybe he had terminal cancer.

The actual cheater offing himself I could see. But to blame him for the suicide of a relative is inferring a bit much.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

5. Terminal Cancer?

At least that's a better excuse than he was stressed over his brand new second restaurant opening earlier this year.

Somehow I don't buy that one. Anyways, whatever it is, he's dead now, and only the Landis family knows the true reason.

Now that he's been kicked off his team, had his Tour title stripped away in disgrace, been banned from competing for 4 years, and has his father-in-law commit suicide....I wonder what's next for Mr. Landis.

I give his marriage a couple of years at best. If he truly, honestly didn't cheat.....then I feel trendously sorry for him. But it just looks to me like he's another lying, cheating, do ANYTHING to win, American.

[Demobrat]

6. Oh I don't disagree with that.

I just think it's a stretch to blame him for his father-in-law's suicide when we have no idea what was going on with the poor man. Maybe he did have a terminal illness. Maybe his wife told him she wanted a divorce. Maybe he was in debt up to his eyeballs and about to lose everything. We have no idea.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

7. I've Just Grown To Dislike Public Heroes Who Cheat & Lie

This win at all costs mentality disgusts me. I just have no respect for people who would rather win through cheating, than lose honestly. Kind of like our King.

Win something fair and square god damnit! All these athletes taking steroids, etc., figuring it's the one final ingredient to put them over the top.

Hey! If you can't get to the top on your own, then you DON'T DESERVE TO BE THERE! Then, even when you get caught, DENY DENY DENY. It's your only chance to save face. Besides, enough people will buy whatever you say, so at least you'll have some people thinking you were legit.

To me, it's simple. This was a man who had everything to live for. Sure, we don't know other circumstances, and maybe never will, but look at it on it's face. Suicide may be a tricky thing, but it's pretty uncommon. People like him, with so much going for himself, do not put a gun in their mouth because of a divorce. Or because of financial problems....of which he had none. The guy opened a second restaurant for god's sake. Doesn't sound to me like a person who has deep financial woes. A couple of weeks ago he was flying to France so he could be at the finish line. A couple of weeks ago he was strongly supporting Floyd.

Something happened to change his view, and depress him enough to take his own life.

And to say Landis should be the one contemplating suicide if he knows he cheated....I don't buy that either. The majority of cheaters and liars would not admit defeat, and would continue lying for as long as necessary.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. I'm with you.

Ridiculous.

[acmejack]

8. I don't think any of us have the right to lay it on his doorstep.

Pretty damned presumptuous, IMO. But let your conscience be your guide.

[WinkyDink]

9. I guess he didn't stop to think how embarrassing his suicide would be

for his step-daughter!