Paul Kimmage Defense Fund

He's tweeting like there's no tomorrow.
Irreverent as hell and very entertaining.

David Walsh of the Sunday Times has tweeted tha Tyler Hamilton has agreed to auctio memoribelia to help the Paul Kimmage Defence Fund.

The snowball keeps rolling.

Both the Kimmage family and the McQuaid family were from Dublin. Both families were entrenched in cycling. Fathers, brothers and cousins would have raced against each other. Pretty small world back then I imagine. Not sure if Kimmage and McQuaid actually raced against each other (Kimmage's father might have) but McQuaid would have been director of the Irish squad when Kimmage was cycling, so their histories go way, way back.

To say there's 'a bit of history' would be an understatement.

@GregLeMond has now shown support for this via twitter:

"This is an unjust action against a great person and one of the best journalists in the world. Let's support Paul.http://t.co/upZ813tv"

The snowball keeps rolling.

I think the odds that the UCI suddenly drop this might be shortening.
This could be the story that the media start focusing on - more than USADA v UCI.
There's a lot more human interest here and a ton of history.

The fund currently stands at $36,000 with just over 1000 contributors.

Comments from contributors here:
http://cyclismas.chipin.com/contributors/public/id/4db2e4ecaa6ad4fd

Some funny, some…er… strange but by and large a very positive reaction.

Just updating the thread:
Kimmage interview on Velonation as the defense fund tops $40,000 and 1200 contributors.

www.velonation.com/News/ID/12947/Kimmage-selecting-legal-defence-backing...

Latest update from Red Kite Prayer:

The legalities of the UCI's case and how Kimmage might proceed.

http://redkiteprayer.com/2012/09/the-explainer-of-being-fools-etc/

David Walsh on the detail contained in USADA's case against US. Postal

http://www.scribd.com/doc/108440794/Walsh-ST

A bit more background to the current case.
Kimmage interview from 2011.

http://soundcloud.com/cycling-central/kimmage-revisited-anthony-tan

Dick Pound, former head of WADA, gives his opinion of the UCI's recent spate of lawsuits.
Pound himself went through a similar experience with the UCI in recent years and was forced to make a 'public apology'.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12997/Richard-Pound-Interview-The-Kimm...

Just updating this thread for the record.

The UCI in a recent management meeting decided to suspend this lawsuit.
Rather than the UCI seeing them selves as heavy handed and a bit over the top, other factors were at play.

The open letter to Pat McQuaid (UCI chief) by Greg LeMond a few days previously, where LeMond asked everyone to join him in 'telling Pat McQuaid to fuck off' and subsequently urged everyone to support Kimmage's defense fund more than likely had some bearing.

The fund going from $36,000 at the end of September to just shy of $90,000 presently has also had some bearing.

McQuaid and Kimmage are ex cyclists (Kimmage going on to professional). Both from the same town. When this started McQuaid looked over his shoulder and saw his arch critic, Kimmage in trouble. He'd lost his job at the Sunday Times and therefore his platform. lost his income and therefore would have no means to fight a court case. Like all good racers do, he attacked. It was his best opportunity in 20 years to put Kimmage's back in his box.

Kimmage's was lucky enough to grab a few wheels (Cyclismas and NYVelocity) and slowly but surely bring himself back up through the group with the aid of thousands of cyclists also fed up with the UCI's actions over the past 20 years.

Just an hour ago Kimmage's pulled level. Looking across and see his old foe in trouble he has now launched his own attack. He is using the fund to counter sue the UCI (McQuaid). He has just tweeted ”unleash hell'.

It's all about cycling.

Some clarification.

The Kimmage fund was set up as a ”defence fund".
The nature of the case has changed with Kimmage now going on the "offense"

He has just clarified that none of the donations so far have been used.
All donators will be contacted - if they are not happy with the way the fund may now be used, then they will receive a full refund.

Just updating this for any future reference.

Via Twitter and with the financial aid of Jamie Fuller, owner of SKINS compression wear, a group of 'interested parties' now known as Change Cycling Now - http://www.changecyclingnow.org/ held a conference in London in December. In attendance we Kimmage, colleague David Walsh, Greg LeMond, Michael Ashdenden and others: http://www.changecyclingnow.org/attendees

The two day conference resulted in a "Charter of the Willing" - http://www.changecyclingnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Charter-of-th... and Greg LeMond offering to stand as "Interim President" of the UCI if Pat McQuaid stepped down, more symbolic gesture than a serious strategic move against McQuaid.

McQuaid dismissed the groups and it's findings: http://road.cc/content/news/72115-mcquaid-judge-cycling-london-2012-not-...

Whether or not Change Cycling Now can sustain momentum and build on their first conference is very much in question with only 4820 having signed their petition as I type.

Whether Kimmage has a valid case against the UCI should be decided by the end of 2012.

S

Update: Kimmage reckons Change Cycling Now has been a "load of hot air" as Pat McQuaid has been once again nominated by Cycling Ireland as UCI president. 1 board member Anto Moran, VP, resigns post in protest.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kimmage-angered-by-cycling-irelands-supp...

New documentary about Kimmage due for release in late 2013 early 2014. Trailer here:
http://vimeo.com/58740295

I feel wedded to this thread now. Sickness and health. Richer or poorer.

Update: Cycling Ireland recently endorsed Pat McQuaid as candidate for UCI president.
One board member, Anto Moran resigned on protest.
It now transpires that protocol may not have been followed. The notion to call an EGM allowing all members a vote, may not have been given proper consideration. In a rush all secretaries of CI. Clubs are being contacted and urged to call for an EGM before 5pm tomorrow when the board reconvene to discuss the matter. If found to be in breach of protocol then McQuaid's endorsement won't stand and it may go to members vote.

It's the story that keeps writing itself.

UPDATE: Enough clubs have voted in the small time frame to force an Cycling Ireland EGM.

Statement: "Cycling Ireland at a meeting of its Board on April 26th decided to convene an EGM to consider matters which have arisen following the decision taken at its Board meeting on April 12th, to nominate Mr Pat McQuaid to stand for the position of UCI President.
Details of the EGM will be circulated to all clubs early next week.
For and on behalf of the Board of Cycling Ireland,
Geoff Liffey,
Company Secretary.
26th of April 2013

UPDATE

And the thread comes full circle.
The Paul Kimmage Defense Fund has gone missing.
The people responsible for setting up the fund have fallen out - Aaron Brown aka UCI Overlord, who's bank account the money was 'resting' in, has failed to give a reasonable explanation to Lesli Cohen (Brown's business partner at Cyclismas) as to the whereabouts of the fund.

Brown says all will be revealed.
A very ignoble conclusion to a very noble cause? We'll see. I guess it's not over by a long shot.
Will McQuaid spot another weakness and move in on Kimmage again?
Will another fund be set up?
Does anyone care anymore?
Tune in for the next instalment of THE PAUL KIMMAGE DEFENSE FUND!!!!!

http://m.cyclingnews.com/news/has-the-paul-kimmage-defense-fund-disappeared

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/05/news/questions-over-funds-dog-twi...

http://road.cc/content/news/82358-mystery-over-whereabouts-paul-kimmage-...

Interview 'clips' with Aaron Brown released on line.
No sure of the context here or what the source is, could be edited out of context.
The fund is still missing/unaccounted for.

https://soundcloud.com/uci_overdrawn

SKINS chairman, responsible for the Change Cycling Now conference in 2012 has agreed to underwrite any legal costs Kimmage might incur while the "Defense Fund" is in limbo.

http://nyvelocity.com/content/features/2013/skins-underwrite-kimmage-leg...