GL's position as 'elder statesman' has always seemed a bit odd to me. It's not like all the US riders who came after hold him in awe, as riders from other countries do their predecessors.
They certainly give him props for paving the way - Landis, et al, have said that the current crop of US riders were inspired as they watched him compete in the Tour. But he was gone from the scene long before these 30-somethings arrived and started making a name for themselves, rode (by necessity) on a European team, didn't have much of a winning personality, etc.
He was a bit before his time, and perhaps conciousness of the seminal role he played in the ascent of American racing was lost in the period between his wins & the later dominance & fame of US Postal / DSC / Lance, etc....
This is making me absolutely sick. Everywhere you look Landis' picture is on the cover of a newspaper with the "doping" headline. Most people don't pay enough attention to know what is going on so even if he is totally cleared this week, the stain remains. For someone as squeaky clean as him, it is terrible. I just hope they catch the creep that released the results from the A sample. Regardless of how this all turns out, that was unconscionable!