EXTRA LETTERS: On Levi Leipheimer

<p class="bold allcaps">Forgive and move on</p> <p>EDITOR: I don't think anyone who follows professional cycling is very surprised about Levi Leipheimer's involvement in the doping scandal. It is a huge disappointment and yet another example of how the desire to win at all costs can lead to some pretty profound losses.</p><p>I hope, as a community, we can recognize this for what it is, a mistake, and an opportunity for understanding. Nobody should support or excuse doping as a means to compete at a higher level in professional sports. However, his bad choices shouldn't diminish what his other achievements are and will be.</p><p>Leipheimer's commitment to the sport, his hard work and focus, his contributions to this community and, most of all, his admission of guilt and willingness to try to right the wrong are all worthy endeavors. I hope we can do for him what we have done for ourselves and those we love when life-altering mistakes are made: forgive and move on.</p><p>Let's concentrate on the good that will come from this and continue to support all that is positive about Leipheimer's contribution to our community. Publicly recognizing the problem, admitting his involvement as a mistake for the sport, and for himself, and working to change that aspect of cycling is the win we should celebrate.</p><p>GENIE DELLES</p><p><i>Santa Rosa</i></p><h3>Just another cheater</h3> <p>EDITOR: Like Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and probably all the other guys who cheated their way through all the world's best biking events do good things and have redeeming qualities. Thank you all for any service you can provide to others. That, unfortunately, does not let you off the hook for the way in which you conducted business.</p><p>Leipheimer and the others are cheaters, drug abusers, liars and men willing to become turncoats against Armstrong (who needs to face his music as well). In return for providing damning evidence, they were “outed” and received a slap on the wrist, a six-month off-season suspension.</p><p>Is Leiphimer going to write a book for money to relate all of these sad tales? I hope not.</p><p>PATRICK LAHERTY</p><p><i>Sebastopol</i</p>