Saw this letter in the latest issue of Outside Magazine, in response to Tilin's story. Discuss.

Outside Fall-out

I still haven't read the article yet, but apparently others have, and I'd like to thank those kind souls who've actually sent me positive comments or words of encouragement since "Vanishing" appeared in Outside Magazine.

I read the article, and as suspected the it is a classic hatchet job, which included taking three words out of a two sentence quote and completely misrepresenting the context in which they were uttered. A strange combination of truth and manipulation in an attempt by the author to fit my interview into his pre-ordained story line.

Nonetheless, I don't get why people are focusing on my sanity or whether or not I rode the Tour de France. My roommate rode four Tours of Italy, another teammate won a stage in the Vuelta...it's not like this shit isn't real, people.

Update

1. I'm not dead yet, despite what Mike Dropkin wishes (quote from an email received from Mike on 5/8/08: "Joe Papp is a evil, scheming, piece of sh*t. I hope to f*ck he kills himself. I encourage him strongly to do so.").

2. The Outside Magazine article was published in the June issue, which has yet to hit newsstands, though it was delivered to subscribers this past week. I haven't seen the article yet, though I suspect that it could misrepresent the reality of my situation, given what I consider to be the devious behavior of the freelancer who wrote the piece took.

3. Stupid comments that are laced with profanity and generally foul won't be published as part of the post they were directed towards. Rather, someone will cut and paste them into the Madhouse.