Who the heck is Rock Racing?

Back in the late 80's and early 90's there was another group of out casts only this time in the NBA, who were known as the 'Motor City Bad Boys' the Detroit pistons. These guys were the hardest playing, most intimidating and outrageous guys who were hoopin' at that time. This intercity led to back-to-back championships , 1989 and 1990. The roster had the guys that didn't fit anywhere else like Dennis Roddman and Bill Laimbeer.
Now we have Rock Racing as the 'Bad boys' of cycling and they have their pictures and articles in alot of November cycling mags...why? These guys are surrounded by controversy so why all the media hype? I mean if they are doping and are not good guys why do we Americans like these guys?
First I want to give a little back round on the founder and fearless leader Michael Ball. Michael was a cyclist who had a flare for fashion design and turned that into a small empire built on denim. His clothing line is known as Rock and Republic and is doing well with high end retail stores, boutiques and his own outlets. So he set out in 2007 to get his idea on cycling off the drafting board and into the UCI world of competition...with his own money I might add. A rebel who puts his money where his mouth is, we Americans and many independent thinkers of the world can back that up weather we admit it or not.
Now here is this guy with an idea and some venture capitol and he creates this team but needs cyclists. Starting a team has got to be a huge challenge since the life span of many teams is short even for the high rollers. Then there is the subject of paychecks and will they be cashable every month and so on. Astana had that problem last year and look at their situation with the UCI now, precarious.
Rock Racing got of to a good start on the legs of it's star Rahsaan Bahati. Then in 2008 they did well with the addition of some big guns in bodied by Santiago Botero, Tyler Hamilton and Oscar Sevilla. With this new life blood and the drive of Michael 2008 was a winning season. Although hampered by doping in the earlier career of some of the Rocks cyclist  the addition of an independent testing has keep these guys on the road and off the bench.
2009  was a banner year for this team of rebels. They did a great job in the western hemisphere and got the media to take another look at them as a real contender and an up and comer. Good job guys! You know I bet if the 89-90 Detroit Pistons could say something to them I'm sure it would be , "screw'em, winners make the rules losers go home and cry!"
Any further base info can be found @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Racing#2008_Season or their own site http://www.rockracing.com/ .
Remember if I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying! Thats my rule.