Lance Armstrong done______

[flashy bazook]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

The nice thing about biking to my mind is that it is less commercialized than many sports.

Sure there are championships and competitions, personally I pay little attention to them.

What can a normal person that likes biking learn from competitions with super expensive, carbon fiber bikes, or from people who cycle in line to reduce air friction, or from people biking at neck-breaking speeds down mountains?

If I did any of those things I wouldn't last a day.

All the noise really comes from those that make money from this particular sport, and they know that without Lance Armstrong biking was not very popular (and hence, commercialized), but with him the money through endorsements and commercials would pour in.

I am happy to see the sport go backwards and away from the TV-endorsed sport extravaganza many who profited wanted it to be, and that's what's going to happen now.

 

[SeamusORiley]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

That's really the thing which I find most disturbing here, not the fact he doped. I'll bet good money nearly everyone in every sport who competes at the professional level takes both legal and illegal substances to enhance their performance. That actually doesn't bother me much because if anything it takes these sports to a higher level than they would otherwise be. If doping does bother me at all, it's only because of the possible long-term health effects of some of these substances. Then again, nobody forces athletes to dope. If they know and are willing to take the risks, then that's their business.

What does bother me is the hypocrisy. Why sue people who say you're doping if you know it's true? Had he let it go, he may not have made so many enemies (some of whom no doubt are more than a little satisfied at the recent turn of events). You know the old saying-be nice to people on your way up because you might meet them on the way down. He ignored that, with predictable results.

Want to know how to end the doping culture for good? Make every banned substance legal (the article mentions steroids but why stop there?). Why? For starters you won't have to waste an enormous amount of resources trying to catch cheaters. As for an potential danger of some of these substances, my guess is the athletes will eventually self-regulate. As much as these athletes want to win, they also want to live happy, long, productive lives after their sporting careers are over. Once a few prominent athletes die or become incapacitated using certain performance enhancers, most of the rest won't touch them. The fact is most professional athletes are already using these substances now. Might as well get it out into open. It might even save a few lives because at least you'll know who was taking what should they suddenly die of cardiac arrest on the field.

Armstrong reportedly targeted those in the peloton who refused to dope. We also heard of those who were paid far less because they refused to dope up.

I initially bought into the "everyone was doing it" talk, and that Armstrong was just keeping a level playing field.

Then, I read the report.

Armstrong was king of the cheaters, using his money to not only influence justice, but to get the best drugs, the best testing, the best training, and clearly had an advantage over others, using or not. The best doctors were able to get him to peak performance off the drugs. It was elaborate and sophisticated.

He is a sociopathic liar who did not even tell the truth on the Oprah interview. He lied, specifically, about his son, ex and about the comeback tours. He lied about not using during these tours.

He cannot tell the truth and destroys anyone who gets in his way.

 

[TedTheLed]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

Calling dr narcissistic personality disorder..!

 

[dudemar]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

Saw the 60 Minutes clip on Armstrong. It put everything into perspective. Sometimes I feel like America is playing out like the film "The Watchmen", how those in power are not all they're built up to be.

Well before these revelations came about, Armstrong never came across as genuine to me. Maybe it was something I suspected subconsciously, but I never thought much of his accomplishments. Something about him came off as "whatever". Maybe it was the way he appeared in a film (can't remember which) and boasted his 7 Tour de France wins after being diagnosed with cancer. Does he have to star in a film and brag about it? It all seemed too good to be true. Reminds me of Manny Pacquiao's gains in weight class despite getting older.

 

[beerwax]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

ive really enjoyed the 'tour de france' for a great many years, its made my life richer.
this 'armstrong' thing just reinforces that we have never had and probably never can have a drug free tour.
on reflection, and on balance, i would rather have a dirty tour than no tour at all.

 

[Monocrom]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

ive really enjoyed the 'tour de france' for a great many years, its made my life richer.
this 'armstrong' thing just reinforces that we have never had and probably never can have a drug free tour.
on reflection, and on balance, i would rather have a dirty tour than no tour at all.

If you want to see a bunch of dope fiends riding around on bicycles, come to San Francisco.

 

[jtr1962]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

Well before these revelations came about, Armstrong never came across as genuine to me. Maybe it was something I suspected subconsciously, but I never thought much of his accomplishments. Something about him came off as "whatever". Maybe it was the way he appeared in a film (can't remember which) and boasted his 7 Tour de France wins after being diagnosed with cancer. Does he have to star in a film and brag about it? It all seemed too good to be true. Reminds me of Manny Pacquiao's gains in weight class despite getting older.

I kind of agree here. What did it for me though was his comeback tour in 2009 where he placed third. Basically, he seemed lackluster about the whole thing, even disappointed. Granted, after you've won seven times I suppose third place seems pedestrian, but still this is the Tour de France you're talking about. I would be happy to ride in it and finish, even in last place. It was almost as if he felt he should win all the time. Maybe I can understand a smug attitude like that in a sport where everything is in a controlled environment and you really know you're the best. Cycling isn't like that. You could be at the top of your game and the guy in front of you has a momentary lapse of concentration. Boom, down you go, tour over, possibly even career over. You just can't count on good luck every time. Actually, thinking about it, Lance's run of luck in the Tour seemed almost freaky.

 

[beerwax]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

If you want to see a bunch of dope fiends riding around on bicycles, come to San Francisco.

as in life , as in the tour. neither can be made clean by the efforts of man.

 

[Monocrom]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

as in life , as in the tour. neither can be made clean by the efforts of man.

True . . . But the dirt can be kept to a minimum.

 

[flashy bazook]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

No sooner did I put here a "it's all about the money" type of post, that I read an article saying:

Lance Armstrong gear going on close-out as the value of his brand collapses.

 

[Steve K]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

As Lance moves from fame to infamy, I wonder if some of the collectible stuff might still have value sometime in the future. Maybe stuff from the days when he was young and a new winner? Isn't there some instance of this in other sports?

Not that it'll be worth anything, but I still have a couple of the Wheaties boxes that he appeared on. I haven't had the heart to throw them out yet.

 

[Chauncey Gardiner]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

Lance Armstrong, a perfect example of why we should choose our role models very carefully.

~ Chance

 

[Steve K]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

Lance Armstrong, a perfect example of why we should choose our role models very carefully.

~ Chance

In all fairness, people who were impressed and inspired by Lance's story back at the beginning of his career didn't know what he was doing. I see this more as a reminder that all humans are flawed. We can be inspired by what others do, but we have to expect that there may be some less admirable traits in them.

As far as cycling heros go, I've always been very impressed by Andy Hampsten's stage win on the Gavia in the snow...
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=1827
By all accounts, he's led a very ethical life both in cycling and after his cycling career.

 

[Chauncey Gardiner]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

In all fairness, people who were impressed and inspired by Lance's story back at the beginning of his career didn't know what he was doing. I see this more as a reminder that all humans are flawed. We can be inspired by what others do, but we have to expect that there may be some less admirable traits in them.

Yes, exactly. There's nothing wrong with being inspired by someone's achievements, but, I'll repeat myself, at the risk of being rude, Mr. Armstrong is a perfect example of why we should choose our role models very carefully.

~ Chance

 

[Steve K]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

maybe I should clarify my point... the folks who were inspired by Lance's early actions were utilizing all public knowledge. Further care would not have changed their impression, unless they were personally shadowing Lance throughout day. Plenty of people who lead exemplary lives in public have very well hidden dark secrets that are a complete surprise to their closest friends and companions.

I've heard it said that we shouldn't pick role models. Instead, we should pick models for specific behaviors that we admire. Lance appeared to be a good model of a person who didn't give up and worked hard to achieve a goal. That's generally considered a desireable trait. One behavior that we don't admire is the harassment of those who aren't willing to accomodate one's method of achieving goals.

 

[HighlanderNorth]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

maybe I should clarify my point... the folks who were inspired by Lance's early actions were utilizing all public knowledge. Further care would not have changed their impression, unless they were personally shadowing Lance throughout day. Plenty of people who lead exemplary lives in public have very well hidden dark secrets that are a complete surprise to their closest friends and companions.

I've heard it said that we shouldn't pick role models. Instead, we should pick models for specific behaviors that we admire. Lance appeared to be a good model of a person who didn't give up and worked hard to achieve a goal. That's generally considered a desireable trait. One behavior that we don't admire is the harassment of those who aren't willing to accomodate one's method of achieving goals.

Yeah, Lance was very good at seeming like an honest, good guy for many years, and he played the role of cancer victim who overcame that tragedy to be the world's best cyclist, and there was NO way anyone could have known he was full of BS the whole time and was cheating..... Except for the people who were closest to him, and I guarantee you some of them knew.

What really tees me off is this whole parade of talk show hosts like Oprah who line up to pay big money so they can profit off these scumbags. Our society used to look down on bad behavior and we didnt put these people on pedestals and profit off them, but now the media will put you on parade and make you an instant multi-millionaire for being a lowlife!

 

[Chauncey Gardiner]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

You can't even give away boxes of Cheaties on ebay.

~ Chance


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bic...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[Monocrom]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

Even the Homeless don't want them.

 

[Chauncey Gardiner]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

Maybe, if you were to cut the top off the box the homeless would take it?

~ Chance

 

[Monocrom]

Re: Lance Armstrong done contesting drug allegations

Maybe, if you were to cut the top off the box the homeless would take it?

~ Chance

I'd rather hand out a few homemade MREs that don't require any heating. The Homeless suffer more than enough as it is.