Tour Overload
I can tell the Tour de France is getting nearer. It Lance, Lance, Lance. The Discovery Channel last night had a show that scientifically discussed his genetic gifts and how he has used them to his advantage. Alright I can get into that. Next was the boys from OCC building the Lance Armstrong chopper. Actually already saw that. Tonight is the Discovery Channel biography of his mother and how she raised Lance alone. Read his first book and its all there.
I appreciate all that Lance has done to win the Tour, several times in a row, its unprecedented. I appreciate all he has done to encourage people to take up exercise. I think he is an outstanding athlete. He started a cultural movement with his Yellow bracelet.
But when it comes down to it the two things that really stick in my teeth that make me not want to like him is that in his first book he gives no credit to anyone for helping him be a champion. He writes about getting his spirit from his single-mother who worked all the time which allowed him to ride for hours. Is that really a compliment? When he developed cancer he dosen't really thank anyone but himself in overcoming it. The doctors wanted him to do certain things and he stubbornly ignored them and since he didn't die; he's right, there wrong. When he won the first few Tour's, it was all about him, barely a mention of his team. He kinda reminds me of Martha Stewart. Do you really think Martha comes up with all those amazing ideas on her own? Of course she doesn't. Have you ever heard her thank the person she got the tip from? Ever see a credit at the end of a show? Hear here mention someone elses input in the concept? Hell no. Its all her, she wants you to think.
The thing I do like about Lance is that he is competitive. That guy gives not an inch to the press or the French or another cyclist. He makes great press, once because he was a plucky underdog, then a cancer survivor and now the underdog to win lucky number 7. How's that spin, as the undisputed champion of cycling he is portrayed as the underdog to win again. How's that happen?
I appreciate all that Lance has done to win the Tour, several times in a row, its unprecedented. I appreciate all he has done to encourage people to take up exercise. I think he is an outstanding athlete. He started a cultural movement with his Yellow bracelet.
But when it comes down to it the two things that really stick in my teeth that make me not want to like him is that in his first book he gives no credit to anyone for helping him be a champion. He writes about getting his spirit from his single-mother who worked all the time which allowed him to ride for hours. Is that really a compliment? When he developed cancer he dosen't really thank anyone but himself in overcoming it. The doctors wanted him to do certain things and he stubbornly ignored them and since he didn't die; he's right, there wrong. When he won the first few Tour's, it was all about him, barely a mention of his team. He kinda reminds me of Martha Stewart. Do you really think Martha comes up with all those amazing ideas on her own? Of course she doesn't. Have you ever heard her thank the person she got the tip from? Ever see a credit at the end of a show? Hear here mention someone elses input in the concept? Hell no. Its all her, she wants you to think.
The thing I do like about Lance is that he is competitive. That guy gives not an inch to the press or the French or another cyclist. He makes great press, once because he was a plucky underdog, then a cancer survivor and now the underdog to win lucky number 7. How's that spin, as the undisputed champion of cycling he is portrayed as the underdog to win again. How's that happen?
posted by Comm's @ 5:43 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
As much as I admire Lance for his success I find it very hard to like him as a person. I have read his books and I to thought he sounded, so so, me me me. I went to Austin and did the Cancer ride. He came out, did a two minute talk and left. Not that I expected to shake his hand but you would think he would have been arounda little more.
I thought I was the only one who didn't care for Lance, nice to know I'm in good company. Not to pile on, but I stopped liking him when he left his wife and kids. She has stood by him in so many trials and he made the kids with her. I read an essay she wrote about running a marathon, NYC I think and it turned out he ran the same race. Her story talks about how she had to train alone and call on her brother, family etc to help with the kids. He's a man who lives for himself-wonder what he will think when the fame fades and he's alone. More inspiring to me is Greg Lemond's story. That is a great man-everything Lance is not.
Whoa there...he did not "leave" his wife and kids. It was a very mutual separation that they both decided on. They had tried to make it work for several years with counseling and so on.
Also, in his defense, I have read and heard him say many times that he would not be where he is today without his team. I have read quotes on how embarassed he is when he wins individual awards, because he feels the team deserves them, not him.
I am not saying that he is not full of himself, but he is not the pig that some people make him out to be. He is still friends with his wife and he definitely is appreciative of his teamates.
I have read his books and feel that his story is a very inspiring one. He is the reason that I started cycling, so for that reason alone, I like him. The fact that he started the LAF, that raises millions of dollars a year for cancer research should be enough for most people...
Like anyone, there are things to both admire and dislike about the public Lance. Face it, none of us can really know what he's like beyond the hype. He does strike me as someone who it would be next to impossible to maintain a relationship with!! I admire his ability to (apparently) organize and lead a team as much as his athletic prowess. THAT is how he has consistently beaten Jan Ullrich and the other competitors - not necessarily on his cycling ability.
I'm kind of with Flatman on this one, I've read and heard him thank his teammates as well as others in books and interviews, but it's not like that's really on the front page with him in the media, he's much more recognized for being fierce, and maybe even self-absorbed.
I guess that I'm inspired by him because he was really in a place where he could have been all done, but he fought back. No one is perfect, and I can see how he could be a jerk, but I've met a lot of jerks that had no other redeaming qualitites like Lance's focus and drive.
I don't think he's anyone to worship like some people do, but I have to say that he has some guts, and I respect that.
I'm gonna cut in here, and offer my two cents. And let me start by saying, I'm more-or-less "Lance Neutral".
I believe he's a fantastic athlete. Personality wise - I don't know, I won't judge on heresay - besides, I don't really care.
I read his books, plus, 23 Days in July, plus another TDF book (can't remember title right now). I don't think his attitude is "me-me-me", my impression was, that he gives/gave a ton of credit to
a) his doctors,
b) his nurse (can't remember her name, but he talks about her a lot)
c) his ex-wife Kik
d) his Mom
e) his Coach (Chris Carmichael?)
f) his training parters
g) his friends (Bart)
h) his sponsors
i) his team mates
j) the team mechanic
k) the team's cook
As for all the haters-- they're mostly haters because they feel he owe's them more face-time, like "Hey, I paid 5 Grand to ride with him, and I only got 5 minutes of his time." I think of my own schedule - and I'm not training for Tour de France, nor am I running a Multi-Million dollar foundation, nor do I have 30+ sponsors to satisfy - I don't know how he is able to do what he does do quite frankly.
Totally on the same page as Flatman. Lance did not leave his wife and kids.
I am 'Lance positive'.
Seriously people, the man beat cancer. If you've never had a loved one with cancer, you'll never know what that means. I hope you never do. I'd be more than happy to carry that burden alone.
Then, after beating cancer, he beat the world's best cyclists 6 times in a row at the Tour de France.
I'll never understand why people want to tear down the heroes of their own country -- instead of celebrate them.
This year's tour is your last chance to cheer for him. Don't stand on the sideslines because he is not perfect and regret it later.
It's impossible to be a world-class athlete and not be selfish. I stressed that I was being a bad dad by getting up early on Saturday morning and riding for six hours during the peak of my half-ironman training. I only missed a weekend morning with the kids, but it was something I'll never get back.
Whether it's Lance or someone who climbs Mt. Everest, I've had to separate the awe I feel for their athletic achievements and the disappointment I feel for them as fathers and mothers.
Well said, bolder. I don't understand that when someone is at the top of their field, in their sport, people start to hate them. Same thing happend to Tiger Woods not to long ago...when he was winning all of his events, all of the haters came out. Why are we supposed to hate the people that can go out there and win it all?
I don't think anyone wants to 'hate' anyone really. It's just very hard to accept that someone so successful at their life in one field (a field for which we all have great interest in) can be a little bit average in another aspect of their life.
I'll always respect Lance for using his status to promote a disease that affects thousands of millions of people across the world. He has shown these same individuals, their families and loved ones that it's possible to fight it and not allow it to break you win or lose.
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