An official announcement re Lance Armstrong: yello is now a 'hater'

[darkstar]

I don't get how Lance bullying and cheating his way to the top is a good role model or motivation for cancer sufferers?

Haha i've seen quite a few bitter posts from you on this subject, STOP WASTING YOUR TIME ON SOMEONE YOU DON'T LIKE. It's simple, have a good day.

 

[johnnyh]

I applaud Yello for "coming out", I bet it has really upset Lance cause he spoke very highly of you.

 

[snorri]

Adoration of professional sportspeople frequently ends in tears.

 

[lanternerouge]

Thousands of people look up to him, many of which whom have suffered Cancer, or been close to someone who has. Why would you want their 'illusions' to be 'shattered'?

Er. because they are illusions! And truth and honesty are important IMHO. And because Armstrong uses the C-word to squash inquiries into his alleged doping activities. There is also a school of thought that the drugs Armstrong was taking may have caused his cancer in the first place...

Well even that is not 100% true.

Armstrong survived a curable form of cancer. In his mind he is convinced that this was due to the way he took control of his illness and its treatment. It was a process that clearly worked for him, but since then, he has sought to promote 'his way' of tackling cancer as 'THE way'. Unfortunately there are many different cancers, including lots with almost 100% terminal outcomes. There is also a huge spectrum of cancer patients, many of whom neither wish or are even capable of following in his footsteps. For those who don't connect with the 'LiveStrong' message they can be left feeling inadequate and stripped of the confidence they need to tackle their own cancer in their own way.

Some of his slogans are also crass and can contribute to feelings of guilt and betrayal. One year at his Ride of the Roses event in Austin Tx, I noticed the place was plastered iwith billboards proclaiming: "Lance Armstrong - Living proof that everyone deserves a second chance". Well, what about those who get an incurable form of cancer and just die? Why didn't they deserve a second chance? Was it that they didn't take 'control' of their cancer? Didn't they LiveStrong? I've met families and loved one's racked with guilt wondering what they could have done to help their lost loved ones follow LA's path to salvation. But there was never going to be any 'salvation'; they had terminal cancer.

There are also doctors who feel his message has made their job of treating terminal cancer patients that much harder. Despite all the advances in cancer treatment, there are still many, many cancer patients who have to be told 'there is nothing more that can be done'. But when delivering such a difficult message, they now have to be ready to counter the accusation that 'you are exactly the defeatist type of doctor that Lance warned us about'. They then have to watch powerless as patients vainly try to follow 'his way', using up time and resources that would be better utilised enhancing the quality of life for both them and their families in those final days.

Effective support for those with cancer must recognise the very individual nature of not only the disease but also people's reaction to it. It's important to work with that and enhance whatever they want to do. No ones experience is transferable to anyone else and to promote 'a way' risks alienating and demotivating those for whom it does not work. As with conventional medicine, if you want to support someone with cancer; first - do no harm.

Super post TB.

 

[redddraggon]

What's bitter about being glad to see the back of a bully, a cheat, and a liar?

It's good for the sport. If you want to support a cancer charity, support Cancer Research UK, they don't have the ulterior motives that Armstrong has.

 

[darkstar]

Er. because they are illusions! And truth and honesty are important IMHO. And because Armstrong uses the C-word to squash inquiries into his alleged doping activities. There is also a school of thought that the drugs Armstrong was taking may have caused his cancer in the first place...



Super post TB.

Thank you for editing my post, i've been awake for too long after working all night, now being kept awake by builders outside 'mending' the road... It really isn't necessary.

I'm quite happy with people hating on others, it's natural. I just find it laughable that they then spend so much time talking about the individual, arguing about why they hate them so much. It's ridiculous and shows people have nothing better to do with their time.

 

[guitarpete247]

I knew there was some controversy about Lance and the final day of the tour. I was coming back from a family get together in Donegal so didn't see or hear anything on news over last weekend. I can't see what the big fuss was about.

I remember the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics.

I didn't see anything wrong there either. Did these athletes interfere with the race? (The Commissaires held up the start of the race) Did they affect the result? In the case of Lance Armstrong he was trying to publicise a charity he, and many others, feel is important in the saving of lives and improving quality of life for many very ill people. This after all was the last chance he will get to publicity at this level and at this event.
So what if he is arrogant. Many top sportsmen and women are. They are obsessed with doing well and though he knew from quite early in the Tour that he could not win he continued to be competetive perhaps in order to get this publicity on the final day as he did.
I salute a great athlete whose achievements cannot be taken away (unless Landis is to be believed )

 

[Noodley]

I just find it laughable that they then spend so much time talking about the individual, arguing about why they hate them so much. It's ridiculous and shows people have nothing better to do with their time.

Unlike those who try to defend him.....

 

[darkstar]

Unlike those who try to defend him.....

I can spend all day discussing people who I respect and like, but can't be bothered to waste 5 minutes on someone I hate.

 

[lanternerouge]

Thank you for editing my post, i've been awake for too long after working all night, now being kept awake by builders outside 'mending' the road... It really isn't necessary.

I'm quite happy with people hating on others, it's natural. I just find it laughable that they then spend so much time talking about the individual, arguing about why they hate them so much. It's ridiculous and shows people have nothing better to do with their time.

No problem, free to you today, special offer.

If it's so laughable, why spend your valuable time telling them they are wasting theirs?

I can't speak for others but for me this issue is important because I hate doping, and I hate cheating, and I hate unfairness and dishonesty. And for me Lance Armstrong embodies those things.

 

[redddraggon]

I can spend all day discussing people who I respect and like, but can't be bothered to waste 5 minutes on someone I hate.

I don't hate Lance. Hate is a strong word. I'm just not a believer in fantasy.

 

[darkstar]

** THREAD FULL OF HATERS** I abort, have fun people!

 

[John the Monkey]

Did these athletes interfere with the race? (The Commissaires held up the start of the race) Did they affect the result? In the case of Lance Armstrong he was trying to publicise a charity he, and many others, feel is important in the saving of lives and improving quality of life for many very ill people. This after all was the last chance he will get to publicity at this level and at this event.

1) Radioshack, by all accounts, signed in on the day in their Red and Grey kit.

2) They then changed kits.

3) There were red & grey kits in the team cars, presumably because they expected to be told to change.

IMO, The whole thing could have been avoided quite easily by talking to the race organisers ahead of time.

RS could also have had the courage of their convictions and signed in in the kit they intended to wear during the race, rather than changing after that but before the start.

The team have already been publicising the Livestrong message by riding with their band on jersey sleeve and shorts, by the individual messages on their bikes, &c, and via the Nike/Livestrong Chalkbot.

The black jersey looks like an orchestrated attempt to provoke confrontation with race officials, who would be understandably wary of being seen to extend preferential treatment to Radioshack given the rumblings about payments to the UCI (allegedly for favours) in the news recently.

There's more discussion of it in the "Racing" section, where it's probably better situated, I think.

 

[yello]

You know, I was mentally preparing myself for all manner of responses, thinking of light and whimsical responses because, after all said and done, it is only my opinion. None of what I say is fact.

But then I go and read an utterly astounding post from Tim and all my whimsy falls away. I applaud you sir. That was perhaps the most intelligent and moving piece I've ever read on this forum, and I thank you for it. It made all my concerns about starting this thread disappear. That post alone made it worth it.

To anyone that might question the purpose of thinking about a subject beyond appearances, I ask you to read that post and see the value of thinking and employing critical analysis.

 

[Slowgrind]

One size fits all! I don't think so.