Kovu
Über Member
Noodley said:OK, let's get to the bottom line: He is a twat.
Noodley wisdom!
Bottom line: Yeah I'll agree with that!
Noodley said:OK, let's get to the bottom line: He is a twat.
What about him? Unless I'm very wrong he's just a cocky prat. No crime in that, so is Cavendish.Kovu said:I mean what about Phelps?
Right. But that was something totally unconnected with his sport, yes? I wouldn't think any less of a sportsman if they wore their wife's pants, slurped tea from the saucer or had regular sessions of mutual pleasure with the labrador next door. Doesn't matter and I don't care. The way they behave within the sport, that's what matters.Kovu said:Phelps i think was convicted of drink driving ... alot was said about it a while ago, and I put myself firmly on his side, simply because i don't think you should drag other stuff in apart from that performance of the person.
That's where I was about five years ago. But I've done a lot of reading and thinking since......Kovu said:But just to clarify I do think he is a twat, but still admire his achievements.
Chuffy said:That's where I was about five years ago. But I've done a lot of reading and thinking since......
Anyways, I'm off to bed. Don't you have someone to flirt with in the Cafe?
Chuffy said:He has always behaved like a daffodil in the peloton. Other riders have done their share of bossing the peloton over the years but Lance, off and on the bikes, wins the prize every time. I don't know about you but I like sportsmen to offer a little more grace than that.
Crackle said:Is this not the crux of the matter, that he's not liked. Read his books, an inkling of what maketh the man is in them. The man is driven in a way that is extremely rare. Selfishness doesn't even cover it and every top sportsman is selfish and driven but he's a cut above them. He's always out to prove something. What and to whom I don't know, I suspect he doesn't either.
Like every multiple winner before him, he's out psyched every competitor before he's got to the race. Without realizing it they're riding the race in his way. Fools the lot of them. Look already at the comments in the press and here: He's coming back, he's going to win. He's half way there now. Truly incredible, that's what so bloody mesmerising.
Why did Lemond not beat Hinault the year he could have? Because Hinaults sheer presence made him doubt, made him stop. What made Roche's Giro win so incredible - he defied team orders, was spat on and pushed by the fans for doing so and still won.
This is all legendary stuff. Like I said before it was ever thus.
Did he dope? Did Merx, Anquetil, Roche, Pantani, Simpson. Does anyone do it now, will they in the future.
Riise; He's admitted it. I still remember the moment he dropped off the front of the group on a climb (Alpe d'Huez?), looked them all in the eye and then just exploded away and no-one followed, never mind the drugs, he'd psyched them in that moment, they'd lost because they couldn't look him in the eye. If you don't understand that, then you don't get it at all.
Yes they should be trying to make the sport clean but it doesn't detract from what's gone before because of the sheer animal effort involved in winning the Tour drugged up or not.
Crackle said:1. Why did Lemond not beat Hinault the year he could have?
2. Did Merx, Anquetil, Roche, Pantani, Simpson. Does anyone do it now, will they in the future.
3. Riise; He's admitted it.
rich p said:well this winter we could have been discussing how much we hate Cadel, whether Andy Schleck can make the next step, will Bertie be allowed in the TdF and La has given the forum a new lease of twaddle for us all to chew over. Good for Lance I say!!
Chuffy said:Rich P, Crackle. What I'm talking about is very specific incidents (Bassons, Simeoni) and the way he behaved. I'm not talking about force of personality, or psyching out the peloton. That doesn't bother me, I don't expect nice. But the way he behaved in those two incidents said a great deal more to me than a ghost written biography ever could.