Re-reading Armstrong books

[Boris Bajic]

This is not an Armstrong rant. I have no strong views on that issue.

But... I have read (or re-read) parts of 'It's not about the bike', 'Lance Armstrong's War' and '23 days' in the past few days.

Just flicking through and choosing snippets.

It makes interesting reading. The author of 23 Days now comes across as a more love-blind fanboy than he did when it was published. It is schmaltz verging on adoration.

There's an excellent Hamilton quote in there (supported by the author) along the lines of "It was so frustrating to be accused of taking these things, but we didn't even know what they were!"

Anyway... No opinions or assertions here, just a tip to anyone who follows these things to read some of the fan guff (and more reasoned writing) published about Armstrong and pro-cycling between 2000 and 2006. You will giggle a lot more than you did at the first read.

 

[thom]

You have to say he/they timed all that profiteering better than Levi Leipheimer did. He has an event about his life story in a few days. Here's a trailer for it:

Voice overs from Phil & Paul. Perhaps he'll be different and fess up in public...

 

[Smokin Joe]

Interesting little tale on CNN -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-860283

 

[thom]

Interesting little tale on CNN -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-860283

It would be interesting to get that story verified - cnn don't claim any fact checking but there were a lot of people on that trip and the author appears willing to discuss it in person.

To relate to the OP, it's funny how things can be seen in a different light further down the line.

Edit : Rather than green light, red lights should probably have been on earlier, questioning his myth.

 

[Red Light]

I'm waiting for the first claim that he faked the whole cancer thing too

 

[Smokin Joe]

I'm waiting for the first claim that he faked the whole cancer thing too

I've already seen that claimed.

However, I'm waiting for Lance's claim that he only recovered thanks to the innovative treatments developed by Doctor Ferrari and his magic potions.

 

[Scoosh]

I'm waiting for the first claim that he faked the whole cancer thing too

You haven't read the article, then ?

 

[MichaelM]

Interesting little tale on CNN -

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-860283

"I applaude Armstrong for his efforts and contribution to the search for a cure to cancer..."

What's the aim of Livestrong again?

 

[Red Light]

You haven't read the article, then ?

Errr....which article?

 

[Scoosh]

This one.

 

[Red Light]

Your link is broken but I managed to find it anyway. This is the correct link

 

[dellzeqq]

I came away from 'It's not about the bike' thinking that it was unique among autobiographies in that the subject had no desire to be liked - but, that, notwithstanding, people and organisations stood by him when they had no interest in doing so.

 

[Andrew_P]

When I read it I genuinely thought it could explain where he learnt how to dope at higher level, in some ways it was almost confessional. All the medical and treatment learning through books etc. Also as per above not really a "I am lovely person" type of bio either.

 

[Red Light]

Competing at the top is a brutal and painful life as illustrated by this recent article about the Olympics - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/08/london-2012-the-pain-games. When I read the book I thought that the equally brutal and painful cancer therapy he went through left him with a much higher pain tolerance than his competitors and winning is all about keeping going and not breaking when your legs and body are screaming at you to stop - whether you have taken drugs or not.

 

[david k]

so being exposed to pain then gives you a greater tolerance of it? not sure it works like that
im also not sure that the only thing a winning cyclist has over others is an improved tolerance of pain, its much more than that