Wiggins on Sky News

[ColinJ]

Ha ha!

 

[psmiffy]

The undeserved celebrity status belongs to the likes of Jade Goody and her ilk, famous for nothing more than being tabloid tarts.

I have no problem at all with Wiggens milking his success for all the cash he can get - whether he likes it or not he is a "celebrity" - on merit - by his achievements - as opposed to those who are deemed celebrities by the press and media without them achieving something - or just famous for being famous - which is what i believe Mr W was referring to - thankfully I have no idea who 99% of them are or have any inclination to find out who they are

 

[Risex4]

The undeserved celebrity status belongs to the likes of Jade Goody and her ilk, famous for nothing more than being tabloid tarts.

The whole Jade Goody saga made me physically sick.

Now, her untimely demise from cancer at a young age - leaving behind a young family - was tragic no matter how you bracket it. But the outpouring of (dare I say faux in many quarters?) grief and tribute was staggering.

She had become famous for her level of 'intellect' as exhibited on a reality TV show. Maybe a generally likeable character but as Wiggo has said (generalistically) what was she really famous for doing? She cashed on on this suddenly found fame by ultimately getting embroiled in a racial-bullying row. She was villified and mocked from all corners of the media.

And yet on her death was held up akin to some kind of martyr.

As I say, the events which transpired were in no way trivial and something which no one would want to live through for themselves or those closest to them. But regretfully it wasn't some kind of unique, extra-ordinary occurance either. How many families have had someone stolen away from them in similar cicrumstances?

Ok, so the aftermath was benficial in putting the spotlight on a specific area of health concern and generally raising awareness, but the manner in which it was done was appalling.

I dont blame Jade Goody in any of this; she looked to capatilise on the fame card that life dealt her, maybe got into a position with that fame that she wasn't prepared for and displayed a certain nieviety, and then coped with other things which came along with as much dignity as anyone could hope for.

But as a case study in the sheer crassness of mainstream British pop media, this stood out for me.

 

[GaryA]

One defining feature of celebrity culture is that the celebrities and their followers are incurably emotionally incontinent and its not because they are suffering from the Pseudobulbar affect.......


apologies for bringing smartarse P&L into pro cycling

 

[thom]

Thanks for posting the link. I think he must have had some alcobooze sloshing about in him, particularly after the H*lmet comment.

His 3am tweet yesterday morning:
Well what a day, blind drunk at the minute and overwhelmed with all the messages, Thank You everyone it's been emotional X

 

[SoloCyclist]

In all honesty, I don't like him constantly referring to being blind drunk or going to get drunk. I think he's trying to be a typical lad but it's not really sending out a good image. I find it dreary. I think it's a British thing that that is how you celebrate. You and I may say it (I don't), Bradley may say it off camera in private, but, when in front of a nation of adulating, impressionable youngsters representing that nation here and abroad I think it just reinforces the worse aspects of our 'culture'.

I really, REALLY don't want to sound preachy, I'm not like that at all. But if your sitting there with your kid showing him our greatest Olympian ever, and he starts spouting a load of nonsence and saying he's going to get blind drunk, then that is the aspect of it I don't like.

 

[Risex4]

Different strokes and all that Solo, but I say fair play to him.

He's never made himeself out to be a squeaky clean living kind of guy (that Im aware of), and who says supposed role models arent allowed to be human?

Why shouldnt he be allowed to celebrate, and why should he censor his speech publicly in the interests of being a role model which he hasnt asked to be cast as? What, because he's won another Olympic Gold and the TdF et al he should now put on a public face as its the "correct" thing to do?

With the greatest of respect, and Im not aiming this at you or anyone personally, but whats sitting there with a kid got to do with it? Its not Bradley Wiggins job to install, shape or regulate any kid's outlook and moral balance in life, other than his own.

 

[Peteaud]

I have no problem at all with Wiggens milking his success for all the cash he can get - whether he likes it or not he is a "celebrity" - on merit - by his achievements - as opposed to those who are deemed celebrities by the press and media without them achieving something - or just famous for being famous - which is what i believe Mr W was referring to - thankfully I have no idea who 99% of them are or have any inclination to find out who they are

Well said +1

 

[SoloCyclist]

Different strokes and all that Solo, but I say fair play to him.

He's never made himeself out to be a squeaky clean living kind of guy (that Im aware of), and who says supposed role models arent allowed to be human?

Why shouldnt he be allowed to celebrate, and why should he censor his speech publicly in the interests of being a role model which he hasnt asked to be cast as? What, because he's won another Olympic Gold and the TdF et al he should now put on a public face as its the "correct" thing to do?

With the greatest of respect, and Im not aiming this at you or anyone personally, but whats sitting there with a kid got to do with it? Its not Bradley Wiggins job to install, shape or regulate any kid's outlook and moral balance in life, other than his own.

Fair do's

The reason, for me, is that I don't think it is too much to ask of him. Like it or not he's looked up to.

What, because he's won another Olympic Gold and the TdF et al he should now put on a public face as its the "correct" thing to do?
Yes. I'm not wanting him to act holier-than-thou just refrain from talking like a lout which I don't think he is anyway. It's almost as if he is trying to hard to be a 'one of us' hard drinking, mad lad.

With the greatest of respect, and Im not aiming this at you or anyone personally, but whats sitting there with a kid got to do with it? Its not Bradley Wiggins job to install, shape or regulate any kid's outlook and moral balance in life, other than his own.

It would just be nice to have a positive public role model for kids and not the fame hungry underachievers he so despises. I'm sure anyone with kids would feel the same, and you can include Bradley in that.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The only role models a kid needs are his or her parents. Get that bit right and in the vast majority of cases the rest follows.

 

[SoloCyclist]

What about the ones who are lacking what you described? I know you are intelligent enough to understand where I am coming from. We have lots of gold medal winners now and none have felt the need to act in the manner we witnessed from Bradley. All have trained hard, made sacrifices, been away from family.

 

[rich p]

What about the ones who are lacking what you described? I know you are intelligent enough to understand where I am coming from. We have lots of gold medal winners now and none have felt the need to act in the manner we witnessed from Bradley. All have trained hard, made sacrifices, been away from family.

I think it's probably down to you to bring your kid up 'properly' or teach them standards, rather than relying on Brad to do it for you. I brought mine up by my own standards which included getting rat-arsed occasionaly but I never asked them to, or feared that they would, copy someone on the TV.

 

[theclaud]

I think it's probably down to you to bring your kid up 'properly' or teach them standards, rather than relying on Brad to do it for you. I brought mine up by my own standards which included getting rat-arsed occasionaly but I never asked them to, or feared that they would, copy someone on the TV.

Yeah, right...

 

[Chuffy]

Getting rat-arsed for a skinny, no-body-fat, cyclist who hasn't been allowed to drink properly for years probably equates to half a pint of mild and lemonade.

 

[ColinJ]

As far as I can recall from reading his autobiography, Brad's drinking session after his first Olympic medal lasted about 9 months and involved him drinking well over 10 pints a day! He seemed to have inherited more than just cycling talent from his dad.

I'm sure he will be more restrained now that he has a young family to look after and big responsibilities at Sky.