I'm with Brenda on Lance (and thanks for the shiny tag, btw!) -- but then I've always the truth was closer to his European rep (great rider, but also an utterly ruthless bastard) more than the American one of the last few years of his career (inspirational golden boy).
The thing with Lance was that he was always really freaky about his public image; he had the corps of bodyguards way before he actually got to be that much more of a star than everyone else on the Tour, demanding complete control to any kind of access to info about him, and he's the ballistic "I will sue you" type about any negative coverage at all. And doing what it takes to make absolutely damn sure that nothing shows up in public, whatever you're doing in private, fits that side of his character*. In much the same way that Floyd being over the top and flamboyant and crazy and getting caught for it fits his.
* Note: not saying that passing drug test = guilty.
I drove past this crash yesterday.
That's right by my place! I was at work, but still. It's kinda crap around there, all merge all the time, but not always a sight of really horrendous accidents due to the lowered speed limit.
If he was drunk, I hope they lock him up.
I remember watching the Tour with my dad before I was aware of all the shenanigans. Now I look and...I can't care. The poor sportsmanship on the parts of those who have been caught or are strongly suspect in recent years ....meh. Bad taste in my mouth.
That's a big part of what I meant when I say they need to take a new approach. Because, dude, doping or no, what they're doing and accomplishing is fucking incredible.
A more rational perspective on doping - I mean, is what Vino did seriously all that different from having gatorade instead of water in your bottle? - might let people see that more. Not to mention eliminating the constant and increasing embarrasment the Tour and other marquee races are threatening to become.
We all feel like frauds about something, right? (Right? Tell me you do, or I'm going to cry.)
Hah! yes, of course.
They just have a well and deliberately managed impostor syndrome.
I guess...And I guess they also must just be thinking it's not wrong to do. It's against the rules but not wrong.
And I guess they also must just be thinking it's not wrong to do. It's against the rules but not wrong.
People can rationalize all sorts of things.
I think that most people, unless they are sociopaths, rationalize all the bad stuff they do. I mean, evil people don't think they are evil-- I think in their head they are doing the right thing or they are entitled to do the wrong thing.
When I worked at Penney's, several employees who got caught stealing from the company or from customers seemed to think that they were entitled because Penney's didn't pay them enough, or they were panicked by money problems. These were people I knew and liked, at least well enough. They were "normal" The one I was closest with actually used my associate number as part of the scam.
great rider, but also an utterly ruthless bastard
I think this is probably true. All the people around him seem either super careful/subserviant or they eventually become enemies. I can totally see how a world class athlete, but especially a cyclist, could become an over the top control freak.
I was so hoping the url was www.iamobsessedwithlakesandislands.org.
Sad now. But also, pleased to bring you, courtesy of Suela, possibly the craxxiest person on the internets: [link]
