Lance on Oprah Friday!!!
#76
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Originally Posted by alanbikehouston
Well, I kinda doubt many of us here on the forum have hung out with Lance enough to have any first-hand experience to judge whether he is a "jerk".
He could be a great role model, but I'm not ready to hang a poster of him in my son's room or anything.
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Look, the guy has earned his stripes ....between surviving cancer and competing sucessfully as an American in a European sport leave him alone already......would we like him more if he lost once or twice ? Would he be more human then ?? Everyone loves Andy Hampsten (myself included) but he never won the whole Tour....It's like we want anything to have an American hero to help popularize cycling in the states and when one comes along, (with a story so compelling you couldn't make it up) we're not satisfied. He's not humble enough for us.....he doesn't race often enough for us... Please The French, Italian, Spanish, and everyone else would claw their grandmother's eyes out for cycling star like Lance to call their own. Then we'd all be using this forum to gripe about no good GC level American riders to root for in the Tour and OLN would be carrying once weekly wrapups of the Tour instead of daily coverage...
PS. if you can't hang a poster of Lance in your son's room who can you ? Jason Giambi ? Barry Bonds ? Ray Lewis ? Pete Rose ? Tonya Harding ?
PS. if you can't hang a poster of Lance in your son's room who can you ? Jason Giambi ? Barry Bonds ? Ray Lewis ? Pete Rose ? Tonya Harding ?
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Love him or hate him, the guy (along with Greg Lemond) forced the world to grant U.S. some cycling credibility, along with Tyler, Julich, Hampsten, Hincapie, et al. It always surprises me to see American's bash the guy, short of him being an outward jackass to people, committing disgraceful or embarrassing acts, etc.
And, I think it tends to be the rule more than the exception that to be extremely successful at an ultracompetitive sport such as cycling, you have to have a single minded focus, determination and aggression that serves you well on the playing field, but usually has a hard time translating to everyday interactions. The huge ego needed to succeed makes being humble somewhat difficult. Obviously, there are many exceptions (Arnold Palmer, Tim Duncan, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, etc.), but it shouldn't be suprising that it happens.
And, I think it tends to be the rule more than the exception that to be extremely successful at an ultracompetitive sport such as cycling, you have to have a single minded focus, determination and aggression that serves you well on the playing field, but usually has a hard time translating to everyday interactions. The huge ego needed to succeed makes being humble somewhat difficult. Obviously, there are many exceptions (Arnold Palmer, Tim Duncan, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, etc.), but it shouldn't be suprising that it happens.
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Originally Posted by Moonshot
I'm not saying he's a jerk. I'm saying from what I've observed he comes off looking like a jerk. I'm leaving room to be proven wrong and I hope I am wrong.
He could be a great role model, but I'm not ready to hang a poster of him in my son's room or anything.
He could be a great role model, but I'm not ready to hang a poster of him in my son's room or anything.
Come on - did you see the pictures of him after chemo and the surgeries? Cut him some slack.
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The main way that he comes off as a jerk is in regards to his marriage- he obviously wasn't exactly husband of the year. But he's not the first guy to marry too young or to someone he didn't have a lot in common with.
I watched a few minutes. The song part was kind of sappy,and like everyone else I know the whole Lance cancer story, and then there was the usual promotion for the wrist bands. And OPrah wore a yellow sweater! It was the usual fawning celebrity stuff. I saw this one bit where oprah rides a bike with Lance (she was on a mountain bike and Lance was going super slow). Judging from how Oprah rides a bike, I think we can safely assume that cycling isn't a major part of her health/fitness regime. She looked like she hadn't ridden a bike since she was 6!
I watched a few minutes. The song part was kind of sappy,and like everyone else I know the whole Lance cancer story, and then there was the usual promotion for the wrist bands. And OPrah wore a yellow sweater! It was the usual fawning celebrity stuff. I saw this one bit where oprah rides a bike with Lance (she was on a mountain bike and Lance was going super slow). Judging from how Oprah rides a bike, I think we can safely assume that cycling isn't a major part of her health/fitness regime. She looked like she hadn't ridden a bike since she was 6!
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I'm still waiting for substantial proof of what a jerk he is. Unless it's for not letting anyone pass him! Shoot, dig up something nasty his ex-wife has written and cut'n'paste, post a link, something substantial. Not just mere opinion.
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Hey, if you guys want to see a jerk, look at what LeMond has been saying about Lance ever since he started winning Tours. He accuses Lance of doping with absolutely no concrete evidence of it, and with no apparent incentive to be doing so. Perhaps he doesn't want to be outdone by the next great American cyclist? It would be a monster of a letdown if Lance is indeed on EPO or something, and I'm sure he's smart enough to realize that it's not worth it to a good chunk of America (the ones who don't think he's a jerk) as well as to his own body.
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::shrug::
I thought it was really great. I thought he was more humble, and had more grace and candor in that hour, than I've ever seen. Nice understated announcement for the Tour, too.
And, as for the jerkstore stuff... Whatever, you know? There are more stories out there from people he's inspired, than people he's pissed off. He may not be a peach, but he is surely a hero. I dig it.
I thought it was really great. I thought he was more humble, and had more grace and candor in that hour, than I've ever seen. Nice understated announcement for the Tour, too.
And, as for the jerkstore stuff... Whatever, you know? There are more stories out there from people he's inspired, than people he's pissed off. He may not be a peach, but he is surely a hero. I dig it.
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It was a good show, leave it at that. If anyone had "oxygen channel", the "Oprah After Show" had Lance on for another 30 minutes and Sheryl sang another song.
I will always respect Lance, he made a comment about meeting the king of Oslow, Norway in 1993 after the world championship... the king's security only permitted Lance to see the King alone. Lance said, "I don't do, check my mom at the door."
Thats classy and awesome. He's classy and awesome regardless.
I will always respect Lance, he made a comment about meeting the king of Oslow, Norway in 1993 after the world championship... the king's security only permitted Lance to see the King alone. Lance said, "I don't do, check my mom at the door."
Thats classy and awesome. He's classy and awesome regardless.
Last edited by edmaverik; 02-11-05 at 11:37 PM.
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G'day,
It'd be more interesting if lance & Sheryl went on Jerry Springer.......they could bring Kristin out!......or even Eddy merkx...decide once & for all who is the greatest by having a food fight!
Hitchy
It'd be more interesting if lance & Sheryl went on Jerry Springer.......they could bring Kristin out!......or even Eddy merkx...decide once & for all who is the greatest by having a food fight!
Hitchy
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I have had several personal experiences with Lance. I work in the same building as his sports agent Bill Stapleton. Lance is an EXTREMELY nice guy. He is far from a jerk, I talked to him in the restroom one time and he basically let me go on for as long as I wanted, he never rushed. I work in the parking garage, the boothman. He comes through the line and is always friendly and never a jerk like some of the people I work with. He is a very nice guy.
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Originally Posted by HammerTheHill
I have had several personal experiences with Lance. I work in the same building as his sports agent Bill Stapleton. Lance is an EXTREMELY nice guy. He is far from a jerk, I talked to him in the restroom one time and he basically let me go on for as long as I wanted, he never rushed. I work in the parking garage, the boothman. He comes through the line and is always friendly and never a jerk like some of the people I work with. He is a very nice guy.
Hammer, your personal experience only reinforces what many people don't want to hear....that Lance is still a nice guy, despite the sucess & hollywood stuff, and that his feet are still on the ground.....(when they're not on the pedals spinning 95 rpms )
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I've hesitated to chime in on this thread as I don't post here often and thus have zero credibility, but I finally decided it can't hurt. Lance and I grew up together. I've known him since we were 12. We swam together in Plano and I stay in contact with him and his family. He's a complex person. He can be a jerk, as we can all be. His defining characteristic is his confidence. To some this will come across as looking down on others. It's not. He is the most gifted athlete I've ever known. He's also the most gifted athlete he's ever known. He's loyal to a fault. He would do anything for his friends. The other side of the coin is that he will never forgive a perceived transgression. I see this side of him in his public persona sometimes. Unfortunately those that call him a jerk see only this side. I'm not sure why people feel the need to categorize celebrities. I think my exposure to Lance has made me more conscious of the difference between what we see in the media and what is the truth. I'm sure the same story applies to anyone in the public eye. The short answer is that Lance is human despite his abilities. Trying to simplify his personality with one word is impossible, but if you were to try jerk would be the wrong word to start with.
CJ
CJ
Last edited by cjfulham; 02-15-05 at 01:03 AM.
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He took time to ride a bike with and give a team jacket to a friend of mine who had cancer. That puts Lance at the top of my list.
https://www.commerce.virginia.edu/new...oto_essay.html
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Did you catch the LA comment on le Tour on Oprah?
O: Are you going to do #7 Lance.
LA: Yeah. Yeah, I'll do seven.
Now, for the great unwashed, they might think that means he's back this year to go for seven in a row, but those in the know understand that I believe it is in his contract with Discovery to do at least one more, but that doesn't mean this year. And the way he answered the question really didn't clear up whether that #7 was going to be this year or next year, just a #7.
LA: Yeah. Yeah, I'll do seven.
Now, for the great unwashed, they might think that means he's back this year to go for seven in a row, but those in the know understand that I believe it is in his contract with Discovery to do at least one more, but that doesn't mean this year. And the way he answered the question really didn't clear up whether that #7 was going to be this year or next year, just a #7.
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PS. if you can't hang a poster of Lance in your son's room who can you ? Jason Giambi ? Barry Bonds ? Ray Lewis ? Pete Rose ? Tonya Harding ?
Sweet Oxford.
And HAMMERTHEHILL...if you can get with that agent again and please get me an insdie line to Lance for an interview on my radio show! I've tried, but he has soooo many people around him even media members can't get close. Let me know....go pee there again and see if you can help me!!!
Sweet Oxford.
And HAMMERTHEHILL...if you can get with that agent again and please get me an insdie line to Lance for an interview on my radio show! I've tried, but he has soooo many people around him even media members can't get close. Let me know....go pee there again and see if you can help me!!!
#93
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I almost forgot something...
To those people who say Lance isn't a great athlete, the guy used to do triathlons. He is capable of doing more than riding a bike, he just focused in on what he was best at. I never knew he was a triathlete before.
To those people who say Lance isn't a great athlete, the guy used to do triathlons. He is capable of doing more than riding a bike, he just focused in on what he was best at. I never knew he was a triathlete before.
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That's exactly what I was thinking. It wasn't, "Are you going for #7 this year" or anything like that. So much for a big announcement on Oprah. Haha...would we really want it that way anyway?
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Originally Posted by girl27
Now why'd you have to go and bring Lemond into this?
#97
Sore saddle cyclist
Originally Posted by cjfulham
I've hesitated to chime in on this thread as I don't post here often and thus have zero credibility, but I finally decided it can't hurt. Lance and I grew up together. I've known him since we were 12. We swam together in Plano and I stay in contact with him and his family. He's a complex person. He can be a jerk, as we can all be. His defining characteristic is his confidence. To some this will come across as looking down on others. It's not. He is the most gifted athlete I've ever known. He's also the most gifted athlete he's ever known. He's loyal to a fault. He would do anything for his friends. The other side of the coin is that he is will never forgive a perceived transgression. I see this side of him in his public persona sometimes. Unfortunately those that call him a jerk see only this side. I'm not sure why people feel the need to categorize celebrities. I think my exposure to Lance has made me more conscious of the difference between what we see in the media and what is the truth. I'm sure the same story applies to anyone in the public eye. The short answer is that Lance is human despite his abilities. Trying to simplify his personality with one word is impossible, but if you were to try jerk would be the wrong word to start with.
CJ
CJ
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FWIW, I'd suggest reading "It's Not About The Bike" for any of you who haven't yet and want to pass judgement on Lance; at worst, it's a riveting read. I found it inspiring (YMMV).
So... I didn't watch the show. Was there any announcement of whether he's doing TDF? (Wasn't that the main interest in this thread?)
PS - CJ: Thanks for posting.
So... I didn't watch the show. Was there any announcement of whether he's doing TDF? (Wasn't that the main interest in this thread?)
PS - CJ: Thanks for posting.
#99
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Originally Posted by jazzy_cyclist
FWIW, I'd suggest reading "It's Not About The Bike" for any of you who haven't yet and want to pass judgement on Lance; at worst, it's a riveting read. I found it inspiring (YMMV).
So... I didn't watch the show. Was there any announcement of whether he's doing TDF? (Wasn't that the main interest in this thread?)
PS - CJ: Thanks for posting.
So... I didn't watch the show. Was there any announcement of whether he's doing TDF? (Wasn't that the main interest in this thread?)
PS - CJ: Thanks for posting.
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Originally Posted by wabbit
The main way that he comes off as a jerk is in regards to his marriage- he obviously wasn't exactly husband of the year.
Huh, were you there or something? Fly on the wall? What gives you this particular insight into what kind of a husband he was or why his marriage didn't work?
You assume because of his status that he must've broken it off? He must've been the jerk?
There's about a million different factors that could be the cause, all of which you have no clue about. Did you read this in The Enquirer or something?
For all you know, the women previous to Sheryl were satan worshippers, or maybe kleptomaniacs, or maybe any number of things. No one knows, and know one has a right to know --it is their personal business.
I'm willing to grant it could've been his "fault" (pretty subjective term considering the complexity of marriage), and you should be willing to grant that it could've been the other party's "fault".
Fact is, no one knows.
Mind your own personal business and leave others to their own.