IGX

Steps down from charity

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/17/la ... g-charity/

Loses Nike contract

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/1 ... 73192.html

Here's why I think this whole fucking thing is stupid:

1. Elite, top-level athletes dope, in some form or another. Because they have to.

2. Companies like Nike make money hand over fist by peddling their products to "normal" people and they use big name, top level athletes to endorse their products, because the endorsements make their products sell more

This is Capitalism and I'm fine with that. BUT-

The issue here is the illusion. The illusion that ANYBODY, any average joe, can become and elite athlete if he "tries hard and does the best he can." This illusion, this LIE is perpetuated by our increasingly PC, ass-backwards "everybody is a beautiful, unique and special snowflake" culture. And this illusion is bolstered by big name, elite athletes lending their name to a product vis-a-vis:

"Lance Armstrong won the Tour De France a whole bunch of times with only one testicle! And he likes Nike! Therefore, I'll be awesome too if I drop $150 bucks on a pair of Nikes!"

But the moment that -SHOCKER!- it becomes irrefutable public knowledge that the athlete did indeed use PED's, well, said athlete is no longer capable of being that cash cow, now isn't he?

This isn't about ethics in professional sports. It's about money.

And anybody who's shocked when they find out their favorite professional athlete practices Better Living Through Chemistry is a fucking moron.

Let's see a buddy posted about this on Facebook and I'll paraphrase "Nike supports NFL football players who are more than likely anabolic steroid users, supports the dog killer Michael Vick and whoremonger Tiger Woods, and you use sweatshops to make your shoes and you want to take the moral high ground on Lance Armstrong. KILL YOURSELVES!"

The issue here is the illusion. The illusion that ANYBODY, any average joe, can become and elite athlete if he "tries hard and does the best he can." This illusion, this LIE is perpetuated by our increasingly PC, ass-backwards "everybody is a beautiful, unique and special snowflake" culture. And this illusion is bolstered by big name, elite athletes lending their name to a product vis-a-vis:

Anyone who believes that is an idiot.
Genetically gifted, highly motivated individuals are what rise, drugs or no drugs depending on the level.

Ed Zachary wrote:Let's see a buddy posted about this on Facebook and I'll paraphrase "Nike supports NFL football players who are more than likely anabolic steroid users, supports the dog killer Michael Vick and whoremonger Tiger Woods, and you use sweatshops to make your shoes and you want to take the moral high ground on Lance Armstrong. KILL YOURSELVES!"

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

tough old man wrote:

The issue here is the illusion. The illusion that ANYBODY, any average joe, can become and elite athlete if he "tries hard and does the best he can." This illusion, this LIE is perpetuated by our increasingly PC, ass-backwards "everybody is a beautiful, unique and special snowflake" culture. And this illusion is bolstered by big name, elite athletes lending their name to a product vis-a-vis:

Anyone who believes that is an idiot.
Genetically gifted, highly motivated individuals are what rise, drugs or no drugs depending on the level.

Yes. But unfortunately our "Everybody Gets A Trophy, Sometimes Even Just For Showing Up" mentality is eroding the belief in this truth.

And anybody who's shocked when they find out their favorite professional athlete practices Better Living Through Chemistry is a fucking moron.

Tennis will be the next big scandal.

Anyone can rise to eleete if they pick the right sport.

Ed Zachary wrote:Let's see a buddy posted about this on Facebook and I'll paraphrase "Nike supports NFL football players who are more than likely anabolic steroid users, supports the dog killer Michael Vick and whoremonger Tiger Woods, and you use sweatshops to make your shoes and you want to take the moral high ground on Lance Armstrong. KILL YOURSELVES!"

Most of the hate for Armstrong is not the fact that he doped. Its the fact that he is such an adamant bold faced LIAR. That is some used car salesman, OJ Simpson, Jerry Sandusky level of lying faggotry right there. I think his sociopathic ass has actually convinced himself that he really didn't dope. At least Mark McGwire came clean, instead of doing what Lance and many others have done: Get completely busted and exposed as a liar, but STICK TO YOUR GUNS. LOL at the nerve of this guy.

tough old man wrote:

And anybody who's shocked when they find out their favorite professional athlete practices Better Living Through Chemistry is a fucking moron.

Tennis will be the next big scandal.

Doping scandals in tennis happen with some regularity.

Turdacious wrote:Anyone can rise to eleete if they pick the right sport.

LOL!

We all lie ...all of us ...Lie....

Lance has done more good for the world than just about any 50 people put together. Who gives a crap if he juiced like every other cyclist on the tour?

If juicing will allow someone to raise untold millions for charities, as well as provide inspiration and hope to cancer patients and their friends and families the world over, then more people should juice.

The Daily Show last night had a great segment by Lewis Black on Lance. Laughed my ass off!
Somebody embed it please.

msr2112 wrote:Lance has done more good for the world than just about any 50 people put together. Who gives a crap if he juiced like every other cyclist on the tour?

If juicing will allow someone to raise untold millions for charities, as well as provide inspiration and hope to cancer patients and their friends and families the world over, then more people should juice.

But the actions and tactics of the USADA lawyers reinforced and strengthened every negative lawyer stereotype that exists-- balance pertains.

Turdacious wrote:

msr2112 wrote:Lance has done more good for the world than just about any 50 people put together. Who gives a crap if he juiced like every other cyclist on the tour?

If juicing will allow someone to raise untold millions for charities, as well as provide inspiration and hope to cancer patients and their friends and families the world over, then more people should juice.

But the actions and tactics of the USADA lawyers reinforced and strengthened every negative lawyer stereotype that exists-- balance pertains.

A great example of this is the political spin from USADA, placing Lance at "the center of the most sophisticated and successful doping program"

Bullsfucking shit, he's the successful member of the only doping program USADA investigated. If the sport is rife with doping, by definition, it's not the best program because he got caught. Over the last 15 years there have been several other sport events besides the TDF...I wonder if anyone there doped?

tough old man wrote:http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/pla ... 693a&&tt=b

That part at the end where they showed an interview with @ was uncalled for.

I want to applaud the USADA and hope that this frees up Tyler Tygart to aim for somebody bigger - like the Red Cross or United Way.

Blaidd Drwg wrote:

Turdacious wrote:

msr2112 wrote:Lance has done more good for the world than just about any 50 people put together. Who gives a crap if he juiced like every other cyclist on the tour?

If juicing will allow someone to raise untold millions for charities, as well as provide inspiration and hope to cancer patients and their friends and families the world over, then more people should juice.

But the actions and tactics of the USADA lawyers reinforced and strengthened every negative lawyer stereotype that exists-- balance pertains.

A great example of this is the political spin from USADA, placing Lance at "the center of the most sophisticated and successful doping program"

Bullsfucking shit, he's the successful member of the only doping program USADA investigated. If the sport is rife with doping, by definition, it's not the best program because he got caught. Over the last 15 years there have been several other sport events besides the TDF...I wonder if anyone there doped?

Need to find the quote but I believe that they said that their testing was working because so few athletes in the Summer Games have been caught recently.

The issue with Lance isn't so much that he doped, it's that he's been lying to our faces for years now. People can root for a roider, but it's really tough to have someone's back after they've been making a fool out of you for years.

Kraj 2.0 wrote:The issue with Lance isn't so much that he doped, it's that he's been lying to our faces for years now.

True.

for me there two issues are deeply troubling.

first, lance has sought to destroy anyone who accuses him of doping. i know of no athlete who has so determinedly burned his accusers.

second, the assertion that everyone dopes and therefore the racing is on a level playing field is bullshit. total bullshit. doping creates two competitions. first, who is the better "athlete." second, who has the better doping program.

credit lance with being better at his doping program. as well as being a great athlete.

but fuck him totally for being a sanctimonious, lying, libeling prick. surviving cancer doesn't earn you the right to practice scored earth on other humans.

dead man walking wrote:for me there two issues are deeply troubling.

first, lance has sought to destroy anyone who accuses him of doping.

He seeks to destroy those who seek to destroy him for their own personal gain? Hardly seems fair.

Kraj 2.0 wrote:The issue with Lance isn't so much that he doped, it's that he's been lying to our faces for years now. People can root for a roider, but it's really tough to have someone's back after they've been making a fool out of you for years.

Is there an echo in here?