View Full Version : I've had enough of Lance Armstrong
Sure he's won 7 Tours but then I could too if I wanted. He came back from cancer, so did Mario. The US media is treating him like he won the Stanley Cup or some other top trophy. Get a grip people, he rides a bike. So what if he's going out with Sheryl Crow, who hasn't? There has been more television coverage of Lance in the past month then there has been coverage of real news; who knows what shenanigans Bush has been pulling while reporters focused on Lance.
It's over, he won his 7th Tour and now he's retiring. It's finished, now we can focus on the important stuff like NHL hockey. :D
go_leafs_go02
7-25-05, 9:17 PM
I disagree with those statements. What he's done is amazing, and it should be celebrated. Arguably the tour de france is the hardest event in the world to do in the athletic department.. Winning it 7 times is amazing, but what makes it more special is his recovery after what looked like the end of Lance Armstrong's due to Cancer.
However, I don't want to see him in the news for the next few weeks. He won the event, and I'll say congratulations, and its amazing what he's done. But like you said, ON TO HOCKEY!!! :thumb:
I disagree with those statements. What he's done is amazing, and it should be celebrated. Arguably the tour de france is the hardest event in the world to do in the athletic department.. Winning it 7 times is amazing, but what makes it more special is his recovery after what looked like the end of Lance Armstrong's due to Cancer.
Psst, glg. Just trying to get members talking. Cycling may not be my cup of tea but winning 7 times is huge. I just want everyone to shut up about it now and focus on my favourite sport, hockey. Way to go, Lance. I was pulling for you. If you're ever in Salmon Arm, I'll show you what a real bike rider can do. hehehe
PS. My grandmother overcame cancer 3 times only to die from complications so don't think I don't know what a triumph coming back from it is.
go_leafs_go02
7-25-05, 9:43 PM
Psst, glg. Just trying to get members talking. Cycling may not be my cup of tea but winning 7 times is huge. I just want everyone to shut up about it now and focus on my favourite sport, hockey. Way to go, Lance. I was pulling for you. If you're ever in Salmon Arm, I'll show you what a real bike rider can do. hehehe
PS. My grandmother overcame cancer 3 times only to die from complications so don't think I don't know what a triumph coming back from it is.
Psst, iced.. Just a hint..use the emoticons, smilies, smiling faces, or whatever...it really helps to get your true point across..but your point is taken.
Think lance could ride your tricycle? I don't think so, so you're in a whole other league compared to him. Good Job! :thumb:
Psst, iced.. Just a hint..use the emoticons, smilies, smiling faces, or whatever...it really helps to get your true point across..but your point is taken.
Think lance could ride your tricycle? I don't think so, so you're in a whole other league compared to him. Good Job! :thumb:
Psst, glg, my bad http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/fighting/fighting0071.gif
This is a reenactment from the last time Lance and I met. I'm on the right. http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/fighting/fighting0057.gif
I haven't ranted in a while, but here comes one now.
I pretty much agree with Iced Tea's original point on this one. I'm too am sick of the coverage this is getting.
Additionally, the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong winning it must be one of the most overrated, frauds of an event. Ever. Sure it tough to do, but with one guy dominating, how hard could it be? Is there no one else competing in this thing? There hasn't been ANY competition against him in seven years. Armstrong is hardly an athlete, more of an endurance freak, because all he uses is his legs. Horses use more than their legs when they're running races and that's why I would rank Secretariat ahead of Armstrong anyday.
Sure it is a great story that he is a cancer survivor, but after he won his third, it got boring, redundant and didn't even need to be covered, because we all knew who would win before the damn thing. Winning a Championship seven times in a row just goes to show how diluted riding a bicycle is. Also who knows how bad his cancer was anyways? It has been reported that the media has spun his disease further than what was necessary. And what about steriods? There are too many questions out there that deters me from the bloviating side of congratulating him.
To be honest, I'm glad he's retiring, so the Tour de France can go back to what it's best known for - something no one gives a sh!t about.
KB in Kelowna
7-26-05, 11:13 AM
I have two questions. In July 2006 will there be any tv coverage of the Tour de France? Will people still be wearing those yellow bracelets?
In July 2006 will there be any tv coverage of the Tour de France?I'm surprised that OLN is commiting so much coverage to this now, even with "golden boy" Armstrong in the race. No one watches this, except our resident cyclist, Matt Cooke. It's on too early for North America and we don't understand how the race works. And I've never thought of cycling as a good t.v. activity.
Will people still be wearing those yellow bracelets?Like any fad, it has come and eventually will go. By July 2006, it is quite possible that the whole coloured silicon wristband thing has passed. It's like that coloured ribbon wearing fad. That has come and gone quickly.
Hockeytown
7-26-05, 2:43 PM
I actually followed it last year, but this year I slept in and missed it almost everyday. I hate to say I probably won't follow it next year with out Lance in it. I still where my yellow wrist band because of the fact that the money goes to help fight cancer. However, there are a lot of other colored wrist bands out there. Some are used as an effective fund raising technique, but others are just used to make money for companies and colleges. Like at Taco Bell, where I work, we have a quarter machine that has different colored rubber wristbands in it, and none of that money, I can assure you, goes to fight anything.
I haven't ranted in a while, but here comes one now.
I pretty much agree with Iced Tea's original point on this one. I'm too am sick of the coverage this is getting.
Additionally, the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong winning it must be one of the most overrated, frauds of an event. Ever. Sure it tough to do, but with one guy dominating, how hard could it be? Is there no one else competing in this thing? There hasn't been ANY competition against him in seven years. Armstrong is hardly an athlete, more of an endurance freak, because all he uses is his legs. Horses use more than their legs when they're running races and that's why I would rank Secretariat ahead of Armstrong anyday.
Sure it is a great story that he is a cancer survivor, but after he won his third, it got boring, redundant and didn't even need to be covered, because we all knew who would win before the damn thing. Winning a Championship seven times in a row just goes to show how diluted riding a bicycle is. Also who knows how bad his cancer was anyways? It has been reported that the media has spun his disease further than what was necessary. And what about steriods? There are too many questions out there that deters me from the bloviating side of congratulating him.
To be honest, I'm glad he's retiring, so the Tour de France can go back to what it's best known for - something no one gives a sh!t about.
LOL. Sounds kinda like a Formula One Racing Sucks rant I heard one time. To make the Tour de France more even ... like NASCAR... maybe they could cut off the testicles of all the riders. :]
Matt Cooke
8-01-05, 2:32 AM
JR; I think you're wrong about Armstrong's tour wins. There is competition and they always come out intending to compete to their fullest ability. Armstrong is known for being the most dedicated rider on the tour. He prepares for the event months before it takes place, riding each stage at least once, studying every corner. His devotion to training throughout the off-season and preparing for the tour makes for a huge advantage. A combination of his overall devotion to the sport and the fact that he rides for arguably the best team ever assembled, there's no doubt that no other rider in the tour can even come close.
Had Lance Armstrong never made it through his battle for cancer, there's no doubt in my mind that his main rival over the past 8 years, Jan Ullrich, would have won the tour at least as many times as Armstrong. Lance struck a development period in the sport of cycling. The big names that dominated the sport for almost a decade had all gone on and retired and there were a few years from 1999-2001, three of Lance's seven wins, where the tour just didn't have many riders that could compete in the overall standings.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan of Armstrong myself. I too am sick of the media coverage that OLN puts on for him. The commentators are constantly "Lance this, Lance that". I've been waiting for the day he crashed or his team lost an important rider or one of his main rivals was able to slip away and steal a lead. I'm excited for next year's tour when it's up in the air as to who will take the crown.
You're all right though, the Tour de France isn't exactly the best sport on television to watch, but I'd take it over MLB or NBA any day. I just hope OLN keeps their coverage up of the tour, I never really watched it for the sake of Lance in the first place.
capebretoncanadien
8-05-05, 8:00 AM
Armstrong is hardly an athlete, more of an endurance freak, because all he uses is his legs. Horses use more than their legs when they're running races and that's why I would rank Secretariat ahead of Armstrong anyday.
.
C'mon J.R. cool out homie...........only his legs!! :eek: Anyone that has competed in cycling , as I have knows it takes a hell of a lot more than legs to win a bike race, try big time cardiovascular conditioning, upper body strength and brain power
Clearly guilty?
Drug accusations still dogging Lance
Once again, reports are surfacing accusing the seven-time Tour de France winner of using the banned substance EPO.
PARIS (AP) -- Cycling star Lance Armstrong found himself mired in more doping allegations Tuesday after L'Equipe, a French sports daily, reported that the seven-time Tour de France champion used the performance-enhancing drug EPO to help win his first Tour in 1999.
Armstrong, who has gone to court in England to fight other doping accusations, immediately denied the allegation.
L'Equipe, whose parent company is closely linked to the Tour, devoted four pages to its claims, under a front-page headline The Armstrong Lie. The paper said that signs of EPO use showed up in Armstrong's urine six times during the '99 race.
"Unfortunately, the witch hunt continues and tomorrow's article is nothing short of tabloid journalism," Armstrong wrote Monday night on his website. "I will simply restate what I have said many times: I have never taken performance-enhancing drugs."
However, Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc said Tuesday that L'Equipe's report seemed "very complete, very professional, very meticulous" and that it "appears credible."
"We are very shocked, very troubled by the revelations we read this morning," Leblanc told RTL radio. He cautioned that Armstrong, his doctors and his aides should be heard out before people make any final judgment.
Leblanc also said any disciplinary action appeared unlikely, based on the L'Equipe account. The paper's investigation was based solely on B samples -- the second of two samples used in doping tests. The A samples were used in 1999 for analysis at the time.
The governing body of world cycling did not begin using a urine test for EPO until 2001. For years, it had been impossible to detect the drug, called erythropoietin, which builds endurance by boosting the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells.
EPO tests on the 1999 B urine samples were not carried out until last year, when scientists performed research on them to fine-tune EPO testing methods, the paper said.
The national anti-doping laboratory in Chatenay-Malabry, which developed the EPO test and analyzed the urine samples in question, said it could not confirm that the positive EPO results were Armstrong's.
It noted that the samples were anonymous, bearing only a six-digit number to identify the rider, and could not be matched with the name of any one cyclist.
However, L'Equipe said it was able to make the match. It printed photos of what it said were official doping documents. On one side of the page, it showed what it said were the results of EPO tests from anonymous riders used for lab research. On the other, it showed Armstrong's medical certificates, signed by doctors and riders after doping tests -- and bearing the same identifying number printed on the results.
The lab statement said it had promised to turn over its results to the World Anti-Doping Agency "on condition that they could not be used in any disciplinary proceeding."
"It will be very interesting to see what UCI does and what the U.S. Cycling Federation does and what Lance Armstrong has to say," WADA chairman Dick Pound said. "If the evidence is seen as credible than yes, he has an obligation to come forward and specifically give his comments, especially after his previous comments that he has never used drugs.Via: Sportsnet.ca (http://www.sportsnet.ca/othersports/article.jsp?content=20050823_085238_4880).
:stir:
As each day passes, I believe more and more that this guy is nothing but a cheat. He pulled the wool over the eyes of people all over the world and won seven fraudulent bicycle races through the French countryside. I say we throw him to the wolves like so many American sports heroes have been in the past (i.e. McGwire, Bonds, Sosa). Cycling is boring and the only reason it has seen a spike in the ratings is because of Armstrong and now we're finding out he and his wins was nothing but fake. Convenient how he retires right when this begins to surface that he took performance enhancing drugs. I wonder what his girl Oprah would say about this.
Tour de France official: Armstrong doping a 'proven' fact
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PARIS - The director of the Tour de France said it was a "proven scientific fact" that Lance Armstrong had a performance-boosting drug in his body during his 1999 Tour win, and that the seven-time champion owed fans an explanation.
In a story Wednesday, Jean-Marie Leblanc praised L'Equipe for an investigation that reported that six urine samples provided by Armstrong during the 1999 Tour tested positive for the red blood cell-booster EPO. The French sports daily on Tuesday accused Armstrong of using EPO during his first Tour win in 1999.
"For the first time - and these are no longer rumors or insinuations, these are proven scientific facts - someone has shown me that in 1999, Armstrong had a banned substance called EPO in his body," Leblanc told the paper.
"The ball is now in his camp. Why, how, by whom? He owes explanations to us and to everyone who follows the tour," Leblanc said. "What L'Equipe revealed shows me that I was fooled. We were all fooled."Via: N.Y. Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/340130p-290421c.html).
Way to go Lance. Too bad you had to cheat to win.
TimmyTabasco
8-25-05, 12:18 AM
You're all right though, the Tour de France isn't exactly the best sport on television to watch, but I'd take it over MLB or NBA any day
As would I
Cure for insomnia? Watch the MLB..Ja'sus! :curse: :laughing:
NBA, and NFL aren't any better either.
Canucklehead
8-25-05, 1:50 AM
He'll never recieve much punishment for this. He's just too much of a hero. His story is too perfect. The heartland American overcomes cancer to beat the evil French at their own sport 7 times! Everybody in America loves him. Many have already passed this off as just the jealous French bashing Armstrong . A story in a French sports tabloid about somethng that happened in '99 is not going to bring down an American hero.
The rest of the world will think about him in a much different light though.
Matt Cooke
8-25-05, 4:40 PM
. Convenient how he retires right when this begins to surface that he took performance enhancing drugs.
Actually, Armstrong has been accused of cheating since 2000. Constant hotel break-ins, false journalism claims from Lance and non-stop court battles have occured frequently over this period. I don't know what you're talking about.
Nevertheless, from watching Lance Armstrong dominate the sport of cycling, one has to wonder if it's physically possible to perform at the level he does naturally. A world class rider, best of the best, on his very best day may be able to keep up the pace with Armstrong, but nobody can do it consistently and do it well for three weeks in July. My cousin is an avid cylist and he's claimed Armstrong's been cheating for years. Guess the right people listened. :laughing:
As I follow the sport, an article such as this doesn't surprise me, I've read them many times before. They're all iffy and it's basically believe what you want, we'll never know the truth because Armstrong won't budge from his "I've never taken performance enhancing drugs."
According to the World Anti Doping Federation, if there is EPO in the sample then there is no doubt that he used it.
LiAmTrAnSdEmOn
8-26-05, 12:03 AM
Armstrong has been targetted by the French for doping for years. I guess this is the one that everyone believes. Like Matt Cooke said, since 2000 it has been nonstop. Lance took this, Lance took that. But no one came up with any proof, and now you are asking me to believe that a sample from 1999, which may or may not be Armstrong's, contains a banned drug. The guy that saw these results says, they SEEM credible, what the hell is seem credible. If you are gonna actually show the world proof that this guy, who you have been claiming for years has been cheating, is actually cheating you better be damn sure of it. Just look at what Armstrong has gone through for the past 5 years or so with steriods and being tested by the French more than any other rider, and you would have to be very skeptical of these "results". Until I see more, I'm not convinced Armstrong did anything wrong.
Actually, Armstrong has been accused of cheating since 2000. Constant hotel break-ins, false journalism claims from Lance and non-stop court battles have occured frequently over this period. I don't know what you're talking about.Mainstream media, Matt. This is being reported all over the news now. Whether it be the local newspaper, national newscast, whatever. This recent doping allegations is being covered by virtually all forms and levels of the media.
As I follow the sport, an article such as this doesn't surprise me, I've read them many times before. They're all iffy and it's basically believe what you want, we'll never know the truth because Armstrong won't budge from his "I've never taken performance enhancing drugs."Rafael Palmiero said the same thing to the United States Congress and we all know how that turned out. I say Armstrong is guilty too. The past seven years have been literally unbelievable and now it's all coming out. Hopefully it can be proven.
KB in Kelowna
8-27-05, 12:26 AM
Part of me thinks this is the French with their noses out of joint that an American has dominated their biggest sporting event. Part of me knows that there is no way Armstrong came back from cancer strickly on will power and natural supplements. Chemotherapy drugs are major chemicals that kill cells in the body to attack the cancer, I would not be surprised if there are some questionable results based on this fact alone.
I have no doubt that he is guity. I have done a lot of research on EPO since last year when certain footballers were accused of EPO doping. I wrote an article on it last October but have lost it due to a computer crash. EPO testing wasn't perfected until 2000 and it deteriorates even in frozen blood samples. However if it is still present in the 1999 sample then it is proof that Lance used it. EPO testing doesn't lie!!
KB chemo is bad but most of the drugs used for that would be out of his system. Lance has been excused from certain blood tests because of his on going need for certain drugs but EPO therapy is not in his regiem.
For all of those who think that theis is just slander against an "American Hero" just pray he didn't use EPO doping because the long term effects are nasty.
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http://www.t-mobile-team.com/cms/tmoteam/en/archive/news/templateId=getHeadlineAsImage/mode=1/id=23744.png
26.06.2004/ Britain's leading cyclist David Millar has been excluded from the 2004 Tour de France after unconfirmed reports that, during his 48-hour questioning by police in Biarritz, he confessed to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Sources close to the inquiry allege that during a search of Millar's appartment before he was taken into custody by Paris drugs police, the gendarmes found two empty syringes of Eprex, the form of the blood-boosting hormone erythropoietin (EPO) most commonly used by professional riders. Millar is also reported to have admitted to police during his detention that he had used the banned drug EPO.
He will definitely not now be named in his team Cofidis's Tour squad, as the Tour de France confirmed on Friday that they will not accept any riders who are the subject of drug inquiries. The teams invited to the Tour were informed of this a week ago, but the announcement was delayed. The legal ins-and-outs of the announcement have yet to be explored, but the Tour's organiser, Jean-Marie Leblanc, said: 'Recent events meant that we could not wait any longer.'
The Tour organisers attempted to apply similar measures in 1999 following the drug-scandal-hit 'Tour de Farce', but fell foul of the rules of cycling's governing body, the International Cycling Union, which ruled that the measures were illegal. This time, however, they have the support of the ICU, Leblanc confirmed.
Armstrooooonnnngggggggg!!!!
http://shopmuseum.com/shop/media/IFA_DOD_QTEN12274_lrg.jpg
wildboy26
11-04-05, 3:02 PM
I think he has sucked all the life out of the Tour de France. I dont know why he so agressively pursues the doping allegations, people are going to say what they say, he makes himself look guiltier by so agressively confronting them, and people just want to get into even more.
KB in Kelowna
6-01-06, 12:31 PM
http://www.tsn.ca/oln/news_story.asp?id=167446
Well it appears Lance was not doing illegal substances during the Tour de France.
On another matter I wonder what the OLN TV ratings for this year will look like? Probably about as good as thier NHL one's :wicked:
wildboy26
6-04-06, 3:39 PM
It is good he was cleared since I dont think he is a doper since they tried overboard to catch him the last 4 years of his career and were unsuccessful.
I am not a big fan of Lance but they need to give up the witch hunt.
KB in Kelowna
1-03-07, 1:28 PM
this thread has been dormant for a while, time to wake it up! I came across this story: http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070102.wspttruth2/GSStory/GlobeSportsOther/home
Nobody seems to want to talk about doping in cycling according to William Houston, but the CBC will take a look. I wonder if there will be any fall out or if the US media will pick it up?
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