GolfDigest January 2015-Another sign of the Apocolypse

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='playa' timestamp='1420088261' post='10668877']
[quote name='billh17' timestamp='1418341943' post='10580595']
cheating is wrong

calling it a mistake is even more wrong
[/quote]
It's like saying Bernie Madoff made a few poor investment decisions on behalf of his clients.
[/quote]

As a general (personal) view of Lance, he seems like both a complete jerk and also someone who has done way more good in this world than I could dream of doing. And this does go beyond just the money that his foundation generates (or used to generate).

But I would not compare him vs. a guy like Madoff. Madoff 'cheated' (although I don't think that he set out on that path) in a world where you can succeed and also 'play fair'. In the world of cycling back then (or maybe now) it is far from clear that 'you can succeed' and also play fair.

To me a fair interpretation of 'cheating' is "to do something illegal in a competition to gain an advantage over your competition'. What Lance did was clearly illegal. Whether it 'gained an advantage over his competition' is far less clear.

And I am not a LA fan - and I continue to believe that it is, and will continue to be, impossible to eliminate drugs from major cycling events (at least the long stage events). IMHO folks should understand this and decide how to handle it. I don't see it happening.

dave

[DaveLeeNC]

[quote name='RBImGuy' timestamp='1420107800' post='10669291']
Lance= Cheater.
Rules are there for a reason.
[b]Americans think they can bend and break them like the rules dont apply for them.[/b]
[/quote]

Apparently you know little to nothing about the history of doping in cycling, based on the bolded comment. Or would you care to expand on this.

dave

[Hot Rod 71]

[quote name='Bushwood Country Club' timestamp='1420089450' post='10668927']
[quote name='stp' timestamp='1418344873' post='10580769']
[quote name='sheldonjhacker' timestamp='1418089152' post='10564985']
Really GD? A feature story on Lance CheatStrong? On Golf's "code of honor". What planet are you on?

See ya !!!
[/quote]

I enjoyed Lance's interview.
[/quote][quote name='jldavis73' timestamp='1418359064' post='10581765']
Lance sucks at life. I can NOT believe he was featured in this golf magazine.
[/quote]lance doesn't suck at life. He inspired millions. No question about it. Have you inspired millions? Have you survived cancer? I did not think so. Think before you make a statement like that.
[/quote]

Hitler inspired millions, too. Germany was in peril when he came into power. He was able to turn Germany around by inspiring and motivating the people.

Both were able to pull off this "inspiration" by offering false representations of their true selves and selling ideas based upon deception and lies.

Perhaps you should take your own advice about thinking before speaking.

[awil]

[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1420118863' post='10669467']
[quote name='Bushwood Country Club' timestamp='1420089450' post='10668927']
[quote name='stp' timestamp='1418344873' post='10580769']
[quote name='sheldonjhacker' timestamp='1418089152' post='10564985']
Really GD? A feature story on Lance CheatStrong? On Golf's "code of honor". What planet are you on?

See ya !!!
[/quote]

I enjoyed Lance's interview.
[/quote][quote name='jldavis73' timestamp='1418359064' post='10581765']
Lance sucks at life. I can NOT believe he was featured in this golf magazine.
[/quote]lance doesn't suck at life. He inspired millions. No question about it. Have you inspired millions? Have you survived cancer? I did not think so. Think before you make a statement like that.
[/quote]

Hitler inspired millions, too. Germany was in peril when he came into power. He was able to turn Germany around by inspiring and motivating the people.

Both were able to pull off this "inspiration" by offering false representations of their true selves and selling ideas based upon deception and lies.

Perhaps you should take your own advice about thinking before speaking.
[/quote]
Anyone comparing lance Armstrong to Hitler is just being comepltly irrational.
Lance positively inspired millions to beat a disease that wrecks your life .
Not end a religion through genocide

[joey2aces]

Not defending Lance but that sport is full of dopers. My brothers old coach was on the team with lance. The guy is nasty good. He used to ride with Euros training for the Tour d France who would take a suppository while riding...in the wide open. He said you had two options..... Take em or quit. He quit the racing scene and became a triathlon coach.
Only reason Lance "got caught" was because he's Lance. Crushed all the other riders who doped as well.
Again, not saying it was right but even after he was clean he still crushed his competition in triathlon as an old dude. Cycling being his strength.
If Lance wasn't a multi-millionaire who got praised for his good deeds this would be a non story.

[mjtoal]

[quote name='Guia' timestamp='1419559588' post='10642153']
Lance was a super athlete, he was far from the only biker, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, skier, body builder, boxing, wrestling, horse racing, HiLie, swimmer, golfers (most mood elevators), top players in any professional sport to use enhancement performing drugs. Get off the hi-horse.

Lance was made an example because he just kept winning, and of course was an American in a European Sport.

If you are looking for drug free professionals in sports......try tidily winks. Its about winning, and winning is about MONEY.
[/quote]

Several logical fallacies here.

First, we have the 'everyone did it' smokescreen. Untrue, everyone dd not do it, but even if they did, it doesn't make it OK.

Second, he was vilified because he was an American in a European sport. Well, full marks for parochial paranoia. Are you sure it wasn't Ian Poulter and Colin Montgomerie who ratted him to the authorities? They are responsible for most of the evil in the world according to WRX members.

The point is nonsense, of course. Lance was enormously popular in Europe and the TdF loved the international exposure and sponsors and advertisers he brought. They desperately wanted the rumours NOT to be true.

If some nobody is found doping, that is embarrassing but no big deal. But when the number 1 legend in the sport does it and in doing so besmirches a decade worth of the biggest event in the sport, it is a very big deal indeed, and he deserves the vilification he gets. And he is lucky there wasn't jail time too.

[NJpatbee]

I finally received my GD copy with the Armstrong interview and could not get through it. Armstrong came across as a pompous a** showcasing the lifestyle and golf (250 rounds/year, Augusta,Pine Valley - how am I doin?) lifestyle that he has. He is the poster boy for cheating and then threatening others that might expose him, a truly disgraceful human being. He is an example of crime paying since his pathological mind has it all justified.

Changed my tune and when the GD subscription comes due I will likely pass.

[jldavis73]

[quote name='Bushwood Country Club' timestamp='1420089450' post='10668927']
[quote name='stp' timestamp='1418344873' post='10580769']
[quote name='sheldonjhacker' timestamp='1418089152' post='10564985']
Really GD? A feature story on Lance CheatStrong? On Golf's "code of honor". What planet are you on?

See ya !!!
[/quote]

I enjoyed Lance's interview.
[/quote][quote name='jldavis73' timestamp='1418359064' post='10581765']
Lance sucks at life. I can NOT believe he was featured in this golf magazine.
[/quote]lance doesn't suck at life. He inspired millions. No question about it. Have you inspired millions? Have you survived cancer? I did not think so. Think before you make a statement like that.
[/quote]

Lance was possibly the most grand fraud in sports history. Once he was exposed as such, how do you think all the people that were fans of Lance and drew inspiration from his story felt? Even more, as he was exposed as a malicious, career-destroying cheat?

And while I haven't survived cancer or inspired millions, I also haven't lied to millions for my own gain. I thought about this statement.

[Marand]

In truth I don't think I trust the Golf Digest genius who thought up / approved the idea of interviewing one of the greatest frauds in sports history on the subject of cheating in golf. If I were the head of the IRS I'd do an audit.

[jmvargas]

[quote name='Marand' timestamp='1420159243' post='10671987']
In truth I don't think I trust the Golf Digest genius who thought up / approved the idea of interviewing one of the greatest frauds in sports history on the subject of cheating in golf. If I were the head of the IRS I'd do an audit.
[/quote]

..+1.

[Parker0065]

[mukster]

I know that most contributors here know most everything about anything, so this is aimed at those that don't. Do yourself a favor and read "The Secret Race" and watch "The Armstrong Lie".

[Gem]

[quote name='mukster' timestamp='1420181988' post='10673443']
I know that most contributors here know most everything about anything, so this is aimed at those that don't. Do yourself a favor and read "The Secret Race" and watch "The Armstrong Lie".
[/quote]

The Armstrong Lie was an interesting watch and shows what he was like.
Still enjoy listening to him and regard him as one of the all time great cyclists.

Wouldn't trust him and the way he treated people was terrible but I like it when we get some more unusual interviews in the golf magazines.

[golfortennis]

The scumbag's antics have been mentioned here several times, but what hasn't been mentioned is the sham Livestrong was. There was a thorough article a few years ago about just how much that entity was doing for different benefactors. Cancer research, very little.

[rafal]

At which point do we draw the line of not wanting to hear from someone who has transgressed substantially? For me LA has crossed this line and at this point I just don't want to hear his "original and interesting ideas." Yes there's a prodigal son imperative where we always forgive someone who has shown significant and sincere contrition, however as far as LA is concerned, he's done exactly the opposite. He's basically showing everyone his middle finger and I regret he managed to weasel into a major publication about golf nonetheless.

[Scaldy]

I just wanted to add that I too have let my golf digest subscription expire. They keep sending magazines to my house, maybe hoping I'll change my mind but the last two issues were pretty dissapointing. It feels like they are sensationalizing areas of the game that do it detriment.

[goobers80]

[quote name='awil' timestamp='1418094749' post='10565441']
[quote name='BuckyBadger' timestamp='1418091974' post='10565225']
There are two guys I can't stand because of their cheating, lying and throwing innocent people under the bus. Ryan Braun and Lance Armstrong. I called for Braun to be traded due to his actions. Armstrong is worse as he actually threatened those who were going to tell on him.

Both are pathetic excuses for human beings.
[/quote]
Because you've never made any mistakes in your life ?
[/quote]

[color=#800080]A mistake is cheating ands soon after being a man ands coming out with it. Nots years of crap ands being a bully towards peoples who called him outs on what was actually the truth. He may haves given peoples hope through cancer battles , but their *hero* turned outs to be a slimeball. This is nots WWF when Stone Cold was turned *heel* ands it made him even more popular.[/color]

[color=#800080]Baseball is a joke because they let cheaters keep their trophies , awards , ands *records.* Hank Aaron ands Roger Maris to many still hold those homerun records. Pete Rose gots banned for life for far less than this stuffs.[/color]

[color=#800080]It woulds be more acceptable if they just saids they knew a lot were cheating ands felt they needed to as well just to compete. Instead they swore to their fans , blah blah. [/color]

[Be the ball Danny]

Lance Armstrong talking about a code of honor is as utterly ridiculous as Lindsay Lohan discussing the virtues of sobriety and clean living Both are pathological liar/ douchebags. After the Jenkins parody of Tiger Woods, I didn't think Golf Digest could get much worse. They proved me wrong. Like Lance, its reputation is in a tail-spin. Golf magazine is my choice going forward

[joey2aces]

GD is REALLY starting to make me mad.... they are blowing up my spot.... I now have 3.... THREE 'subscriptions' coming to me... wifey said "Probably because you buy a ton of stuff."

I really wish that companies could not sign you up for subscriptions without you knowing... and if it is in the fine print and I need to UNcheck a box instead of checking one, they really need to change that.

[patrick421]

[quote name='RBImGuy' timestamp='1420107800' post='10669291']
Lance= Cheater.
Rules are there for a reason.
Americans think they can bend and break them like the rules dont apply for them.
[/quote]

Yes, and all the european cyclists are clean right. The dirtiest sport in the world is most popular in your area of the world take a look in the mirror.

[Loki]

If anyone is interested in hearing how the case against LA went down, read Wheelmen. It the story by the Wall Street Journal writers. The depths that LA went to and the people that knew what he and his team were doing is actually really disappointing. I found it interesting that there is pretty good evidence that the sport was complicit in making sure LA won, and by that I mean allowing LA to cheat. Hiding urine and blood tests, etc.

My wife and I watched everyone of his TDF victories and were huge fans, obviously not anymore. Thought Floyd Landis was an idiot. Turns out he was one of the not so bad guys.

LA has probably the largest ego of anyone I have heard of. Sorry Donald Trump.

[jldavis73]

Happy to update this thread with the following little tidbit:
[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-turnstile/police--lance-armstrong-hit-two-parked-cars--fled--then-girlfriend-took-the-blame-193612173.html"]http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-turnstile/police--lance-armstrong-hit-two-parked-cars--fled--then-girlfriend-took-the-blame-193612173.html[/url]

[PZero]

[quote name='jldavis73' timestamp='1423079880' post='10884613']
Happy to update this thread with the following little tidbit:
[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-turnstile/police--lance-armstrong-hit-two-parked-cars--fled--then-girlfriend-took-the-blame-193612173.html"]http://sports.yahoo....-193612173.html[/url]
[/quote]

Not to mention their cover boy, Manziel, is currently in rehab for "alcohol". He isn't in there for alcohol.

[hlca]

[quote name='jldavis73' timestamp='1423079880' post='10884613']
Happy to update this thread with the following little tidbit:
[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-turnstile/police--lance-armstrong-hit-two-parked-cars--fled--then-girlfriend-took-the-blame-193612173.html"]http://sports.yahoo....-193612173.html[/url]
[/quote]

Lance being Lance...

[MtlJeff]

everyone deserves a 340th chance.

[moose557]

Wow, in light of all we know now that's an incredibly ironic story. He really is incapable of taking responsibility for anything wrong that he has ever done. And like he has done his whole career he has no problem letting someone else, no matter how close to them he is, take the fall for his mistakes.

[SilverBullets]

[quote name='awil' timestamp='1418397551' post='10583159']
To defend my comments earlier I've personally known 2 people who used lance as "their strength " to beat cancer and they did . My image may be a little differnt the your images of him , but cheating like this is rampant in sports and it's not just lance . Be around sports and people trying to get to the next level and you will see it. It's not like he was the only person to ever cheat he was just bad about how he went about it later
[/quote]

Just because a guy had cancer, beat cancer and inspired others, doesn't mean he is a good guy. Lance is a grade A dirt bag.

[Gem]

[quote name='SilverBullets' timestamp='1423156931' post='10890693']
[quote name='awil' timestamp='1418397551' post='10583159']
To defend my comments earlier I've personally known 2 people who used lance as "their strength " to beat cancer and they did . My image may be a little differnt the your images of him , but cheating like this is rampant in sports and it's not just lance . Be around sports and people trying to get to the next level and you will see it. It's not like he was the only person to ever cheat he was just bad about how he went about it later
[/quote]

Just because a guy had cancer, beat cancer and inspired others, doesn't mean he is a good guy. Lance is a grade A dirt bag.
[/quote]

He is but he will always be someone I look to as one of the greatest cyclists and one of my cycling heroes.