I think that it is generally acknowledged that the old Lance Armstrong was indeed a jerk, to put it charitably. I haven't met the guy in person, and I know sometimes a media image is all spin, but from all the public reports, he really is a changed man since the cancer. He claims in his book that he is the same person he always was, but I don't think even he believes that. You must admit, if any experience will change a person's personality, going from a top professional athlete to almost dying of cancer in the space of a year is probably the sort of experience that could do it. My opinion of Lance has changed completely since his comeback. In hockey, I also never liked Mario Lemieux, who I always considerd considerd a wimp and a crybaby, but when he came back from cancer I had to admire the guy.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
>
> Well, I can understand the quick comment below from Greg but I have to
say,
> Mario loves the limelight and is quite an open and inviting sports figure
when
> in the public eye. He is quite an accomplished rider and his attitude has
> brought him and certain aspects of the sport to new levels.
>
> I have had the oppurtunity to see Lance in person, BEFORE the tour wins
and
> the cancer chapter of his life. He was a jerk from my experience. He was
> supposed to sign autographs at Hershey during the Tour Dupont for the
> Children's Miracle Network who had brought along about a dozen kids. Most
of
> which were pedes cancer patients.
>
> He was too busy getting presented with sunglasses from some sponsor and
was
> upset because he wasn't having time to focus on the stage ahead and
therefore
> refused to cross the road to the kids. Very disappointing to witness. On
the
> other hand, I witnessed the best in human character when the portrayed
Villian
> of cycling, Laurent Fignon crosses over to give them autographs along with
> Gianni Bugno and others from his team.
>
> Lance is an accomplished athlete who has excelled cycling to some
popularity
> and pushed hard for great causes and benefits now. I believe he shows a
new
> level of maturity but old habits die hard and my memory still doesn't
forget
> some things. I guess this is what drives me to look back at some of the
riders
> of yesteryear. There were great characters of all types from Ferdi Kubler
> tossing tubulars across field in frustration to those who embraced fans
and
> welcomed their company! The new age of the sport seems so commercially
driven
> that it has taken away some of the fun.
>
> Walter Skrzypek
> Falls Creek, Pa
> just my 2 cents.
>
>
> > >
> > >
> >
> > I agree. Lance is a mediocre rider at best,
> > doesn't train much at all, and
> > the Tour de France is a pretty insignificant
> > race. If he wins it six times in
> > a row, it will be a non-event, I'm sure, since
> > he's only doing it for his
> > sponsors' benefit!
> >
> > Greg Parker
> > A2 MI USA
> >
> >
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