Lance Armstrong bonks at 1/2 Ironman, loses a spot at the finishline and ignores his daughter

Why are people surprised when athletes and celebs act like jerks? I'm not defending it, just saying it takes a certain personality and focus to do what they do, and many of them leave a lot of collateral damage personally behind them. And most of them don't care. Lance, A-Rod, Tiger, Jordan...anyone see a pattern? Great athletes and personally total d-bags. I'm not going to bash the man about his daughter because as someone said he may have caught back up with her later and was totally different, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was pretty aloof with his kids. Then again, it's pretty well known he is difficult to live with.

I've met a lot of pro athletes and many of the top-level guys (and ladies) are often very prickly. I will say that most of the elite runners I've met have been kind and very accomodating, but they are an exception.

Lance is no longer a professional athlete. He is doing triathlons for livestrong. He is supposed to be the face of a massive charity that takes in millions and millions every year for a good cause. That is a huge responsibility that includes being a really good guy in the community.

I think I'd be more disrespected by a guy finishing in the top 10 if he were making a big charity show about crossing the finish line every time he went out.

If I were another competitor I would want to see one of the top guys taking the event seriously. Respecting it.

I think he just looks out of it, but if in fact he was showing dissappointment at a subpar performance, i think that would be justified. it's not like he threw a Webb-fit or anything.

Just because he was the top cycling and that was HIS sport doesn't mean he should act like he doesnt care when he doesnt do as well as he wanted in a sport that means something to a lot of other ppl.

$750 bucks.

Was at a party a few years ago, and some mountain cyclist was bragging how Lance did a mountain bike race and said it " was the hardest thing he ever did.." He saw me laugh and went off. Found out i was a marathoner and declared that if I went with him on a trail ride, I'd be "begging him to stop!!" I mentioned he had a rather large belly,told him I'd be there, but he never showed the next day at the trails. I saw him later, and laughed at him. He got red in the face while I informed him that Lance said the same quote after he finished the NYC marathon at age 35, in 2:44. I had to remind him I did the same race faster at age 44. Ha ha.

Anyone who thinks Armstrong didn't do drugs to win 7 Tours is on drugs themself.

The main difference between cycling and running is simple:

If you buy the most expensive pair of running shoes, they will not help you go fast.

But, if you buy the most expensive bike, you will definiteley be able to go faster. And... sit down going downhill.

[quote]atownrunnin wrote:

Why are people surprised when athletes and celebs act like jerks? I'm not defending it, just saying it takes a certain personality and focus to do what they do, and many of them leave a lot of collateral damage personally behind them. And most of them don't care. Lance, A-Rod, Tiger,

_______________________

You can even take that one step further.

How many of you remember the best overall athlete from your school?

Many times he was a jerk.

Not always, but I would argue that most of the time that is the case.

@like a fire drill:no class -- Trust me, I wasn't defending the guy, just stating the obvious. I agree totally with what you say, now that he is competiting for a different reason he should work on his PR angles and be a better "face" for what he is representing. But I'm not sure how good people like Lance are at turning that competitive streak on or off.

What are you jabbering on about? Your whole post makes no sense.

asdfsdf wrote:

$750 bucks.

Thanks. I am willing to bet for the average pro tri dude that $750 is not a pittance. Certainly worth a short sprint to overtake a guy more concerned about waving to the crowd.

Sure it does. It proves that most cyclists have no idea what they're talking about with reference to running.

You mean the opposite. Trust me - the fastest bike will not materially improve you. Lance could have ridden a very basic road bike and still won 7 tours.

Precious Roy wrote:

Lance looks ok and gives a stranger in the crowd a high five right before he gets passed at the finish. When he sees that he got nipped at the finish, his demeanor totally changes. You can tell he is totally pissed and wants to get out of there.

You figured all of that out from a 10 second clip of an exhausted guy walking across the finish line?? wow.

The "high five" is a reflexive I-can-barely-raise-my-hand touch of a fan shouting his name. I think he is more or less out on his feet.

As far as congratulating a guy who dives past you at the line when you were walking and clearly didn't know anyone was coming, and then fist pumps big time basically in your face...... I don't think so. the guy had every right to nip him, but my first move upon being exhausted wouldn't be to congratulate some dude who fist pumped in my face because he beat me only because he took me by surprise.

He still should have probably turned to in his daughter's direction, but again, I think he is more or less out on his feet, no exaggeration. Unless Lance stopped while running the last 100 meters to sign an autograph for every fan in the crowd, then upon crossing the line scooped up his daughter on his shoulders as he immediately sought at every competitor to personally congratulate them and tell them how honored he was to even compete against them, you guys would be ripping him . Seriously. We get it: Lance it the Devil. WE>>>> GET >>>> IT.

(If this had been Lance upon crossing the line, you guys would be saying he was ignoring his fans, family, and competitors:

)

lance ran 2:46:40 at NYC, a bit behind me in my first. I always shout to my daughter when I see her in races near the finish but just last month I didn't even see her or her mother or hear them when they were at a different point on the course and they yelled to me. Bonking after 4 hrs you would tend not to notice too much and remember that he is an insanely tough competitor who takes race performances very, very seriously. Maybe he just will not speak to anyone when he disappoints himself.

Sir Lance-alot wrote:

my first move upon being exhausted wouldn't be to congratulate some dude who fist pumped in my face because he beat me only because he took me by surprise.

If only he'd known, that it was a race.

Lumping Jordan in the "dbag" department may be a little harsh. Yes, he cheated on his wife, but other than that, and openly admitting he was hard on teammates at times, there are very few people who have ever really said much derogatory about him. I get the impression he's, overall, a fairly good guy, albeit a bit overly competitive.

a lot of people are upset with that race. apparently there were broken bottles everywhere and they were getting flat tires. then the aid-cars didn't come by for up to an hour after being called.

fsadfads wrote:

Lumping Jordan in the "dbag" department may be a little harsh. Yes, he cheated on his wife, but other than that, and openly admitting he was hard on teammates at times, there are very few people who have ever really said much derogatory about him. I get the impression he's, overall, a fairly good guy, albeit a bit overly competitive.

Did you not hear about his HOF induction speech?

Wha? You are joking, right?

It's not about the bike; uh yeah, sure thing buddy.

reddit wrote:

I like how that guy sprinting past him acts like he just won the Boston Marathon. F.ucking tool.

Hey, guess what? It's a race. You're supposed to do that.