Nike Terminates Lance Armstrong Contract

god I go on vacation and finally log in to see this....

Karma.

Bye Bye Lance. Let the lawyers at him.

Thing is if you think justice has been dealt here I guess you and me have different ideas about what justice is and it isn't because I am some kind of Lance fanboy. Basically, everyone got what they wanted from this sponsorship. Lance got millions of dollars, Nike sold millions of products and no one is going to lose any money over this at all. Sure, Nike will likely mothball any future Livestrong merchandise and Lance will not be able to collect any other cheques from Nike in the future but who cares? Both parties are running away like bandits and while Lance has lost his titles and will never be held in the same esteem as he once was I think the many millions of dollars he has in the bank will offer some solace.

With regards to Nike, it is stupid to say that Nike is any more guilty than Addidas, Puma, Mizuno, New Balance etc... all these companies want the best marketing gimmicks for their products and Lance was to endurance events what Michael Jordan was to basketball and they frankly do not care (as long as their brand image is permanently destroyed) how the performances are achieved so long as hey are achieved and people want to buy a part of that achievement. There is a possibility that 5 years from now Bolt may be found to be using PED's but up until that point he will sell millions of pairs of Puma's and Jamaican tracksuits.

But the main thing is that we are still not serious about what 'cheating' really means in high-end sport and how we should deal with it. By making every instance a case of a bad apple or a person of low moral fortitude we are really ignoring the incredibly dense soup of issues making up this problem. I don't feel terrible about the fate that has hit Armstrong but I won't pretend I am not a bit surprised. I am surprised because I thought that there would have been more of an effort to preserve his reputation for the sake of professional cycling and his philanthropic work/image. However, if you think that stripping him of his titles and sponsorships actually does anything to prevent the use of PED's by future competitors you have bought hook line and sinker the narrative that wants to make systemic doping into individual witch hunts.

Does this mean I can't wear my Cheatstrong gear at my next thon? Or maybe I can get it on clearance sales now?

Oh please. My employer has guidelines outlining who at the company is eligible to comment to the media on stories affecting or involving the organization. I don't believe that abiding by it means I'm co-opting my freedom or enlisting in a cult.

My word means nothing wrote:

Nike has gotten to her. No comment from anyone in Jerry's crew or Alberto's crew. It is ridiculous how a contract with Nike prevents you from having an opinion. "THE NIKE CULT"

eh. you make it sounds like the whole world runs on money and money alone. LA is a very rich man, but he is ruined.

for example, from the mercier story:

After Usada's full findings came out on Wednesday, Mercier's wife called him. "She said 'imagine you're sitting down with your son and daughter, explaining hey, daddy's a liar and a cheat'. I don't have to do that."

agip wrote:

for example, from the mercier story:

After Usada's full findings came out on Wednesday, Mercier's wife called him. "She said 'imagine you're sitting down with your son and daughter, explaining hey, daddy's a liar and a cheat'. I don't have to do that."

True, but people do much more terrible things with respect to their families than using PED's (cheat, abusive to their spouse, steal etc) and can look into their child's eyes. When we are up to our knees in filth being clean is a relative statement. Either way I am not in favour of drug use but I want some real solutions not this case by case junk. All that Lance's fall shows is that up until you are caught you can do amazing things and be revered as a hero.

So does this mean I an get some Nike gear on clearance: performance T-shirts and shorts, Air Pegasus, sweats? I have never purchased any Livestrong gear in the past, but always looking for a deal on the Pegasus or gear, even they do have that awful yellow color in them!

i dont know. who has the biggest annual income? i assume it is nike. but i dont think its a "similair note". usada build a case. over a long time and wait for the right moment to struck. if they smell blood they will hunt you down eventually...or am i wrong?

i dont know. who has the biggest annual income? i assume it is nike. but i dont think its a "similair note". usada build a case. over a long time and wait for the right moment to struck. if they smell blood they will hunt you down eventually...or am i wrong?

Guess what they are filling up the Employee Store in Beaverton with today? SALE

In related news...stick gives a shout out to redux!!! See it for yourself!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEiTL4XCn08&list=UU2wW8JyVOxbv2gtiBXrSDoQ&index=3&feature=plcp

Not sure if anyone's posted this yet; it's a fun PDF of some of the business connections around Armstrong and Livestrong:

http://velorooms.com/files/ArmstrongBusinessConnections.pdf

Also, follow @dimspace (it's not me) on Twitter to see a reading of today's Nike/Livestrong moves that suggests they're all just b--ls--t PR moves designed to fake us out.

The more important question is when will everyone admit to doping. Everyone at the top of their fields in measured sports dopes.

https://www.facebook.com/DearGregLeMondIApologize

Nike Cycling. 50% off everything in the store!

LOL!!!

prometheus_bounding wrote:

Thing is if you think justice has been dealt here I guess you and me have different ideas about what justice is and it isn't because I am some kind of Lance fanboy. Basically, everyone got what they wanted from this sponsorship. Lance got millions of dollars, Nike sold millions of products and no one is going to lose any money over this at all. Sure, Nike will likely mothball any future Livestrong merchandise and Lance will not be able to collect any other cheques from Nike in the future but who cares? Both parties are running away like bandits and while Lance has lost his titles and will never be held in the same esteem as he once was I think the many millions of dollars he has in the bank will offer some solace.

Call me a cynic, but I am a bit skeptical about what has truly been "announced" today.

Assumption by most all: Nike dropped Lance; Lance resigned from Livestrong; Lance is out.

My "cynical" take: Nike dropped Lance, but said they're staying with Livestrong. (does that mean they continue to sell the merchandise too? I bet so). Lance resigned as Chairman of Livestrong, but will remain on the board. That means he's still connected to Livestrong.

Also, there is the shady/confusing aspect of Livestrong non profit, and Livestrong for profit. (.com vs .org?) I bet after today's announcements, Lance still gets his cut of the Livestrong for profit proceeds.

Yes, Lance may have lost his endorsement contract, but I bet he is still getting some sweet cash through the maze of Livestrong.

Anheuser Bush announced similar to Nike - they drop Lance, but will continue to support Livestrong.

you know, in the end, one point for a good thing, one point for a bad thing - I bet LA is still ahead in the game.

Livestrong is a great thing. He built that. He inspired hundreds of thousands if not millions.

He's probably thinking along those lines.

The common demoninator message is that "drugs are good" and help you to preform like a super hero.

It's a bunch of marketing hogwash and hype.