Re: Re:
Absolutely agree. The gloating / sneering any time Froome and Contador are in the same race or building up to the same race is a total turn off.
It comes across rather as sneering to me. But then, there's what the writer writes, and what the reader perceives. Your previous post was, however, unquestionably rude and so even if Flo doesn't mind, I do on her behalf and have reported it.
For my part, I am disappointed to see AC not on form, but it does nothing to diminish him for me. Everyone ages; we decline from our peak. It takes courage, grace and humility to carry on doing something when you're no longer as good as you were - especially when you used to be 'all-conquering'. I am full of admiration for, say, Roger Federer, for allowing himself to go from 'G.O.A.T' to being beaten by people who would have struggled to take a set off him a few years ago, and indeed, watch another pretender to his crown become mentioned as the G.O.A.T, and be willing to be beaten by him routinely. It must take a lot of courage, pride-swallowing and a certain generosity of spirit to play on your downward curve, knowing that beating you will be a massive milestone to a whole new generation of 'up and comers'. Most sportsmen desire to 'leave at the top' to avoid any chance of that; of tainting their legacy - there's nothing wrong with that (seems a natural desire), but it is wholly to be admired in my eyes that Federer (and his ilk) can stomach the decline and still play for the love of the game (because he sure doesn't need the money).
Which is not to say I think it's all over for AC. Nah...he's been written off before; underestimate him at your peril. But there's a certain amount of 'wishing' from all fans - Contador fans don't want him to be past his peak; want to have endless golden days. I for one would happily name a kid Bertie in return for an Etna / Verbier Contador again; hell, I'd bear his kids to have him win the Tour again (It wouldn't be a hardship
)
Other fans, perhaps, want him to not be a threat or to outshine their particular rider. Because I'm afraid as things stand, Froome and Quintana have a great deal to do to match his palmares. And a frankly impossible task to match what AC brings to racing. Look at the Tour. It was boring for the most part because there was no unpredictable element in the GC 'battle'. Contador is that guy; he can be relied on to mix things up even if he's not on form. Nibali and Bardet seem to have the same spirit. Quintana seems to lack it - he doesn't attack much unless he's guaranteed to make the attacks stick. It matters a great deal to my enjoyment of racing to have some of these 'cast caution to the winds' / 'death or glory' types. It is wholly different from attacking off the front a few km from the end when your team is so dominant that the peloton has become a bit of a procession.
Yes, people love winners, but they are also attracted to people whom they perceive have or embody or inspire qualities that are important to them. It is important to me, for example, that Contador for all his drive to win, is not some Lance Armstrong brash, arrogant type; nor a Cipo type, in love with his own reflection; ego endlessly bathing in the glory. I like that the drive comes with an apparent human warmth; and passion for the sport which sees him supporting the grass roots with his own team not to mention trying to win every race rather than treating smaller races as some kind of extended training session. I like to hear that he makes time for the press at the end of the day. I am very happy that I hear zero from (or about) his wife on social media. Nor are there autobiographies. These are the things, for me, which mark the difference between a 'winner' and a 'champion'. I don't think we need worry about his legacy. The Tour showed very clearly what a massive hole there'll be when he is no longer either a real contender, or after he retires. When that happens, someone (or some many) will come along to fill the hole. But, for now, albeit he's struggling since the crashes, there's still no vacancy, (mercifully).
Rob_Roy said:dacooley said:the moral is quite simple. you can badmouth all the riders as mush as you want, but you can't do it with AC. irrationality as a cult off the charts.
Well,people that finds joy in badmouthing a biker in a thread dedicated to that biker I pity.
I cant belive that their parents raised them that way,to find joy in teasing others,irritating others just to get a kick out of it. That could of course be the reason why I write posts once a year or so,I see no point in having experts (clever idiots) insult me to get their point proven,whatever they want to prove with insults....
Absolutely agree. The gloating / sneering any time Froome and Contador are in the same race or building up to the same race is a total turn off.
buchanan said:
It comes across rather as sneering to me. But then, there's what the writer writes, and what the reader perceives. Your previous post was, however, unquestionably rude and so even if Flo doesn't mind, I do on her behalf and have reported it.
For my part, I am disappointed to see AC not on form, but it does nothing to diminish him for me. Everyone ages; we decline from our peak. It takes courage, grace and humility to carry on doing something when you're no longer as good as you were - especially when you used to be 'all-conquering'. I am full of admiration for, say, Roger Federer, for allowing himself to go from 'G.O.A.T' to being beaten by people who would have struggled to take a set off him a few years ago, and indeed, watch another pretender to his crown become mentioned as the G.O.A.T, and be willing to be beaten by him routinely. It must take a lot of courage, pride-swallowing and a certain generosity of spirit to play on your downward curve, knowing that beating you will be a massive milestone to a whole new generation of 'up and comers'. Most sportsmen desire to 'leave at the top' to avoid any chance of that; of tainting their legacy - there's nothing wrong with that (seems a natural desire), but it is wholly to be admired in my eyes that Federer (and his ilk) can stomach the decline and still play for the love of the game (because he sure doesn't need the money).
Which is not to say I think it's all over for AC. Nah...he's been written off before; underestimate him at your peril. But there's a certain amount of 'wishing' from all fans - Contador fans don't want him to be past his peak; want to have endless golden days. I for one would happily name a kid Bertie in return for an Etna / Verbier Contador again; hell, I'd bear his kids to have him win the Tour again (It wouldn't be a hardship
)Other fans, perhaps, want him to not be a threat or to outshine their particular rider. Because I'm afraid as things stand, Froome and Quintana have a great deal to do to match his palmares. And a frankly impossible task to match what AC brings to racing. Look at the Tour. It was boring for the most part because there was no unpredictable element in the GC 'battle'. Contador is that guy; he can be relied on to mix things up even if he's not on form. Nibali and Bardet seem to have the same spirit. Quintana seems to lack it - he doesn't attack much unless he's guaranteed to make the attacks stick. It matters a great deal to my enjoyment of racing to have some of these 'cast caution to the winds' / 'death or glory' types. It is wholly different from attacking off the front a few km from the end when your team is so dominant that the peloton has become a bit of a procession.
Yes, people love winners, but they are also attracted to people whom they perceive have or embody or inspire qualities that are important to them. It is important to me, for example, that Contador for all his drive to win, is not some Lance Armstrong brash, arrogant type; nor a Cipo type, in love with his own reflection; ego endlessly bathing in the glory. I like that the drive comes with an apparent human warmth; and passion for the sport which sees him supporting the grass roots with his own team not to mention trying to win every race rather than treating smaller races as some kind of extended training session. I like to hear that he makes time for the press at the end of the day. I am very happy that I hear zero from (or about) his wife on social media. Nor are there autobiographies. These are the things, for me, which mark the difference between a 'winner' and a 'champion'. I don't think we need worry about his legacy. The Tour showed very clearly what a massive hole there'll be when he is no longer either a real contender, or after he retires. When that happens, someone (or some many) will come along to fill the hole. But, for now, albeit he's struggling since the crashes, there's still no vacancy, (mercifully).
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