Interesting piece on Livestrong

[Fortyninefourteen]

But I bet they don't sell nifty NIKE merchandise and peddle awareness and hope to the masses.

Livestrong is an excellent example of how cancer related fundraising is circumscribed by the profit motive, and the network of corporate entities that sustain the cross-marketing of the cause.

Livestrong has taken the commercial approach to new levels. Robb Heineman, the chief executive of Sporting KC, said in a statement that Livestrong was “utilizing aggressive tactics designed to force us into an unsatisfactory arrangement.” Clearly their main goal isn't funding cancer "awareness".

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...ripped-from-kansas-city-s-soccer-stadium.html

I would think that Hockey Canada signed the deal with Livestrong to get sponsorship money. Nike would have signed to sell merchandise. Livestrong would have signed to get what is left over from the merchandise sales after everyone else is paid off, and because they are probably now quite dependant on Nike for their existance. Some people would say the fact that Livestrong, a cancer charity, gets something at all that we shouldn't question this deal. There is, however, a lack of transparency and confusion of interests that begs further scrutiny. If the goal was really financing a cancer charity, there are better ones out there.

Behaviour that smacks of bullying, threatening, and coercion. Exactly like its founder.

They must be hurting, and feel backed into a corner to be resorting to that type of dealing.....

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

Just found out about the Canadian hockey jersey debacle.

I am well aware that hockey players aren't renowned for their intellectual acumen, but:

HOW F*CKING STUPID DO THEY HAVE TO BE TO TIE IN WITH LIVESTRONG - ESPECIALLY WITH LEGAL ACTIONS STILL ONGOING?

I'm utterly astounded by this. Dumbest move ever...

 

[D-Queued]

Behaviour that smacks of bullying, threatening, and coercion. Exactly like its founder.

They must be hurting, and feel backed into a corner to be resorting to that type of dealing.....

It is over the top, or maybe it isn't, to observe that the r*ping and pillaging has now been extended to exploitation of our women's hockey team. They are exploiting our women.

Truly barbaric.

It is so true and obvious, that it is almost funny. Almost. Because you know that this is exactly what they have brazenly done.

Dave.

 

[northstar]

There’s a poll included with this article today. Comments are decidedly against the sponsorship. The poll is currently at 60% against the Livestrong jersey.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/hockey-canada-defends-decision-to-wear-livestrong-colours-1.1180308

 

[D-Queued]

Given Miller props for stating the obvious:

“It's been a difficult year,” Livestrong president Andy Miller told the group's annual convention last week, according to the Reuters news agency. The scandal has created “headwinds that were not only stiff but heartbreaking,” although he also said that the foundation is “bigger than its founder.”

“We were deeply disappointed when we learned along with the rest of the world that we had been misled," Miller admitted.

The feigned surprise, however, leaves a bad taste.

Earth to Andy: You are complicit in the deception campaign and your statement is misleading.

If the foundation is bigger than its founder, that can only mean it is a greater lie. Lance's lies are the only thing that is measurable about his legacy at this point.

Dave.

 

[Fortyninefourteen]

The feigned surprise, however, leaves a bad taste......



He should have just shut up rather than publicly disclose his ongoing willingness to pretend he knew nothing.....adding insult to injury. Poor folks that naively bought into the myth.

He should step down and let the foundation detach itself from the past.

 

[frenchfry]

Given Miller props for stating the obvious:

“It's been a difficult year,” Livestrong president Andy Miller told the group's annual convention last week, according to the Reuters news agency. The scandal has created “headwinds that were not only stiff but heartbreaking,” although he also said that the foundation is “bigger than its founder.”

“We were deeply disappointed when we learned along with the rest of the world that we had been misled," Miller admitted.

The feigned surprise, however, leaves a bad taste.

Earth to Andy: You are complicit in the deception campaign and your statement is misleading.

If the foundation is bigger than its founder, that can only mean it is a greater lie. Lance's lies are the only thing that is measurable about his legacy at this point.

Dave.

Not only was it certain that they know exactly what was going on, but they were also totally complicit in 1) marketing the Lance Armstrong brand as a foundation priority and 2) ensuring that Armstrong enriched himself on the back of Livestrong through excessive appearance/speaking fees at Livestrong events (example 25K/person to cancer charity, 10K/person to Armstrong personally).

Livestrong is a bad "charity" that deserves to disappear. There are other good charities that can do a better job of "awareness".

 

[Benotti69]

Not only was it certain that they know exactly what was going on, but they were also totally complicit in 1) marketing the Lance Armstrong brand as a foundation priority and 2) ensuring that Armstrong enriched himself on the back of Livestrong through excessive appearance/speaking fees at Livestrong events (example 25K/person to cancer charity, 10K/person to Armstrong personally).

Livestrong is a bad "charity" that deserves to disappear. There are other good charities that can do a better job of "awareness".

I dont think cancer needs awareness in the 1st world in 2013. It needs more research.

 

[peterst6906]

I dont think cancer needs awareness in the 1st world in 2013. It needs more research.

While I don't agree with the simplistic nature of that comment, its clear that LiveStrong is only there to line the pocket of LA and whether its the .com or the foundation, it should go.

There are many other charities out there that support patients in much better ways.

 

[Benotti69]

While I don't agree with the simplistic nature of that comment, its clear that LiveStrong is only there to line the pocket of LA and whether its the .com or the foundation, it should go.

There are many other charities out there that support patients in much better ways.

I would be surprised if there are any families in the 1st world that at least 1 member of their family including extended family have not had cancer. If it was not talked about in the family no amount of promoting awareness will make it talked about.

Those who wish to educate themselves about cancer dont need a place like Lie$trong to pray on them, they will be able to do it online or at their local medical centres and hospitals. Those who continue to bury their heads in the sand about what goes on around them in the world will never make themselves aware no matter how many t-shirts are sold. Simple.

 

[frenchfry]

I dont think cancer needs awareness in the 1st world in 2013. It needs more research.

That's why I put "awareness" in quotation marks.

We now know that "awareness" was just a cover story to facilitate the marketing of the Armstrong brand.

Now it appears to be a slogan to hawk more overpriced Nike merchandise.

 

[frenchfry]

There’s a poll included with this article today. Comments are decidedly against the sponsorship. The poll is currently at 60% against the Livestrong jersey.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/hockey-canada-defends-decision-to-wear-livestrong-colours-1.1180308

A Nike/Livestrong intern to the rescue!

I live in Austin and have many friends that work at Livestrong. This is a great organization that helped my mother through cancer, as well as many friends and my friends' parents through cancer. I am no fan of Lance Armstrong, but I am a huge fan of this organization and the people that run it. And, I hope it's able to keep helping those folks who need it!

I love the "I am no fan of Armstrong".

 

[Benotti69]

A Nike/Livestrong intern to the rescue!

I love the "I am no fan of Armstrong".

I would guess one of the following posted that;

Wonderboy,
His mother
His ex Wife
His current partner
His Kids

someone has to work those comment sections.....

 

[peterst6906]

...Simple.

The last word was a very good summary and in total agreement with what I posted earlier.

That I have a slightly different view shouldn't be seen as a threat. It's just a different view.

I have current experience in how little we all really know about the assistance available to patients (gov't programs, information about different treatments that doctors don't have the time to provide, family assistance, etc.). Everyone in the 1st World is aware of cancer, but until it hits very close, its not something many of us pay really close attention to. At least, I didn't and a number of people I've spoken to in recent months have expressed a similar experience.

Research is extremely important and will hopefully one day cure many forms of the disease and find preventions too. That is all very valuable and worthwhile work.

There are also many other important charity supported programs other than research that assist not only in the prevention/curing of future cancer patients, but that provide support to people with the disease now. If a label for those is, 'awareness' or 'support' or whatever, it doesn't matter (LiveStrong does not fit into these as it is nothing more than a fraud). The programs themselves provide a very valuable service.

 

[Fausto's Schnauzer]

I would guess one of the following posted that;

Wonderboy,
His mother
His ex Wife
His current partner
His Kids

someone has to work those comment sections.....

The ranks are thinning for sure. The Supreme Nozzle's Facebook page obviously hasn't been monitored for a while for instance. I'd put a link but last time I did I got suspended based on some of the images that were then on that page.

 

[blackcat]

I love the "I am no fan of Armstrong".

I have an arab friend

 

[Zweistein]

It doesn't matter if Nike profits directly. They get ALL the marketing value.

This decision by the Cdn Women's Hockey Team is completely unjustifiable.

Here was the choice for a cause to support:

1. Terry Fox

National Hero
Died while raising awareness about Cancer

2. Lance Armstrong

Biggest fraud in the History of Sport
Used the Cancer shield to hide his lies about doping and increase his profits

One died for the cause, while the other lied and used the cause to to increase the fraud.

Which one does the National Team choose?

Dave.

It is kind of sad that Lance could have been what Terry Fox was had he wanted to.

 

[Benotti69]

It is kind of sad that Lance could have been what Terry Fox was had he wanted to.

How do you figure that, his Mother was asking LeMond what she should do with her a$$hole son!

it would never enter the head of someone like Armstrong to do good unless there was something in it for him. His whole life is one big example of that!

 

[frenchfry]

How do you figure that, his Mother was asking LeMond what she should do with her a$$hole son!

it would never enter the head of someone like Armstrong to do good unless there was something in it for him. His whole life is one big example of that!

Even now when his image is in dire need of some real remorse, he is still calculating, manipulating, controlling. No hope for this guy.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Even now when his image is in dire need of some real remorse, he is still calculating, manipulating, controlling. No hope for this guy.

IMHO, things finally fell apart because he can't act or otherwise be persuasive in front of a camera.

Another scam is coming. Either that, or he does the addiction thing for a long while, THEN the next scam. He's not done poisoning things.

WTH was the Hockey federation thinking? Do they all live at rinks with no media access? Those would have been some very, very interesting meetings/discussions leading up to the decision though.. Who got paid?

 

[H2OUUP2]

WTH was the Hockey federation thinking? Do they all live at rinks with no media access? Those would have been some very, very interesting meetings/discussions leading up to the decision though.. Who got paid?

The thing is, is that Hockey Canada isn't struggling either. I don't have the numbers, but I'm positive It doesn't need the money. They do have a partnership with Nike, so that might be where this comes from.

Personally, I don't like it. People will say that Lance Armstrong and Livestrong are Oranges and Apples. I don't see it that way at all. Lance was Livestrong, and Livestrong was Lance. The two wouldn't be what they are today(or about a year ago) if it wasn't for each other. In a time when everyone is relating Armstrong to livestrong, and everyone is running from the name Lance Armstrong, why would Hockey Canada walk towards it? It really makes no sense. Maybe do this next year, or the year after. But not now. It just gives Hockey Canada negative press.

 

[DirtyWorks]

The thing is, is that Hockey Canada isn't struggling either. I don't have the numbers, but I'm positive It doesn't need the money.

Hehe.. I wasn't asking if the federation got paid. I was asking who inside the federation got paid (personally) to do this stinker of a deal. Management getting reimbursed outside the sports federation for federation business is normal in the U.S.

 

[H2OUUP2]

Hehe.. I wasn't asking if the federation got paid. I was asking who inside the federation got paid (personally) to do this stinker of a deal. Management getting reimbursed outside the sports federation for federation business is normal in the U.S.

It's not really any different here. Just not on as big of scale.

I know Livestrong ,and I know Nike, but I also know who Bob Nicholson is. I just don't see him, or anyone under him taking a payment. I don't see Hockey Canada as being like those two companies.

 

[D-Queued]

It's not really any different here. Just not on as big of scale.

I know Livestrong ,and I know Nike, but I also know who Bob Nicholson is. I just don't see him, or anyone under him taking a payment. I don't see Hockey Canada as being like those two companies.

Fair enough.

Of course, many people couldn't see Lance as a cheater.

Dave.

 

[H2OUUP2]

Fair enough.

Of course, many people couldn't see Lance as a cheater.

Dave.

Um......No. Good try though.

I really don't see any back room deals going on here. Nike is already in contract with Hockey Canada(HC). Nike is in contracts with Livestrong. Maybe Nike persuaded HC to do this with a little extra, but I really don't see anything dodgy going on here.

I think this is just a very poor decision on Hockey Canadas part. Those sorts of things do happen.