Interesting piece on Livestrong

[MacRoadie]

Wise words. It's a bit like insider trading, don't you think? Everyone in the wealthy world does it.
What do we do with omni-beloved superstars who are caught insider trading, BTW? Oh, I forgot, JAIL TIME.

Even the ones worth in excess of $600 million who only ended up avoiding a $45K loss with the insider info.

 

[MacRoadie]

It appears that "everyone was doing it" is the new talking point. Have to soften up the fanboy crowd slowly.

You get that talking point out there and you don't have to rationalize to them how you sold them the "most tested athlete", "never tested positive", "EPO magically appears in 'improperly stored' pee samples", and "it's the French out to get me" manure for over a decade.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Happy to announce that, after some abortive attempts, I finally made through the 11 pages.
The 11 chambers of Billlford's awesomeness.

How old is he ? Does he consider himself a journalist ?
Nice piece of open hate. But still boring.
Reminds me of Andi Burkert. It's dripping, but lacking of sensation.

Agree to majority of comments down there.

 

[Cobblestoned]

I think a breeze is starting to rustle the leaves.

You know, my door is always open for you when things are over.
You don't even have to say anything about your credulity and choosing the wrong path and so on....

I'll just open the door with an eye-blink and say "Cheer up, can happen to anyone".
Then we would get married. Finally. Of course Lance would be invited. Also raceradio.

 

[Velodude]

Happy to announce that, after some abortive attempts, I finally made through the 11 pages.
The 11 chambers of Billlford's awesomeness.

How old is he ? Does he consider himself a journalist ?
Nice piece of open hate. But still boring.
Reminds me of Andi Burkert. It's dripping, but lacking of sensation.

Agree to majority of comments down there.

You mean like "Dave" at comment #5.

This kind of story reminds me of why I never buy or read your magazine. Not worth my time.

Earth to Dave. But you are reading it

 

[MarkvW]

You get that talking point out there and you don't have to rationalize to them how you sold them the "most tested athlete", "never tested positive", "EPO magically appears in 'improperly stored' pee samples", and "it's the French out to get me" manure for over a decade.

Lance really can't make that talking point himself, though. It would create an absolute media firestorm--one that his aggressive, in-your-face, little man style is not well adapted to dealing with.

Such a tactic could also backfire. If people are convinced that pro cycling is a doped up freakshow, then the Lance brand value will take a hammering. He would be savaging the sport that gave him stature and credibility.

Livestrong might survive, but how would the Lance brand fare? All he'd have left is cancer--is that enough to make bucks for him as the memories of his triumphs fade into the past and he is widely acknowledged as a liar and a cheat? I don't think so.

When Lance concedes doping, he concedes perpetual attacks on his legacy. I doubt he'll go there.

And besides, it's true. Every other contender was doped to the gills. It was the EPO era for chrissake. If Lance wants to talk about that, I'd like to see and hear--and compare his new position with the lying platitudes he spouted throughout his career.

 

[MacRoadie]

Lance really can't make that talking point himself, though. It would create an absolute media firestorm--one that his aggressive, in-your-face, little man style is not well adapted to dealing with.

Such a tactic could also backfire. If people are convinced that pro cycling is a doped up freakshow, then the Lance brand value will take a hammering. He would be savaging the sport that gave him stature and credibility.

Livestrong might survive, but how would the Lance brand fare? All he'd have left is cancer--is that enough to make bucks for him as the memories of his triumphs fade into the past and he is widely acknowledged as a liar and a cheat? I don't think so.

When Lance concedes doping, he concedes perpetual attacks on his legacy. I doubt he'll go there.

And besides, it's true. Every other contender was doped to the gills. It was the EPO era for chrissake. If Lance wants to talk about that, I'd like to see and hear--and compare his new position with the lying platitudes he spouted throughout his career.

And therein lies the great "Armstrong Dichotomy".

 

[blackcat]

And therein lies the great "Armstrong Dichotomy".

well, he can always sell "paradox", great brand name for a lemon scented dishwashing detergent, especially the <rectangular>cube to go in the machine, gotta square that circle with all those rich austin media flacks eh

 

[Hugh Januss]

You know, my door is always open for you when things are over.
You don't even have to say anything about your credulity and choosing the wrong path and so on....

I'll just open the door with an eye-blink and say "Cheer up, can happen to anyone".
Then we would get married. Finally. Of course Lance would be invited. Also raceradio.

You've got even less chance of that happening than you have of your mancrush getting off without penalty.

 

[BotanyBay]

Lance is trying to buy himself a little "Haven" (did I say THAT ) in the mountains in Aspen. Giving money to little local po-dunk charities, sponsoring swim teams, patronizing the local eateries. Preparing to surround himself with emotional loyalists for when the big battle happens. In Aspen, it won't be like he sKrewed them (as compared to how Austinites will feel). They'll only know him as a philanthropist and guy who helps draw crowds to your restaurant.

Sorta just like "Berchtesgaden" (where a certain someone planned to make his own "last stand").

 

[BotanyBay]

but how would the Lance brand fare? QUOTE]

If you think about it, he's really diluting the heck out of that brand. I see that ****'s Sporting Goods is crammed full of the Livestrong merch, but today, all I really see are wristbands on people who either are (or know) a cancer survivor. I no longer see the t-shirts. I never see the jerseys and shorts.

Livestrong is the most confusing brand out there right now. Is it a sportingbrand? A charity brand?

Lance is his brand's own worst enemy, and I haven't even gotten to the part about his PR woes.

 

[thehog]

but how would the Lance brand fare? QUOTE]

If you think about it, he's really diluting the heck out of that brand. I see that ****'s Sporting Goods is crammed full of the Livestrong merch, but today, all I really see are wristbands on people who either are (or know) a cancer survivor. I no longer see the t-shirts. I never see the jerseys and shorts.

Livestrong is the most confusing brand out there right now. Is it a sportingbrand? A charity brand?

Lance is his brand's own worst enemy, and I haven't even gotten to the part about his PR woes.

Livestrong is all he has left. The .com for profit arm needs .org to keep it going. Its profits solely rely on .org paying for the legal stuff and keeping the good name alive. I’d expect to see him battle as hard as possible to keep the Livestrong game going as long as he can. Once that is dismantled he has nothing left. No income.

I really don’t see a way out for him. If he admits to doping now then Nov takes him down. I think he’s banking his chances on zero charges or getting out with a plea. None the less he’ll always have the stigma that he never responded to the doping question when for 20 years he banged on how clean he was. It has to be addressed and if I was him I’d do it before any charges are laid. That way he’ll do it on his own terms and perhaps he can drum up some support. Waiting for it to leak out in court won’t be the smartest move.

 

[Polish]

Livestrong is all he has left. The .com for profit arm needs .org to keep it going. Its profits solely rely on .org paying for the legal stuff and keeping the good name alive. I’d expect to see him battle as hard as possible to keep the Livestrong game going as long as he can. Once that is dismantled he has nothing left. No income.

.

Yes, Lance will have nothing left. No income waawaa.
Just like the guy who quits his job after winning a $200 million dollar lotto has no income waawaa.
Life is hard sometimes. Life hands you lemonades

Well, I suppose Lance could go back to his bike shop and wrench on bikes. Reduced to drinking Michelob Ultra. Pointing to the shop TV during the Super Bowl and saying "Hey guys, thats me!!" during the commercial breaks.
Sure Lance, wow. Now get back to work.

 

[Benotti69]

Livestrong is all he has left. The .com for profit arm needs .org to keep it going. Its profits solely rely on .org paying for the legal stuff and keeping the good name alive. I’d expect to see him battle as hard as possible to keep the Livestrong game going as long as he can. Once that is dismantled he has nothing left. No income.

I really don’t see a way out for him. If he admits to doping now then Nov takes him down. I think he’s banking his chances on zero charges or getting out with a plea. None the less he’ll always have the stigma that he never responded to the doping question when for 20 years he banged on how clean he was. It has to be addressed and if I was him I’d do it before any charges are laid. That way he’ll do it on his own terms and perhaps he can drum up some support. Waiting for it to leak out in court won’t be the smartest move.

Armstrong probably is not puling the strings on this anymore. he is way out of his depth so i bet Weisel and a few others are doing all the behind he scenes running hoping to bleed this for as long as possible till Armstrong takes the fall.

 

[Benotti69]

Livestrong is all he has left. The .com for profit arm needs .org to keep it going. Its profits solely rely on .org paying for the legal stuff and keeping the good name alive. I’d expect to see him battle as hard as possible to keep the Livestrong game going as long as he can. Once that is dismantled he has nothing left. No income.

I really don’t see a way out for him. If he admits to doping now then Nov takes him down. I think he’s banking his chances on zero charges or getting out with a plea. None the less he’ll always have the stigma that he never responded to the doping question when for 20 years he banged on how clean he was. It has to be addressed and if I was him I’d do it before any charges are laid. That way he’ll do it on his own terms and perhaps he can drum up some support. Waiting for it to leak out in court won’t be the smartest move.

Armstrong probably is not puling the strings on this anymore. he is way out of his depth so i bet Weisel and a few others are doing all the behind he scenes running hoping to bleed this for as long as possible till Armstrong takes the fall.

 

[Granville57]

Lance is trying to buy himself a little "Haven" (did I say THAT ) in the mountains in Aspen. Giving money to little local po-dunk charities, sponsoring swim teams, patronizing the local eateries. Preparing to surround himself with emotional loyalists for when the big battle happens. In Aspen, it won't be like he sKrewed them (as compared to how Austinites will feel). They'll only know him as a philanthropist and guy who helps draw crowds to your restaurant.

Fortunately, it's not all tea and roses in regards to "everything Lance" in Aspen.
This refreshingly insightful bit of work from Roger Marolt is from June, 2010.

It is time for Lance Armstrong to tell us what he knows
The Aspen Times

Considering this peripheral evidence that grows increasingly thicker around him, Armstrong's denials of his own PED usage allegations no longer go far enough to defend his seven victory laps down the Champs-Elysees. He now needs to tell us why he deserves to keep his yellow jerseys that were won in the draught of those almost certainly fueled with illegal chemical additives in their own systems.

It seems that the only logical answer he can give is that his victories should stand because every other team in the peloton had as many or more members who he knew were using PEDs. It is not an attractive scenario for Armstrong.

The alternative notion — that most of the other teams are presumed to be playing by the rules — is far worse for Armstrong. If that is true, then he is knowingly playing with a dirty team against innocents and keeping the victor's spoils for himself. That's cheating by anyone's definition, and leaves him not exactly worthy of the hero status we have granted him.

I honestly don't know why Armstrong should be allowed to keep his collection of yellow jerseys which were almost certainly won with significant help from tainted blood. Clearly there are things I don't understand. I am sure that Lance Armstrong does. He needs to come clean about them.

 

[Benotti69]

Fortunately, it's not all tea and roses in regards to "everything Lance" in Aspen.
This refreshingly insightful bit of work from Roger Marolt is from June, 2010.

It is time for Lance Armstrong to tell us what he knows
The Aspen Times

It is not gonna get any easier either.

He is wasting his money on lawyers, he should spill the beans and get a real PR pro to take it over.....but even then it is probably too late for that road. He is royally skrewed.

 

[thehog]

It is not gonna get any easier either.

He is wasting his money on lawyers, he should spill the beans and get a real PR pro to take it over.....but even then it is probably too late for that road. He is royally skrewed.

The silliness of it all is he is supposedly an advocate for clean health and living. Its going to be hard to attend Livestrong events pretending to be so when the worst the doping stories leak out.

What I did find interesting from the Outside article was the naming rights to the KC Stadium. They enquired about the doping stories they’d heard and Armstrong gave them a flat ‘no” that it never happened and pointed to his test record. His lying is out control. It’s one thing to lie to protect yourself but to do so and put an entire stadium and company at risk is deplorable. The stadium has buttered out for a 5 year deal and will probably have to cut it short when the indictments come and take a loss.

 

[doolols]

The stadium has buttered out for a 5 year deal and will probably have to cut it short when the indictments come and take a loss.

If they were smart, they would have put a "no doping, no indictment" clawback clause into the contract.

 

[Velodude]

Livestrong is all he has left. The .com for profit arm needs .org to keep it going. Its profits solely rely on .org paying for the legal stuff and keeping the good name alive. I’d expect to see him battle as hard as possible to keep the Livestrong game going as long as he can. Once that is dismantled he has nothing left. No income.

I really don’t see a way out for him. If he admits to doping now then Nov takes him down. I think he’s banking his chances on zero charges or getting out with a plea. None the less he’ll always have the stigma that he never responded to the doping question when for 20 years he banged on how clean he was. It has to be addressed and if I was him I’d do it before any charges are laid. That way he’ll do it on his own terms and perhaps he can drum up some support. Waiting for it to leak out in court won’t be the smartest move.

In my view after LA retired in 2005 Livestrong's metamorphosis from cancer research to cancer awareness was part of the the building of the personality cult to use as a platform to political public office for its founder.

Dealing with the multitude of society at a local level through families and LAF volunteers is more electorally attractive than the less numerous clinical cancer research boffins

Some quotes in support from Outside Magazine

The foundation gave out a total of $20 million in research grants between 1998 and 2005, the year it began phasing out its support of hard science.

Ulman doesn’t see it that way. “We are all about people,” he says. “Most organizations are about the disease.

Armstrong spent much of that year [2007] campaigning for Proposition 15, a Texas ballot initiative to create a huge pool of public money for cancer research and prevention. He worked the Texas legislature and traveled the state by bus with then state representative Patrick Rose, and the measure passed.

But the comeback [2009] also saw Livestrong’s final evolution from a research nonprofit into something that looks more like a hip marketing agency. Rather than funding test-tube projects, it was deploying buzzwords like leverage, partnering, and message.

 

[Benotti69]

In my view after LA retired in 2005 Livestrong's metamorphosis from cancer research to cancer awareness was part of the the building of the personality cult to use as a platform to political public office for its founder.

Dealing with the multitude of society at a local level through families and LAF volunteers is more electorally attractive than the less numerous clinical cancer research boffins

He has too many ghosts in his closet to even consider politics.

 

[BroDeal]

He has too many ghosts in his closet to even consider politics.

People like Armstrong are arrogant enough to think that the skeletons will never be revealed. They run anyway, resulting in much hilarity for the rest of us. Look at Herman Cain.

 

[Benotti69]

People like Armstrong are arrogant enough to think that the skeletons will never be revealed. They run anyway, resulting in much hilarity for the rest of us. Look at Herman Cain.

'Skeletons' was the word i could remember for that turn of phrase. Cheers Bro!

I suppose he is that kind of damaged that he will think that he can get away with it or that people will believe him.

Look at the damage a few women did to Tiger Woods when that all came out of the closet.

 

[Oldman]

It is not gonna get any easier either.

He is wasting his money on lawyers, he should spill the beans and get a real PR pro to take it over.....but even then it is probably too late for that road. He is royally skrewed.

Oprah and Larry King have retired...who is he going to cry for now?

 

[thehog]

Bill Gifford from Outside Magazine is on Tour Chats this Sunday.