Lemond/Trek new thread

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Did Dim ever get modship? The images in the thread are seriously ****ed.

(of course, that could be the PR firm trying to distort the conversation at just the right moment)

 

[British Pro Cycling]

Some would call it a conspiracy, most recognize it as a modern media campaign.

Which posters are working for the PR firm?

 

[British Pro Cycling]

Did Dim ever get modship? The images in the thread are seriously ****ed.

(of course, that could be the PR firm trying to distort the conversation at just the right moment)

Some mod deleted my post saying I was too tipsy to be coherent tonight, which was annoying but probably necessary.

 

[blackcat]

He's not Hombre.

maybe not, you're prolly correctomundo, however, good chance he is one of those posting fools if he was setting up Livestrong. Well, he came back, and he co-opted cancer. Mission accomplished.

edit: Betsy did not say it was a "fraud". One was imputing a motive, not a technical fraud, but a means to ensure a 6 figure income. Fraud does not have to be the legal definition, it can be the definition re: stated intent, and pure motive, if there is any dissonance.

 

[British Pro Cycling]

maybe not, you're prolly correctomundo, however, good chance he is one of those posting fools if he was setting up Livestrong. Betsy Andreu said it was a fraud from the start to ensure StrongArm had a 6 figure income when he retired, the welfare net if he could not comeback post-cancer. Well, he came back, and he co-opted cancer. Mission accomplished.

Did Betsy really say that? I find that very unfortunate. If that is a true representation of what she said then she does herself no favours at all. She certainly needs a PR firm.

 

[blackcat]

Did Betsy really say that? I find that very unfortunate. If that is a true representation of what she said then she does herself no favours at all. She certainly needs a PR firm.

you don't need a PR firm if you tell the truth and have no objective or agenda to achieve.

She can rest easy on the truth. Armstrong does not have that advantage.

 

[British Pro Cycling]

you don't need a PR firm if you tell the truth and have no objective or agenda to achieve.

She can rest easy on the truth. Armstrong does not have that advantage.

I don't know. It sounds like you're trying to smear her. I'm sure LA wanted to be some type of cancer ambassador during the long term of his life - he is in constant contact with cancer victims after all, it's more important to him than cycling - but to imply he's just doing it all for the money and doesn't care about these people, seems like a vicious smear campaign where things are taken totally out of context.

That couldn't be happening, could it?

 

[British Pro Cycling]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29915025/

 

[blackcat]

I don't know. It sounds like you're trying to smear her. I'm sure LA wanted to be some type of cancer ambassador during the long term of his life - he is in constant contact with cancer victims after all, it's more important to him than cycling - but to imply he's just doing it all for the money and doesn't care about these people, seems like a vicious smear campaign where things are taken totally out of context.

That couldn't be happening, could it?

apart from the sarcasm and Betsy, you are pretty spot on BPC.

Armstrong is using this as his brand builder. Why would a guy with no GED think he was qualified to run for public office. Glad I ain't a constituent in Texas.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

A PR firm did that? I really think the rabid LA hate has pickled some brains in here.

This is from the 'Expertise' section on thePublic Strategies Inc. website.

The social media landscape continues to change, expanding its reach and growing more complex on a daily basis. Whether it is using social networking websites, blogs, video sharing sites, wikis, or micro media tools like Twitter, social media enables people with a vested interest to communicate to thousands within seconds, garner opinion and amplify positive sentiment to a wide audience.

We help our clients build plans for utilizing social media in a way that works with their brand identification and communication goals. We also help them identify potential risks and strategies should any unwelcome scrutiny or attention occur.

 

[blackcat]

Rosenblatt is social media, he owns Livestrong.

McKinnon is PR, bullish on the new media.

Armstrong goes big on twitter, wonder if he got a piece of equity, he was with that guy from Dude Wheres My Car, Andrew Kutcher, one of the first guys to 1000000 members.

Armstrong pretty shallow when he deals with the press telling them to "deal with it" and "get used to the C20". Soundbites on twits. That is appropriate for StrongArm. Being held accountable, that is for others.

 

[British Pro Cycling]

We also help them identify potential risks and strategies should any unwelcome scrutiny or attention occur. [/I]

But wouldn't that entail producing a nice statement with the right wording, and perhaps doing a good interview with the right people? All basic stuff. But the idea that they'd pay people to speak to the hand full of people that use cycling forums, and set up this big campaign to smear Greg LeMond, when he is very good at doing that himself, seems laughable.

 

[guilder]

From reading Trek's complaint, they have demonstrated that they complied with the sublicensing agreement in terms of dollar amounts of marketing and development vs agreed-to sales minimums.

Yeah and that contract was based on Lemond's reputation before he publicly went off the deep end. Could GL even be objective about keeping his line competitive?

Hiring a PR firm to spin that Lemond is a wacko is a good place to start. Add to this the fact that Lemond brought European distributors that were interested in selling Lemond bikes to the table, Trek ignored them. Of course part of the discovery process will show the reduction in marketing budget, Ad buys, and support.

You got some proof....on all points? euro distributors? Shouldn't be too hard to find who they are, and what other bikes they distribute, that is if they're still in business. And if they are in fact real, how would Trek handle GL's potential conflict of interest in his role of bringing "interested" euro distributors.

I've heard this a lot, but do we have any evidence for this? And even if it's partly true, what precisely did the PR firm do to portray LeMond as a "wacko"? It's all very vague. It's like a smear itself really.

I am not getting this PR campaign several of you guys keep going on about. I would hope that details of this subversive mission would come forward soon?

It's a delusion on the part of Lance haters to explain why he seems ever more popular despite the incessant Lance hate 24/7 internet smear campaign.
.

 

[British Pro Cycling]

When Armstrong is in one of those crisis moments it's obvious that a PR firm has crafted the wording to those statements he gives. Such at the one during the 2005 issue, as we like to call it here on CN. That's what they're there for - to make sure a crisis is dealt with properly. That's why they're on the books. But you're making a mistake to believe they control the coverage of Armstrong in general and can manufacture phoney story lines and demonise enemies at will. I know a bit about this issue due to the political campaigns I have been involved in.

 

[guilder]

Why would a guy with no GED think he was qualified to run for public office. Glad I ain't a constituent in Texas.

That doesn't say much for the pro peloton, or higher education. The guy is brilliant.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

But wouldn't .....

Youre right - it is almost laughable that Trek used the PR firm that is based in Texas which is right beside CSE, Armstrong's management company in Austin -maybe there are no good PR firms available in Wisconsin or Chicago or places nearby.

Don't forget that Public Strategies did do the powerpoint presentation about Lemond and why Trek were stopping the brand.

 

[Race Radio]

Yeah and that contract was based on Lemond's reputation before he publicly went off the deep end. Could GL even be objective about keeping his line competitive?


You got some proof....on all points? euro distributors? Shouldn't be too hard to find who they are, and what other bikes they distribute, that is if they're still in business. And if they are in fact real, how would Trek handle GL's potential conflict of interest in his role of bringing "interested" euro distributors.



It's a delusion on the part of Lance haters to explain why he seems ever more popular despite the incessant Lance hate 24/7 internet smear campaign.
.

I will ask again, do you have an example of Lemond going off the deep end or are you just toeing the party line?

Yes, there are examples of European distributors. Their names and email correspondence are part of the legal documents.

There is no Lance Smear campaign. You are confused again.

 

[British Pro Cycling]

Youre right - it is almost laughable that Trek used the PR firm that is based in Texas which is right beside CSE, Armstrong's management company in Austin -maybe there are no good PR firms available in Wisconsin or Chicago or places nearby.

Don't forget that Public Strategies did do the powerpoint presentation about Lemond and why Trek were stopping the brand.

No it's not laughable that Trek or Armstrong would obtain a PR firm - every single celebrity uses PR firms to ensure they advise them against doing anything silly and ensure they make the correct public statements. But the black helicopter stuff that many people are buying into here is totally off base, and frankly very revealing.

 

[Race Radio]

That doesn't say much for the pro peloton, or higher education. The guy is brilliant.

Once again you are confused.

There is no correlation between the ability to dope and spin your legs and intelligence.

 

[British Pro Cycling]

There is no Lance Smear campaign. You are confused again.

***Realises can't justify statements so backtracks***

 

[Dr. Maserati]

No it's..

"In April, Mr. LeMond's lawyers accused Trek in court papers of organizing an anti-LeMond smear campaign with the help of Public Strategies Inc., a political consulting firm that has done work for high-profile political figures. Public Strategies also employs Mark McKinnon, who sits on the board of Mr. Armstrong's charity and has offices in the same building with Mr. Armstrong's handlers at Capital Sports and Entertainment in the San Jacinto Center in Austin, Texas. Trek says Mr. McKinnon did not work on the case. Mr. McKinnon and Public Strategies did not return calls for comment".

 

[British Pro Cycling]

Yes it clearly seems that LeMond, who most people agree has launched this phoney court challenge to further other agendas about doping and revenge against Armstrong, is using the existence of this PR firm as but one of his court case points.

And?

 

[Race Radio]

"In April, Mr. LeMond's lawyers accused Trek in court papers of organizing an anti-LeMond smear campaign with the help of Public Strategies Inc., a political consulting firm that has done work for high-profile political figures. Public Strategies also employs Mark McKinnon, who sits on the board of Mr. Armstrong's charity and has offices in the same building with Mr. Armstrong's handlers at Capital Sports and Entertainment in the San Jacinto Center in Austin, Texas. Trek says Mr. McKinnon did not work on the case. Mr. McKinnon and Public Strategies did not return calls for comment".

Interesting that Trek says Public Strategies did not work on the case, yet later they say that they actually did work on the case. In fact they sited "Attorney-client privilege" so they would not be forced to explain the depth of Public Strategies efforts to defame Greg.

 

[British Pro Cycling]

Interesting that Trek says Public Strategies did not work on the case, yet later they say that they actually did work on the case. In fact they sited "Attorney-client privilege" so they would not be forced to explain the depth of Public Strategies efforts to defame Greg.

Not one of you can explain how Greg was "defamed". The best you could come up with was someone's internet poster. It's very weak stuff.

It's a court room cheap trick that the judge I'm sure we see past. However, this nonsense might work on a jury who don't understand the process of PR.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

And?

And??..... It was confirmed by Trek....

Understanding that Trek’s litigation success could be affected by the opinions of potential
witnesses and jurors, especially on such hot-button topics involving a local icon, Trek’s attorneys
retained a public relations firm to assist counsel in the litigation with LeMond. On April 3, 2008,
Gass Weber Mullins LLC (“GWM”) retained Public Strategies, Inc. as a consultant to “assist
[GWM] so that strategic internal and external communications are consistent with an in
furtherance of Trek’s litigation goals and strategies.”