Luxembourg Harrassment

[Christian]

Are you for real? A professional athlete with bodyguards and police protection challenged a 15yr old heckler to a confrontation and you think the heckler is the coward/bully? Especially when calling lance a cheat is calling a spade a spade?

Maybe Lance could have had Eckimov spit on him?
Perhaps he could donate a truancy detection device to the kids school and have him put in detention?
Maybe the kid has a girlfriend Lance can f**k?
He could have called him a cancer lover in front of all his friends....

Well it was the heckler who challenged Lance, really - he started it all.

And yes I think the heckler was a coward and he did a stupid thing by purposefully annoying everyone else who was there. I'm not saying what he did was terribly bad (as many people, including me, have pointed out that pro athletes are used to that, it's part of the job), I just think it was pretty stupid and immature (hence my suspicion of him being around the age of 15).

As for Lance's reaction, you could see it as over the top and immature as well, I understand that point of view, but still I think it's easier to stand anonymously in a crowd and heckle someone than standing in front of that crowd

 

[Mongol_Waaijer]

Well it was the heckler who challenged Lance, really - he started it all.

And yes I think the heckler was a coward and he did a stupid thing by purposefully annoying everyone else who was there. I'm not saying what he did was terribly bad (as many people, including me, have pointed out that pro athletes are used to that, it's part of the job), I just think it was pretty stupid and immature (hence my suspicion of him being around the age of 15).

As for Lance's reaction, you could see it as over the top and immature as well, I understand that point of view, but still I think it's easier to stand anonymously in a crowd and heckle someone than standing in front of that crowd

Lance deserves a lot more than just booing. And the heckler didn't challenge him - just made a stupid noise. and who cares if it "disturbed" the admiration of a load of idiots who would go along and look at anyone "famous"?

Far more irritating was the manic wailing of "Lance, oh Laaaaaance" from those "fans".

 

[Christian]

Far more irritating was the manic wailing of "Lance, oh Laaaaaance" from those "fans".

True, that was irritating as well. But I also heard a lot of people wishing him good luck, asking for autographs, thanking him ... all very civil. I like that much better, be it for Lance or any rider

Just saw your signature - lol!

 

[progressor]

Man he was great. Compare that with Armstrong's theatrics.

Armstrong is a lot better than most sportsman - which ain't saying much - but I haven't seen anyone in Cantona's leaugue.

 

[goggalor]

I'll telll you who this booer was - most likely some 15 year old kid who knows nothing about cycling and wanted to prove to all his other little 15 year old friends how cool he was.

The other people in the crowd got annoyed with him too, I could hear several people yelling "Shut the heck up" in luxembourgish.

I think most people were happy to see him ride in Luxembourg and were fair to him. As some people have already said, this is just something you will always have to face as a professional athlete, musician, actor ... anyone who is somewhat famous probably has had to go through this.

When he stood up like that the 15 year old probably crapped his pants, so well done Lance! That's just weak ... anyone can hide behind a big crowd and do that, but as Lance rightfully guessed they didn't have the guts (or the knowledge of cycling) to confront Lance face to face with something more intelligent than "boo".

Of course he hid. If he hadn't, Lance's private photographer would've snapped his mugshot and Lance's private tweeter would've twattered the pic along with his email address. And then 2.5 million fanboys would have their way with the poor kid.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Frankly, the booing was extremely annoying. Lance's response was equally immature. Looks like we've found a good match.

 

[scribe]

Armstrong is a lot better than most sportsman - which ain't saying much - but I haven't seen anyone in Cantona's leaugue.

If you can find it, look up the Ron artest pacer/fan brawl

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

If you can find it, look up the Ron artest pacer/fan brawl

 

[*G*K*S*]

Mellow, would you like your children, wife,girlfriend, nephews around the louts?I will answer for myself, no. Even to hear catcalls at you loathed one Lance?

I did see about at least a dozen kids in the You Tube video. Also women. Who acts like that in front of women and children?

Don't take your family to work with you?

 

[flicker]

Are you for real? A professional athlete with bodyguards and police protection challenged a 15yr old heckler to a confrontation and you think the heckler is the coward/bully? Especially when calling lance a cheat is calling a spade a spade?

Maybe Lance could have had Eckimov spit on him?
Perhaps he could donate a truancy detection device to the kids school and have him put in detention?
Maybe the kid has a girlfriend Lance can f**k?
He could have called him a cancer lover in front of all his friends....

I think that was one annoying obnoxious 15 year old. Hey if he wanted to get in Lances' face he should have got in his face. I would not do either of those even if I vehemently disliked Lance or anyone. Lance was signing autographs. The kid wanted to spoil the party. If that kid were mine he would lose some privilages. If the kid wanted to yell some negativity as Lance went by on a climb, during competition OK. /Do not yell at anyone when they are signing autographs. Rude. People yell at me out of cars as I ride my bike and I tell them to pull over so that we may come to an understanding. When I have explained myself they understand. Only fair verdad?

 

[chambers]

Lance spent about five minutes signing autographs for the fans with that guy booing. He might have stayed longer if that guy had not done that. The great thing about pro bike riders is that they will come out of the RV and interact with the fans on their own time. That is something they do not have to do. Weather you like Lance or not he was giving the fans his time and autographs. How would you feel if you took your kid to a race and stood outside the RV for a long time waiting for a star to come out and somebody starts booing when they do come out causing the star to leave before your kid got his/her autograph? There is a time and place for most things. When a star is giving his time and autograph to fans free of charge is not the time to boo.

 

[Oldman]

Lance spent about five minutes signing autographs for the fans with that guy booing. He might have stayed longer if that guy had not done that. The great thing about pro bike riders is that they will come out of the RV and interact with the fans on their own time. That is something they do not have to do. Weather you like Lance or not he was giving the fans his time and autographs. How would you feel if you took your kid to a race and stood outside the RV for a long time waiting for a star to come out and somebody starts booing when they do come out causing the star to leave before your kid got his/her autograph? There is a time and place for most things. When a star is giving his time and autograph to fans free of charge is not the time to boo.

Perhaps agree. By the same token; let the crowd manage themselves with the help of the police. In this situation the rider response didn't change much except the scrutiny of the event.

 

[progressor]

If you can find it, look up the Ron artest pacer/fan brawl

I've seen it. I was referring to the way cantona dealt with the media. To walk into that conference after such a huge event, say that and walk out again - absolutely brilliant. Which he could be on and off the field.