tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post7521309833188893911..comments2024-03-21T03:15:06.288-04:00Comments on Cozy Beehive: Tour Down Under Or Tour Down Armstrong?Ron Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-11503588864393720342010-05-03T14:53:28.155-04:002010-05-03T14:53:28.155-04:00Lance Armstrong is my favorite. He is such an incr...Lance Armstrong is my favorite. He is such an incredible person to have gone through what he has and still continue winning.<br /><br />I heard he once had to <a title="Compare Car Insurance" href="http://www.carinsurancequotescomparison.com/" rel="nofollow">Compare Car Insurance</a> and he did it in under 2 minutes. This guy is fast. Faster than anything I've ever seen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-34172406687119184592010-01-17T16:12:46.811-05:002010-01-17T16:12:46.811-05:00"seriously I think Armstrong will be the next..."seriously I think Armstrong will be the next President of the US....."<br /><br />Help us All...<br />But I'd love to see him make a run for it, because I doubt he'd survive the intense scrutiny into his sporting past.<br /><br />It's one thing to keep a lid on some dark secrets within the sporting arena, but open the scrutiny up to a broader more voracious media, leaks will develop faster than he would be able to control or stop. <br />I suspect he's well aware of that, thus would never take that chance.<br /><br />Although, ego can be controlling to the point of delusion, and he has a Texas sized ego...<br /><br />Maybe that is what it will take to get the truth out...<br />It's a little late for a run in '12, so lets set his sights on '16.<br />LA in 2016! <br />Run Lance Run!<br /><br />(although Lance has paid some lip service to a Political career, I suspect it is just to stroke his ego... I think his talk about a political career is the same as his talk about going after the Hour Record years ago... bullshit)Micknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-42618839950213945712010-01-17T15:18:08.638-05:002010-01-17T15:18:08.638-05:00Well said, Velo. That's biz talk with some rea...Well said, Velo. That's biz talk with some reality in it.Ron Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-87044728766058023222010-01-17T11:04:45.431-05:002010-01-17T11:04:45.431-05:00There are so many things here I don't even kno...There are so many things here I don't even know where to start, but I will pick one. The topic of Lance being good for bike business and talking in business terms.<br /><br />Fine - companies do a thing called "key man" insurance. If one person controls the fate of a company they take out insurance on said person. Think Steve Jobs at Apple. Usually, though, this is for small companies, cause big companies will get torn apart by the banks for letting all the power fall into one person. Think Steve Jobs getting cancer and Apple still thriving in the six months he was out.<br /><br />Bike Racing and its' growth is attributed to LA, no doubt there. But, what is versus and USA cycling to do when the guy steps down? What are they to do if he is caught doping? What plan B s there? So if Trek sells less, who cares, there are other bikes. If versus doesn't cover races, then we all go to the internet. If USA cycling membership falls then we lose some of the Johnny comes lately. Who cares? Personally, I miss the day of smaller group rides when people were into the sport, not the man.<br /><br />How's that for biz talk?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-9850512547169488802010-01-16T20:32:57.722-05:002010-01-16T20:32:57.722-05:00Buttsy,
Thanks for the report. Oh yeah, I have t...Buttsy, <br /><br />Thanks for the report. Oh yeah, I have to absolutely agree with you, there are some really big talents out there in Australia.<br /><br />We're keeping our fingers crossed. When it comes to televised broadcasts of American cycling, VERSUS has to ensure they annoy the heck out of viewers by bootlicking the demigod of cycling. I wish they wouldn't pay their homages by destroying a balanced coverage.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12256394060474969622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-91758152749739364592010-01-16T19:29:26.438-05:002010-01-16T19:29:26.438-05:00I am in Adelaide and there are some fantastic Auss...I am in Adelaide and there are some fantastic Aussie talents racing the tour...it will be awesome not to mention that the current WORLD CHAMPION is racing. My theory is that Armstrongs only strength in beating Contador on the TDF this year is getting into his head and so this is part of the whole process.....seriously I think Armstrong will be the next President of the US.....Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16800437606008658030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-35273032673737151422010-01-16T08:39:22.448-05:002010-01-16T08:39:22.448-05:00Bike_Boy @11:27
http://www.mediapost.com/publica...Bike_Boy @11:27 <br /><br />http://www.mediapost.com/publications/index.cfm?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=45261<br /><br /><br /><br />If you think OLN's viewership #s are for ANY other reason than LA...YOU ARE DELUSIONAL. Forgive my Capt. obvious... Americans are nothing if not jingoistic & lovers of "winners". LA satisfied these characteristics BIGTIME. He beat "them Euro-peons" at their sport..ie. America is #1. Rah..Rah..Rah<br /><br />No they wouldn't just watch him "riding around his house"..but they DID watch to see him...BEAT..those NON-Americans!!<br /><br />I never said he was "bicycling's #1advocate" ...just his impact on the general public was profound...which in-turn has had a FAR greater positive effect on the public than ALL of the people "who worked their asses off".<br /><br />Doubt it.. ask anyone who has promoted a road race in the US in the last 10 years, if during the discussions with a city counsel if Armstrong's name was mentioned.<br /><br />How else would you explain Trek's 48% gain in road bike sales in a flat market?<br /><br />I think some of you are letting your personal animus toward LA blind you to the REALITY of his impact on the general public.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-8194087886561350432010-01-15T21:24:16.872-05:002010-01-15T21:24:16.872-05:00Alex,
I made the change. Thanks for letting me kn...Alex,<br /><br />I made the change. Thanks for letting me know. 3 million AU$ is over USS$2.7 million according to a currency calculator online.Ron Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-27442395688389405242010-01-15T17:01:07.330-05:002010-01-15T17:01:07.330-05:00Interesting stuff Ron, but could you sort out the ...Interesting stuff Ron, but could you sort out the mismash of currencies? It's a minor thing but it made the numbers slightly confusing for me with the section switching from AUS Dollar to USD to Euro. Can you give them all in USD or state local and give USD equivalent in brackets? It would make it a bit clearer. Thanks.Alex Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11043721181576136604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-3043089604254565212010-01-15T13:57:21.086-05:002010-01-15T13:57:21.086-05:00Anon above,
I think your figures (where are u pu...Anon above, <br /><br />I think your figures (where are u pulling it from btw?) ties well into BB's statement that all this is about money, and just bringing more viewers into the television doesn't necessarily mean more people are biking out on the streets. Cycling is not mainstream in the U.S, period. It is growing and may get there but not mainstream. Someone claiming that Armstrong is the number 1 advocate of cycling as transportation means in the U.S is insulting a lot of men and women who have worked their ass off to do something for the movement in the country. Many people, especially in the middle ages and above, have been cycling way before Armstrong won the Tours. People don't need to bike chiefly because one Armstrong is doing it. Ludicrous.<br /><br />By your logic, maybe in 2010, we can all sit an aruge that Alberto Contador was the #1 advocate of cycling and TV viewership of the sport rose because of him and his rivalry with Armstrong as well. Saying the viewership numbers are just because of Armstrong is unselfishly attributing the real causes of that rise to one man. Its is isolation of cause to one person. Perhaps we don't need a peloton to begin with, maybe VERSUS can just show Armstrong biking around his house in the afternoon heat and then declare TV Viewership has risen. That seems valid. <br /><br />Again, the statistics aren't comprehensive and things will always be uncertain as to what caused viewership to rise in 2009-2010. I don't accept the idea that it is Armstrong alone.Ron Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-28289897232438676332010-01-15T13:06:56.321-05:002010-01-15T13:06:56.321-05:00Bike_Boy @11:27
Here are some stats re: LA
Name ...Bike_Boy @11:27<br /><br />Here are some stats re: LA<br /><br />Name recognition(men 12-64)/Fav. athlete<br /><br />LA 87%/33% <br />Tiger 90/40<br />Jordon 92/4<br /><br />Trek road bike sales since '99..+48%<br /><br />USA Cycling membeship +30% since '99<br /><br />OLN viewership of tour 1.6 million daily<br /><br />Yes...cycling IS mainstream..<br /><br />If you think those are "moot" points, alot of people's livihoods are moot.<br /><br />While I personally liked cycling pre-Lance better; it is undeniable that HE has had a MAJOR impact that MOST will agree is positive.<br /> <br />Its a little disingenuous to throw ad hominums at the guy (me included) when most people involved in the sport/industry have profitted because of him.<br /><br />By what definition isn't he a cycling advocate? Should he lead the fight for more bike lanes too?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-18731567892423207082010-01-15T04:30:59.060-05:002010-01-15T04:30:59.060-05:00Last year saw some horrible cycling journalism. Th...Last year saw some horrible cycling journalism. Those cartoon/animation bits from Versus portraying lance like some sort of superhero and over here Eursopsort's completely daft planet Armstrong. Horrible. And the worst part is that it's back this year. More five miunte clips that consists of twitteranda and crap animations..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-66527731343070806262010-01-14T23:27:13.888-05:002010-01-14T23:27:13.888-05:00Aon @ 10:22 :
Raising cycling's profile? It ...Aon @ 10:22 : <br /><br />Raising cycling's profile? It wasn't raised enough? How much raise does he want to raise it up further? <br /><br />The often seen quote "Armstrong is good for cycling" stems from the fact that he contributed to the profits of Versus by making them the fastest growing sports cable network in recent years.<br /><br />Whether cycling is mainstream in the U.S is moot. Just do a % comparison with other European and/or third world countries. Its nowhere mainstream. Certainly Armstrong is doing little himself towards cycling advocacy. He's more interested self-centered show biz and if he doesn't get it, he'll try and get it through encouraging character assassinations of other prominent riders better than him.Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16268869622833968439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-39280551213439573492010-01-14T22:50:14.016-05:002010-01-14T22:50:14.016-05:00Hmm, I wonder if Germany would be tempted to class...Hmm, I wonder if Germany would be tempted to classify this Church of Lance (especially after viewing some Versus High Priests spreading awareness through Lancegasms) like they do Scientology: something sinister to raise money honey.sansennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-30464480825526898672010-01-14T22:34:21.125-05:002010-01-14T22:34:21.125-05:00Another great post Ron!!
In fact, I was asked ano...Another great post Ron!!<br /><br />In fact, I was asked another day if I was going to Adelaide this year. Having answered with a <i>"probably not"</i>, the second question was fired with a tone of disbelief:<br /><br /><i>- Are you going to miss out on Lance's last race in Australia?</i><br /><br />I tried to name a few other riders in the 2010 race but the conversation changed back to a work related topic...<br /><br />Armstrong in Australia? I don't give a s..t but it is good for the sport (here). The money? If there are people prepared to make him rich, so be it. He can have it, he is doing more than most.<br /><br />Is he not? <br /><br /><a rel="nofollow">This is the Adelaide Race in 2009, with no sponsors...</a><br /><br />Safe riding!!<br /><br />AMRAMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06395959850816510923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-57070601631897920182010-01-14T22:22:09.546-05:002010-01-14T22:22:09.546-05:00I am anything but an LA fanboy, but you're bei...I am anything but an LA fanboy, but you're being a little naive & trying to have it both ways here.<br /><br />Cycling (in America) has had >100 years to go mainstream & not until LA did it garner TV ratings above cow-chip throwing. Like it or not LA made cycling "ligit", and the peripheral rewards ($$$) to the sport/industry.<br /><br />I'd like to see the TV ratings in '05-'07...I'd bet..about the same as Golf in '10 (without TW).<br /><br />Sure he's a self-aggrandizing prick..but IF the goal is raising<br />cycling's profile..he's "the" man, so start talking like businessmen..he sure does.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-26766790113349051722010-01-14T21:42:54.430-05:002010-01-14T21:42:54.430-05:00Rob : Donation is good but misappropriated. From c...Rob : Donation is good but misappropriated. From comments on LAF's own website, I don't think some people are 100% pleased that money is being channeled without their knowledge to causes outside the charity's root mission. Alright, forget it I digressed I want this discussion to be focus on the topic of the post. Let LAF do whatever it wants, we'll pretend it never happened.Ron Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-36958167503719774392010-01-14T21:26:49.632-05:002010-01-14T21:26:49.632-05:00Hey Ron,
Regarding the pledging of money towards ...Hey Ron,<br /><br />Regarding the pledging of money towards Haiti (which by all means is good) you may find this comment on Livestrong.org interesting :<br /><br />" <br /><br />Lance should be the one to give the money for relief efforts NOT that of his Livestrong organization. That money NEEDS to go towards that of CANCER causes. Lance has PLENTY of money to give to this effort and needs to do such! All of us who gave to Livestrong through the years should feel just a little cheated, as I was really hoping my contributions would solely support that of CANCER research. The money DOES need to go to Haitian relief, however, and again, LANCE should be giving this money himself. He does this through his organization so that it will be used as a rather large tax deduction..very business-like. I am glad the money is going there, I just think it needs to be coming from a different place. GOD BLESS THE SOULS OF HAITI..and GOD BLESS THOSE AFFECTED BY CANCER! GOD BLESS you the readers.<br /><br />"<br /><br />http://livestrongblog.org/2010/01/13/livestrong-pledges-250000-to-haitian-relief-efforts/Robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-76910434764768164832010-01-14T20:16:23.320-05:002010-01-14T20:16:23.320-05:00Has Armstrong ever done anything positive in his l...Has Armstrong ever done anything positive in his life? Held a door for someone? Gave someone the time of day when they asked? Fed the donkeys sugar cubes at the zoo? Just call him the Devil and be done with it. Good grief.<br /><br />NaitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-41063632983783999062010-01-14T17:48:14.096-05:002010-01-14T17:48:14.096-05:00Did anyone wonder why LAF "pledged" mone...Did anyone wonder why LAF "pledged" money sitting for cancer efforts to Haiti and then issued a big press release afterward? This is cheaper than I thought. Misappropriation of funds on one hand, and then being all ostentatious about it on the other. This didn't come out of Lance's personal account either. Others have been donating money that is their own, not kept aside for a particular cause.Ron Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-76443988779337830582010-01-14T17:42:19.931-05:002010-01-14T17:42:19.931-05:00In the TDF 09, he announced that all proceeds rais...In the TDF 09, he announced that all proceeds raised by the sale of Livestrong bands during the race would go towards cancer organizations in France. Did anyone see anywhere if that really happened, or how much they received? Not a word about this.Samnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-3037087312113362032010-01-14T16:17:59.384-05:002010-01-14T16:17:59.384-05:00Agreed with Scienceguy. This whole legend-ship thi...Agreed with Scienceguy. This whole legend-ship thing needs a slap in the face when it crosses the line. As of right now, it has sleepwalked LA into a commercial demi-god and a lot of others who worship him are essentially blind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-17932180685698192472010-01-14T16:03:10.828-05:002010-01-14T16:03:10.828-05:00LA has been in the sport for over 2 decades and I ...LA has been in the sport for over 2 decades and I should think it is just selfish for him and others to continue to warrant and provide over the top media attention, often for things as silly as a "Tweet". Look I'm all for someone making a few bucks to buy dough through this job but why can't younger athletes on the circuit get to do that with atleast 30% of the air coverage he gets? Its clear to us that the VERSUS corporation cares only about Armstrong because of his commercial value.scienceguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04582660845698542398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-35905062857782584762010-01-14T14:27:45.348-05:002010-01-14T14:27:45.348-05:00"Welcome to Tour Down Armstrong, where're..."Welcome to Tour Down Armstrong, where're we'll start on on self promotion square, climb the steep secrecy mountain and just about when it hits the peak, we descent into marketing street for more anti-cancer cobbles. There's a sharp right turn bend where we'll push into brainwashing cave and sorry, we can't take cameras in there for everything will be just too dark." <br /><br />Stay tuned. This is an exciting race!"Trackasaurusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13887692.post-32466998871136315552010-01-14T12:36:14.698-05:002010-01-14T12:36:14.698-05:00As usual, a pointy argument :)
I have absolutely ...As usual, a pointy argument :)<br /><br />I have absolutely no problem with athletes/celebrities making the big $. <br /><br />I do have a problem when people lie about it. LA hardly needs more money, it would have been GREAT if he disclosed "I got $xxx (maybe add four more x's to that) from doing a given race - since I'm riding for free (as stated at the beginning of the year), it's all going to the LA Foundation for Cancer Research". Or don't say anything, say "Appearance fees are normal in cycling, since high profile racers raise the interest of the public"<br /><br />But not dealing with both hands. LA really is getting his chops as a politician :SRodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08909447364964331090noreply@blogger.com