On Sat, 23 Jul 2005 15:01:15 -0400, "psycholist" <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:Jet,
I was about to apologize and say I stand corrected, but then I played back
the tape and I think you've printed the quotes out of context and that
you've misunderstood what he was saying.
Well I may have misunderstood it. Thanks for trying to clarify. But I
didn't purposefully take it out of context. I was sincerely upset a little
bit when I heard his sentiments.
Here's a quote from cycling news:
"I was ambivalent (about getting the win)," said Armstrong post-stage. "I
wanted to go as hard as I could, as I always like to do, I wanted to
represent the yellow jersey and prove that I was the strongest in the race.
But quite honestly I wasn't absolutely sure I could do it. I thought Jan
would be strong, and then when I got to the first check I saw that Ivan was
seven seconds up. I thought, 'Oh boy, this could be an interesting day.'"
Maybe they misunderstood too? Let's just say that -if- LA said "I was
ambivalent about getting the win" it's surprising and deflating. <shrug> He
feels what he feels. Maybe it is a large measure of 'end of the fun times'
letdown and he's having a reaction formation. Him: 'Eh, bike racing, it's
nice but not everything'. Me: <sobbing> what, do you mean bike racing
isn't everything...<laughing> (I'm making fun here).
Quoted message said:He was talking about being prepared to lose just when he heard Basso was 7
seconds up on him. But then he talks about turning it around. He didn't
say he turned it around by being conservative and riding safely. No way.
My take on his remark about being ambivalent was that he went into the event
ambivalent about the outcome and thinking Ullrich would win (which he stated
in the interview). But he said he went all out. That's inconsistent with
being ambivalent and I don't think he was the least bit ambivalent about
actually having won.
Context is king!
I -know-, that's my whole point. He said he was ambivalent, yet he seemed
to be really kicking it on the course. Then, another little paradox - no
celebratory fist shake at winning the stage. Surely he knows he's done it
by 23 seconds. I felt cheated, lol.
Quoted message said:Also, to your very opening comment in your original post, if you've followed
Lance's career, you should know he was legendary in his youth for his
brashness and for remarks just like those you're wishing for. I think he's
learned (or maybe has a publicist who's taught him) to tone that stuff down.
I think he's VERY aware of his public persona now and works hard to manage
it. Practicing for his next career in politics I suppose.
Heh, I think he learned the 'Lance "Awww-ww-eeerrrr-awwww" noise' which he
does before answering the first question of every interview lately to give
him time to think and to moderate his natural brash and candid commentary.
Bike racing has probably taught him some of that - I notice that among all
the athletes that bike racers always seem to try and say something nice or
supportive about their adversary. I like to think it's because of the
shared suffering they've experienced.
Quoted message said:But alas ... who cares. My apologies anyway for being unduly harsh. Maybe
the decaf thing is a good suggestion.
Don't mind a jab here and there, but no need to pile it on. No biggie.
Coffee rules! ;-)
jj
