Merckx on Ullrich and Armstrong

[Kurgan Gringioni]

Doesn't tell us anything we don't already know, but it's good to hear
opinions confirmed by the Greatest of All Time.


From:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/tour05/news/?id=/news/2005/jul05/jul04news4

Merckx: Ullrich disappointing, Armstrong impressive

Eddy Merckx is very disappointed in Jan Ullrich. "Ullrich is not
capable of behaving as he should. Talent alone is not enough. If you
don't work hard, you'll never make it to the top."

In an interview in the July 4 edition of the German Spiegel news
magazine, Merckx predicted that Lance Armstrong will win the Tour
again. "I think Armstrong is simply in better form. Plus, Lance is
ending his career after the Tour and wants to go out as a winner."

When he first met Ullrich, Merckx said, he was sure that he was an
immensely talented rider who could win the Tour more times than even
the "the Cannibal" did. "I was sure of it, in light of his
superiority...But he can't stand up to the pressure and most
especially, he doesn't have the necessary motivation.

"Jan is a nice guy, but he doesn't have the overwhelming ambition of an
Armstrong," he continued. "Jan started in cycling very young and from
the beginning, the demands were very high. He had to win. But when you
are confronted with the stress of competitive sports too early, you
have to pay the price one day. Your psyche can't accept it any more,
the hunger to win fades. Then either you stop or you make yourself
comfortable. Like Jan. I can imagine that he said to himself, 'I'm a
good enough cyclist, I may as well turn pro."' He doesn't have the
passion for it - the sacrifices are too big for him."

Merckx started out impressed with Ullrich and now sees him more
negatively, but his feelings for Armstrong have gone the opposite
direction: "He was a young bull of a man, powerful, wild, too heavy for
the big climbs, a typical rider for one-day races or flat stages. And
he didn't live just for his sport. He liked to drink, and he didn't
always eat right. There's nothing wrong with a beer or two, but he
didn't always control himself. The cancer totally changed his whole
life. Now everything he does is solely to contribute to his success."

He is sure that Armstrong will win the Tour again this year. The two
made a short training ride together this spring, and Armstrong
"repeatedly said, 'I'll give everything for the Tour one more time,
then it's over.' It's perfectly clear for him that he will win. Since
then, I am convinced that he will leave the stage as a champion."

Merckx rejects any comparisons between himself and Armstrong. "I was
maybe the best in my time, as Lance is in his - nothing more."

 

[Robert Chung]

Kurgan Gringioni wrote:
> Doesn't tell us anything we don't already know, but it's good to hear
> opinions confirmed by the Greatest of All Time.
>
>
> From:
>
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/tour05/news/?id=/news/2005/jul05/jul04news4

You gave the link. That means you didn't have to cut-and-paste the whole
damn story.

 

[Kurgan Gringioni]

Robert Chung wrote:
>
> You gave the link. That means you didn't have to cut-and-paste the whole
> damn story.





Dumbass -

You are correct.

Here is one about British Masters Fatties.

From:
http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?...headline=men_in_denial_over_weight_worriesMen
'in denial' over weight worries

Monday, 4th July 2005, 07:28

LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - One-in-four British men are in denial about
their weight problems putting them at increased risk of cancer, new
research shows.

Two-in-three are overweight or obese but a worrying quarter of these
would not admit they are carrying any extra pounds.

The survey to launch Cancer Research UK's 'Man Alive' campaign asked
2,000 men to identify which weight category they believed they belonged
to.

With 65 per cent known to be overweight or obese, just four-in-10
thought they fell into either of these groups.

The survey shows that men are not heeding health warnings to maintain a
healthy body weight. Around 65 per cent of men had no idea that being
overweight or obese increases their chance of developing cancer, and an
alarming 75 per cent did not know that being physically inactive also
increases their risk.

The 'Man Alive' campaign is designed to raise awareness of cancer among
men and highlight ways to reduce the risk. Just 22 per cent of men
questioned eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and two
thirds fail to meet the recommended target of 30 minutes of moderate
exercise five times a week.

It is estimated obesity may now be responsible for about 4,000 cases of
cancer in UK men every year. A recent review suggests it raises the
risk of bowel cancer by 60 per cent. Being obese also doubles the risk
of being diagnosed with kidney, oesophageal and stomach cancer as well
as being a risk factor for bladder cancer.

Good diet and regular exercise are two factors that can help in
reducing the risk of developing cancer.

Comic Joe Pasquale - winner of the ITV's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me out of
Here! - backed the campaign and said: "There is nothing funny about
obesity - it is responsible for 4,000 cancer cases every year in UK
men.

"Cancer Research UK's Man Alive campaign aims to sound a wake up call
to men - stop breathing in and stop kidding yourself! By making
sensible adjustments to diet and exercise and making sure we get
sufficient exercise, we can all reduce our risk of cancer."

Other celebrities supporting Man Alive 2005 include Denis Law, Vince
Hill, Sam Allardyce, Jeremy Guscott and Jonathan Wilkes.

Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK's health
behaviour unit said: "In the space of ten years the rate of obesity for
British men has increased two thirds. Women are overweight too but our
research shows that more of them know they have a problem and that is
the first step in putting it right.

"With so many more men now at an increased risk of cancer, education is
more important then ever. Man Alive is a valuable way for us to reach
men with these messages and help them to take steps to reduce their
cancer risk."

She added: "Men need to be made aware of the problem, know how to fix
the problem and be given the support to succeed. Only then will they
reduce their risk of cancer."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of information at Cancer Research UK, said:
"It is vital men understand how they can reduce their risk of cancer.
The best present that anyone can give themselves is to stop smoking, it
is by far the most important step in reducing cancer risk.

"In men who do not smoke, obesity is one of the biggest known causes of
preventable cancer. With rates of obesity for UK men growing faster
than anywhere else in Europe, we are sounding a wake up call to all men
and their partners to become more active, eat healthier diets and make
sensible lifestyle choices.

"So, to lose those spare tyres, be more active and eat a balanced diet
that is rich in fruit and veg and low in sugar and fat."

A person's BMI is their weight in kilograms divided by their height in
metres squared. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and one 30
or above is considered obese.

There are more than 200 different types of cancer affecting men. But
prostate, lung, bowel, bladder and stomach cancers account for almost
two thirds of all new cases.

Prostate cancer has overtaken lung cancer to become the most commonly
diagnosed cancer in UK males, with more than 30,000 new cases in 2001.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer, with about 23,000 cases
annually, and then comes bowel cancer (18,000), bladder cancer (7,500),
and stomach cancer (5,700).

Cancer Research UK spends about £25 million a year on research into
prostate, lung and bowel cancer, which account for more than half of
all cancers in men. Its Reduce the Risk campaign
(www.reducetherisk.org.uk) aims to raise awareness of the avoidable
risks for the disease and the importance of early detection

 

[David Ferguson]

On Mon, 4 Jul 2005 21:50:46 +0200, "Robert Chung" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Kurgan Gringioni wrote:
>> Doesn't tell us anything we don't already know, but it's good to hear
>> opinions confirmed by the Greatest of All Time.
>>
>>
>> From:
>>
>http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/tour05/news/?id=/news/2005/jul05/jul04news4
>
>You gave the link. That means you didn't have to cut-and-paste the whole
>damn story.
>


you should punch yourself and then spend 20 minutes alone
contemplating why that was such a good idea.

 

[Robert Chung]

David Ferguson wrote:
>
> you should punch yourself and then spend 20 minutes alone
> contemplating why that was such a good idea.

"Punch?" Is that like tapping?

 

[David Ferguson]

On Tue, 5 Jul 2005 00:12:03 +0200, "Robert Chung" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>David Ferguson wrote:
>>
>> you should punch yourself and then spend 20 minutes alone
>> contemplating why that was such a good idea.
>
>"Punch?" Is that like tapping?
>


Probably.

When you're doing it.

Maybe I'm your huckleberry.

;-)

D

PS. Them's just jokes, in case that's not translating or you're too
obtuse to get it.

 

[gf]

Ullrich is a bum, the only reason they put up with him is the
publicity for the sponsor because of his popularity.

 

[Bill C]

gf wrote:
> Ullrich is a bum, the only reason they put up with him is the
> publicity for the sponsor because of his popularity.
You're either a troll or moron, since it's July I'm not sure which.
Bill C

 

[routebeer]

"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Doesn't tell us anything we don't already know, but it's good to hear
> opinions confirmed by the Greatest of All Time.
>
>
> From:
>
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/tour05/news/?id=/news/2005/jul05/jul04news4
>
> Merckx: Ullrich disappointing, Armstrong impressive
>
> Eddy Merckx is very disappointed in Jan Ullrich. "Ullrich is not
> capable of behaving as he should. Talent alone is not enough. If you
> don't work hard, you'll never make it to the top."

I'm afraid that Ullrich is no longer a bicycle racer. He just wants to say
whatever it takes to keep the money flowing in. Comments like, "I'm more
motivated than ever to beat Lance since this is my last chance" are nothing
but hot air. Ulrich's only concerned with his retirement fund at this point
in the game -- screw bicycle racing

 

[Jack Hollis]

On 4 Jul 2005 12:47:22 -0700, "Kurgan Gringioni"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Merckx rejects any comparisons between himself and Armstrong. "I was
>maybe the best in my time, as Lance is in his - nothing more."

Looks like Lance's time is going to be a couple years longer than
Eddy's time.

 

[David Ferguson]

On 4 Jul 2005 16:20:40 -0700, "Bill C" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>
>gf wrote:
>> Ullrich is a bum, the only reason they put up with him is the
>> publicity for the sponsor because of his popularity.
> You're either a troll or moron, since it's July I'm not sure which.
>Bill C


both

 

[Chris M]

Hey man, yer wasting bits.

 

[gwhite]

Kurgan Gringioni wrote:
>
> Robert Chung wrote:
> >
> > You gave the link. That means you didn't have to cut-and-paste the whole
> > damn story.
>
> Dumbass -
>
> You are correct.
>
> Here is one about British Masters Fatties.
>
> From:
> http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?...headline=men_in_denial_over_weight_worriesMen
> 'in denial' over weight worries

"Hate to admit to myself half of my problems
Came from being fat."

Here's the whole song:


FAT MAN -- Ian Anderson

Don’t want to be a fat man,
People would think that I was
Just good fun.
Would rather be a thin man,
I am so glad to go on being one.
Too much to carry around with you,
No chance of finding a woman who
Will love you in the morning and all the night time too.
Don’t want to be a fat man,
Have not the patience to ignore all that.
Hate to admit to myself half of my problems
Came from being fat.
Won’t waste my time feeling sorry for him,
I've seen the other side to being thin.
Roll us both down a mountain
And I’m sure the fat man would win.

 

[gf]

aand you are either a kraut or blind..how many times does this guy
have to flop before you wake up?

 

[Ernst Noch]

gf wrote:
> aand you are either a kraut or blind..how many times does this guy
> have to flop before you wake up?

Let's make it easy for you:
As a Team Manager: What rider would you chose for TdF GC other than LA? Why?