Role Models

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Speaking of role models, here is one Texan I can take pride in and I certainly believe all Americans can as well: http://media.rivals.net/media/jpg/2001011402421117.jpg

 

There are only five men to win five Tour de France races, only one other man to win five in a row, and given his comeback from a cancer which all men should have themselves checked for, his story is certainly remarkable. More information on this year's victory and the race itself can be found here:

http://www.lancearmstrong.com/

[ted]

If you haven't read his book, "Its not about the Bike" its well worth it. A quick read, and considering where he was 8 or 9 years ago and where he is today, its truly inspiring.

[VaHawk]

Let's hope he makes it six in a row next year, which I feel he will, if for no other reason than to shove it in the face of the French! My only qualm about him is that there is no recognition of the efforts and sacrifices that others have made to advance his efforts, especially those of his wife and children and those of his team mates who so unselfishly sacrifice their own performances to ensure his wins.

[trilingual]

Actually, Lance probably wouldn't enjoy doing anything nasty to the French. He's spent years there and made a notable effort to learn French and speak it well. From what I understand Lance is revered in France not only for his courage and athleticism but for his being genuinely "sympathique." (If you don't understand what that means, search this board for the word "simpatico.")

 

Lance's achievements speak eloquently for themselves. His tenacity and determination are unparalleled. I truly hope he competes next year and wins, not because he's an American, but because he's demonstrated himself to be an extraordinary human being and athlete who deserves to win because of all his effort and skill. I would be happy if Lance wins next year no matter what his nationality.

[Gigiloz4me]

>Actually, Lance probably wouldn't enjoy doing anything nasty

>to the French.

 

Who said anything bout nasty?

 

 

 

>(If you don't understand what that means, search this board

>for the word "simpatico.")

 

How smug... French?

 

 

>I truly hope he competes next year and wins, not because he's an >American, but

>because he's demonstrated himself to be an extraordinary human

>being and athlete who deserves to win because of all his

>effort and skill.

 

Bravo!! How intellectually balanced <smirk>... It's clear you don't share in basic americn pride (so, before we revoke your green card)... give us your thoughts on gay role models.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

En Fait

 

>My only qualm about him is that there is no

>recognition of the efforts and sacrifices that others have

>made to advance his efforts, especially those of his wife and

>children and those of his team mates who so unselfishly

>sacrifice their own performances to ensure his wins.

 

Actually, if you go to his official web site (provided in my initial posts), you will see his wife does participate and is acknowledged, as is his team. The photographs include a number of pictures of his teammates and when he won this year's award, he acknowledged and thanked them. Every prior winner (and most likely every future winner, unless a century of rules are suddenly changed) will be a part of a team and will require the assistance of the team to win.

 

The other American to place, in 4th, is a former teammate of Mr. Amstrong, and Mr. Hamilton ran the entire Tour de France with a broken collarbone, still won one of the stages and is well placed, with further good training, to win either next year or in the future. Being on such a team is good training for any individual who wants to compete for the overall title.

 

Another aspect of the Tour which many Americans do not understand, is that there are a number of other prizes. For example, in addition to the Yellow jersey awarded to the overall leader, there is also a green jersey. There are 19 stages prior to the final "victory lap" to Paris, and each of those stages is also awarded to one person. This year, I believe each of the 19 were won by different people, Mr. Armstrong only won one and his team, the U.S. Postal Service team, of course, won the team time trial stage.

 

Finally, there are a number of gay role models. I posted within the last six months about Mark Tewberry (sp?), a Canadian Olympic athelete who will be working to put together the next Gay Games. There are any number of people we could recognize. My point was that Mr. Armstrong made a very notable achievement which many of you may not have been aware. I also wanted to raise the issue of testicular cancer.... Plus, as an avid bike rider, both as recretation and environmental sound alternative means of transportation, anything that creates interest in this activity is something I would wish to promote.

 

If you would like to start a thread about Gay role models without attacking or defending any particular country or individual, much less a fellow member of this community, please do so and I will be happy to make some constructive contributions therein.

 

Have a nice day.

 

:-)

[VaHawk]

RE: En Fait

 

>If you would like to start a thread about Gay role models

>without attacking or defending any particular country or

>individual, much less a fellow member of this community,

>please do so and I will be happy to make some constructive

>contributions therein.

 

Huh? I'm having trouble following this statement. Are you saying Lance Armstrong is a now a gay role model? I personally don't consider him a role model for anything except dedication to training for individual athletic glory and the endoresement income that comes with it and that is not meant in a negative way.

 

Why do some people expect athletes to be role models for anything else? Athletes are not supposed to be role models on morals, how to live your life or anything else, except the accomplishments/riches that come with a dedication to sports, often at a high cost to their personal relationships with their families. I'm sure you are aware of the recently stopped divorce proceedings between Lance and his wife? And yes, if reports are accurate, it was indeed sordid with threats and accusations of marital infidelity on the part of both parties.

 

And who was attacking or defending any country? You don't remember the French people lining the mountain roads jeering Lance and rooting for him to fail during his 4th win?

 

And no one attacked any individual especially any member of this "community".

[Guest DevonSFescort]

RE: En Fait

 

>Why do some people expect athletes to be role models for

>anything else? Athletes are not supposed to be role models on

>morals, how to live your life or anything else

 

This is so true. (And on a related note, they should let Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame already!)

 

>You don't remember the French people lining the mountain roads

>jeering Lance and rooting for him to fail during his 4th win?

 

The French do seem to have a problem with sportsmanship. Weren't they just booing Serena Williams at the French Open this year? Or maybe it's a European thing. In my hotel room the other night, right after the Fernando Vargas fight :9 on HBO they had a special about the Sugar Ray Leonard/Marvelous Marvin Hagler fight. When Hagler first won his title in London against a British fighter, he was pelted with trash, food and full containers of beer. Not just by a few people, but by just about everyone in the crowd who had something to throw. It was really kind of awful to see.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Sigh

 

Someone else mentioned "gay" role models.

 

Someone else made attacks on the French.

 

Someone else in another thread is endlessly going on about role models.

 

Someone else attacked someone else on this thread (which endlessly happen on this site, which I like to refer to as a community, and which needless gets posters "off topic" on this and other threads).

 

Others on here have praised, at various times, Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, Katherine Hepburn and others, none of whom I believe are either gay escorts or gay. For the reasons listed at the bottom of my post, I felt it was noteworthy to comment on Mr. Armstrong's success.

 

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming on how the world wide web is responsible for "alarming" increases in sexually transmitted diseases, Sex Lives of the Rich and Famous, Martha Stewart's evil ways, Brad Pitt's spending habits and whether the "queer" guys are stereotypes of not.

[Flower]

>Let's hope he makes it six in a row next year, which I feel

>he will, if for no other reason than to shove it in the face

>of the French!

...and why would he (or you) want to do that? Sorta a strange statement, don't you think?