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" . . . and then Lance Armstrong reached me. He grabbed my by the shoulder, because he knew that everyone would be watching, and he knew that at that moment, he

by sgpl 9y ago

" . . . and then Lance Armstrong reached me. He grabbed my by the shoulder, because he knew that everyone would be watching, and he knew that at that moment, he could show everyone that he was the boss. He stopped me, and he said what I was saying wasn't true, what I was saying was bad for cycling, that I musn't say it, that I had no right to be a professional cyclist, that I should quit cycling, that I should quit the tour, and finished by saying [beep] you. . . . I was depressed for 6 months. I was crying all of the time. I was in a really bad way." - Bassons, from BBC Radio 5, 2012 10 15[9] Reading about Armstrong lead me to the wikipedia page for Christophe Bassons [1], a professional cyclist that called out Armstrong (and drug use in the profession). It is enraging to read that Bassons had to end his career early as a result of taking a stance against rampant cheating. What's particularly infuriating is that he likely got robbed of the opportunity to (perhaps) win a few titles, due to the unfair competition. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christophe_Bassons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christophe_Bassons

pasbesoin 9y ago
One of many aspects/details that have caused me to turn my back on professional sports -- formally declared or otherwise (college football, the Olympics, etc.). It would be inspiring if we could have professional sports-persons who could make a decent living extolling the virtues of sport and leading by example. "Decent" living -- not obscene incomes based upon monopolies and taxpayer extortion (stadium costs, tax exemptions, etc.) feeding yet greater ownership incomes (another form of rent-seeking, in its way). But instead, cash is king. And the virtues of sport get turned into vices -- whether practiced by the players, or upon them (e.g. football's heavy toll). I don't like this corruption. So I vote with my feet -- that is to say, with my dollars. Anyway, sport is meant for actual participation. Any professional level should build upon that. Not upon eyeballs and asses in seats (doing nothing).

by sgpl 9y ago

pasbesoin 9y ago

One of many aspects/details that have caused me to turn my back on professional sports -- formally declared or otherwise (college football, the Olympics, etc.). It would be inspiring if we could have professional sports-persons who could make a decent living extolling the virtues of sport and leading by example. "Decent" living -- not obscene incomes based upon monopolies and taxpayer extortion (stadium costs, tax exemptions, etc.) feeding yet greater ownership incomes (another form of rent-seeking, in its way). But instead, cash is king. And the virtues of sport get turned into vices -- whether practiced by the players, or upon them (e.g. football's heavy toll). I don't like this corruption. So I vote with my feet -- that is to say, with my dollars. Anyway, sport is meant for actual participation. Any professional level should build upon that. Not upon eyeballs and asses in seats (doing nothing).