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Post by mvi on Aug 3, 2009 19:33:06 GMT -5
So it was quote:" it was a management decision (Bruyneel's) to make regarding who would be the leader,"
And Contador is quote: "insubordinate and whiny" for not going with the management decision, because he thinks that the strongest rider should win the Tour de France , and not the one that is most attractive for the media /sponsor.
I thought that sport is about the best guy winning? Contador is not only physical strong, but proved to be a mental match for Armstrong as well.
p.s A little more history Marti Jamison won US nationals for US postal in 1993, only to be kept off the TdF team and without contract next year by management /Armstrong. Insubordinate for winning that day against team orders it was suggested later.
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Post by Vespa on Aug 4, 2009 10:21:14 GMT -5
Pro cycling is a job, and accepting that even the strongest rider is at least partially subordinate to decisions communicated by the director is key to understanding the sport. So yes -- sometimes the strongest rider shouldn't win, and winning can sometimes be a result of insubordination. It's neither Utopian nor intuitive. In races usually winnable by more than one rider in the field, tactical decisions and even marketing decisions often make or break some of them. If you want a flawless meritocracy, we'll have to abandon the team approach and race like triathletes. Race dynamics and informal alliances would still greatly skew the results, but at least then you wouldn't have an employee-employer context. That said, a little calculated insubordination makes for fun drama and some justice for the worthy. Contador was impressive and his defiant actions paid off in spades -- but the whole persecution story is "whiny" for sure. Any pressure he faced in the hotel was both predictable and deserved, because he wasn't acting in the way he was paid to act. While I'll be pulling for Lance next year, I'm glad Contador won this time, since like you say he was clearly dominant and obeying Bruyneel would have been pure martyrdom. So it was quote:" it was a management decision (Bruyneel's) to make regarding who would be the leader," And Contador is quote: "insubordinate and whiny" for not going with the management decision, because he thinks that the strongest rider should win the Tour de France , and not the one that is most attractive for the media /sponsor. I thought that sport is about the best guy winning? Contador is not only physical strong, but proved to be a mental match for Armstrong as well. p.s A little more history Marti Jamison won US nationals for US postal in 1993, only to be kept off the TdF team and without contract next year by management /Armstrong. Insubordinate for winning that day against team orders it was suggested later. |
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Post by mvi on Aug 4, 2009 19:29:48 GMT -5
The only thing I feel you overlook, is that on pro sport teams it's often the star(s) that are calling the shots, and not the manager/ boss/ coach.
Sports are unique in this aspect compared with business.
Kobe Bryant was calling the shots , and not Phil Jackson in the recent playoffs it was mentioned.
Tom Boonen stepped out of the Tour, and told Patrick Lefevre to "shut up" basically, without repercussions. Even though Lefevre stood with Boonen through his cocaine troubles.
Any doubt who was calling the shots on Hinaults teams, or Merckx teams or Armstrong teams? It's a basic power game, who can be replaced?, Phil Jackson or Kobe Bryant? Bruyneel or Armstrong? Lefevre or Boonen?
I hope AC will get on a good team. On Garmin he would be unbeatable. And Garmin might have the money to take him on, because it promises to be a highly anticipated tour in 2010. 11 more months only!
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Post by dobovedo on Oct 17, 2009 23:09:22 GMT -5
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