Cavendish "two finger" signals....

Pokerface

Yellow Peril wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

I think Cav's gesture unfortunately adds a lot of weight to what many Europeans already suspect (correctly or not) about how most Brits think and behave.

"Flicking the V's" only means something in the UK. Outside of the UK, no one knows what it means. So any Europeans (or people from anywhere else in the world) would think he was referring to something else.


The single finger salute though - is universal.

You are right in one sense in relation to the Agincourt salute but other countries know what it means just like I knowflicking your hand off the underside of your chin is insulting to Italians. It is a global village we live in.

Well - I never knew what it meant until I moved to the UK. And I'm a pretty-well educated guy. Christ - I'm even from the UK originally and have loads of family here. Still didn't know what it meant.

DavMartinR

I've just given my boss the V sign and shouted at him You know jack sh*t!!!

So here I am clearing my desk?

Strange how some people react to intresting characters???

Yellow Peril

magicrhodes wrote:

Yellow Peril wrote:

magicrhodes wrote:

@Yellow Peril Right one thing, he didn't tell any children to fcuk off and to the best of my knowledge he never has done. That is a stupid analogy!

People say things in the heat of the moment. He has taken a lot of abuse and he has responded. I'm not saying it is the perfect response but it not worthy of the vitriol either. TWs sponsors will be back very quickly when he starts winning, and this will not have any effect on HTC.

BTW did you write a post to commend him for his phone celebration and how it was a perfect example of looking after sponsors last year??? I'm going to guess not because you just want to grab the moral high gorund and look down your nose at him.

The insulting your kids is to explore how far do you go as to what is acceptable and so is not a stupid analogy.

Now comparing his offensive gesture to the phone gesture now that is a stupid analogy!

No it isn't because the point of the analogy is to highlight the speed people hurtle to the keyboard to write bad things but refrain from writing good things.

See it is a good analogy!

It's a pity you didn't take time to look at my Cav post history and read the pro Cav ones (e.g Tour of Qatar, Can Cav break Boardman's win record) then you would realise how pro Cav I am. However, you probably hurtled to the keyboard with some speed!

Hibbs

Pokerface wrote:

Well - I never knew what it meant until I moved to the UK. And I'm a pretty-well educated guy. Christ - I'm even from the UK originally and have loads of family here. Still didn't know what it meant.

Exactly, they don't teach swearing at private schools. Sticky biscuit, yes. Swearing, no.

magicrhodes

@yellow peril Erm.... in my post you commented on I did say that I was going to take a guess that you didn't... So just post the link where you did praise him on his phone celebration and that'll be fine.

You like Cav, I like Cav..... Its all good

cal_stewart

F":K Know's what will happen if he gets his cock out next time.

SpaceJunk

Pokerface wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

I think Cav's gesture unfortunately adds a lot of weight to what many Europeans already suspect (correctly or not) about how most Brits think and behave.

"Flicking the V's" only means something in the UK. Outside of the UK, no one knows what it means. So any Europeans (or people from anywhere else in the world) would think he was referring to something else.


The single finger salute though - is universal.

I live in Australia, which, last time I checked, was still outside of the UK. I think I understand exactly what Flicking the V stands for.

RichN95.

Cal_Stewart wrote:

F":K Know's what will happen if he gets his fool out next time.

No, not the fool! Anything but the fool!

Swear filters are funny.

SpaceJunk

Yellow Peril wrote:

I can't help but think it is the thin end of a very thick wedge.

I sense the next time cancellara puts 5 mins into the peloton in a one day classic he'll drop his shorts and come across the line with his naked hairy @rse on the handlebars.

(for the record I don't know if he has a hairy @rse)

If I had to guess, I'd imagine Fabian would be one hairy man. Of course, it all depends on how far up he shaves/waxes.

wicked

petejuk wrote:

I just find it sad that his gesture stirs more interest than the pleasure of him winning. Its like saying he can win but we're not interested unless he does it in a particular way. I'm sure, in future interviews, he will apologise- considering his sponsors are on the front of his shirt and he's marketable property.

+1
Best post on thread. Well said.

Yellow Peril

Magicrhodes you need to re read the posts. I didn't say I'd praised him on the phone celebration.I told you that was a stupid analogy

You are slagging me off for being quick to write the bad things and not the good things. I'm just putting you right on that matter. See my pro Cav post history.

Pokerface

SpaceJunk wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

I think Cav's gesture unfortunately adds a lot of weight to what many Europeans already suspect (correctly or not) about how most Brits think and behave.

"Flicking the V's" only means something in the UK. Outside of the UK, no one knows what it means. So any Europeans (or people from anywhere else in the world) would think he was referring to something else.


The single finger salute though - is universal.

I live in Australia, which, last time I checked, was still outside of the UK. I think I understand exactly what Flicking the V stands for.

Yeah - you would. Bunch of yob convicts sent over from Britain back in the 1800's.

SpaceJunk

Pokerface wrote:

SpaceJunk wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

I think Cav's gesture unfortunately adds a lot of weight to what many Europeans already suspect (correctly or not) about how most Brits think and behave.

"Flicking the V's" only means something in the UK. Outside of the UK, no one knows what it means. So any Europeans (or people from anywhere else in the world) would think he was referring to something else.


The single finger salute though - is universal.

I live in Australia, which, last time I checked, was still outside of the UK. I think I understand exactly what Flicking the V stands for.

Yeah - you would. Bunch of yob convicts sent over from Britain back in the 1800's.

True, except the fact I'm Aboriginal!

disquieting_museeuws

I think the real problem with the gesture is that the good burghers of Fribourg who hosted the stage and pay the money are left with footage that they can't use in promotional videos & photos, etc. The rest of us who work in the public eye have to consider these things, and Cavendish is a professional, as he has been keen to remind everyone recently. On the other hand maybe Fribourg love it & will put up a statue to commemorate it, what do I know?

It's nowt to do with Agincourt, btw, that was made up by Victorian antiquarians (as was most of our 'history', life has taught me)! Though I'm happy to be proved wrong of course.

magicrhodes

Yellow Peril wrote:

Magicrhodes you need to re read the posts. I didn't say I'd praised him on the phone celebration.I told you that was a stupid analogy

You are slagging me off for being quick to write the bad things and not the good things. I'm just putting you right on that matter. See my pro Cav post history.

NO I don't need to reread the post because I was being SPECIFIC about the time Cav did the phone celebration as point where he highlighted his sponsor in a positive light. I was asking you to be SPECIFIC about that event not tell me about every post you have ever written... why because I guessed, assumed if you will, that you didn't write anything positive about that because it was such a SPECIFIC event... which appears to have been a safe presumption.

I am fully aware that to assume makes an ASS out of U and ME... which I think this erm... conversation is doing

You're still wrong about the analogy though but don't worry about it and I'm going to leave that there.

Moomin23

WOW! I haven't seen a sprinter get so much flak since Theo Bos threw Daryl Impey into the barrier at the Tour of Turkey last year! But then again, what Cav did was much worse and as such he should be punished, like Bos wasn't.

Get a grip people, lets try to focus on what he did 200m before this, as a a fan of Cav I like to think that this gesture was on behalf of all his fans who've had listen to morons talking about how the greatest sprinter of his generation was finished, because he was off sick for a bit.

I wonder how man of these cycling fans support the better behaviour of riders like Valverde and Vino when they cross the line in a more reserved fashion.

He's clean, he's the fastest and he's one of ours, so get behind him!

Moomin23

WOW! I haven't seen a sprinter get so much flak since Theo Bos threw Daryl Impey into the barrier at the Tour of Turkey last year! But then again, what Cav did was much worse and as such he should be punished, like Bos wasn't.

Get a grip people, lets try to focus on what he did 200m before this, as a a fan of Cav I like to think that this gesture was on behalf of all his fans who've had listen to morons talking about how the greatest sprinter of his generation was finished, because he was off sick for a bit.

I wonder how man of these cycling fans support the better behaviour of riders like Valverde and Vino when they cross the line in a more reserved fashion.

He's clean, he's the fastest and he's one of ours, so get behind him!

Moomin23

WOW! I haven't seen a sprinter get so much flak since Theo Bos threw Daryl Impey into the barrier at the Tour of Turkey last year! But then again, what Cav did was much worse and as such he should be punished, like Bos wasn't.

Get a grip people, lets try to focus on what he did 200m before this, as a a fan of Cav I like to think that this gesture was on behalf of all his fans who've had listen to morons talking about how the greatest sprinter of his generation was finished, because he was off sick for a bit.

I wonder how man of these cycling fans support the better behaviour of riders like Valverde and Vino when they cross the line in a more reserved fashion.

He's clean, he's the fastest and he's one of ours, so get behind him!

Moomin23

WOW! I haven't seen a sprinter get so much flak since Theo Bos threw Daryl Impey into the barrier at the Tour of Turkey last year! But then again, what Cav did was much worse and as such he should be punished, like Bos wasn't.

Get a grip people, lets try to focus on what he did 200m before this, as a a fan of Cav I like to think that this gesture was on behalf of all his fans who've had listen to morons talking about how the greatest sprinter of his generation was finished, because he was off sick for a bit.

I wonder how man of these cycling fans support the better behaviour of riders like Valverde and Vino when they cross the line in a more reserved fashion.

He's clean, he's the fastest and he's one of ours, so get behind him!

Moomin23

WOW! I haven't seen a sprinter get so much flak since Theo Bos threw Daryl Impey into the barrier at the Tour of Turkey last year! But then again, what Cav did was much worse and as such he should be punished, like Bos wasn't.

Get a grip people, lets try to focus on what he did 200m before this, as a a fan of Cav I like to think that this gesture was on behalf of all his fans who've had listen to morons talking about how the greatest sprinter of his generation was finished, because he was off sick for a bit.

I wonder how man of these cycling fans support the better behaviour of riders like Valverde and Vino when they cross the line in a more reserved fashion.

He's clean, he's the fastest and he's one of ours, so get behind him!

Yellow Peril

"No it isn't because the point of the analogy is to highlight the speed people hurtle to the keyboard to write bad things but refrain from writing good things."

The words above are yours magicrhodes.

I told you I didn't write anything about the phone. Why would I, it wasn't offensive. But you did say that people are quick to write bad things and not good things. a generalism, and you were wrong.

You are obviously tired and angry. take a break.

Homer J

It could be worse, he could do that Contador thing

BikingBernie

disquieting_museeuws wrote:

Cavendish is a professional, as he has been keen to remind everyone recently.

All he needs to do now is to start acting like one...

(That said, behavior like this would very likely see the rider being disqualified even in a 'chipper' in the UK. Not bringing the sport into disrepute and all that).

blazing_saddles

PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM CAVENDISH

30th April 2010 - Please find below an apology that Mark Cavendish wishes to be released today.

"I want to publicly apologize for the gesture I made on the finish line of the Tour de Romandie yesterday. I did want to make a statement to my critics but I realize that making a rude gesture on the finish line is not the best way to do that. I apologize to everybody watching the race and especially the kids. I am not proud of releasing the feelings in that way. I hope I can redeem myself and show my feelings and passion for cycling with some exciting results in the next couple of months rather than with gestures such as the one yesterday."

chris281192

he makes the sport interesting, and the critics/media needed putting in their place.

i really don't see the problem, i'm far more outraged at vino's win in L-B-L than any hand sign cav might want to do.

No, he doesn't have etiquette, and one day, i would like to see him be beaten, but for now, it's all a good laugh, as long as he's clean.

Yellow Peril

Blazing Saddles wrote:

PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM CAVENDISH

30th April 2010 - Please find below an apology that Mark Cavendish wishes to be released today.

"I want to publicly apologize for the gesture I made on the finish line of the Tour de Romandie yesterday. I did want to make a statement to my critics but I realize that making a rude gesture on the finish line is not the best way to do that. I apologize to everybody watching the race and especially the kids. I am not proud of releasing the feelings in that way. I hope I can redeem myself and show my feelings and passion for cycling with some exciting results in the next couple of months rather than with gestures such as the one yesterday."

Credit to him. He is now a good example to the peleton on how to apologise in such a situation. Now let's see him ride like the sprint God he is!

BikingBernie

Blazing Saddles wrote:

PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM CAVENDISH

30th April 2010 - Please find below an apology that Mark Cavendish wishes to be released today.

"I want to publicly apologize for the gesture I made on the finish line of the Tour de Romandie yesterday. I did want to make a statement to my critics but I realize that making a rude gesture on the finish line is not the best way to do that. I apologize to everybody watching the race and especially the kids. I am not proud of releasing the feelings in that way. I hope I can redeem myself and show my feelings and passion for cycling with some exciting results in the next couple of months rather than with gestures such as the one yesterday."

Good to see that even Chavendish now accepts that he acted like a total prick. So where does that leave all those who defended his actions?

afx237vi

Blazing Saddles wrote:

PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM CAVENDISH

30th April 2010 - Please find below an apology that Mark Cavendish wishes to be released today.

"I want to publicly apologize for the gesture I made on the finish line of the Tour de Romandie yesterday. I did want to make a statement to my critics but I realize that making a rude gesture on the finish line is not the best way to do that. I apologize to everybody watching the race and especially the kids. I am not proud of releasing the feelings in that way. I hope I can redeem myself and show my feelings and passion for cycling with some exciting results in the next couple of months rather than with gestures such as the one yesterday."

Well I guess that answers my question yesterday about what Bob Stapleton thought of the gesture.

finchy

BikingBernie wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM CAVENDISH

30th April 2010 - Please find below an apology that Mark Cavendish wishes to be released today.

"I want to publicly apologize for the gesture I made on the finish line of the Tour de Romandie yesterday. I did want to make a statement to my critics but I realize that making a rude gesture on the finish line is not the best way to do that. I apologize to everybody watching the race and especially the kids. I am not proud of releasing the feelings in that way. I hope I can redeem myself and show my feelings and passion for cycling with some exciting results in the next couple of months rather than with gestures such as the one yesterday."

Good to see that even Chavendish now accepts that he acted like a total prick. So where does that leave all those who defended his actions?

I still think there are far more important things to worry about in life. He did this in a country which is famous for hiding the ill-gotten gains of the world's dictators. He should have just claimed he was making the gesture at the Swiss banks on behalf of the oppressed peoples of the world.

simon_e

Yellow Peril wrote:

He is now a good example to the peloton on how to make a pr*ck of yourself and be forced to grovel in public afterwards.

Fixed that for you

Lots of people in this thread seem to have a problem with other people's opinions. We're not going to agree are we - goodness me where's the fun in that? C'mon, by all means disagree but don't get upset!

IMVHO I thought it quite reckless and a bit stupid. It's obviously going to offend some people, including sponsors, race hosts, spectators and fans. So why do it? If my kids see it what do I say? "He's my favourite rider". I don't think so. He could so easily have made his point so much more effectively in his interviews. He knows how to do it, he doesn't lack eloquence or the ability to rustle up a juicy soundbite. And I don't understand why he is so affronted by his critics.

Riders can comment sarcastically about forum conversations but without fans talking on forums, standing at the roadside, buying bikes and kit there may be no pro cycling and they could be delivering newspapers instead. Wiggins has opinions and likes to make them public so what's the difference?

I'd just like the people who represent the pinnacle of the sport (I will avoid the term heroes) act with just a little more decorum. I'm not asking them to be saints, just avoid the offensive stuff when the cameras are rolling. If I want to see this kind of thing I might as well get shafted to watch some overpaid prima donnas kick a ball around on a Saturday afternoon. I just hope this error gets brushed aside or forgotten fairly quickly and everyone moves on to what really matters - the racing.