Wiggins - National Disappointment

Secteur

Well, I have held off posting this for a few weeks now, but after seeing Wiggins "giving the finger" to the press as he left hospital today, I feel compelled to post...

Wiggins is a good cyclist. Indeed, he's a great cyclist, and has achieved an incredible amount, but his antics off the road are embarrassing.

The finger today, the c-word at the TdF, the crap almost rude interviews, the constant "I hate all the attention" (dont compete and win big races then), and lets not mention the blue coat at the recent TdF presentation... Plus his famous "i was almost an alcoholic" phase and issues at Sky highlight his approach to life (though I admit, he changed his ways and "lived the life of a cyclist" over last Winter and showed major dedication, which has to be admired).

I feel more than ever that Chris Froome would have been a better "first British winner of a grand tour / TdF" and would been have a far more dignified and gracious champion.

I really cant stand Wiggins now and it he just seems unable to be gracious in public. I dont just support a winner, I support the man, and I just cant bring myself to support this man anymore.

there's enough cyclist hatred as it is, and him giving the finger to the waiting press after leaving hospital today will do immesurable damage to his and cyclists reputations amongst many.

Nik Cube

Not so

He showing some character that is a thing to behold not some robot doing as he's told to appease the bloody media

Secteur

I don't know... I used to believe the "it's just a bit of character" thing... now I think it's just plain rude & misjudged.

RichN95.

Quite right. How much longer must be tolerate these frightful working class oiks representing our fine nation? The sooner only posh public school boys like Froome are permitted to don the Union Flag, better.

Turfle

Anyone who makes a raffle joke on the Champs Elysees after winning the Tour is alright in my book.

Pointing a camera into the car of someone who has just left hospital deserves at least the finger.

nicklouse

Turfle wrote:

Anyone who makes a raffle joke on the Champs Elysees after winning the Tour is alright in my book.

Pointing a camera into the car of someone who has just left hospital deserves at least the finger.

+1

iainf72

Does it? It's a big news story, the person with the camera is there because there is public interest.

It might be inconvenient but I don't see what the big deal would about saying "I'm fine, bit achy" and move on.

Turfle

Maybe he was in too much pain/too high on meds/just not in the mood to talk.

Wiggins was in a car. By that point it's pretty clear he doesn't want to be questioned/photographed. It's no different than sticking a camera into someone's house.

The photographer wasn't doing it for public interest; he was doing it for money and titillation.

mr_poll

iainf72 wrote:

Does it? It's a big news story, the person with the camera is there because there is public interest.

It might be inconvenient but I don't see what the big deal would about saying "I'm fine, bit achy" and move on.

Sorry but this argument doesn't hold for me there is a difference between what interests the public and whats in the public interest. The media use the "public interest" argument whenever they want to invade privacy and write sensational stories about celebs - phone hacking, tele photo lenses, kiss and tell - all in the public interest they say and sorry its just BS.

I follow cycling and Wiggo - all I wanted to know was: was he out of hospital and what are his injuries. Do I need some scum bag pap hanging around outside a hospital trying to bag a pic to put a few hundred quid in his pocket to prove this. No Team Sky's very quick statement does that job - without having to disturb someone who is probably shaken and tired after the events of the past 24 hours.

MrTapir

I say fair play to him, the press are the press and hound people wherever they go so 'the finger' is getting off likely if you ask me. The people on twitter that anonymously spread rumour around on the basis of not very much got what they deserved (c***s)

skylla

Jeez, all he did was showing off his broken middle finger on a nice purple hand.

a case of twisted knickers me thinks.

LeicesterLad

He was bound to be a bit p*ssed after such an 'attempt' on his life...

iainf72

Perhaps it's all part of his "oooh, I don't want to be a celeb...but I really do" thing.

Do something bland, they'll go away. Flip the bird and it's news.

I'm not a fan - couldn't really care what he does one way or the other, but if he wanted less attention he did it the wrong way.

Richmond Racer

Yawns

What a silly thread :roll:

Is the OP Froome's whiney gf?

Secteur

Well, i expected such responses! I know Wiggins is super-popular at the moment.

As per my OP, it's not just the finger, it's attitude and projection in general.

I just like my champions a little more gratious and engaging.

Brakeless

So some prat in Lancashire thinks one of the Best Sportsmen that has ever come out of England is a National Disappointment. You Secteur are probably a bigger disaappointment in your own bedroom.

nweststeyn

He's just a bloke who rides a bike (very well, which is what I find inspiring in a pro cyclist)... why is everyone so keen to have 'national heroes' all the time? He's not exactly Jimmy Saville, is he.

Richmond Racer

nweststeyn wrote:

He's just a bloke who rides a bike (very well, which is what I find inspiring in a pro cyclist)... why is everyone so keen to have 'national heroes' all the time? He's not exactly Jimmy Saville, is he.

Jimmy Saville...now THERE was a 'national hero' till a few weeks ago...

thegibdog

I'm sure he will be very upset that you think he is a "national disappointment"!

tailwindhome

Wow his fingers are really long. Like creepy long.

Loretta Damage

I'm glad he's giving the finger to the press. Most sportsmen & women prostitute themselves with wanton abandon when it comes to the media, it's refreshing to see someone who obviously doesn't give a f**k what everyone else thinks and just cracks on with being good at his chosen sport. Hopefully we'll never see "at home with the Bradley & Cath in their wonderful Lancashire home" in some chav magazine - unlike most of the egotistical so called sporting superstars in our society. Wiggo does the media stuff that he has to and the stuff that interests him (BBC Radio 6 with Weller for example), I genuinely think that he is, at heart, a normal bloke who just happens to have an outstanding talent for riding a bike. The fact that he has his demons and emotional issues, that he wears on his sleeve, makes him even more of a champion that I can relate to.

Garcia03_3

Brakeless wrote:

So some prat in Lancashire thinks one of the Best Sportsmen that has ever come out of England is a National Disappointment. You Secteur are probably a bigger disaappointment in your own bedroom.

+1

National Disappointment , seriously? When you look at what he has accomplished this year through hard work and dedication its staggering. Why does he have to live up to your expectations?

You say you like Your champions gratious ( I assume you meant gracious) and engaging but how are they your champions? Stupid Culture in Britain where we think we have ownership of someone, just because they are in the public eye.

The British Media and morons like yourself, that is a "National Disappointment".

chrisaonabike

Loretta Damage wrote:

I'm glad he's giving the finger to the press.

Let's hope he doesn't p1ss them off enough to turn nasty on him, like they do to so many people on pedestals.

AIUI, the expletives are mostly reserved for dopers, and people that accuse him of doping. Given that doping has ripped the heart out of the sport for years, and that Wiggo has dedicated the last 20 years of his life to it, it's not surprising he feels strongly about it, so I think he can be excused a few outbursts.

I'm sure he is a normal bloke - and it's refreshing to see that down-to-earthness.

But he isn't exactly avoiding the celebrity aura. The sideburns, the stylish clothes, the moody mod look....

Nothing wrong with any of that, and he's a photogenic guy with it. But it's a bit more than just "I'm a dedicated sportsman getting on with the sport, so leave me alone". He's doing lots of good stuff, and with that comes a little more of the public interest, as well as the interest of the public.

If he now ends up as SPOTY, he might do well to be a bit less abrasive, unless it's directed at the bad guys.

Mikey23

Fortunately I'm a crap cyclist because you would get far more antisocial behaviour from me. Give the guy a break. Don't know where it says that talented sportsmen need to be media experts. Andy Murray certainly isn't

Pointless thread alert ...

thegibdog

Nothing says celebrity aura like sideburns. Apparently.

chadders81

As a journalist, I've seen press photographers do anything to try and get a reaction from somebody for a decent pic. Hard to say what happened in this case as none of us was there.

I don't think he's disgraced himself particularly and probably feels a bit of a prick for being photographed with his finger up.

Turfle

Go on Bradley, show a bit of sideburn.

mididoctors

I would like to express the strong opinion that I do not give a 5h1t one way or the other about this story

EKIMIKE

RichN95 wrote:

Quite right. How much longer must be tolerate these frightful working class oiks representing our fine nation? The sooner only posh public school boys like Froome are permitted to don the Union Flag, better.

+1 (the sarcastic version, not the literal)

ForumNewbie

Okay he shouldn't have been rude to the Press, but he's certainly not a national disappointment. I think it's a good thing that his unfortunate accident got a lot of coverage in the media as it highlights to the general public the dangers that cyclists face on the road, and how vulnerable we are on a bike compared to people in a car. If it at least makes some motorists think twice and be more aware of cyclists surely that is a good thing.

Beatmaker

there's enough cyclist hatred as it is, and him giving the finger to the waiting press after leaving hospital today will do immesurable damage to his and cyclists reputations amongst many.

I doubt it, tomorrow's chip wrappers.