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Bicycling Magazine Editor-in-Chief Peter Flax and FOX Sports Radio host John “J.T. The Brick” Tournour on cyclist Lance Armstrong’s decision to ...
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Deals I wanna bring in two experts on this fox Sports Radio host John JT the -- toward nor.
And editor in chief of bicycling magazine Peter flax Peter want to start with you -- Why do you think that he stopped fighting these charges I think the bicycling -- how I think.
Why soon.
Yeah that's an incredible moment after watching him for twenty years I've never seen him give up before whether yeah.
Racing the -- fighting cancer or battling all these critics he's always just been so we've fought at all -- and so -- like to see him give up it was a stunning moment I think it's a calculated move.
On the you know these attacks -- -- this was the least worst option you have this was you know better than the alternative.
We should be clear that he did say that he stopped fighting the charges because it is hard on his family and it was causing a lot of stress.
But I think at the end of the day -- big question is gonna keep.
I go to the -- on this well this is gonna mean for his endorsement deals we Barbie heard from Nike and Anheuser-Busch.
They wanna keep but this this is bread and -- What's not good for his endorsement deals but it won't get wiped out.
Lance Armstrong is no longer cycle us he's a motivational speaker he's a cancer survivor he can walk into any banquet.
He won't be introduced as a seven time winner of the Tour de France but he is a cancer survivor who runs a tremendous foundation that saves -- lives so.
Clearly his reputation as wiped out as a cyclist but only make this point.
He needs to remain healthy he's a cancer survivor financially he did not want to go down this road anymore.
And he needs to wake up every day cancer free he cannot have enormous stress on his shoulders.
Every day meeting with his attorneys and his legal team.
To clear his name this is old news America loves a comeback and the next six months to -- year.
It is critical that he keeps his nose clean.
Lays low and does this kind of goes away his big endorsement deals will stay with them.
Well how much -- -- actually make from these endorsement deals right now.
While he makes tens of millions of dollars for his foundation.
And the other numbers go up and down from Anheuser-Busch chief -- has equity stakes in some nutritional companies.
A nutritional -- don't know what exactly knows how much money he makes.
But a lot of the money that he does make -- speaking engagements and live strong he puts right back.
-- -- the foundation so he is gonna travel more world.
And try to save lives and keep pumping dollars into live strong but is making money the only -- to a high profile divorce.
-- we lost a lot of money his peak earning years of behind them but he could still raise a lot of money for its foundation.
And I want to turn to Peter now on this because it brings up the bigger question who Armstrong.
Arguably is dull one who drew this kind of attention to the world of cycling mean not everybody's bashing America -- that's cycling -- -- -- -- came around.
It makes you wonder how prevalent doping is in this sport.
Well I think it's a -- is with a much bigger problem -- Lance Armstrong's -- than it is today you can see.
By the times that athletes are competing in the speeds on that they're racing -- even though the technology is better they're slower.
And that then and fewer fewer people seem to be other performances that seems suspicious -- -- -- -- -- in the and the time he wrote everybody pretty much was -- that the people that would -- -- -- has yellow jerseys if they're taken away have all been.
Either convicted of doping or -- financial settlements in doping investigation so.
You know -- race at a time where everyone was doing -- it's it's much cleaner today.
It is is Lance Armstrong's in his his stopping fighting these charges do you think this is gonna change the sport today.
Now know I think the sport is already changed I think.
You know his legacy which transcend sport is is being you know molded right as we as we speak you I think he still will go down in history as one of the greatest -- -- of all time.
-- -- -- now on this one I mean when we look at the overall world of -- we comparing to other sports out there to be seated sports world lose interest in cycling up we think that there -- all.
Doping like Lance Armstrong is that the case right now.
Little to -- people in this country care about cycling.
And I'll tell you this much -- we talked about this being.
A calculated timing.
It was perfect last week on my radio show all -- talked about was milky cobra.
Bartolo Cologne major league baseball players who failed drug test the NFL kicks off in a little over a week this -- go away because.
Sports fans in this country.
Don't care about competitive cycling the way they do -- with the NFL Major League Baseball but Lance Armstrong.
Has got to be careful here because he's a high profile celebrity he loves to live in the world of celebrity.
And as long as he can get out there and walked the red carpet and tell everybody look everybody in the eye and say.
I never failed a drug test on innocent he's gonna continue to do that he's sticking by his story.
I want to -- the word last word appear here Peter where he still go down as the best cyclists of all time yeah I could speaking on behalf of the millions of readers who do care a lot about about cycling of our magazine he will.
He will go down as the greatest cyclist of his generation you'll still will always be a cloud hanging over him but he he what he will be that he's -- greatest by Chris -- -- Thank you so much for joining us on that -- The -- and Peter thank --
