jsinclair wrote:"rated a mention" just means that the article referred to you. obviously i don't actually mean referring to you personally, but to those that might have excused it by virtue of sagan's age.
Thanks for the explanation, learning something new!
jsinclair wrote:i happen to be the same age as Peter Sagan, so if you are suggesting that i too might behave in that way, or think its ok, they you are mistaken. as you pointed out earlier, he is from a small town of 80,000 or so. i also grew up in a town with roughly the same population, but that doesnt mean i think its ok. to suggest that it is then a product of his upbringing in slovakia does a rather large disservice to those that live there.
his apology seemed half-baked and insincere at best.
To the latter: Are you actually thinking a person is going to suddenly change their upbringing overnight? Really? A 23 year old professional athlete? Really?
To the former: I suggested - and please, go back and read carefully - that there may be several factors that lead to behaviours. Did I suggest that ALL persons from Slovakia are that way? Nope. I guessed at a few things that could have lead him to act the way he does, but neither you nor I know for certain. I did bring up examples of understanding language in regards to his t-shirt from three years ago, but does that mean all people who are not native speakers have the same level of comprehension of another language? Nope.
jsinclair wrote:sportspeople often raise and donate money to charity, and some charities are solely built around this fundraising model, so the real world implications definitely exist.
Hello jsinclair. I happen to spend well over 25 hours per week, for the past 6 years, (and on top of my own career, riding, social life, etc:.) leading a very prevalent and strong not-for-profit advocacy organisation. My position is not paid: I am a volunteer by the vary nature of the nonprofit (I do have paid employees, however). I am fully aware of charities, foundations, and all the lot. I spend countless hours building relationships with foundations and people of prominence, getting funding and working magic to benefit the community at large. I know first hand what athlete foundations actually do. I know firsthand how rare it is that your former classmate and champion athlete would actually make good on their prominence. Did I state, just prior, that it is rare? Yes I did. How do I know it is rare? Because I deal with reality. Every. Single. Day.
Coincidentally, this is a related link that might be of interest to you:
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/ ... -use-money
Are you somehow equating your upbringing with another person's and expecting the exact same result just because you're the same age and grew up in an 80k town? Yes you are. That would be like me comparing my behaviours/values to another person's behaviours/values growing up in another major metropolis of the same age - it's an absolutely ridiculous endeavor. Disappointed that a person would even think that way and not see how diverse the world truly is. But here we are, and look at our diversity: some people take sports really seriously, and others like myself wonder why people take it so seriously.
jsinclair wrote:i think you only need to watch the paralympics to see that sportspeople can be heros, oscar pistorius (allegedly) notwithstanding. i went to school with this guy, he is undoubtedly a hero.
I actually do watch paralympics - mostly streaming or torrents, because they are rarely broadcast here. Since you went to school with that para-athlete, maybe ask him about diversity. He might tell you that people are different and just because you may be the same age as someone does not mean they were raised with the same values as you.
Did I say that all people from Slovakia were that way? No.
Did I say that all 20 year olds were that way? No.
What I did state is that there are a number of reasons that could have lead to a person to act they way they do. I also stated - quite clearly - that increased exposure will help Sagan mature a bit. Did you miss that?
While we're on the subject of heros and disabilities: I spent two years as an assistant for a quadriplegic professor, part time, between undergraduate and graduate studies. Speaking of heroes? No ability to work her arms nor legs, yet a mind powerful enough to shift entire academic departments at one of the most prominent universities in the United States. A voice powerful enough to draw light to discriminatory practices and bring dramatic changes to a world famous athletic department in a country that sometimes prides itself more on College-level athletics than academics.
I also know heros, buddy. First hand.
Even my wife think it's good fun. Why have (some of) the world gone so politically correct?...
