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Some people are defending this as a joke, like "that's just how Tony is and you're uptight if you take it seriously." Clearly these people have never been an inch away from becoming a splat on the pavement.
Christian Vande Velde referred to him as "Kornhole, I mean Kornheiser." Nice. Bikesnobnyc just feels sorry for him.
There's a "Tony Kornheiser Sucks" Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...8192525&ref=nf
Not a new site, BTW.
And this on Facebook:
ESPN's Tony Kornheiser on road cyclists- "run em' over". We don't think so!
This reminds me of the anger over a cycling rant by magda szubanski...There's a facebook group against her as well.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertain...989983683.html
I learned about this on Facebook and wrote to ESPN to ask if Tony was absolutely certain that car drivers could tell the difference between the cyclists he hates and the midwife riding to work (me) or training for a triathlon to keep me fit and sane. Because if I get "tapped" (assaulted), I may have to go after ESPN for giving him a forum. :mad:
Thanks for the link, Tri Girl. I put my two cents worth in as did my hubby. What an idiot!
If anyone hears the show with Lance, please post.
I await the day when threatening the safety of a cyclist because the "annoy" you or get in your way is as morally reprehensible as threatening a black person because you read that a young black male mugged someone at the bus stop, or threatening Jews because Bernie Madoff bilked millions of dollars from people.
:(
My letter, just sent:
I am the 53-year-old mother of a 16-year-old. I returned home last evening from a 22-mile bike ride, read the news, and learned of Mr. Kornheiser's attempt at humor in which he advised listeners to "run down" bicyclists. (Threatening people with physical harm is amusing? To whom, pray tell?)
Why on earth does ESPN, a sports network, employ someone who shows such disdain for people lawfully engaging in physical activity? Someone whose disdain crosses the line into advocating unlawful and dangerous, even deadly, behavior towards them?
Kindly read this: http://laist.com/2008/07/07/road_rag...lists_on_m.php
The update on that story here: http://laist.com/2008/07/07/update_o...e_accident.php
And the outcome of the driver's trial -- on multiple charges -- here: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov...al/me-cyclist3
Are these outcomes -- bodily injury and jail time -- what you want for your listeners? For those lawfully engaged in sport, and those who drive?
Mr. Kornheiser should be fired for his comments. That could be my 16-year-old out there that Mr. Kornheiser is advising his listeners to "tap."
Sincerely,
I also just sent an e-mail to Tony himself. I was not nearly as educated or calm in my e-mail to him. The one I wrote to ESPN was much more high-brow, well thought out, and "smart". This one- not so much. I let my emotions get to me.
"Mr. Kornheiser, you are a vile creature. To even suggest that drivers "tap" a cyclist is the most disgusting thing EVER! Hey idiot- if you "tap" me in your car while I'm on my bike- you KILL me. 2000+ pounds of car trumps 150 lbs of me and my bike. Shame on you, Tony. I'm going to guess you've never been on a bike and encountered a jackass in a car who tries to run you off the road, or felt the heat of a car as it passes far too close, or had to crash into the pavement because someone cuts you off and turns right in front of you thinking you weren't going the speed of traffic. There are millions of Americans who ride bikes not only to go fast, but for transportation or because they care about this planet that car drivers seem to care less about. Car drivers are arrogant thinking they own the road. In EVERY state in the union we have the same rights on the road as cars, yet when a cyclist is killed by a car (and most often it's the driver's fault but nobody can ask a dead cyclist what happened), the driver is rarely charged with manslaughter or even issued a ticket. And when you encounter us cyclits, we just MIGHT slow you down for 10-15 seconds tops. You are an ***, sir. You may have been "joking," but when you incite violence against a group of people (cyclists in this case), that borders on illegal. You should be fired for having a forum in which to vent your hatred at selected groups. Now, get back in your car and try to run down a cyclist for slowing you down for 10 seconds on your way to someplace very important. Next time a cyclist is hit- I hope it's a family member or friend of yours so you can experience the pain of losing someone you love at the hands of an impatient driver (like so many of us unfortunately have). "
BTW- I don't really hope he loses someone he loves. I should have left that out, but I only regretted it after I sent it. That wasn't very kind, but like I said: my emotions got to me too much. I'm glad I was more educated with the one I wrote to ESPN.
Here's the link to e-mail his show directly. http://www.espn980.com/includes/forms2/src/?form_id=26
He's on right now.
www.espn980.com
Add Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post to the a$$ list.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcs...s_on_tony.html
Yup- he's an a** too!!Quote:
Originally Posted by SadieKate
"C'mon people- it's just a schtick. It's just a comedy routine. Where has all the humor gone?" That's what Dan said.
Saying you'd like to run over someone with a mack truck and advocating that people run over cyclists (which some will do because a radio personality told them to) is NOT the same thing. Grrrrr....
I wish those people would HAVE to ride a bike for just a week and they would all change their minds. Heck- one day in a city like D.C. and they'd be singing a different tune.
Why can't we all just get along on the roads????
Shtick or no shtick it is not funny to wish someone else harm.
Sorry, it would be schtick if it were something that no sane person would consider actually trying. The way I talk about mounting rocket launchers on my forks. In reality, every single day cyclists not only get buzzed and threatened by motorists, every single day cyclists have things thrown at them by motorists, and many days cyclists are intentionally hit by motorists.
Now, define "sane," I know. True or not, there used to be (maybe still is?) a meme that male domestic abusers have no detectable abnormality on psychological evaluation.
This is the same sort of thing. Advocating that people intentionally hurt other people just because they're physically less powerful. Makes them feel big when the rest of their lives feel out of control.
with Lance: here