Lance (well, his GF) expecting #4

[maillotpois]

If it is his baby, sure sounds like it was probably a total surprise to them. Let's see, you're told you'll be infertile; you bank up and plan some kids and then think you're shooting blanks.... Ooops.

She does sound pretty neat. Wonder how long he'll stay with her....

[Mr. Bloom]

I agree mail;I hope they're both happy (and I hope they weren't surprised...but alas...who knows)

Funny Side Story: When Silver found out she was pregnant with #2, she cried to the Dr. The Dr. followed her to the waiting room (I guess fearful that I was going to beat her up or something).

The reason Silver cried was because she was there with the stomach flu and because she was pregnant, she couldn't get a shot for the nausea. I was, of course, quite excited.

[ilima]

"Stomach flu" Ha, ha, ha. Must have been quite the surprise to learn the source of the stomach flu.

[kermit]

At least he didn't hook up with Britney. She can get pregnant from a toilet seat! That would have been a headline!

[Mr. Bloom]

"Stomach flu" Ha, ha, ha. Must have been quite the surprise to learn the source of the stomach flu.

No, she really was deathly ill with the stomach flu...the morning sickness came later

[Miranda]

She does sound pretty neat. Wonder how long he'll stay with her....

I'm not even really qualified to make this remark, as I have only read his first book and not followed life events closely since, but my vote is: "not for the duration".

Besides the driving to the sperm bank part in book #1 that has been posted about, I found a couple things striking in the read (relative to fatherhood)...

He says something like "all professional athletes are running from something... I never had a father, nor did I ever want/need one....".

DING THE BELL... wrong answer, Lance. Running from the lie in statement paraphared #2. There are no bigger lies in life than the ones we tell to ourselves.

So, my question would be to him... "Lance, when are you going to break the cycle buddy? No, I don't mean the term related to the sport either. I mean overcome your greatest fear and hurt in life (way beyound cancer) that you didn't have a dad, the pain it caused your mother, etc... you're so strong in so many other ways... are you afraid it ALL will fall apart if you do it (face it)... come on Lance, stick it out... be the father you never had and husband that should have been... DON'T BAIL!!!"

This psychotherapy session provided by laymens free of charge, Merry Xmas.

[xeney]

Uh, lots of divorced dads are very good fathers. I'm not a Lance fan but I have never heard that he was a bad dad.

[Irulan]

Uh, lots of divorced dads are very good fathers. I'm not a Lance fan but I have never heard that he was a bad dad.

Serial relationships and not hanging in there when the going gets tough sets a lousy example for your kids if nothing else.

[eclectic]

Question: Does Lance split w/ them or do they split w/ him?

Lance is attracted to and has serious relationships w/ strong women (part time bimbo's excluded) Kit, Sheryl Crow and now it sounds like Anna are strong intelligent women w/ lives of their own.

I admire Lance but I don't think I would like him. He has a HUGE ego, he is driven, a perfectionist, and expects those around him to be the same,(other than the ego - don't dare up ego him) But then how else do you win that many tours?
How many women want to stay w/ a professional cyclist during their training and racing seasons? They become one of the domestiques but see their husbands/BF's less than the team does and they are at home holding everything together.

The latest book on Lance that I read (can't remember the name - it was written by a reporter who lived around them during the training for one of Lance's tours) stated that just about all the great cyclists throughout time are dealing w/ black issues from their past - Lance is no different.

What I think would be hard is for another woman to have to put up w/ Lance's mom and their relationship ! How many times has she been married? ? ? ?

I wish Anna and Lance the best of luck and that they, the baby, Lance's other children can all find a balance - especially while he is training for and competing in another TDF.

I wouldn't want that life.

[Irulan]

Does any of that matter? We all have baggage, every single one of us. I mean, so what if you are a tour winner, or anything else? My personal belief, which to some people sounds like a fairy tale but it isn't, is that once you bring kids into the world, that an intact family should be the#1 priority. It doesn't matter how big your ego is, or how damaged you are, or what else you have to do in life.

I just don't buy the "oh black issues" stuff. It's excuses. You want to hear about my issues?

It reminds me of a party I was at once. A girl was stumbling, barfing drunk and people are like oh, poor thing - her parents are divorced, she had to give up a baby blah blah blah..... Me? My comment was, so what. ( you want to hear about my life?) Lots of people have really big problems, and manage to get help, or learn to make other choices. No one is forcing these people to listen to their demons. Ok, so so I am digressing a bit, but egos, demons, black baggage... it's all the same the big question to me : are you man enough to sack up and deal with it? Put some balance in your life? Fix the problems? Unload your baggage?

Oops, sorry for the rant on Xmas morning.

[Pax]

There is no such thing as comparative pain, each person experiences theirs at their own pace. For those who got past theirs then I offer you heartfelt congratulations. For those still suffering I offer my condolences.

[eclectic]

Does any of that matter? We all have baggage, every single one of us. I mean, so what if you are a tour winner, or anything else? My personal belief, which to some people sounds like a fairy tale but it isn't, is that once you bring kids into the world, that an intact family should be the#1 priority. It doesn't matter how big your ego is, or how damaged you are, or what else you have to do in life.

I just don't buy the "oh black issues" stuff. It's excuses. You want to hear about my issues?

Oops, sorry for the rant on Xmas morning.

I wasn't trying to make excuses for him - I was just making an observation based on everything I had read about him to back up my statement of who is leaving who. I believe it is the women leaving Lance - not the other way around.

Also I just found it interesting about the statement that all the great cyclists had demons in their background, again not making excuses, just an observation, with a question of "is this why they have that extra edge that makes them a winner?" (now please don't get off on a doping rant - that is not what this is refering to)

In conclusion: I agree, in a perfect world all children would have parents who love, cherish them and each other and act as excellent role models at all times, putting the needs of the children first . . . but alas this world is not perfect.

But by the grace of God, we have Christmas.

Merry Christmas all