Tony Kornheiser is an a$$

[ny biker]

Well Lance has now weighed in on twitter and it got picked up by USA Today. The words "complete f-ing idiot" were involved.

update: new from Lance: ...just off the phone w/ Tony Kornheiser who's very sorry 4 his comments re: cyclists. Going on the show 2morrow 2 discuss this w/ him.

I know lots of people generally don't like Lance and I respect that, but I appreciate having him in my corner on an issue like this.

[Possegal]

Actually Lance is going to be on his show tomorrow morning, after talking to him on the phone at some point today. Guess I'll have to decide if I'm going to lift my self-imposed ban tomorrow.

Looked like on Facebook that the station made a comment like "so now Lance has weighed in... well he has a few skeletons in his closet" Way to go 980, way to make yourselves look even worse, if that was possible. It isn't about Lance and whatever you think of him, just that he's the most visible figure that has picked it up. And given his twitter following, it did explode. Nearly every pro cyclist I follow on twitter was commenting about it. But Lance will get that info out there faster and wider. Who cares about his "closet"? Good heavens they are stupid. I think they deleted it, but someone on Levi's FB page had caught it and copied it.

Edit - JINX ny biker

[Tri Girl]

http://www.espn980.com/info/contact_us.php

Send ESPN an e-mail. I did, too. I didn't copy mine before I sent it, but it was smart and educated (while getting to the point that I was PO'd at him).

[ny biker]

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.

[owlice]

There's a "Tony Kornheiser Sucks" Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...8192525&ref=nf

Not a new site, BTW.

[Flybye]

And this on Facebook:

ESPN's Tony Kornheiser on road cyclists- "run em' over". We don't think so!

[crazycanuck]

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

[Bike Chick]

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.

[7rider]

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.

[owlice]

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,

[Tri Girl]

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

[Possegal]

He's on right now.
www.espn980.com