Comments on: Please: No More Sally Jenkins Columns on Lance Armstrong

By: Reid Rothchild

Reid Rothchild — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:25:20 +0000

Sally Jenkins is a good FICTION writer regarding Pharmstrong!

When I want the truth I'll consult David Walsh and Paul Kimmage. Here is what Kimmage had to say about an unnamed mack daddy Pharmstrong when he interviewed Padraig Harrington.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/golf/article5114047.ece

WE ARE on a flight to Malaga, drinking tea and shooting the breeze about another sporting icon, acclaimed for his courage and inspirational deeds.

“Have you ever interviewed him?” Harrington asks.

“No,” I reply. “I like to give everyone a blank sheet of paper, but I couldn’t do it with him . . . probably the most cynical, hypocritical bastard in the history of sport.”

“Really?” he says, shifting nervously.

“Have you read that stuff in his book about what a devoted husband and father he is? Well, he’d get up on your mother.”

“What!”

“He f**** everything that moves.”

“SHUUUSSSSSSSSSH!” Harrington freaks, frantically looking around in case somebody has heard. I’m laughing, but he is absolutely serious.

By: Steve Klein

Steve Klein — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:57:25 +0000

Can you ride a bike?
No one offers better insight into Armstrong than Jenkins.
The Post is totally transparent about the Jenkins-Armstrong relationship.
I seem to remember your comments about Armstrong and doping.
You definitely have a personal bias, but other than reflecting it in your comments, your not particularly transparent about it (i.e., I don't like Lance Armstrong).
Do you ever write about what Armstrong does to support cancer research (which is, I recognize, a completely different subject).
Please recognize your own biases.

By: Playing the Feud™ — Celebrity Edition! - City Desk - Washington City Paper

Playing the Feud™ — Celebrity Edition! - City Desk - Washington City Paper — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:16:58 +0000

[...] Jenkins classied up the City Desk comments section last night, coming in after a post by Editor Erik Wemple to admit that she understands why folks other than her bosses don’t want her writing so many [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:45:27 +0000

I like Sally's insight, in fact, I look forward to her articles. She has a deeper understanding of one of the most private individuals in all of sport. Everyone thinks they "know" Lance, but very few actually do. He does not let a lot of people into that inner circle. On any given day during this tour, there are over 50 new articles written about Lance all based on speculation, hearsay, and rumor. I can usually get the same if not better info from his Twitter feed. But Sally has the insight and a direct line to Lance that I desire. Keep ‘em coming Sally!!!

By: DMV: Bergesen Isn't the Only Stealth ROY | Mr. Irrelevant

DMV: Bergesen Isn't the Only Stealth ROY | Mr. Irrelevant — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:39:29 +0000

[...] Imploring Sally Jenkins to stop about Lance Armstrong. [City Desk] [...]

By: Faithful Post Reader

Faithful Post Reader — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:15:14 +0000

Well at least Sally has the guts to post a comment! I agree with Wemple though: too much hero worship. Which is even more surprising coming from Sally who generally takes a contrarian view of sports folks. I like her columns, I like her take on things sport for the most part but think the Lance puff pieces are too much. BTW: Does his wife really think he's such a saint?

By: sally jenkins

sally jenkins — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:57:16 +0000

I know, I know. Totally fair comment. I'm uneasy about it myself, but I've discussed it with editors, and the idea is to try to give readers insight, not just mouth sweet nothings. By the way, tell Dave McKenna it's only two books with Armstrong, not "several." Hopefully, the last column was as much about Alberto Contador as Armstrong, and their totally weird dynamic, which is like watching Bette Davis and Joan Crawford try to push eachother down flights of stairs.