Radio host Kornheiser apologises to Armstrong

By BikeRadar | Friday, Mar 19, 2010 10.00am

Lance Armstrong will confront US radio talkshow host Tony Kornheiser today after the sports journalist recommended running riders down during an anti-cycling rant.

The seven-time Tour de France winner wrote on his Twitter page: "... 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."

However, Kornheiser's colleagues at radio station ESPN980 seem far from contrite. After Armstrong's original Tweet, in which he branded Kornheiser "a complete f-ing idiot", they wrote on their Twitter page: "Hoping to be a Trending Topic Worldwide today, keep your fingers crossed..." Armstrong's response? "How douchebags apologize."

ESPN have now removed the controversial broadcast from their website, but it can still be found on YouTube. Kornheiser's anti-cycling diatribe was sparked by a discussion about a proposed new cycle lane from the White House to the Capitol in Washington.

His comments included: "They don't share the road, they dominate the road. They dare you to run them down ... And then when you do, they get angry. What is that about? ... And so you tap them. I'm not saying you kill them, I'm saying you tap them. Tap them once ... If you're not rubbing, you're not racing, right? So you pop them a little bit and see what happens..."

Armstrong will appear on Kornheiser's morning show on ESPN980 today, which starts at 10am Eastern Time.

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User Comments

There are 11 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 comments

  • All publicity for ESPN980. Tossers.

  • Am sure the comments were directed at all cyclists and not just LA cos he's a celebrity for gods sake. Don't believe he's 'sorry' at all .....

  • I think his comments were directed at any cyclists not cowering in the gutter "where they belong".

    Like many motorists, he probably can't tell the difference between "claiming the lane" and anti-car arrogance.

  • Don't be fooled. They invited Lance on for ratings, not an apology. However, Lance is a smart cookie. I hope he roasts Korhieser within an inch of his worthless life.

  • You have to be kidding. Kornheiser's rant was a tongue in cheek "angry at the way the world is" comedy sketch on a comedy radio show. Anyone who takes it literally either hasn't listened to the rant IN CONTEXT or is an idiot and SHOULD be ran down.

    Lighten up Lancis!

  • "GETREAL" There is nothing funny about running down a cyclist! I would be interested to see how funny you find his sketch, if one of your family or friends was knocked over?

    You should get real!

  • Noel

    You are right. There is nothing funny about throwing mama from the train. Everyone who has a mother should Tweet Divito. It is an outrage!

  • GETREAL,

    Wow what a come back. You must have thought long and hard on that one. Did it hurt? Go get a Slurpee or a Ding dong, that'll make you feel better.

    Maybe I should go on air and joke about punching one American child in the face every day. Why not? It's just fun and games? It's all in the context of a joke, right?

    And some American's wonder why the rest of the world sees them as so arrogant. Your brilliant answer sums it up so very clearly. Thank you. Really, thank you.

  • Wow we get personal. You nothing about me or my ding dong eating habits (Ok I think they are great). So in all seriousness, where does comedy begin and end? Should comedy be outlawed? Mr. Kornheiser is Jewish. Should he be outraged by The Producers? After all they were doing Springtime for Hitler. Tweets, youtube, blogs, etc have reduced everything to a sound bite. In a vacuum, Kornheiser's rant is despicable. If you listen to the show on a regular basis, you would know it was a bit. Over the top, sure. Does he really want people to run down bikers? Come on. The comedy in the sketch was not “we should run down all the bikers”. The comedy is the frustration of Tony in his daily life. This is what much of the show is about. Some relate to it. He was stuck behind some bikers on a road. Some people find that frustrating, especially in urban areas. He was venting on his show.

    If you want to go on the radio and say punch one (any..why just American ?!?) child in the face every day….sure. If enough people think it’s funny enough to support a show like that, I guess. It doesn’t sound funny. As far as Americans being arrogant, you got me there. We are arrogant SOBs, but it is always good to have something you can improve on. We are just trying to catch up with the rest of the world. Please be patient, we’ve only been around a couple of hundred years. Someday our comedy will be on the level of the rest of the world’s.

  • There's nothing funny about an In Group urging violence against an Out Group. Quite the opposite.

  • I give up. I got to go ride my bike to the 7/11 now to get more ding dongs and a BIG slurpee. Love to all. and as Tony says at the end of every show (if you ever listened)....If your out on your bike tonight, do wear white.

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