SoberBySaturday wrote:

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/25/sport/us-athlete-blind-lawsuit/index.html

Thoughts?

I understand his issue...

but as the article points out it sort of levels the playing field competing against folks completely blind. He can go without, but he can't raise the "blind" division. He either has an advantage against blind athletes or a disadvantage to sighted athletes. In any case someone loses. Sucks.. but he has to pick wich to race, unfortunately.

He is a cry baby douche bag. Say what you want, next fat people are going to sue because they dont have a buffet nor the required locomotion to get them from point A to point B (scooter) and on and on and on. I hope USAT and every RD bans him from their events "pending legal actions" that he himself started.


And to think - people being disqualified for not following the very CLEAR (to those with sight) rules....odd how that works.

he's a "cry baby douche bag" because he wants to use what little sight he has for the sake of his own safety and the others in the race? there's no money or prestige involved, he is right this is a stupid and dangerous policy outside of the paralympics or similar championship level competitions.

So he gets special treatment - all while there are other FULLY blind people out there on a tether and a tandem and what ever to their co-racer? Bullshit. That gives him a distinct advantage over the other people in his PC category. Or, he can race on his own - no helper ever. Not in the swim, not on the bike, not on the run. And I will look it up - I am betting his bike is a tandem - so a "throw down" would not be too awful hard on the bike (for those of you who have ever ridden a TT on a tandem will know what I mean.).

So he gets special treatment - all while there are other FULLY blind people out there on a tether and a tandem and what ever to their co-racer? Bullshit. That gives him a distinct advantage over the other people in his PC category. Or, he can race on his own - no helper ever. Not in the swim, not on the bike, not on the run. And I will look it up - I am betting his bike is a tandem - so a "throw down" would not be too awful hard on the bike (for those of you who have ever ridden a TT on a tandem will know what I mean.).

So he gets special treatment - all while there are other FULLY blind people out there on a tether and a tandem and what ever to their co-racer? Bullshit. That gives him a distinct advantage over the other people in his PC category. Or, he can race on his own - no helper ever. Not in the swim, not on the bike, not on the run. And I will look it up - I am betting his bike is a tandem - so a "throw down" would not be too awful hard on the bike (for those of you who have ever ridden a TT on a tandem will know what I mean.).

So, what does this guy really want? Why not just have the RD give him a first place award before he even starts a race. I want special treatment because I am very tall and weigh more than the folks I have to compete against.
So many think they need special treatment.

He doesn't want any athlete to be forced to wear blackout glasses because he has learned to use what sight he has as a tool of perception. Why not just put ear plugs in the fully blind people, then put blackout glasses and earplugs in the partially blind people?

The whole thing is ridiculous.

Glad to see you through out a statement like that without ANY research or knowledge of the situation at all!

I think we should all sue - the events are setup in such a way that Jordan Rapp can beat us.

I again ask, what is he trying to achieve? I thought our sport was each person against the elements, not to focus ones ego on beating others? Is it 10%, 20%, 30% blindness?