our Lord God Eddy Merckx, gets pacemaker :(

MattTuck · #1 03-27-2013, 08:14 AM

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/merc...with-pacemaker

Did this come up already? If so, I missed it and apologize.

Hope he's doing ok.

BumbleBeeDave · #2 03-27-2013, 09:14 AM

. . . he was already THE Pacemaker?

BBD

mike p · #3 03-27-2013, 10:49 AM

I'm always amazed how many pro athletes go through their entire career with undiagnosed heart problems al la Pistol Pete!

Mike

Elefantino · #4 03-27-2013, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BumbleBeeDave

. . . he was already THE Pacemaker?

BBD

No. Samuel Colt invented the Peacemaker.

FlashUNC · #5 03-27-2013, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elefantino

No. Samuel Colt invented the Peacemaker.

redir · #6 03-27-2013, 01:27 PM

If they lay him down to rest this Friday and then roll the stone away on Sunday then today's pelaton would be shakin' in their shoes with the pending coming.

victoryfactory · #7 03-27-2013, 03:49 PM

Best wishes to Eddy.
In the TDF (1969 I think) he won all three jerseys!
Yikes!

One of a kind.

Grant McLean · #8 03-27-2013, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike p

I'm always amazed how many pro athletes go through their entire career with undiagnosed heart problems

In the general population too.

-g

saab2000 · #9 03-27-2013, 08:30 PM

Folks should be happy he's getting the help he needs. It will probably extend his life and improve his quality of life. What's not to like about that?

MattTuck · #10 03-27-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saab2000

Folks should be happy he's getting the help he needs. It will probably extend his life and improve his quality of life. What's not to like about that?

I'm assuming you are referencing the sad face. That wasn't so suggest I wasn't happy he was getting the treatment he needed, but more to signal that I'm sorry he's having medical issues in the first place and that I hope he's going to heal up good.

Maybe this is part of a secret project to come out of retirement and beat Sagan.... we can rebuild him, we have the technology.

rwsaunders · #11 03-27-2013, 09:06 PM

I've been reading Eddy Merckx 525 and I believe they mention the heart irregularities found in a medical check up a few years back. What he was able to do as a cyclist is still almost beyond comprehension.

saab2000 · #12 03-27-2013, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTuck

I'm assuming you are referencing the sad face. That wasn't so suggest I wasn't happy he was getting the treatment he needed, but more to signal that I'm sorry he's having medical issues in the first place and that I hope he's going to heal up good.

Maybe this is part of a secret project to come out of retirement and beat Sagan.... we can rebuild him, we have the technology.

It's all good. I met Eddy Merckx once. He's the Eddy Merckx of cycling, if you will.... I spent about 45-60 minutes with him, chatting about racing and his business and my own ambitions in the sport. I was about 23. I'm sure he saw right through me but he never let on. What a gentleman. He gave me a pretty in depth tour of his factory in 1991. Good stuff.

I have nothing but kudos for this man. He is the greatest champion this sport has ever seen and when you meet him in person you'd think he's the guy next door. Absolutely down to earth. This doesn't mean he doesn't know his place in the sport but it means he never let his achievements change his fundamental characters of being a good human being. I wish every sports champion could be like Eddy Merckx.

Living legend and super nice guy to boot. What's not to like?

metalheart · #13 03-27-2013, 09:45 PM

Very well said

Quote:

Originally Posted by saab2000

It's all good. I met Eddy Merckx once. He's the Eddy Merckx of cycling, if you will.... I spent about 45-60 minutes with him, chatting about racing and his business and my own ambitions in the sport. I was about 23. I'm sure he saw right through me but he never let on. What a gentleman. He gave me a pretty in depth tour of his factory in 1991. Good stuff.

I have nothing but kudos for this man. He is the greatest champion this sport has ever seen and when you meet him in person you'd think he's the guy next door. Absolutely down to earth. This doesn't mean he doesn't know his place in the sport but it means he never let his achievements change his fundamental characters of being a good human being. I wish every sports champion could be like Eddy Merckx.

Living legend and super nice guy to boot. What's not to like?

RFC · #14 03-28-2013, 01:07 AM

So, with Lance discredited, both in terms of doping and behavior, the latter being most crucial IMHO, is Eddy the greatest cyclist of all time?

54ny77 · #15 03-28-2013, 01:21 AM

define "greatest."

winningest pro, most likely yes.

but "greatest?" well, he got popped on more than one occasion for whatever was de riguer in his day. probably not the stigma attached to that as today, but still....

let's be realistic. the "greatest" title might only be suitably reserved for him by his son and family, not as cyclist but as father, as it should be.

to the rest of the world, he was among the, if not *the* best or most winnigest, well-rounded cyclist of the modern era.

hardly "our lord god."