Well… it is Lance Armstrong.
The former cyclist has left Dublin company One Zero hanging with an 11th hour withdrawal from the conference on Friday night.
Many people were anticipating the event with excitement and with anger even and tickets were bought from between €175 and €775 just to get a spot at the RDS for the drama.
Journalist Ewan MacKenna had even flown in from Brazil after what was presumably weeks of preparation to interview the American and attempt to get him to answer questions the public still want answered. But, alas, Lance Armstrong was said to have sent his people to break the news that he would not be coming to Ireland for the show.
1/2 Had planned to pass @lancearmstrong a mirror tomorrow and ask him what he saw. His 23rd hour withdrawal makes me wonder still more.
— Ewan MacKenna (@EwanMacKenna) October 20, 2016
2/2 Feel for organisers. In researching it his coward-like quality and lack of apologies constant theme. Here we are again. Play with fire.
— Ewan MacKenna (@EwanMacKenna) October 20, 2016
Armstrong’s camp cited legal reasons for his decision to pull out of the interview and the scheduled question and answer session with the audience. He has an upcoming US Federal court case against him, brought on behalf of the US Postal Service.
“We are extremely disappointed that Armstrong has withdrawn at the last minute from appearing at One Zero,” one of the founders, Rob Hartnett, said.
“He has let us down, he has let his fans down and his has let down those that wanted to hear him openly discuss his past and the future of sport.”
Lance appeared on Newstalk’s Off The Ball ahead of the event but his interview with Ger Gilroy didn’t exactly end with the pair planning pints.
Maybe it was a glimpse of what was to come for the Tour winner who was stripped of his seven titles and maybe, just maybe, he had decided he wasn’t arsed being sat in public taken the same beating downs. Perhaps he should’ve thought of that in August though when the contract was signed with One Zero and, heck, he could’ve even notified them of his decision a little earlier and saved a journalist 32 hours of travel and any amount of time in preparation and research.
One Zero have confirmed that there will be no refunds with the event only hours away. Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh and golfer Shane Lowry are still scheduled to speak but the news of Armstrong’s withdrawal has irked a lot of people.
I see @lancearmstrong has cancelled Dublin tomorrow. He was probably aware he was gona get a good grillin' for his dough. The big fraud. 😨
— Colm Corcoran (@cokesdonegal) October 20, 2016
Imagine the shock.. @lancearmstrong not being true to his word #OneZeroCon
— Fergal Lynch (@truefergallynch) October 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/EamonMcGee/status/789170955599814656
This doesn’t make it any easier.
In list of people fucked over by @lancearmstrong Ewan knows he's nowhere near the top.
— Daragh Ó Conchúir (@RebelDevil71) October 21, 2016
Opportunistic.
@lancearmstrong Ireland's most listened to radio programme here, Lance. Free for a call tomorrow on withdrawing from One Zero conference?
— Morning Ireland (@morningireland) October 20, 2016
Thank God for Dundalk.
On a day that coward @lancearmstrong made my blood boil, I'd like to thank @DundalkFC for restoring a little of my fading faith in sport.
— Ger McCarthy (@germccarthy74) October 20, 2016
At least one Monaghan legend has offered a solution.
Here @OneZeroCon , switch me in for that clown @lancearmstrong . Me and @EwanMacKenna can have the bants! I'm was a hooer for the Difene! 💊😜
— D Clerkin (@clerkin_d) October 20, 2016
Meanwhile.
New podcast with @Rickthelaureate up now. We talk injuries in the NFL, parenting and being an individual https://t.co/Ft96hFtchE pic.twitter.com/OyDTSh8cIN
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) October 17, 2016
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