In Stores Now & Lance Armstrong…now what?

Junk Food Nation, by now all of us have heard the news – that Lance Armstrong, he of seven consecutive Tour de France titles, he of Live Strong, he of former Sheryl Crow arm-candy, would be dropping his appeal of the USADA allegations that he doped during his championship bids.  The USADA, the very next day, said they were stripping him of his titles.

For any of you who know me and have read my blog consistently, you know I have a big problem with performance enhancement and doping and cheating in sports, and this case seems equally murky.  On one side you have Lance taking what seems like hundreds of tests proving that he is clean; on the other, you have circumstantial evidence including direct testimony from other cyclists indicating that he DID dope.

The funny thing for me, arising out of all of this, is: what actual impact does all of this have?  I mean, really?  This isn’t baseball, where there’s shock and awe with each player caught.  It’s CYCLING.  You’re kidding, right? I only know about the Tour de France because of Lance Armstrong.  Like I heard the radio say – if Lance is stripped, what gets updated? A record book that no one looks at and his Wikipedia page? Does anyone even care about the Tour de France?  I’m a huge sports fan, and I can BARELY name ONE other cyclist that is a professional.  I know there’s some dude named Landis floating out there, and that’s it.

So if you ask me MY opinion about Lance, I’d probably say that it really doesn’t matter that much, and I’m sure he generally cares even less. Sure, maybe he’ll tone down any speaking tours he has and avoid the spotlight for a while.  He’s being banned from racing?  He’s friggin’ almost 41 years old!  Please.  He ain’t racing anymore anyways.

Lance Armstrong beat cancer, which was incredible.  He started a foundation that has helped soooo many people and raised millions in support of the less fortunate. He brought attention to a sport that I think about…never.  Stripped or not, fraud or not, cheater or not, he’s still the most famous cyclist I know.
The court of public opinion either hates him or still loves him, but his legacy in Live Strong means more to many, I’m sure, than his actual tour wins.

On to happier topics: a quick look at things I’ve seen in stores now!

WHAT THE

Marshmallows that are various ice cream flavors?  Something tells me that the product does not deliver on its promise.  I mean, its cute the marshmallows are colored to be half cone, half ice cream…but I’m guessing these ALL just taste like marshmallows.  Yikes.

Running out of ideas

Jolly Rancher wrapped hard candy around a piece of taffy and is calling it Crunch ‘n Chew.  This is the quickest way to get cavities that I’ve ever seen.  I feel like you’re inviting kids to not only destroy their teeth with sugar, but also with sharp shards of corn syrup.

Bigger than Fruity Pebbles?

Instead of Fruity Pebbles, Post has, for a limited time, Pebbles Boulders!  So…essentially just puff cereal, along the lines of crunchberries.  But oh good, the whole cereal is Caramel Apple flavor!  Ugh…that does NOT sound good to me.  Thank God it’s not a permanent addition to the line.

General Mills not even trying

To quote David Sapde, I liked this cereal yesterday….when it was called Froot Loops.

Double endorsed!

kellogg’s has a lot going on here.  Racecar Driver endorsement by Scott Dixon (yeah, I dunno either).  Target endorsement (I think this cereal was only sold in Target).  And then you theme the cereal to match both the racecar theme (VROOMS) and the Target theme (red rings).

That IS fun….sort of

Too bad that essentially it’s just frosted Cheerios.  And red-circled fun sounds too much like getting a spider bite – I’m all skeeved out now.

Sorry for the delay in today’s post, everyone – it’s a lazy weekend.

Thoughts? Please comment below (I always reply) or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. Also, you can always email me at junkfoodguy@junkfoodguy.com. Let’s hang out.

Sincerely,

Junk Food Guy

Discuss - 15 Comments

  1. Nick Rovo says:

    The pebbles boulders have been around for a year now. Marvo over at tib reviewed them actually http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/2011/08/09/review-post-limited-edition-pebbles-boulders/. As for fruity cheerios, they’ve been around for awhile as well but they’re a very toned done fruit loop. I actually prefer them over fruit loops at time just because the sugar levels aren’t so cranked up. Those marshmallows would be cool if they were small enough to actually put on a sundae or something but I can’t really tell the size from the photo.

    Oh and as for Lance, I wouldn’t continue defending myself if I was him either. He has to have spent so much money trying to keep his name clear that it must not be worth it anymore. Only he knows what truly went down and that’s all that matters in my mind. He’s touched so many lives through his foundation that no matter if he gets stripped of his medals will he get stripped of all the good he has done. I’m more interested on your take on this possible dodgers-red sox deal. So much money being moved it’s ridiculous. Something along the lines of 260 million I believe.

    • junkfoodguy says:

      @Nick: The Sox trade would represent a huge reboot for Boston. The team might stink for a while but it’s a complete redo which allows Cherington to rebuild from scratch. Elsbury and Pedroia stay, who are home grown, which is nice. If Boston can pull it off, I like it.

    • Nick Rovo says:

      and it has been done, I’m very excited for the future of the franchise now.

    • junkfoodguy says:

      @Nick – I can’t believe LA would take that deal. They must have money to burn. Meanwhile, Red Sox played tonight like they had renewed energy! As a Yankees fan, my head is spinning

    • Will says:

      I love the deal. I thought the sox would be stuck with that god awful contract they gave Crawford. I really don’t like Beckett any more so good riddance to him. Loosing Gonzales is a little tuff, but the dodgers weren’t going to make a deal without him. Can’t wait to listen to the sport talk shows tomorrow, they are going to have a lot to say.

      @jfg, yah renewed energy alright! How do you blow a 9-3 game to the royals. Lol
      Are you getting a little nervous about the rays catching the yanks. The rays are making it close. I don’t think the rays will catch them though.

      @nick, I have seen someone with ice cream scoops before, but yours are so much nicer. The girl who delivers ice cream to the restaurant has a sundae tattooed on her.

    • junkfoodguy says:

      @Will – ack, sorry – I honestly didn’t see the comeback. I saw the Sox up 9-3 and assumed they won

    • Nick Rovo says:

      @Will, Those sound like my kind of people aha. I love the headline for the boston herald “Bums Away”.

    • junkfoodguy says:

      @Nick – great headline

    • Nick Rovo says:

      Oh and @JFG, if you think the nutella-fluff combo is intense check this out http://www.ridiculousfoodsociety.net/2012/08/the-fluffer-nutter-ella-coff-sandwich.html I’m not sure if I could live at that speed.

    • Will says:

      @jfg, no worries I was just kidding. I’m not that sensitive.

      That is a great headline. Which reminded me of a headline in one of the ny papers when Jeff Van Gundy was coaching the Knicks, and they where playing bad. The headline read “pack your VAN Gundy”

  2. Hannah says:

    Firstly, those marshmallows looks awesome. I have only just discovered Marshmallow Fluff and am obsessed, I think you guys in the states have had it for years but I highly recommended it with Nutella on toast! Secondly Jolly Rancher Crunch and Chew also look awesome, fat chance of me find those in UK shops…we had Jolly Ranchers here and then they took them away WHY??!! Thankfully they have just started appearing again so who knows…maybe we will get Crunch and Chew.

    In regards to Lance Armstrong, I don’t know what to believe. I am against doping in sports but if he has done it and managed to get away with it then fair play to him, they should have had better tests! I think that doping will happen no matter what, people will always try it on if there is a chance that they will get away with something. So I was thinking…they should have 2 versions of sports; one for the clean people and one for dopers. If people want to put rubbish in their bodies in the name of sport, let them…irresponsible? Yes, but entertaining? Yes!

  3. Heidi says:

    I was glad to hear Lance share the sentiment – that the only thing that is important to him, at this point, is Livestrong and the work he does with his charity. He clearly has his priorities in order.
    That’s as awesome as a bowl of Frosted Cheerios and cold milk!

  4. basil says:

    Kelloggs vrooms are a repackaging of Disneys Cars cereal!!!! made by kellogs. that is so uncreative!!!

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