Media taking the "ideal" thing a bit too far with Karolina Kurkova and Lance Armstrong

It definitely has got to be a slow news week when the media outlets start putting out ridiculous stories that even a 5th grader would ask, "Why is this story a big deal?"

Case in point are these two stories:

• Karolina Kurkova Jeered Over Weight Gain

• It's Not About the Bike: Is Lance Armstrong's love life negatively impacting his "do-gooding"

Karolina Kurkova and her imaginary fat

The Brazilian press criticized Victoria's Secret Angel Karolina Kurkova last week during Sao Paulo Brazil Fashion Week for looking "fat" in this bikini on the runway. For crying out loud, what the hell fat are you talking about?

Ok, maybe if I stretch my superficial mind, I can see that she may not be not as firm as usual, but hell no is this woman fat. She's gorgeous, fine, and damn, finally a model who looks real-ish. Some say models are paid lots of money because they are supposed to look like "the ideal." I still don't get what is so ideal about the dead-eye, stick figure look. Who said the human hanger look is "ideal?" I want to see alive and vibrant, and Karolina has that. That bikini looks better because it's worn by a woman I can actually picture at a beach enjoying herself.

Lance Armstrong's love life is hurting his do-good image?

Seriously, I can't believe people are this shallow, petty and bored, "Some experts in philanthropy say Mr. Armstrong risks detracting from his heroic image, and damaging his effectiveness as an anticancer advocate." All this because People called him a "notorious Texas Playboy" and because he's getting more media coverage because of the women he dates than the causes he fights for.

I find it unbelievable that this is even a discussion. I'm chiming in only to show how Lance is an example of how people can be so incredibly hard and have un-realistic standards for those labeled "hero." It goes back to those unrelentingly high standards of "perfect." If you look at this man's life, his dad left when he was two, and his stepdad was no better. He gets testicular cancer, almost dies, has surgery on his brain and has some of his man parts removed so he can live. He then goes on to win 7 Tour de Frances..in a row. Lance has done more than most to help save the lives of countless millions who have cancer or are living with a loved one with cancer. And recently, Livestrong.com was launched as a website that can help people live healthier, happy lives.

My goodness, give Lance a fricking break. The man deserves his time to have fun and to enjoy himself. Really, what's the point of surviving cancer if you can't enjoy the life you fought so hard to keep? He's 36, single, responsibly takes care of his children, and has busted his ass working hard to accomplish things that most of us put together wouldn't achieve in a lifetime.

And truly, I was shocked that over at PopSugar in their "Does Lance's Love Life Hurt his Reputation" poll,  51% voted "Yes, it's hard to look up to someone who's in the spotlight for being a playboy." That is unbelievably harsh. He's not a priest. He's just a guy doing good things and dating.

Playing devil's advocate on the "playboy" issue

But, let's play devil's advocate for a moment, and take a look at this "playboy" lifestyle of his. Since his divorce in 2003, Lance has been romantically linked with only four women. Yeah, that's it; Cheryl Crow, Tory Burch, Ashley Olsen, and Kate Hudson. Ashley doesn't even really count because that was just some short rumored kissing thing. Three women in 5 years is NO playboy. I would even consider that a bit on the low side for your average single, rich, good looking, 36 year old guy.

I really don't get where the playboy image comes in. Is it because we see pictures of him kissing his girlfriend's in public? The paparazzi stalks the guy day and night. Wha't Lance supposed to do stay indoors the rest of his life and not act like any other guy dating his girlfried. Does Lance have to behave at higher standards because he's a philanthropist? Can someone explain that to me?

It really pisses me off that people would try and detract from Lance's accomplishments and his right to have joy in his life just because he's dated a few celebrities. Yeah, the women he dates are famous, but so what. And this woman Claire L. Gaudiani, a professor of philanthropy and fund-raising at New York University, who says, "He should be concerned about the impact of how he dates on the seriousness of his legacy. He’s got a great role to play, but it doesn’t have to be in bars or on red carpets with lovely young people. That will ruin his capacity to do the work he has said is important to him.”

Excuse my crassness, but Claire really needs to get the stick out of her you know what and go get a beer. Really, lady, Lance Armstrong has created a legacy that outshines most of us on the planet. Unless Lance goes something like postal or OJ, there is not much that will "ruin" his great role or the seriousness of his legacy. Again, Lance isn't up for Sainthood. He's just trying to make the world a better place and find love like the rest of us.