My open letter to Joey Barton about his views on "stupid" Americans and their donations to help the Livestrong Foundation

Dear Mr. Barton,


     Earlier today you felt the need to critique Lance Armstrong and his alleged drug use in competition and Nike as well for deciding to stand beside him in a series of Tweets posted to your verified account @joey7barton. It is most certainly your right sir to express your opinions about corporations sticking behind an embattled, to say the least, athlete especially when it comes to accusations of performance enhancing drug use. 

   Regardless of my personal opinions on the matter whether I agree with you or not is of no concern to either of us.  I, as an American, believe that everyone has a right to say what ever they want regardless of intelligence level.  Lance Armstrong is a public figure who's actions have been called into question in a major way and who has opened himself up to the scrutiny of the world at large. However Mr. Barton I do have a bone to pick with you. 

     After your tweets critiquing Nike, Armstrong, and how Americans view Armstrong and his legacy, you sent out one last barb that really really hacked me off.

 Via @Joey7Barton:

     "Also, on a side note, since the allegations donations to livestrong have increased more than 50%. That is one stupid nation."

And now Mr. Barton you and I have a problem.

   I'm not sure if you understand what the Livestrong Foundation does for those who have, who treat, or are affected by cancer. I'm going to assume you were to busy having a drunken street brawl, or beating up a team mate, or just generally being a thug to do any research. Let me just toss a few facts your way about the work done by the Livestrong Foundation.

1. The Livestrong Foundation provides help not only to those have cancer, but they also give support to the doctors, nurses, and hospitals that treat cancer. They also offer support to family members and loved ones of those with cancer.

2. Last year alone LF spent almost $29 million on cancer education, prevention programs, cancer screenings, advocacy, and grants. That's 82 cents of every dollar that they brought in. 

3. Last year LF helped save their clients $3 million dollars in personal costs alone. You see Mr. Barton we don't have a free health care system like you Brits do and cancer costs can destroy families.  Although you seem to be an expert on the American experience so I'm sure you already knew that.

4. LF helps partner cancer patients with health care providers who help them with things like fertility treatments and options for survivors, peer to peer connections for survivors AND caregivers, and even helps connect patients with clinical trials going on all around the United States.

5. In my home state of Texas, and the home state of LF for the record, LF helped spearhead a statewide initiative which resulted in $3 billion over the next ten years to be focused on research to eradicate cancer.

6. Over the previous 3 years LF has spent close to $90 million dollars in programs to help cancer patients, their families, and to help fund cancer research.

   I could go on and on Mr. Barton about the amazing things that the Livestrong Foundation has done to help this "stupid nation" and all cancer patients everywhere but I'm hoping you're intelligent enough to get the point.

   It amazes me that a man such as yourself, who works with several great charities, would have the gall to mock a country for donating to cancer research just because you don't agree with the actions of what one man may have done to win a cycling race.  

  Would you be pleased if a professional athlete attacked those who gave to your favorite charities such as the Tamsin Gulvin Fund or possibly the 'Get Hooked on Fishing' campaign just because you decided to go psycho on a team mate or a get in a drunken fight with a civilian outside of a merseyside bar?

  My point Mr. Barton is that attacking Lance Armstrong and Nike are one thing, but taking a cheap shot at people for donating to a charity that helps hundreds of thousands of people dealing with the affects of cancer? I would have thought this was below even you, but you sir have proven me very very wrong. 

Sincerly,

   Jay N

 P.S. For the record I have never worked with, for, or had anything given to me by the Livestrong Foundation.