Mixed emotions about Lance, your thoughts?
Backstory
I am mixed on this one. He entered a sport where the only way to compete was to do what was going on in Europe and elsewhere in cycling, "cheat." Then he did it better than the others after coming back from cancer. A riveting story. Somewhere along the way, they began to clean up the sport and the testing got more sophisticated.I did not believe that he would risk doing things to his body after cancer. Testosterone is lighter fluid and a match for testicular cancer. I always believed that he did juice BEFORE his cancer and that would most certainly have had a hand in igniting his cancer cells. But after his come-back from cancer, I wouldn't believe that he would risk messing with his body's chemistry. After cancer, I took even better care of my body than before cancer.
He was still an amazing and talented athlete. Some moments like when he went across the field when the guy went down inches from his tire, that was just skill, experience and luck.
However, I feel like I arrived at the Wizard of Oz and the curtain has been pulled back. It is showing more than Lance, it is exposing the entire world of sports for what it is and it isn't good.
by DynamicDbytheC in Six-Word Memoirs on Oct 24, 2012 | 
| 
T-shirt
Comments
Believe says,
My sentiments exactly. In this particular situation I believe we are more critical because he was our golden boy. Sad.ctgoods2 says,
In my opinion, Lance and his attitude are one thing. The situation is another. He happened to be the one who was the focus of the investigation. If another cyclist were in the same situation, the outcome would be relative. Lance's financial means to achieve the best strategy among similar strategies made the payoff for investigating him worthwhile. He spent enough and involved enough people for evidence to be collected against him in a more significant and impacting manner. Basically - he had the most to lose and an example could be made of him. My hope is that the outcome is one of a truer standard of competition among athletes on the field, rather than a cheaters chess game dressed in spandex.BanjoDan says,
He worked extremely hard to compete at that level but I am glad the sport is finally cracking down on cheating.ba_miracle says,
I'm not a huge fan of sports but am a big fan of sportsmanship and have been a long time fan of the Armstrong movement. I wish he would come clean sooner than later. Whatever the drugs, I wonder if they had a positive effect on his fight with cancer. It's disappointing when a hero falls from grace... perfectly flawed human heroes.Competitive anything is going push competitive people to whatever edge they can get then some slip (or jump) past the line.
He still conquered cancer and started a foundation. He's still a hero just perhaps a little more on the human side.
lovelylizard says,
CT - Great six in there: Cheaters chess game dressed in spandex. Back to the topic at hand: Lance, oh Lance, I believed right up until...I couldn't anymore. You risked your health, your life, your integrity and now you've been made irrelavent. Was it really worth it? You are a true athlete and competitior and even though doping was widely done, there was a point, years ago, when you could have admitted being involved and tried to be the driving force in cleaning up the sport, but your arrogance let you believe you could get it away it forever. I almost wish you had.accidentaltourist says,
The concept of "cheating" and "performance enhancement" has always been muddy for me. It almost seems as if competitive events should be no holds barred. Let them all use whatever means they choose (short of human sacrifice) to achieve the level of skill they wish to bring to the game.....drugs, hyper-training, mysticism, hypnosis, prayer. Spectators and fans are as much the driving force as the athlete's own personal desire for achievment.Staraj says,
Hypothetical:Competitive bicycling's governing body rules chewing bubblegum is not permitted during a race. To enter a race, Lance Armstrong signs documents clearly stating this prohibition. During the race, officials observe Lance Armstrong chewing "something". Lance Armstrong later denies that he was chewing bubblegum. However, multiple urine tests from Lance Armstrong following the race reveal traces of bubblegum. Lance Armstrong agreed to provide a urine sample knowing it would be subjected to state-of-the-art scientific analysis. And that such analysis would be recognized as valid by bicycling's governing body. That governing body ruled Lance Armstrong violated the bubblegum prohibition. Appropriate sanctions ensued. The violation also proved that Lance Armstrong knowingly lied about chewing bubblegum. But lying broke no laws. However, it broke many hearts.
Lance Armstrong has money to hire top-level lawyers and FIGHT to prove he is innocent. So far, he has not.
We live strongest when we live honestly.
Staraj says,
Americans have selective amnesia. Some are forgiven. Some are not. Bill Clinton was caught with his pants down – literally – in the "oral office". And though those "jobs" weren't illegal, they were certainly more shameful than even what drove Richard Nixon from The White House. Nixon never apologized. Clinton did – sort of – by talking about his "human failings". (What? Did he fail to receive pleasure from Lewinsky?) Nevertheless, today he's the king of the world.Armstrong likely has plenty of money in the bank. So perhaps by his reckoning, he has no need to repent his sins. But if he wants to be rehabilitated – or PERCEIVED as being rehabilitated – he's going to have to speak some magical words of contrition to Jay, Dave, and the chatterers on The View. If he does, I'll wager Nike will welcome him back. Just do it, Lance.
jl333 says,
While the whole situation is truly sad, cheaters never win.DynamicDbytheC says,
"Cheaters chess game dressed in spandex." ctgoods, a perfect six.Dragonflower says,
I've been thinking about Lance all week. At the CMA's, the hosts made a joke about it and it made me sad. I think, "what shall I do with my yellow bracelet?" I started riding a bicycle again at age 50 because of Lance. Not to ride competitively, just around the block. There was a movie way back that won an Academy Award, called Breaking Free (I think). I'd have to look it up to be sure. It was about a young bicyclist who idolized the Italian racing team until he found out first hand they cheated during a race. He was devastated. That's how I feel now. I'm still not completely over Tiger and that will be 3 years this Thanksgiving. Heroes, especially sports heroes, have always been just regular people who do extraordinary things sometime in their life. But its when they return to being regular people again--that's when they have a true opportunity to be an extraordinary role model for the rest of us regular folk. I'm hoping Lance and Tiger will be that role model. For now, thier egos are just holding on too tight.DynamicDbytheC says,
It was Breaking Away with Kevin Costner, 1979. The History of the Tour de France has been rife with cheating. My serious racer friends all knew that Lance was doing what everyone else does in Europe. I just wouldn't believe it. We put winners on pedestals and then it becomes difficult to believe they are regular folks. Especially when they are achieving things that most of us couldn't or wouldn't even try to do.Dragonflower says,
Yes. Breaking Away. But wasn't it Dennis Quaid? Hard to remember. Maybe Kevin Costner was in it too. They were so young then. I agree completely that it is hard to take our idols down from the pedestal. And you are so right that they do stuff most of us couldn't or wouldn't do. They inspire me to try to be a better person even if I'm not talented in any areas. So when they fall, I feel like I've fallen too. I'm a huge loyalty person. I'm loyal even when the loyalty is not deserved, so when everyone else is judging the person, I'm still saying, I still believe. Then I end up just feeling so very foolish. But this isn't even about me. But it has been helpful to write about it. Thanks for the question. I wish Lance all the best.DynamicDbytheC says,
Ditto. Lance will do just fine.