Wow, Lance doped (Page 3)

I didn't answer this part.  I think some people are passionate about the situation because he is a bully.  He had power, money and influence and used those resources, with passion, to bully others who lacked those resources.  This is despictable. 

In early 2004, I was recovering from open-heart surgery and my father was dying from renal cell cancer, to be followed by my FIL a few months later from pancreatic cancer. 

Lance's story and the support provided by LiveStrong were sources of hope and comfort for me and my family.  I bought bags of LiveStrong bracelets to pass out at my father's funeral in June, 2004.

Although I was recovering from heart issues rather than cancer, Lance's story helped inspire me to work to return to a healthy and active lifestyle, i.e., triathlon.

I always thought Lance was a jerk in the way he conducted his personal life, but continued to draw inspiration from his recovery from cancer and his athletic acheivements.  I could alibi his boorish behavior against all the good he seemed to be doing.  I gave a significant amount of money to LiveStrong every year and my closet looked like a Nike/Livestrong wearhouse.

Over the years, logic forced me to start questioning his story, but I continued to believe.  It felt good to believe in the fairy tale and I didn't want to give that up.

The last straws for me personally were Hincapie's confession and then reading Hamilton's book.

I have mixed feelings now, but mostly feel betrayed.  I am mostly angry about the damage that has been done to LiveStrong.  I feel angry about the way innocent people were harmed for having the courage to tell the truth.  And selfishly, I am angry about the harm that has been done a sport that I love.

I believe in redemption and I truly hope that Lance can find a way to turn his life around and do some good.  I think he owes that much to all he has harmed.  But that will require him to be humble and remorseful, traits I have yet to see him display.  If his actions now just turn out to be self-serving, then he is just digging a deeper hole.

It's all very sad. 

Mark

So what?

It's not my place to forgive Lance.  He didn't do anything to me.

Seperately, you are limiting 'value' to income--and at the individual level, too.  I am sure you know there is more to it than that.  I bet Lance is learning more about it as well.

OK, that's on you.

Lord, what was rude about it?  If you say you can find despicable behavior in everyone, then I presume you can.

I will just say that it is either WHITE or BLACK, either you're guilty taking those substances or you're innocent by not taking them. Obviously, he is guilty. I'll rather honestly say I would beat him with a baseball bat and ban him from every sport venue than try to defend him in every way. 

So he admitted, so what... Complete moron, how many cyclists were clean in those races, breaking the barriers, thinking they are dealing with an true competent. I can't imagine how mentally tough it was for them to see him on that podium every time.

p.s. way to go Oprah...

Lance, you've succeeded to put a huge black mark on cycling. well done. a true inspiration to kids...

How many cyclists were clean? Probably none.

If it's a black and white issue, the whole peloton was black. It was next to impossible to ride at that level without doping of some sort. EPO, blood doping, who knows what.

Beat him with a baseball bat? That's a great solution.

No sweat man.  btw, I suggest you check out the interview.  The "willing participants" you mentioned were riders who were doping.  You seemed to imply that the lives Lance helped destroy kind of had it coming to them because they participated in the illegal activity.  I think that's what you meant.

I think if you look at the situation, you'll see that's probably not what you really think.  Look at what Lance did to them after those riders came out with revelations.  Look at what many folks were saying about "witch-hunting" anti-doping organizations.  How many scornful messages were posted about the French obsession with "trying to take down a good man who has done so much in the fight against cancer?"  How many folks labeled those former riders (who dared speak the truth despite knowing what Armstrong and his team would do to them) as just out to sell books?

My big point is that the guy was ruthless.  He destroyed folks' lives period.  I've never been a "Lance hater..." unless that's what you call someone who just didn't believe his claims of innocence.

It's unfortunate those who backed the guy are so hesitant to post, "Well, I was wrong...I think I learned some lessons from over the last 15 or so years"  Usually, it's, "Just go away Lance."  Or, "Ijust don't want to hear any more." (not good enough imo) 

btw, one more thought.  To say Lance was "on an even playing field with all the other racers" is bunk.  Yes, many, if not most, were probably doping.  But you can't tell me 100% of the riders were doping.  We'll never know where LA would have finished without testosterone, EPO, and cortisone.  THAT is why he was stripped...and the fact we don't know who else was and wasn't doping those years is why nobody else got the titles for those years.

Thankfully, the testing is better...it will never be perfect.  Stringent testing is the only hope ALL pro sports have to retain some sense of integrity.

Who are "we"?  I understand your perception, but it doesn't fit my reality.  I may admire the competitiveness or ability of those 'celebrities', but I respect and honor those who have earned it through the way they treat and deal with others.

You got that right..

Dude rode Ball to the Wall!

The "Dude" lied over and over

He lied last night, no differently than all these years. You really believe he was clean in 2009 ?

His only regret is getting caught.

Hopefully he will never be allowed to compete in the world of triathlon.

I agree he was not completely honest last night.

Was he clean in 2009,,,,, honestly, I don't care.

My post was just an attempt at some humor, sorry is missed the mark with you.

Name a professional sport without any type of doping/enhancements.

Only one that comes to mind is curling, but then again, maybe those people need to dope to sweep faster.