So Lance is finally 'fessing up to having doped himself to win bike races. This after claiming for many years the opposite. This after having made life living hell for anyone who ever claimed that he was a doper.
So what exactly do you want from us, Lance? Forgiveness? You want us to say keep the medals, we know you are really a nice guy? Yes you had quite the work ethic, and yes you beat cancer, BUT
sorry, that is unrealistic. The hateful vehemence with which you lied now guarantees that forgiveness is now beyond our power to grant.
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Comments: 30
1. Steroids can greatly increase the rate at which cancer cells grow. Having cancer when he was so young could be a result of doping.
2. Armstrong may have beat the cancer, but his incredibly strong comeback afterwards (at the age of 26, when our metabolisms turn naturally from anabolic to catabolic) was a sure sign of steroid use. It's sort of like seeing professional baseball players who suddenly require a larger cap size when they are well past their mid-twenties.
3. Steroids are here to stay in professional sports. On the average, steroid users out-compete non-steroid users, and the detection tests can't keep up with the manufacture of new steroid drugs. I sometimes wonder if we should make then legal in professional sports, but that would set a horrible example for youth.
We didn't bother to read the fine print on these new goodies that science had handed us. Sort of reminds one of the sorcerer's apprentice.
Interesting. Perhaps Armstrong could be a research subject. It might give him a way to contribute back to society after his deceit.
3. Steroids are here to stay in professional sports. On the average, steroid users out-compete non-steroid users, and the detection tests can't keep up with the manufacture of new steroid drugs.
That is extremely disheartening.
I sometimes wonder if we should make then legal in professional sports, but that would set a horrible example for youth.
Given the known significant medical hazards of steroid use that would seem to be extremely unwise.
I would definitely opt for severe sanctions. For example, the baseball hall of fame voting refused to induct any of the eligible players this year, including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and others who used illegal drugs to boost their performance. They should go a step further. Not only should they not allow them in on subsequent balloting (players are eligible for several years), they should be explicitly chastised and banned from baseball. Pete Rose was banned for betting on baseball; these players cheated baseball and the actual accomplishments of their predecessors and deserve the same.
We must stand up for integrity. If we don't, we teach our youth that it will be okay even if you get caught if you wait long enough.
Or Spider-Man ("With great power there must also come -- great responsibility")
Do a Google search for London based journalist (sunday Times) David Walsh and see the story of Armstrong's vile attempts at intimidation.
A HORRID man and I suppose we should be thankful that he has finally admitted that he has been a bully, a liar and a cheat for most of his sporting career.
I couldn't find any specifics about the bullying...too many recent articles about his recent "confession" on Oprah. I don't doubt he thought it would help his image to share some phony "contrition." What a jerk!
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
- Eleanor Roosevelt, after another, unrecalled philosopher
- Eleanor Roosevelt, after another, unrecalled philosopher"
Love the quote, Hyper, & to a large degree you're right...if I see one more article about celebrities & designer crap I may have to blow my brains out {figuratively, of course...no one would be left to clean up the mess ;-)}
Chris & Margaret are right, too, though. Discussing the "trivial" often leads to a larger discussion about human nature. In that way, it helps us to understand the event that really effect our lives.
I like the people stories at times also, it's just that there's an imbalance in the average mind in our nation between fluff, and learning new ideas, active empathy, informed dissent, etc. A favourite peeps story that never gets old for Hyper:
* not real victories because he was doping at the time.
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
- James 2:13 New International Version (©1984)
'Everyone screams for maximum justice! But in our own case, we beg for unlimited mercy.'
- unknown
Armstrong isn't merely a cheat, and he shouldn't be castigated for that any more than any other rider. But he also slandered and destroyed people who were telling the truth, all the while basking in the public adulation. That's the real crime.
I wonder if Armstrong will pay back the damages he received from Walsh? Even an apology would be something.
The article tone is perfect, all he deserves is slight regard, dismissal.
"It is a record of shame that he has only begun to confront reluctantly and under pressure — after almost his entire professional career has been wiped from the pages of history. Armstrong earns Four Pinocchios — for each Tour de France race in which he claimed he won first place without doping."