This story is being overshadowed by the election season but I cannot recall the last time an athlete had such a hard fall from grace. The nearest I can think of is OJ Simpson but his fall came over ten years after his retirement and his exploits on the football field are undisputed. Armstrong has lost all seven of his Tour de France titles, endorsement deals worth millions, and had to step down from his own foundation. This guy could go down as the biggest fraud in the history of sports.
He's still at the foundation, just not the Chairman anymore. It's sad. I've been trying to follow the who issue to find out just how much evidence they have. Have you heard any more details?
It's huge news over here, and to be honest, the Aussie pov is he has been exploiting drugs for so long that he starts charities to disguise his guilt and deserves what he gets, I.e bad name and loss of sponsors
This is all very contraversial. In one respect, I feel for the guy. If the accusations of him taking performing enhancing drugs is not true, it's very unfortunate and unjust. However, if he was in any way involved or guilty of this act, then I support their decision to take away his titles. I can understand why companies affiliated with Lance Armstrong pulling their endorsements. Nobody wants to be connected or look like they support the man who may have been involved with the biggest scandal ever in the sports industry. I believe it's in their best interest. It's just so unfortunate, all he has been through and not knowing the true circumstances or answers as to why he got wrapped up in drugs...and now all he stands to lose or has already lost. Definitely setting an example for the rest of the athletes of the world...
Why should they bring down Livestrong? It took in money and served the purpose it was set out to. That people are trying to take their money back is laughable and petty. Did people ask to have their money returned from Susan Kommen based on their scandal?? The purpose served was cancer not Lance Armstrong. The business pundits think if they can get him off the board the scandal will not touch the foundation as it should be. Patrons weren't giving money to Lance but to people fighting cancer so no deception or disappointment should be inferred or connected to doping charges.
He started his Cancer charity because he got testicular cancer. That isn't rocket science. The Aussies are better than that.
Definitely agree. Lance Armstrong has done amazing things for others. A considerable amount of hard work and dedication to see others better their lives. Very unfortunate...
I recall in Ref's thread a bitty ago that Lance conceded by officially giving up the drug test "fight' ... and from what I recall, he's always passed his tests. Could be wrong. http://www.whitewomenblackmen.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22205
the man is guilty if he passed a thousand tests, chances are the powers that be simply ignored them, you don't get off deaths door go on to compete in a sport where everybody cheats, and win the sports superbowl 7 straight and the kicker is he never threatened before his cancer, whoever think he is innocent would love to hear the rationale. He may be a great dude, his foundation is doing great things, dude pissed off the wrong people, just like bonds can't explain away getting better after every other player declines after 35 bonds went from great to outrageous just like Armstrong,
No-one believed Canseco but look at them now. All former stars of baseball - McGwire, Sosa, Clemens, Giambi (went from hulk to skin and bones when he got caught) all fallen off the map. A-Rod confessed to using them ...even 'no comment' Jeter was tied to them. BTW, just this past week a book came out that revealed steroids in pro-football was introduced in the late 70's by Pittsburgh Steelers' Defensive players.
^^Oh!!!!!!!!! That explains why they won four Super Bowls in the 70's!! Keep juicin', guys!! It does a body good!!.........lol.
But all jokes aside, I feel really bad for Lance. All is trophies, accomplishments, legacy............gone. It's like he never happened. In a sense, it's almost freightening to take this kinda' measure on an individual, but I guess it had to be done....
Yup. Probably where the term Defense wins SB's came from. So now should we call it the Steroid Bowl? :?
We live in an age where sports fans clamor to see the superstar.......From where ever they sit...(the sports bar, the stadium, or at home on the sofa). Restraining a frenzied emotion, they yearn personally to see the super performance.....They want a hero to exalt... and the homage is seen in how they buy his jersey and other paraphernalia....... And so, the incentive to not fail the fans, at all cost, is always there and growing for the star...And a premium will always be put on concealing his secrets to stardom.........I was one of Lance's frenzied and gratified fans during his glory.....and now I can't bring my self to chastise him in his fall.............
I'm almost in the same boat. As a sports fan I am too thrilled by great athletic performances. Pablo Sandoval hitting three homers tonight was an amazing thing to see and I hate the Giants. Armstrong started a foundation for cancer survivors and always showed himself to be more than a guy who accumulated championship hardware. It is because of his extracurricular work that I place myself somewhere in the middle here. I want to believe that he is the greatest bicyclist ever, but he hasn't given me anything to counter the evidence against him.
Just listened to acclaimed reporter Buzz Bissinger being interviewed on the radio and he is livid at Lance and his upcoming interview with Oprah on Thurs & Fri. He was being interviewed also regarding his written scathing rebuke of Lance's con job (below). Was really something to hear. Will try to get a podcast of it. The story continues for another page...for the rest of the full article (and a history look at Lance's denials)...... http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...ve-lance-armstrong-when-he-denied-doping.html
