tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post5004082958149525496..comments2024-03-27T19:12:49.609-07:00Comments on Midlife Cycling: Lance And OprahJustine Valinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-35939595461949098962013-01-28T21:57:59.477-08:002013-01-28T21:57:59.477-08:00Oak--It's clear that he does want to compete a...Oak--It's clear that he does want to compete again: If not in pure bike races, then in triathalons or marathons. But I don't know whether that will happen: The governing bodies of sports, not to mention sponsors, see him as tainted.<br /><br />Grubb--I think your analysis is right. Another thing that makes Lance a "special case" is that he was (or seemed to be) the best American cyclist, but also the first to truly generate interest in cycling in America. Granted, a lot of people were following Lance and not the sport. Still, I can't help but to think that the UCI was willing to go along with whatever Lance did because he was, in essence, their ticket to the American market. This situation reminds me of the home run derby between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 1998. I think Major League Baseball knew that McGwire (and other players) were taking steroids. But they wanted that record-breaking race between the two sluggers because MLB was still reeling after the strike of 1994, which, I think, alienated fans more than any other work stoppage in the history of North American sports.<br /><br />Brompton--Lance reminds me of a kid who's beat up his sister and is apologizing to her only because his mother told him to do so. That is clearly not going over very well with the public, not to mention sponsors and his foundation.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-89524035538804125452013-01-27T10:56:25.307-08:002013-01-27T10:56:25.307-08:00As you first commenter notes, Armstrong wants to c...As you first commenter notes, Armstrong wants to compete again, and somehow believes that his half-confession will enable him to do so.<br /><br />It's worth noting that he didn't merely "rankle" vast numbers of people, but he ruined quite a few, too. Whatever else one can say about Armstrong, he's no sportsman. And he is, clearly, a liar and a cheat.<br /><br />A sad day, indeed.The Brompton Diaristhttp://www.thebromptondiaries.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-85392318941973962982013-01-16T11:00:23.800-08:002013-01-16T11:00:23.800-08:00The French media had accused Lance Armstrong of do...The French media had accused Lance Armstrong of doping while he was still racing and his response was always an aggressive denial. I think Lance backed himself into a corner in the manner of his denials and his attitude towards the accusers, both journalists and former team mates, made admitting his wrong doing even harder. <br /><br />Doping has been around in cycling for a long time and the actions of the UCI in the past, in relation to policing doping, has not been good. The life of a professional cyclist is physically demanding and mentally tough. When sponsor money and pressure for consistent results are added to the mix, then lines have become blurred. Cycling has been no different from other professional sports, other than attempts were being made to clean it up. Professional soccer is another sport where drug usage is apparently common but a regular drug testing regime is not in place.<br /><br />This is not a justification of Lance's actions, but he has drunk from the same poison challace as others, such as, Marco Pantani, but what marks Lance out as being different, is that he never admitted his guilt despite the evidence, until a time of his choosing. I think his own actions around denial/confession have diminished his reputation a lot more than if he owned up years ago. People are more likely to forgive a full and frank confession, delivered alongside an apology. A grudging admission as part of a self publicity interview just doesn't deserve the same level of forgiveness, nor respect.grubb1937https://www.blogger.com/profile/08968591252822306467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-14738744794142854242013-01-16T02:47:10.657-08:002013-01-16T02:47:10.657-08:00Apparently part of the motivation to come clean is...Apparently part of the motivation to come clean is so that Lance may one day compete in triathlons and running events. If he is able to compete in the future, how can we believe he is not taking performance enhancing drugs then?Big Oakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06713190395281794960noreply@blogger.com