And another American hero goes down in flames.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/lance-armstrong-stripped-tour-de-france-titles-lifetime-ban-olympic-sports-drops-doping-appeal-article-1.1143295
I personally always thought he cheated.
I don't know what to think. I'm not a Tour de France fan, but I liked this guy for his courageous battle with cancer.
He still won the races, though.
Honestly, I could care less about his accomplishments in cycling because his charity work totally over shadows anything he accomplished in his sport.
So it turns out he hasn't been stripped of all his titles, many media jumped the gun last night saying he did.
http://www.businessinsider.com/lance-armstrong-has-not-been-stripped-of-his-tour-de-france-titles-2012-8
A technicality.
I always wonder what sort of hole there has to be at the core of a person's being when they win anything, at any level, only through cheating. YOU didn't win: the drugs/devices/whatever won. YOU could not win on your own abilities or merit; you did not believe in yourself anyway and now you'll never know what you could have done. The trophies, awards and acclaim mean nothing. You did not earn them; they are not for YOU. How horrible is it to live with knowing that? Poor pathetic souls. Their self-worth has to be in a pretty sad state.
I think he cheated, but it sounds like most of them did.
Bottom line is the guy raised around 500 million for cancer research.
Ah well. That sucks for him.
I dunno why anyone is ever shocked when stories like this turn up about sports "heroes". :lookingup:
Here is what angers me: This guy passed HUNDREDS of tests. The French drew a vial of blood from him every time he so much as sneezed. And NEVER got any proof.
He's denied it, fought it in court, and it sounds like he finally got sick of it and said "Here! Take your stupid trophies!"
He still won the races, and he's still raised half a billion for cancer research.
I don't think he cheated, I think he just got sick and tired of fighting the vultures.
Quote from: Mr. DS on August 24, 2012, 09:51:39 PM
I dunno why anyone is ever shocked when stories like this turn up about sports "heroes". :lookingup:
Kinda what I was thinking.