Let’s talk about Lance Armstrong’s confirmed admission to doping since everyone else is already talking about it (everyone being ESPN and me).
Honestly, I do not know anything about cycling. I could not name one other professional cyclist if my life depended on it. But I know Lance. Lance is the guy who had testicular cancer spread to his brain and lungs, beat the cancer, then went on to win the Tour de France. He then went on to sell a gazillion yellow rubber bands and raise millions of dollars to fight cancer and show the world that anything is possible.
This morning on Mike & Mike (my morning background noise) they had people call and tweet their thoughts on how this will affect his legacy. Some people called him a lying cheat. Some people chose to focus on the good things he has done. I see where both sides are coming from but I am leaning towards the latter. In 25 years few people will remember that the USPS sponsored Lance Armstrong, but almost everyone will remember why we all wore those wristbands.
I would probably feel different if I spent my career competing against him but I didn’t so I am not worried about that. I am someone that has been personally affected by cancer and totally bought into the fairytale story of a man with stage 3 testicular cancer who beat the odds and came back stronger than ever. I admit that I am pretty biased because he gave hope and honestly, I still want his story to be true.
Do I think doping and lying is wrong? Absolutely. Do I care that he did it? Not really. In my mind, I think what he did at Livestrong is more notable than ‘roiding and riding.
I am glad he is coming clean and I will be watching OWN (for the first time since she started the channel) on Thursday. Hopefully something good can come from this and Livestrong can move on and focus on their mission.
What are your thoughts on the admission?
Is anyone else surprised?
From what I’ve heard the past few years everyone in the sport was well aware of this already.
Natalie @ Free Range Human
/ January 15, 2013Well said. I tend to agree with you. The work he’s done to aid cancer research far outweighs the professional mistakes he’s made. I hate that he did it, and the fact that the sports world in general has this problem is a conversation that needs to be had in this country. But his positives win out for me.
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013Cycling is sooooo covered in doping from what I’ve been reading lately. Hopefully this will encourage a change in their policies.
uglyrunnerfeet
/ January 15, 2013I’m in the same camp as you – you can’t deny the good that Livestrong has done. But I wish it wasn’t tainted by all of this.
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013I think livestrong will continue to do great things for cancer research/awareness/etc.
The Classy Bee
/ January 15, 2013I completely agree with you…it’s a shame his stupidity will probably taint a good charitable organization. All the more reason not to be a douchebag.
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013Yes, he is def a skeezeball but hopefully coming clean will be a turning point for him.
pickyrunner
/ January 15, 2013I agree. I think he was dumb to take steroids and maybe doesn’t deserve all of those medals and awards he’s won for races, but I don’t see any of his competitors out there coming up with a campaign like his livestrong one. I remember in middle school when it was the cool thing for everyone to have. I just HAD to have one of the stupid yellow bands.That campaign would have been a success had he been the winning biker, or maybe a few back behind the front of the pack. He should be remembered for the good things he did too.
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013I think him admitting everything is a great way to move forward.
Fitcupcaker
/ January 15, 2013Yea I could really care less too, but its his fault that he will have a bad name for livestrong and he has to live with that
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013I think livestrong is a great organization and will get through this rough time.
Nicole (@KidlessKronicle)
/ January 15, 2013You are seeming to overlook the man and just focusing on the charity organization. As a person, and in his personal like, he is a douchebag. Ask his ex-wife, who writes for Runners World. Do I care that he doped? No. I care that he LIED and he threw others under the bus in the process. Some of those people were his friends. A la Roger Clemons throwing Andy Pettite under the bus. He doped, but the truth in cycling is that EVERYONE was doping. So he was still the best of them. They can’t go back and award those victories to anyone else cause most of the others have been caught as well.
He was a founder and face to LiveStrong. But he certainly did get that organization where it is all by himself. LiveStrong will live on.
The Kidless Kronicles
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013I do think its completely despicable that he lied and bullied those that accused him of doping. and by no means do I think he’s a great guy. I was just saying that he did a lot of good and inspired a lot of people and i think that’s how a lot of people will continue to think of him.
Kerry
/ January 15, 2013This is very well said! To be honest, I’m sick of hearing about it on the news. The man has been stripped of his titles/metals. I mean the media focuses on these things and it makes me nervous that it would emotionally affect Lance and he would do harm to himself. Obviously, what he did was wrong but he’s been punished so I would appreciate if the media could move on. That shouldn’t define him as a human being.
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013He made some awful decisions but I think finally coming clean was a big step.
Amanda
/ January 15, 2013I agree with you. I wish he had admitted it earlier, but he’s done some great things. In the end, I guess it evens out. Also, this line made me laugh: “He then went on to sell a gazillion yellow rubber bands.”
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013Glad there’s some humor in all of this
his delay in admitting it is the thing that bothers me the most about the situation. Hopefully some good will come from his coming clean.
Cookie Dough Katzen
/ January 15, 2013I agree with you- everyone makes mistakes!
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013Hopefully he learned from this and can move on.
coffeencollege
/ January 15, 2013Honestly, I feel he has done so much for cancer research that I appreciate that more than his athletic abilities.
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013I hope that after this he really focuses on Livestrong for a while.
Lisa @ Lisa the Vegetarian
/ January 15, 2013It seems so sad that his story is turning out this way. He was such an inspiration to so many people, and now when people talk about him it’s all about this.
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 15, 2013I think over time people will be able to look at the whole picture. Hopefully he will learn from this and go on to do more good.
Natalie @ Twenty-Something Talk
/ January 15, 2013I’m trying really really hard to be serious and not inappropriate, but I cannot be the ONLY girl in the world that is slightly excited that he is all over the news because this man is HOTT.
That being said, very well said post! I completely agree. I’d hate for my legacy to consist of people focusing on the negative so much more than the positive. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we just hold each other to such high standards. He’s made mistakes and done wonderful things. Just makes him human!