Lance Armstrong / Cheating in Sports / Cheating in Life

[kdawg]

My paraphrasing but something like this was Oprah's opening salvo:

Did you use PEDs to improve your cycling performance?

Yes

Did you use EPO?

Yes.

Did you use other banned substances like cortisone, HGH, testosterone?

Yes.

Did you use PEDs in all seven of the Tour de France victories?

Yes.

 

[captainsneakerhead23]

Great interview so far. Gotta make sure I DVR part 2 tomorrow.

 

[Sonny Corinthos]

Leave Lance alone!!!

 

[mronegative]

Didn't expect the apologists, but I accept that I just don't get professional cycling.

I do get how smug and clean and self-righteous Lance has made himself out to be in the face of relentless people saying he was dirty in a dirty sport.

But then, I never really understood how so many people could idolize someone with so much doubt hanging over nearly every one of his major achievements.

That's just me, though.

 

[flasheightzero]

him juicing, whatever

him destroying people's reputations and livelihoods when they accused him, scumbag. the lifetime ban should be upheld because of this, not because of the peds

 

[johnnym215]

The only thing I'm upset about Lance for is making commercials during that time claiming all his accomplishments were from hard work. "I'm on my bike, what are you on"

-I don't consider his juicing cheating, everybody, and I mean errrbody was juicing, it was truly a equal playing field. He own those tours because his team was so strong and he out worked the competition

-Just because he is such a d-bag in real life people are on their high horses looking down at Lance, celebrating his downfall. It is sad, I feel kinda sorry for the guy too.

Uhh...even he said it wasnt possible for someone to win 7 tour de france titles without the help. I somewhat have to be like damn this dude had cancer..he almost had to take it to regain his muscle..but dude was always cocky about everything. The only reason why he came on to Oprah was to soften the blow that the fed's are gonna give him. Dude is about to give back all that money he sued for plus more.

 

[heylala10]

I dont understand why he would even admit. Also he should not have came back. He would be sitting pretty with all that money. Also if he used drugs doesnt that mean it culd have caused the cancer??

 

[RustyShackleford]

The only thing I'm upset about Lance for is making commercials during that time claiming all his accomplishments were from hard work. "I'm on my bike, what are you on"

-I don't consider his juicing cheating, everybody, and I mean errrbody was juicing, it was truly a equal playing field. He own those tours because his team was so strong and he out worked the competition

-Just because he is such a d-bag in real life people are on their high horses looking down at Lance, celebrating his downfall. It is sad, I feel kinda sorry for the guy too.

Uhh...even he said it wasnt possible for someone to win 7 tour de france titles without the help. I somewhat have to be like damn this dude had cancer..he almost had to take it to regain his muscle..but dude was always cocky about everything. The only reason why he came on to Oprah was to soften the blow that the fed's are gonna give him. Dude is about to give back all that money he sued for plus more.

Because it is not possible to win Grand Tours if all your competition is doped up but you're not.

 

[mronegative]

Because it is not possible to win Grand Tours if all your competition is doped up but you're not.

You don't see how "well duh, everyone doped," isn't good enough to the common person?

Especially after he cried for a decade that they were persecuting him?

 

[jordan23dotcom]

If everyone is cheating then doesn't he still deserve his wins since its still even playing field?

 

[RustyShackleford]

Because it is not possible to win Grand Tours if all your competition is doped up but you're not.

You don't see how "well duh, everyone doped," isn't good enough to the common person?

Especially after he cried for a decade that they were persecuting him?

Oh see I, trust me I see.

But I'm a big cycling fan, so I got a different opinion on his accomplishments than most regular folk. But trust me, he did some real scumbag sheet, so I ain't mad that people are ad at him about that but calling him a cheater, hmmmmmmmmm that's where I draw the line

Because to me he didn't cheat, he doped, but it was an equal playing field. Most people don't really realize that

I'm actually surprised/impressed by some the **** he said tonight.

 

[puglife]

one question i wish oprah would ask him is if he would use performancing enhancing drugs and whatnot again if he could go back in time. i'm sure he wouldn't treat people the way he did again if he could change that, but i don't know if he'd necessarily say he wouldn't use them again. it's well documented and known that practically everyone doped during his career. he was the best of everyone to ride a bike though and it allowed him to become a household name and start the Livestrong foundation and do A LOT of good that he would never have been able to accomplish otherwise. sports are sports, but saving lives is a completely different realm and i think at the end of the day, he's obviously done more good than bad...he just had to do a lot of bad to have the opportunity.

 

[5am6oody72]

Because to me he didn't cheat, he doped, but it was an equal playing field. Most people don't really realize that

To me it sounds like using EPO and blood doping in cycling is about the same thing as protein shakes/recovery drinks for athletes in other sports. If there are 200 cyclists competing and only 5 of them AREN'T using PED's, I don't really look at his accomplishments as any less impressive.

What I don't get is that in reading the full interview he said after his comeback he was completely clean and finished 3rd. By that point was the sport mostly cleaned up? Cus he said earlier he didn't think it was possible to win without doping, but then he said he finished 3rd riding clean.

 

[usabasketball08]

Rick Reilly on ESPN looks hurt.

 

[illoquent aka dsk]

Rick Reilly on ESPN looks hurt.

And of course that hack would find a way to sneak in a Tiger Woods jab when they're talking about Lance ******g Armstrong.

Dude is a tool.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Because to me he didn't cheat, he doped, but it was an equal playing field. Most people don't really realize that

To me it sounds like using EPO and blood doping in cycling is about the same thing as protein shakes/recovery drinks for athletes in other sports. If there are 200 cyclists competing and only 5 of them AREN'T using PED's, I don't really look at his accomplishments as any less impressive.

What I don't get is that in reading the full interview he said after his comeback he was completely clean and finished 3rd. By that point was the sport mostly cleaned up? Cus he said earlier he didn't think it was possible to win without doping, but then he said he finished 3rd riding clean.

First off I dunno, about how clean the riders where in 2009 but they where a hell of a lot cleaner than in Lance's first run. The year after Lance retired the first time their was a MASSIVE doping scandal in cycling right before the Tour started that brought along a lot of reforms. Most importantly random out of race drug testing and guys having to disclose their whereabouts to their teams. It became MUCH riskier to dope

The race itself was kinda "easier" compared to others, much less climbing (where Lance used to do work) and Lance didn't have a entire team riding just to help him (two other guys on his team where trying to win the Tour also). It was great performance anyway but he had no chance of beating Alberto Contador the winner (who is a f-ing beast, and was on Lance's team) because Contador was in his prime and Lance was in his late thirties, well pasted his.

So if everyone is clean, then the most talent and hardest worker will do the best, which Lance was also, so in 2009 when it could have been a clean race, Lance finished high because he had the natural ability and worked hard.

Real talk, if cycling was a clean sport, Lance would have still probably won those tours.

 

[5am6oody72]

First off I dunno, about how clean the riders where in 2009 but they where a hell of a lot cleaner than in Lance's first run. The year after Lance retired the first time their was a MASSIVE doping scandal in cycling right before the Tour started that brought along a lot of reforms. Most importantly random out of race drug testing and guys having to disclose their whereabouts to their teams. It became MUCH riskier to dope

The race itself was kinda "easier" compared to others, much less climbing (where Lance used to do work) and Lance didn't have a entire team riding just to help him (two other guys on his team where trying to win the Tour also). It was great performance anyway but he had no chance of beating Alberto Contador the winner (who is a f-ing beast, and was on Lance's team) because Contador was in his prime and Lance was in his late thirties, well pasted his.

So if everyone is clean, then the most talent and hardest worker will do the best, which Lance was also, so in 2009 when it could have been a clean race, Lance finished high because he had the natural ability and worked hard.

Real talk, if cycling was a clean sport, Lance would have still probably won those tours.

Thanks for the insight.

The part in bold is impossible to know for sure obviously, but I'd tend to agree. Just like in a non-steroids MLB Barry Bonds is still a first ballot HOF-er.

 

[pepperjackchees]

In the interview, he said that the last time he doped was 2005 but a report mentioned in the interview said that there was less than a 1 in a million chance that his blood values for 09 and '10 could have occurred naturally. Do you guys think he was truthful about not doping in 09 and '10? I mean statistically, it's hard to believe him, but he admitted to a lot of other stuff, so why would he lie about this?

 

[pepperjackchees]

Also Ferrari dude just looked mad shady. Something about him just makes me despise him and want to hurt him. I wonder if he is the one introduced doping to cycling or if he is just the most prolific "physician"? 

 

[dajoka004]

Thanks for the insight.

The part in bold is impossible to know for sure obviously, but I'd tend to agree. Just like in a non-steroids MLB Barry Bonds is still a first ballot HOF-er.

Let's not compare the two though. Bonds = GOAT with or without drugs. It's a shame how the media's vilification of him clouded our view of greatness. Only other athlete in the last 50 years who is comparable is MJ.

 

[lyonbc1]

I don't really care about the cheating it was the repeated denial.....the blatant harassment of those who KNEW they were telling the truth when they said dude was cheating. He ferociously assasinated the character of less popular, less talented, and more courageous people who were willing to speak out against the biggest name in the sport.

I don't see how anyone can defend that behavior, like he abused his status to take out any and all people who were being truthful, and they willingly admitted to cheating meanwhile Lance was getting allllll the shine and throwing their names in the dirt, dude even filed lawsuits against these people and WON based on lies I appreciate all he did with the Livestrong Foundation but theres a lot of people who are bad guys that donate to charity and are philanthropic. Lance is an ***hole plain and simple

Look up the Frankie Andreu story among countless others who spoke out

 

[captainsneakerhead23]

So can the law go after Lance for perjury? Have they already done so? Does statue of limitations come into play here?

 

[lyonbc1]

So can the law go after Lance for perjury? Have they already done so? Does statue of limitations come into play here?

I thought I heard it expired, but maybe they can go after him for the cases in which he won under false pretenses? Maybe thats why he waited so long, so he couldn't be accused of perjury wouldnt put it past him....I heard he'd have to pay back like 30mill or so for something but not sure what

 

[captainsneakerhead23]

So can the law go after Lance for perjury? Have they already done so? Does statue of limitations come into play here?

I thought I heard it expired, but maybe they can go after him for the cases in which he won under false pretenses? Maybe thats why he waited so long, so he couldn't be accused of perjury wouldnt put it past him....I heard he'd have to pay back like 30mill or so for something but not sure what

Yeah I think this is why he waited so long as well. Smart move if that's the case.

 

[gfdmortgage]

Yeah I think this is why he waited so long as well. Smart move if that's the case.

I believe the USPS is working on a case now for recouping endorsement money from him and his team. I do not believe that this has expired.