“To all the cynics, I'm sorry for you, ... I'm sorry you can't believe in miracles.” - Lance Armstrong
So this week began with the 60 minutes piece of the continued witchhunt of Lance by former teammate Tyler Hamilton.
It’s pretty well known to everyone that I am a big fan of Lance and Livestrong. It would be hard for you to find me without my yellow bracelet. I think what Lance was able to accomplish as an athlete was incredible. But living in an era where we have learned to accept the embarrassing, immoral, and self absorbed behaviors of professional athletes, incredible athletic feats alone no longer inspire admiration from me. Rather, it is what Lance was able do in defeating cancer and in raising awareness and cancer research funding that is really inspirational. He is the symbol of hope for all who has been affected by this disease. Lance has shown us that we can not only survive cancer but we can kick this disease in the ass and win.
Did he cheat? My guess is that it will never be proven, but the accusation will continue forever. “What if they prove he is dirty?” The answer is that I would be heart-broken. I may lose faith in humanity forever. But in my heart I believe Lance is clean. And that is something of a rarity for a cynic like me.
I am not going to devote any time to debate or dispute Lance’s innocence or the claims brought forth by his former teammates. I will refrain from pointing out the credibility of “witnesses” and the accusations that have been thrown around. What I want to do is to call out the hypocrisy of some who has come after Lance. Some of these people with loudest opinion against Lance are the biggest fans of the likes of Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, or Mike Vick. So I ask this, why are you a fan of say a cheat, (alleged) rapist, or animal killer/convicted criminal? I have been mild amused to wild bewildered with the responses. “Because he plays for my home town.” “Because the girl was just a gold digger.” “Because its just sex.” “Because look at what he has done since coming back.”
REALLY? I know people who put their children in the jersey of the above named. I won’t. I wouldn’t want my children to make Kobe Bryant money if he/she had to become a Kobe Bryant person. So I am not a fan of these guys. But hey that’s just me. I tend to take things too personally for my own good. I don’t know Kobe Bryant or Mike Vick personally but I have seen and heard all of the on and off court behavior to know that these guys are assholes. But beyond all that, what have they done with their success (on and off the court/field) in comparison to Lance Armstrong? Nothing. Not comparable. Not in the same universe. So when you come after my guy with your accusations, I am going to call out your hypocrisy.
Lance is dirty = “multiple sources”
Kobe is innocent = “he said / she said”
Lance left his wife = “after all these years”
Eagle CO = “gold digger.” “all the ball players do it (sleep around)”
That sounds to me like a lot of bullshit.
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