I feel (reluctantly) compelled to weigh in. Here at the crossroads of fitness and cancer, how can I not say something?
And it may not be what you expect.
Did he dope? Was it a witch hunt? Did he do the right thing?
I don't know. There are only a handful of people who know. The rest of us are just guessing.
Anyone in the cancer community, and anyone who loves cycling or sports in general has been talking or wondering about this week's news that Lance Armstrong chose to no longer contest doping charges.
But I don't know. I'm not sure I care all that much. And I'm not sure how much it matters.
To me, there are larger issues. And those I care deeply about.
I am tired of yet another drug scandal. I am tired of the disappointment. Of realizing that some brilliant moment - perfection of grace and motion - was fake, was as much a result of a chemical cocktail as a talented body. Ben Johnson, Marion Jones...and so many others.
Let's face it, sports - professional and amateur - is big business. It's HUGE. The pressure on these athletes is tremendous. Between prizes and endorsements, millions of dollars can be at stake. All the while, many talented athletes are struggling to pay their rent. Then they must realize that more than one of their competitors are probably doping. Look at cycling. Most of Lance's competitors have also had titles stripped or been implicated in some doping scandal over the years.
Does this excuse it? No, I don't think so. It just saddens me.
So, I do think it's perfectly possible that Lance did something. No, there is no proof, but given what I know about professional cycling and sports in general, it would not be surprising. In fact, what would be surprising would be if he didn't.
And that is what upsets me.
But this is a bigger story because Lance Armstrong has become so much more than a cyclist. Lance changed the sport of cycling for Americans. We didn't pay much attention to it before him. He elevated it. He made it an everyman sport - an American sport. He brought cycling to every town, to countless starry-eyed kids.
And Lance brought hope. He inspired us with his tale of surviving cancer. But he didn't just survive cancer - lots of people do that. He was so open, so public about cancer. And then went on to show us just how strong it's possible to be.
Along the way, he created a multi-million dollar cancer foundation. Through Livestrong, he's touched the lives of millions of cancer survivors throughout the world.
He became more than just a cyclist, or even an athlete. He's a celebrity, he's big business. He's a cause, and an inspiration.
By putting an end to the doping charges, even if they remain unresolved, he protects all that he's become outside of cycling. Some people have suggested that saying that is somehow disrespectful or cynical. I don't think so.
For all the work he's done for the cancer community, I think it's just the right thing to do. Livestrong is not about some titles; it's about cancer - and hope. We've seen too much of leaders who let their personal issues get in the way of the good work of their foundations. By doing this, Lance is doing exactly what a good leader should. He's putting his total body of work above his pride.
Is it a disappointment that there was a doping scandal in the first place? Yes. Does this leave those charges unresolved? Yes. Does this change anyone's mind about the charges? Probably not - those who are convinced he doped still believe that, and those convinced of his innocence are convinced still.
Me? I just care that the good work he's done continues. That Hope is stronger than scandal.
Julie
And it may not be what you expect.
Did he dope? Was it a witch hunt? Did he do the right thing?
I don't know. There are only a handful of people who know. The rest of us are just guessing.
Anyone in the cancer community, and anyone who loves cycling or sports in general has been talking or wondering about this week's news that Lance Armstrong chose to no longer contest doping charges.
But I don't know. I'm not sure I care all that much. And I'm not sure how much it matters.
To me, there are larger issues. And those I care deeply about.
I am tired of yet another drug scandal. I am tired of the disappointment. Of realizing that some brilliant moment - perfection of grace and motion - was fake, was as much a result of a chemical cocktail as a talented body. Ben Johnson, Marion Jones...and so many others.
Let's face it, sports - professional and amateur - is big business. It's HUGE. The pressure on these athletes is tremendous. Between prizes and endorsements, millions of dollars can be at stake. All the while, many talented athletes are struggling to pay their rent. Then they must realize that more than one of their competitors are probably doping. Look at cycling. Most of Lance's competitors have also had titles stripped or been implicated in some doping scandal over the years.
Does this excuse it? No, I don't think so. It just saddens me.
So, I do think it's perfectly possible that Lance did something. No, there is no proof, but given what I know about professional cycling and sports in general, it would not be surprising. In fact, what would be surprising would be if he didn't.
And that is what upsets me.
But this is a bigger story because Lance Armstrong has become so much more than a cyclist. Lance changed the sport of cycling for Americans. We didn't pay much attention to it before him. He elevated it. He made it an everyman sport - an American sport. He brought cycling to every town, to countless starry-eyed kids.
And Lance brought hope. He inspired us with his tale of surviving cancer. But he didn't just survive cancer - lots of people do that. He was so open, so public about cancer. And then went on to show us just how strong it's possible to be.
Along the way, he created a multi-million dollar cancer foundation. Through Livestrong, he's touched the lives of millions of cancer survivors throughout the world.
He became more than just a cyclist, or even an athlete. He's a celebrity, he's big business. He's a cause, and an inspiration.
By putting an end to the doping charges, even if they remain unresolved, he protects all that he's become outside of cycling. Some people have suggested that saying that is somehow disrespectful or cynical. I don't think so.
For all the work he's done for the cancer community, I think it's just the right thing to do. Livestrong is not about some titles; it's about cancer - and hope. We've seen too much of leaders who let their personal issues get in the way of the good work of their foundations. By doing this, Lance is doing exactly what a good leader should. He's putting his total body of work above his pride.
Is it a disappointment that there was a doping scandal in the first place? Yes. Does this leave those charges unresolved? Yes. Does this change anyone's mind about the charges? Probably not - those who are convinced he doped still believe that, and those convinced of his innocence are convinced still.
Me? I just care that the good work he's done continues. That Hope is stronger than scandal.
Julie
5 comments:
Well said, Julie!
Beautiful redirect. I hope that the rest of the world can see the whole picture as clearly. At the top of his list of contributions to society should be Livestrong -- cycling is just part of a bigger picture.
Thanks, both of you, for stopping by.
Julie,
I haven't quite been able to formulate in my mind, much less into words, how I feel about this. Scandals are so common place in sports now days and each one keeps on disappointing. Perhaps the biggest reminder is that we are all flawed and make mistakes. I think your words sum it all up and you're quite wise. Thanks for writing about this. You really put it all into perspective for me.
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