[Villages PL]

....and sports fans in general.

There was a lesson learned by those who invested with Bernard Madoff. If I remember correctly, they wrote their checks to him directly rather than a clearing house. So, hopefully, a valuable lesson was learned.

What about Lance Armstrong and other sports heroes? What is the lesson to be learned, if any?

Is it once again about investing? Should sports fans be investing so much of their hopes and/or emotions in someone they really don't know?

[Mudder]

It's hard these days to level the playing field, someone will always find a way to increase their rate of success. Get away with it once you figure why not try again......until someone screams loud enough long enough. The fall is never pretty.

[2BNTV]

[QUOTE=Villages PL;611375]....and sports fans in general.

There was a lesson learned by those who invested with Bernard Madoff. If I remember correctly, they wrote their checks to him directly rather than a clearing house. So, hopefully, a valuable lesson was learned.

What about Lance Armstrong and other sports heroes? What is the lesson to be learned, if any?

Is it once again about investing? Should sports fans be investing so much of their hopes and/or emotions in someone they really don't know?[/QUOTE]

As opposed to what? Hope is a great thought that makes people happy. To dare to dream that someday, one can achieve success at a high level is something only a handful of talented people can accomplish. When one watches a football game, does anyone reqlize these athletes represent only a slight fraction of the total world population. But it's true.

I tend to root for team type sports where players have to work together to achieve a goal. In days gone by, I used to be interested in boxing but it has gotten too violent with boxers being bigger and stronger. I can honestly say that I never watched more than 10 minutes of the Tour De France races. I was never interested in that sport.

I was never a big fan of Lance Armstrong although the appeal of someone overcoming cancer to achieve a very hard goal was very intriging. He cheated, lied and intimidated people with lawsuits. All in all, not a very honorable person.

Lesson Is - What's the movie line, "don't look up to some people as they have a way of disappointing you". We must choose good role models for our children and grandchildren. Athletes are like most everybody else except they have a unique set of skills that some of us admire as we cannot do them in our wildest dreams.

BTW - Bernie Madoff is a dirt bag.

[janmcn]

After watching parts of Armstong's interview last night with Oprah, I felt physically ill. I hope the various lawsuits against him take every dollar he ever made. The only thing he's sorry about is getting caught and having to admit he doped. Why does Oprah even bother...you can't believe a word this guy says.

[rmcpklinefelter]

He is a scum bag, but wearing a "live stong" yellow stretch braclet gave my husband courage while he was fighting for his life with colon cancer. Hubby finds LA's actions reprehensible...btw, it's been a CLEAN 8 years since diagnosis,chemo, radiation, surgery and more chemo. Now I call him the "colonoscopy evangelist"...have you had yours?

[ilovetv]

The First Commandment is quite clear.

"And God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...20&version=NIV

[paulandjean]

You must learn to forgive. He did much good also in his life. He also had some serious health issues. I think we must walk in another shoes to know.

[Patty55]

Please, the man rode a bike. I always thought his sport borrinnng, I always found his attitude smug, and after seeing bits of the Oprah thing, he came across as a real JERK.

His LIVESTRONG campaign was a good thing, if it gave hope to others, great.

You know what they say in PattyLand....

"Winners never cheat and cheaters never win."

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by paulandjean

You must learn to forgive. He did much good also in his life. He also had some serious health issues. I think we must walk in another shoes to know.

I feel strongly that some of the hormones he took may have contributed to his own testicular cancer.

Forgiveness for me is kept for someone who hurt me personally. I think he isn't a responsible person. I think he became too intoxicated with fame.

[jackz]

Originally Posted by janmcn

Why does Oprah even bother...you can't believe a word this guy says.

Oprah bothers because with all the hype about the interviews she made a fortune airing them.............

[justjim]

We will never know how many took "drugs" to enhance their skills that never got caught. It's a good bet some of them are in the various "sports hall of fames". Just thinking---suppose any golfer's??? IMHO I think they have and they are.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

....and sports fans in general.

There was a lesson learned by those who invested with Bernard Madoff. If I remember correctly, they wrote their checks to him directly rather than a clearing house. So, hopefully, a valuable lesson was learned.

What about Lance Armstrong and other sports heroes? What is the lesson to be learned, if any?

Is it once again about investing? Should sports fans be investing so much of their hopes and/or emotions in someone they really don't know?

Cheating pays is the lesson learned. What other cyclist are worth 100 + million? Look at the other sports hero's that are admitted cheaters most of them are among, or were among the highest paid in their sport. Sure they may be dis-graced but if your goal is $$ it pays to cheat

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by Cantwaittoarrive

Cheating pays is the lesson learned. What other cyclist are worth 100 + million? Look at the other sports hero's that are admitted cheaters most of them are among, or were among the highest paid in their sport. Sure they may be dis-graced but if your goal is $$ it pays to cheat

Lance Armstrong will be lucky if he has two nickels to rub together when he gets done with all the lawsuits brought against him. He accomplished nothing by winning by doping. He has no Tour de France titles, he has no Olympic medals, his charity, Livestong wants nothing to do with him. He ruined so many peoples lives and reputations. He better go out and get a job if he wants to survive...that is if anybody will hire him.

[Taltarzac725]

Armstrong's legacy to the sport of cycling may have been his greatest pride. That also now seems to be his greatest personal loss. I started getting suspicious of him when Sheryl Crow broke off their relationship so suddenly and suspected she had peaked through his veil so to speak and did not like what she saw.

I always feel sad when a sports hero ruins his or her reputation through actions taken.

Not sure how long these lawsuits will drag on however and Lance Armstrong probably can survive over the years that these take.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Originally Posted by janmcn

Lance Armstrong will be lucky if he has two nickels to rub together when he gets done with all the lawsuits brought against him. He accomplished nothing by winning by doping. He has no Tour de France titles, he has no Olympic medals, his charity, Livestong wants nothing to do with him. He ruined so many peoples lives and reputations. He better go out and get a job if he wants to survive...that is if anybody will hire him.

You might be right about the 2 nickels but that's not because he cheated, that's because he couldn't keep his mouth shut.