[senior citizen]

Is it possible for Lance Armstrong to redeem himself ????????
Sometimes I wonder if our grandchildren will have any heros left to look up to. We always followed the Tour de France..........and just now guess that we were naive about it all...........

Report: Lance Armstrong tells Oprah Winfrey he used PEDs to win Tour de France - News | FOX Sports on MSN

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

Is it possible for Lance Armstrong to redeem himself ???????? .......

In a word: No.

Bill

[CFrance]

His claim that it was a level playing field due to the fact that everybody was doping doesn't hold water IMO because earlier testimony claimed that he was the one who set the doping bar.

There are still some good guys out there, but you just never know which ones to hold up to your grandchildren. A new crop of nasties seems to get outed every season in every sport.

[GaryW]

We follow the Tour every year, I support Livestrong! With that said not sure what he could do now. I always wanted to believe not him, but soon as George Hincapie testified to it, I knew it had to be fact. Besides Lance, I have always loved the riding style of Big George along with a few others.
My thought is this, He did it, now he has admitted it from what ESPN is posting. But what about the others that did, a few admitted it only to avoid lifetime suspensions along with other punishment to testify against him. Even George has come clean with the story. I would think that all the cats that did the same as Lance should receive the same punishment. Remember this is not one race, it is over a few years............. So if one is in the boat, then all should be. One of the guys I think Maybe Hamilton said everyone did it in those days. If you did not you could not compete. So it just seems that Lance was the best of the cheaters.
With all said, it was because of Lance that I started cycling and getting into shape and had a dream while on the bike. So I still support his cause, LIVESTRONG!!!!

[2 Oldcrabs]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

Is it possible for Lance Armstrong to redeem himself ????????
Sometimes I wonder if our grandchildren will have any heros left to look up to. We always followed the Tour de France..........and just now guess that we were naive about it all...........

Report: Lance Armstrong tells Oprah Winfrey he used PEDs to win Tour de France - News | FOX Sports on MSN

Who cares? My hero is my father, who raised 4 successful children with an 8th grade education and a lot of hard work. The Heros of the world are our Parents, the Soldiers, Firefighters and Police Officers. They are the ones that put their "well being" on the line ! The athletes are doing it for the money and fame.

[Taltarzac725]

I believe he harmed egregiously people who were trying to tell the truth about the extent of doping in US cycling. So, no, he should not have a chance at redempion as far as his status as a sports hero is concerned.

'Lance Armstrong is a bully. I could not let him win,' says whistle-blower Betsy Andreu - Telegraph

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by GaryW

We follow the Tour every year, I support Livestrong! With that said not sure what he could do now. I always wanted to believe not him, but soon as George Hincapie testified to it, I knew it had to be fact. Besides Lance, I have always loved the riding style of Big George along with a few others.
My thought is this, He did it, now he has admitted it from what ESPN is posting. But what about the others that did, a few admitted it only to avoid lifetime suspensions along with other punishment to testify against him. Even George has come clean with the story. I would think that all the cats that did the same as Lance should receive the same punishment. Remember this is not one race, it is over a few years............. So if one is in the boat, then all should be. One of the guys I think Maybe Hamilton said everyone did it in those days. If you did not you could not compete. So it just seems that Lance was the best of the cheaters.
With all said, it was because of Lance that I started cycling and getting into shape and had a dream while on the bike. So I still support his cause, LIVESTRONG!!!!

You are right, there is always a flip side. Good things (Livestrong) came of what Armstrong did by winning those races and gaining the fame that ultimately allowed him to start Livestrong. Plus encouraging the sport of cycling with its good health benefits.

They all should be sanctioned, but I'm guessing they went after the guys at the top.

[tainsley]

Originally Posted by 2 Oldcrabs

Who cares? My hero is my father, who raised 4 successful children with an 8th grade education and a lot of hard work. The Heros of the world are our Parents, the Soldiers, Firefighters and Police Officers. They are the ones that put their "well being" on the line ! The athletes are doing it for the money and fame.

You are so right! I look up to many people on my life, some I have never met, but not one is an athlete or entertainer!

[JoeC1947]

He can pedal his reasoning someplace else!

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

In a word: No.

Bill

I wanted to believe Lance when he was winning all the Tour De France's but he turned something that should have been a heroic story into lies and decption. I read his book. It's not about the Bycicle" and now it is so true. It was all about PED's.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by tainsley

You are so right! I look up to many people on my life, some I have never met, but not one is an athlete or entertainer!

The problem is that children naturally look up to athletes and (some) entertainers. As long as their parents are watching/rooting for their collegiate and pro teams, esp. on television, they will be inclined to follow suit and gather some possibly false heroes.

So we should start young, teaching them to look up to the people who really count, not the ones who are there through fame or because they happened to be born with good athletic skills.

I don't mean to brand all athletes/entertainers as false heroes. There are many to be admired. But children need to be taught discernment.

[tainsley]

Originally Posted by CFrance

The problem is that children naturally look up to athletes and (some) entertainers. As long as their parents are watching/rooting for their collegiate and pro teams, esp. on television, they will be inclined to follow suit and gather some possibly false heroes.

So we should start young, teaching them to look up to the people who really count, not the ones who are there through fame or because they happened to be born with good athletic skills.

I don't mean to brand all athletes/entertainers as false heroes. There are many to be admired. But children need to be taught discernment.

I agree!

[bdabob]

Britain's female cycling gold medal winner from the 2008 Olympics Nicole Cooke announced her retirement from the sport yesterday and took an almighty swipe at drug cheats. She applauded all those athletes that stayed clean and lamented how many were cheated out of success by those that succumbed to doping.
Nicole made a telling comment about Armstrong; "When Lance cries on Oprah later this week and she passes him the tissue, spare a thought for all those genuine people who walked away with no rewards - just shattered dreams. Each one of them is worth a thousand Lances"...well said!

[2BNTV]

Unfortunately there are very few athletes that talk the talk and walk the walk in terms of being clean. Some can be admired like Tim Tebow, Derek Jeter et al. Kids should look up to these types as they live a clean lifestyle and do not cheat by using PED's.

A hero to me is my late uncle who was a family man, fought in WWII and always woke up each and every day living the motto, "I only want to do what's right". Nuff said.......

[BobnBev]

I believe ALL athletes, past and present, use some kind of steroids or other enhancement substances.