The thing is, the people that he's really cheated, as far as I am concerned, are the millions of cancer patients who read his books and believed in him.
He says that his battle with cancer gave him a "win at all costs" attitude. Well, most of us have that when we've been given a diagnosis of cancer. But we don't turn into lying, cheating cowards!
Because thats what I think he is, a coward.
He was scared of dying and couldn't admit it to himself. I read his books and what struck me was his attitude to having cancer. Most of us have this "I'm going to fight this and I'm going to win" attitude but it seemed to go far beyond that with Armstrong.
Looking at all the news reports today about his interview with Oprah Winfrey, its all about how he's ruined the sport; ruined the reputation of "sportsmanship"; bought cycling into disripute! Its all about money, success, ego.
I can't find much about how the millions of cancer patients feel about being let down by someone they believed in. Someone who gave them hope.
http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/1842777&usatref=sportsmod?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CSports%7Cp
The Doctor who treated him says that "his legacy is going to be his legacy as a cancer survivor and what he's meant to the cancer community.''
Really? I'm not so sure! With all the calls for him to be tried in a court of law and sent to prison - its obvious that most people (maybe those who havn't had a cancer diagnosis!!) feel differently.
But I guess what it really boils down to is this. We live in a society that worships success. We want winners! Doing your very best and not coming first isn't good enough!
The people calling him a cheat are probably the very same ones who think its ok fot their teams top striker to take a dive in the penalty area to score the winning goal.
I guess as always we need to look at the bigger picture. Without his Tour de France wins there would bever have been the Livestrong Foundation. This has helped many hundreds, thousands of people with cancer. Despite the admission from Armstrong of having taken performance enhancing drugs during his racing career, the Foundation will continue to help cancer patients around the world - and in the end, thats all that really matters as far as I am concerned.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete