Bad sports, good sports: Things are going downhill for Lance Armstrong

Posted on May 23rd, 2011 by Alan Spoll

The skies are looking ominous for cycling champion Lance Armstrong. One of the world’s best known athletes, Armstrong has long been dogged by accusations of doping during a career that produced seven victories in the Tour de France, cycling’s most prestigious event. He has firmly denied any wrongdoing, and has never failed a legitimate drug test. For some reason, I have always been inclined to believe his denials, even going as far as to defend him here when his disgraced former teammate Floyd Landis spoke out against him a year ago. Now, though, several more of Armstrong’s former teammates have claimed that he not only used performance-enhancing drugs, but that he encouraged them to do so as well.

Tyler Hamilton, a cyclist from Massachusetts who was part of the U.S Postal Service team for the 1999, 2000, and 2001 Tours, recently spoke to CBS News, claiming that Armstrong had taken the banned substance EPO during those events, and that he also, along with other team leaders, tried to get other members of the team to take the drugs in order to ensure victory. 60 Minutes, who is airing the story for CBS News, also states that Frankie Andreu and George Hincapie, who were also on the team, have told a grand jury that they were also witness to Armstrong’s cheating. Mark Fabiani, Armstrong’s lawyer, has cried foul over all of this, assuring the public that CBS has an agenda and is falsifying its reports, as the grand jury testimony was all sealed and therefore unavailable to investigators from the network. Hincapie has stated that he never spoke to 60 Minutes or CBS News, but refused to comment beyond that.

Cycling, like a number of other international sports, is a mess. Cheating is rampant and has been for a long time. Lance Armstrong is a hero to many, and performed feats that placed him among the elite of the elite. It was exciting to follow his exploits and see him bring glory to America in a sport historically dominated by non-Americans. If he did, in fact, cheat, well…I never cared much about cycling before Lance Armstrong and I guess I won’t care much again. It’s disappointing to think that he cheated his way to those titles. If it’s true, those yellow “Live Strong” bracelets that he popularized could find their way to the garbage in droves.

Bad sports, continued:

2) The New York Daily News reports that the Philadelphia Eagles may be anxious to sign wide receiver Plaxico Burress now that he is out of jail and intends to play again. Seriously, Andy Reid? What are you trying to do to me here?

3) University of Oklahoma linebacker Austin Box died on Thursday after being found unconscious. He reportedly overdosed on prescription pain medicine. Box was 22 years old.

4) Former Mets and Expos catcher Gary Carter was diagnosed with four small tumors on his brain this week. He recently complained of headaches, and an MRI revealed the problem. There has been no word yet if the tumors are cancerous.

5) After his Timberwolves failed to win the first pick in the NBA draft lottery despite having a 25% chance at it, the highest percentage of any team, Minnesota general manager David Kahn made statements suggesting that the lottery was fixed. Very mature of you, Mr. Kahn.

6) I almost feel bad for Notre Dame. After enduring five miserable, underachieving seasons under former head football coach Charlie Weis, and then having to pay him millions of dollars to buy out the remaining years on his contract when they fired him last year, it was revealed this week that the school is still on the hook to pay him significant dollars each year until 2015. I don’t actually feel bad…I was just saying that.

7) It was announced Sunday that Aflac, the insurance company, will be sponsoring the Heisman Trophy for the upcoming college football season. I guess it isn’t enough that ESPN has already so commercialized the award that it usually seems like they are trying to give it out before the season even starts. Now we can have the duck quack out the name of the winner in December.

Good sports:

1) One week after ripping boxer Bernard Hopkins for his racist rant against Donovan McNabb, I need to acknowledge him for something good. On Saturday, the 46-year-old fighter became the oldest man to ever win a major boxing title when he beat Jean Pascal by decision.

2) In a major breakthrough, police in Los Angeles have made an arrest in the case of Bryan Stow, the San Francisco Giants fan who was savagely beaten after a Dodgers-Giants game in L.A. on March 31st. Giovanni Ramirez was arrested after an extensive investigation by Los Angeles police, who have worked tirelessly to find the perpetrators.

Bad sports, good sports appears every Monday

Author Bio
Latest Posts

Alan Spoll

Alan Spoll is a software quality assurance director from the suburbs of Philadelphia where he lives with his wonderful wife and children. He has spent his entire life as a passionate fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, and Penn State. Recent Phillies success aside, you will understand his natural negativity. Follow me on Twitter - @DocAlan02