Armstrong drops fight against doping charges

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Disgruntled Worker

He is still an inspiration to cancer survivors for finishing the Tour de France seven times.

This. This is the true lasting impression I have of the dude. And that also happens to be why he had so much hype around him, which was an inspiration to millions.

/thread.

[Avles]

I was inspired by the way he collected $500k to settle a libel suit against a newspaper that published truthful information. The entrepreneurial spirit at its finest, and as a cancer survivor no less.

[sportmac]

actually what the postal service could use is a reversal of 2006 congress law that says they have to have 75 years worth of benefits ready. NO other government org has anything like it. NO major private or public sector firm could do it.

without it the postal service would be doing fine.

but the repubs want to take it private so bankrupting it is the best way to get there. directed by bush/cheney the enacted this insane law and for that reason alone they are suffering.

[West Coast Ace]

Originally Posted by Avles

I was inspired by the way he collected $500k to settle a libel suit against a newspaper that published truthful information. The entrepreneurial spirit at its finest, and as a cancer survivor no less.

+1. On Mike and Mike on ESPN this AM they talked about a physical therapist who he sued into bankruptcy - for testifying to what she saw. He also spread rumors that she was a 'professional woman' and had substance abuse issues. And one of his friends said to the wife of one of the riders who was forced to testify in front of a grand jury "....hope someone hits you over the head with a baseball bat."

[Bobby Jr]

The crazy thing about this Oprah interview is how it will be perceived by her viewers.

The majority of Oprah's US viewers are housewives/mothers - some 50-odd million people. And the vast majority of them have one thing in common - a disinterest in or lack of knowledge of in sport or cycling and Armstrong in particular. Most would have barely a passing knowledge of who he is. That there is his weapon in this interview. He's going to gain tons of new supporters.

While the people who know about him and have followed this saga for years will be generally galvanised in their lack of sympathy of any admission of drug taking, the classic Oprah audience will lap up his admissions and humility (real or staged), his explanations of the huge pressure of trying to be good role model, his motivation to reward all the people who supported his fight with cancers etc etc.

The people who dislike him will continue - if only short-term until they get over it but the classic Oprah crowd will love him - they always love flawed celebs who come out, show some humility, say they're sorry and have a little cry with 'mother of the nation'.

Basically, he can take a flying leap as far as I'm concerned. Until he fronts up and apologises in-person to the people's whose careers he destroyed with lies and personal (or financial) attacks - people who often worked for/with him and were actually offering a helping hand when confronting him about the PEDs use - he should be sued into oblivion. His decades-long ruse warrants jail time for a number of events and I hope the authorities take his appearance on Oprah's show as nothing other than gathering evidence for future action against him.

[Avles]

Armstrong offered fellow cyclist $300,000 to accuse Greg LeMond of using EPO.

Armstrong offered $50,000 bribe to fix races.

Just allegations, of course...

[maleyoyo]

But not much has changed. Lance outsmarted millions in the past, and coming this Thursday and in the future he will outsmart millions more.

[adventure]

Originally Posted by maleyoyo

But not much has changed. Lance outsmarted millions in the past, and coming this Thursday and in the future he will outsmart millions more.

He didn't outsmart anyone. He intimidated and silenced most of the cycling community for a few years. This indicates a deep seated sociopathic mentality, not intelligence.

[natalia]

[maggmaster]

Lets put this in perspective here. If he was using PEDs he was probably using EPO to increase his red blood cell count, low does testosterone to recover from workouts more quickly and maybe an amphetamine on race days( If he could find one that was undetectable) none of this is dangerous, in fact he probably never moved himself out of the range of physiologically normal. The benefits of EPO can be gained naturally by training at altitude, the normal range for testosterone ranges from a pitiful 241 ng/dl to a hyper masculine 1100 the recovery difference between those 2 levels would be huge, amphetamine salts are used every day by hundreds of ADD sufferers to increase concentration. None of this is dangerous, no one was trying to "help" him by reporting his PED use. And cycling is a heavily drugged sport, if you are not willing to do these drugs it will be very hard to compete at the top levels. They caught a high number of amateur age group cyclists last year using EPO and testosterone, these are guys who can't win any money. We need to get away from prosecuting what is "fair" and instead prosecute what is safe.

[ollinger]

audacity -- (noun): impudence of a bold and disrespectful nature.
For example: to chastise one's critics in a particularly self righteous manner when one is in fact guilty of what those critics have suggested.

[pennc94]

Originally Posted by natalia

He and Andre have something in common.

[jmnk]

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

The crazy thing about this Oprah interview is how it will be perceived by her viewers.

The majority of Oprah's US viewers are housewives/mothers - some 50-odd million people. And the vast majority of them have one thing in common - a disinterest in or lack of knowledge of in sport or cycling and Armstrong in particular. Most would have barely a passing knowledge of who he is. That there is his weapon in this interview. He's going to gain tons of new supporters.

While the people who know about him and have followed this saga for years will be generally galvanised in their lack of sympathy of any admission of drug taking, the classic Oprah audience will lap up his admissions and humility (real or staged), his explanations of the huge pressure of trying to be good role model, his motivation to reward all the people who supported his fight with cancers etc etc.

The people who dislike him will continue - if only short-term until they get over it but the classic Oprah crowd will love him - they always love flawed celebs who come out, show some humility, say they're sorry and have a little cry with 'mother of the nation'.

Basically, he can take a flying leap as far as I'm concerned. Until he fronts up and apologises in-person to the people's whose careers he destroyed with lies and personal (or financial) attacks - people who often worked for/with him and were actually offering a helping hand when confronting him about the PEDs use - he should be sued into oblivion. His decades-long ruse warrants jail time for a number of events and I hope the authorities take his appearance on Oprah's show as nothing other than gathering evidence for future action against him.

this is a great post. that is exactly why he picked Oprah. Plus she will not ask any tough questions.
Casual viewer will just get an impression that was/is in unfairly targeted for something that any other cyclist is doing anyway.

[norcal]

Originally Posted by Avles

Armstrong offered fellow cyclist $300,000 to accuse Greg LeMond of using EPO.

Armstrong offered $50,000 bribe to fix races.

Just allegations, of course...

Scary how spot on LeMond was:

In the German interview published Saturday, LeMond went on to compare Armstrong and his entourage to the mafia, and called for the resignation of the leadership of the International Cycling Union, or UCI. "It reminds me of the Catholic Church and its abuse victims," LeMond said.

I remember at the time everyone just thought LeMond was jealous.

I don't care Armstrong used PED's. I do care that he purposely ruined peoples lives. That is scumbag behavior.

Interesting take on the Oprah angle too.

[maleyoyo]

Lance is going to say a lot on the show but not revealing much. What he will say serves as a preview for his “tell all” book which is due soon. Even with the book, I wouldn’t hold my breath for any juicy stuffs, specifics, dates, timeline, and incriminating information.
Haven’t we all seen this script before?
I’m just getting my tissue box ready for a dramatic, emotionally charged cry fest on Thursday.
Dudes, make sure you get your girlfriends, wives to see this with you. It’s way better than any chick flicks. Imagine Lance crying on Oprah’s shoulders…priceless!

[Bhagi Katbamna]

The only reason anyone goes on Oprah is to get kudos from low-information-people. In a year or two, he'll come out for fighting against global warming, or fighting for women's rights, or one of any leftist cause and all will be forgiven by the media and the low-info-population at large.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by maggmaster

...he was probably using EPO to increase his red blood cell count, low does testosterone to recover from workouts more quickly and maybe an amphetamine on race days( If he could find one that was undetectable) none of this is dangerous...

Tell that to the hundreds, if not thousands, of cyclists over the years who've died from using EPO and getting too dehydrated or using too much and having agonising deaths from thickened-blood caused heart failure.

[maggmaster]

Anything is dangerous if you use too much. You can kill yourself with water or bananas too. EPO is safe up to a certain point. What did Serena almost die from?

[veloduffer]

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

Tell that to the hundreds, if not thousands, of cyclists over the years who've died from using EPO and getting too dehydrated or using too much and having agonising deaths from thickened-blood caused heart failure.

I think you are over exaggerating the number of deaths. It's pretty low and I am not sure many riders would have easy access to EPO.

[FastFreddy]

Originally Posted by maggmaster

Anything is dangerous if you use too much. You can kill yourself with water or bananas too. EPO is safe up to a certain point. What did Serena almost die from?

Who r u Dr Ferrari who sates it's as safe as orange juice give me a break. Run low on water and turn your blood in thick pasta sauce and stroke out!!