What do we make of the inspirational Lance Armstrong now?

Who cares; he rides a freakin’ bicycle.

• Link
• Report this comment

Heroes are harder and harder to come by in the 24 hour sports world. Heroes are hard to come by in any venue anymore with so much access and so many prodding and prying eyes.

• Link
• Report this comment

I am not convinced he cheated. He took test after test after test and PASSED them all. USADA and others have kept after him and kept after and kept after him. When does it all end? How many times does a guy have to pass a drug test and STILL they want to come after you? If their “evidence” is a couple of competitors saying he doped, well where is the scientific proof? It’s in the drup tests that he took and passed. I don’t blame Lance for throwing in the towel. One can only take so much badgering before deciding “this isn’t worth all this and I’m gonna go live my life. Screw them all!” As far as I am concerned, Lance Armstrong won all those race fairly and is the best cyclist of all time!

• Link
• Report this comment

He has already spent $40 million trying to defend himself. What’s he supposed to do, spend the rest of his life savings? And wat he did, and lost? Then he no reputation AND no money.

Pretty clear, he passed hundreds of tests, he’s innocent, but his lsser talented teammates cheated and got caught then made deals and tried to throw him under the bus.

• Link
• Report this comment

He passed all the drug tests, and has spent far more time fighting these allegations than he spent fighting cancer. This tells me that petty bureaucrats can be worse than cancer, and I’d be ready to move on with my life, too. He’s got nothing to prove to anyone.

And frankly, even if he was doping, so were most of the people he beat. Still a level playing field in that respect, and he came out on top.

So what do I think of Lance now? Still the greatest, still an inspiration to millions, and still has the right to live his life without all this nonsense hanging over his head.

Also, strangely, I can’t find where the USADA has the authority to strip him of his victories. Doesn’t the Tour de France have the say in who won the Tour de France?

• Link
• Report this comment

PMC: Indurain won 5 tours. Guess you got your facts wrong, just like the USADA.

• Link
• Report this comment

I don’t see how anyone could ever have thought he was clean. How could he have dominated a sport where (pretty much) everyone else was doping? Answer: he was doping as well. No way a clean person beats all these other riders who were doping.

• Link
• Report this comment

The anti-doping dopes can do whatever they want. Armstrong is the most tested athlete in history and always came up clean. As far as I’m concerned he won all of those titles fair and square and will always hold them. The ones on drugs here are the US Anti Doping Agency.

• Link
• Report this comment

Seem to me that there was a vendetta against him. Even the judge who dismissed his case against the USADA wondered why they were pursuing Armstrong with such single minded determination. The FBI investigated him and dropped the charges. The UCI has investigated him so many times throughout his career because of all the many rumblings and the facts are that he never once came up positive for drug use. He even started the blood passport program for cyclists to join in order to further document their attempts at wresting back control of their support from cheats. So if the the world’s best investigative agency cannot make case, the UCI who governs the sport is supporting Armstrong, why would the USADA go after a cyclist who competed and won almost a decade ago? And how in the world did they get all this “new” evidence that supposedly shows he cheated when the FBI couldn’t find any just a few months earlier…. I don’t blame the guy for stepping out. I wonder how much money in legal bills he has suffered. How many times to you have to prove your innocence?? In criminal proceedings there is such a thing as double jeopardy. I in no way condone cheats in sports, but how many times must an athlete be tried before he is determined to be “clean”? In Armstrong’s case, apparently several dozen or even several hundred… I think his story is still a great one and today’s story in no way diminishes how I feel about what he has accomplished. All the USADA did was succeed in damaging the reputation of a guy who has done a remarkable thing in our fight against cancer. Which is truly more important and has had much more impact on people’s lives than a simple bike race from 10 years ago.

• Link
• Report this comment

Marion jones never failed a drug test

The sheeple defending him answer these questions

How does a clean rider win races where the runner up was found to have used drugs

Why does a clean rider team up with dirty riders and coaches

George Hincappie who Lance describes as honest testified against him under oath why

• Link
• Report this comment

I wish there was a smoking gun in this case where it’s more than “I’ve seen him do it” or his doctor was indicted for doing it. It seems like the entire case was built on testimony, but none on actual evidence of drugs being in his system. That being said, it’s possible that all professional bike riders are doping and they know there is a chance of being caught, but they’d rather take that chance because if they didn’t, they wouldn’t win. Make sense?

• Link
• Report this comment

I just want to know who out of the USADA or the general public feels vindicated by an outcome like this? Was it really necessary to pump all the requisite funding and effort into showing that Armstrong was a fraud so we could say “toldja so”? The assumption in cycling seems to be guilty until proven innocent at the current rate we are seeing Tour winners stripped of their titles, so it still doesn’t change much. The guy was a hero to millions, maybe he’s a jerk, maybe he’s a cheat, but none of it changes the fact that he competed at the highest level (without or without artificial enhancements) for a sustained period after coming back from the brink of death.

Even if he was doping, that still is an awfully impressive feat, and I don’t doubt that it required a superhuman dose of willpower to boot.

• Link
• Report this comment

Carl – is that true that Marion Jones never tested postitive? How are they able to avoid detection and still keep the performance enhancing drugs flowing. And where can I get some of these drugs……just asking…….

• Link
• Report this comment

He fought tooth and nail to keep the arbitration from going forward, even going so far as to sue in the U.S. District Court in Austin. That court just ruled that, yes, the USADA does have authority to consider the matter and impose sanctions. When all attempts to avoid a public airing of the evidence failed, Armstrong basically pled “no contest.”

It’s not “innocent until proven guilty” — it’s “presumed innocent until proven guilty.” The USADA brought very serious charges, and he has decided, ultimately, not to contest them. Presumption removed.

• Link
• Report this comment

Armstrong was fabulous in Le Tour. He passed all the tests the French could throw at him — and remember they hated him then, as now. He was the best of his time and place. He excelled over many, many years. And if you watched any of the Tours he won in detail, you’d realize much of it was due to preparation, preparation, preparation. Lance showed up in shape (unlike Ullrich). He’d ridden the routes. Bruyneel is a master at assembling a team and planning strategy. And, oh yes, Lance did have outright luck on various occasions when accidents occurred or could have occurred. One of the all-time great athletes and competitors in any sport.

• Link
• Report this comment

What do you mean what do I make of it? He’s never failed a drug test, has been retired for 5 years and is tired of going through the BS so he’s said he’s done. Am I supposed to believe that he should continue to bend over??? He’s already passed drug tests, what more do you want??

And yes USC won the 2005 NC. How did the fact that Reggie’s mom got a house affect that game? Reggie Bush was the best player in college football regardless of whether he got a car or not!!

Baseball and steroids is different. These guys inflated their stats because of what they were illegally taking. ANyone who doesn’t think Bonds took steroids is a moron. You don’t throw on 40 pounds of bulk in one off season by working out really hard, I don’t care who you are. The legal system today is not about provign innocence or guilt, it’s about getting evidence thrown out of court, it’s about playing the system and technicalities. Good grief, Braun was cleared because someone didn’t follow protocol not because his pee turned up clean!!!!

Lance had enough and was tired of it. Taking his trophies away doesn’t mean he didn’t win.

• Link
• Report this comment

I love professional cycling, but it’s the sport that eats its young. At least now the French can be happy. Crepe eating b@stards.

• Link
• Report this comment

Filippo Simeoni is smiling today! And if you do not know that name, or what the thug Lance did to him, because he had the temerity to accuse a dirty doctor of being involved in doping, you should Google him and read up!

• Link
• Report this comment

Consider this. The Justice Department just wasted more $ than any ____ of us will pay in taxes over our entire lifetimse. How does that make you feel about government waste?

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark it would be nice to see how you would hold up against continual persecution year after year if there was no proof/evidence that you were guilty yet a group of zealouts backed by our government could continue to pursue you after all other courts have deemed you innocent. No proof, just jealous and failed competitors and teammates allowing the unprovable to continue. Why don’t they strip all the baseball records and career stats from the steriod monkeys that were caught. Oh no we can’t do that they just won’t make it into the HOF because they cheated, that’s penalty enough? What a bunch of BS. I don’t blame him for throwing in the towel. This pseudo subversive organization run by ego manics will pursue this till he dies and then just strip him of all his titles after he is planted. To take that a step further this so called organization is claiming they are doing on behalf of the people – who really could give a rat’s @$$ about less about whether he doped or not. I believe the people would rather have the millions they are funneling to their lawyers go toward the failing economy. Lance is/was a great story – he was an athlete who used his name and money to support and bring hope to cancer patients worldwide. From the evidence presented that is tangible (i.e. drug tests) he passed them all. If he was doping, which again has not been proved, while all the other major contenders in cycling were and got caught, he still is a hell of alot better than them because he beat them year after year. Which of our major sport athletes did the same? Welcome to the new world order where government can randomly persecute individuals as examples whether guilty or not. What happened to innocent until proven guilty. Better wake up come November. Simply a harbinger of more persecution to follow as government becomes larger by the day. Maybe they’ll come after you when they find one of your columns distasteful. That could happen soon. Have a nice day.

• Link
• Report this comment

It’s really disappointing.

• Link
• Report this comment

It’s not like he said he was innocent and then was proven guilty. He said he was innocent and passed every test given for a decade. Anyone who’s ever battled in court against a foe with more money and more lawyers knows that sometimes walking away is easier than fighting to the death.

Should he decide one day to admit wrong doing, then that will be different. Until then, he’s what happens when you are the best and other people are jealous about it.

One a side note: I do blame him for making it fashionable for people to wear biking outfits when they do not have the bodies to do it.

• Link
• Report this comment

Stay Classy Lance!

• Link
• Report this comment

as many others have noted he passed a gazillion tests in his career so he’s either innocent or the tests are as effective as the tsa’s e-strip search machines in which case it’s a given that everyone does it & it’s a level playing field. if anyone thinks the tests are that reliable fooled but he’s the only one doing it I have a bridge for sale you might be interested in. funny too that holder announces he’s not even going to pretend to prosecute goldman but this guy’s spent millions defending himself over a bike race…

• Link
• Report this comment

HE HAS NEVER FAILED A TEST! The only DOPES are the people at the USADA.

• Link
• Report this comment

:%s/reliable/easily\/consistently/

• Link
• Report this comment

How can the USADA take away Tour de France titles? They have no jurisdiction. That would be like David Stern taking away USA Basketball’s gold medals.

• Link
• Report this comment

Tour de France Winners, 1991 on…

1991 – 1995 Miguel Indurain Personal Doctor Guilty of Doping, 2004
1996 Bjarne Riis Admitted Doping, 2007
1997 Jan Ullrich Banned for Doping, 2012
1998 Marco Pantini Expelled for Doping, 1999
1999 – 2005 Lance Armstrong Wins Voided for Doping, 2012
2006 Floyd Landis Disqualified for Doping, 2006
2007 Alberto Contador Lost 3rd Tour Title for Doping, 2012
2008 Carlos Sastre Not yet caught
2009 Alberto Contador Lost 3rd Tour Title for Doping, 2012
2010 Alberto Contador Lost 3rd Tour Title for Doping, 2012
2011 Cadel Evans Not yet caught
2012 Bradley Wiggins Not yet caught

• Link
• Report this comment

What is the worse for a cancer survivor…..STRESS….if I were Lance…I would refuse to participate in this mess anymore, too!!! Go on, live his life and raise his kids. There will always be haters!!

• Link
• Report this comment

The NCAA vacated USC’s title because of major recruiting violations involving Reggie Bush that included receiving cash, travel expenses a car and a HOUSE among other things. Reggie Bush chose to attend USC with those incentives. To disput that lacks common sense. If Bush had played for another school, it stands to reason that USC is not as good as they were. Rather than be objective about whether or not they would win with or without him, the NCAA penalized them for these very specific violations. Simply put, USC cheated. If you cheat to win, in any sport,the win doesn’t count. Now when you think about it, In spite of all the glory and recognition USC gets, they haven’t won a Football Championship since they split with Alabama in 1979. Since then the AP poll has excluded itself from the recognized BCS Championship and therefore is just a writer’s poll like any other and is unofficial. Funny, the AP pulls out of BCS because they were in favor of a playoff as opposed to a poll, yet the put together there own poll!! Are they going to continue to put out their own poll – particular one that may contradict the BCS – now that there is going to be a playoff?

• Link
• Report this comment

streets all over the US will be littered with rubber wrist bands

• Link
• Report this comment

Can these same guys strip Barry Bonds of his records? Or at least depose Selig for ruining baseball by his tacit allowance of steroids for so long.

• Link
• Report this comment

This is all Bush’s fault

• Link
• Report this comment

PROVE IT! Where’s the PROOF? Enough said…..

• Link
• Report this comment

Tested over 500 times and never a positive drug test?
Let me know when they have a postive test.

• Link
• Report this comment

I just don’t understand this whole procedure – if he passed tests, why the witch hunt – what is this proving? If all these dopers in the cycling world have been found positive for drugs year after year – this sport is rigged and should be shut down. Lance being innocent is not good enough for any of these agencies. Why is it so hard to believe the man is an excellent cyclist? Do the French have a mole in the USADA that just want another American stripped of titles earned in another country? This is absolutely ridiculous. I am sure he is exhausted with the fight, and I do not believe it is any admission of guilt.

• Link
• Report this comment

I am not convinced Lance did anything wrong. I don’t think it’s been definitively proven. So I still see him as a tremendous athlete and a great human being. I will continue to think this until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And that isn’t going to happen, I’m pretty sure.
It’s stories like this one that only serves to kick a man when he’s down – akin to pouring gasoline on a wildfire and standing back watching it burn with smug satisfaction that you’ve done your journalistic duty. Uh huh.
I also don’t blame him for stopping this witch hunt and moving on with his life. How easy it is for some folks to judge others while they live in quiet anonymity and don’t have to deal with all the crap heaped upon our athletes. Do some deserve the bad rap? Sure enough. But when it’s so questionable as to guilt or innocence, as in Lance Armstrong’s case, why can’t the print media be fair and equitable? No, being sensationalistic and spreading half truths, inuendos and wild speculation gets more attention. That’s nothing short of shameful.

• Link
• Report this comment

He’s not a great athlete. He did what he did with the help of drugs. He’s not a great human being. He used his deceit to make himself appear better than he was. Shame!

• Link
• Report this comment

If one cyclist is doping then beats an entire pack of cyclists who are also doping, then isn’t he still better than the rest?

Or is there a question of semantics and who has the best artificial advantage?

• Link
• Report this comment

You know why people use steriods? They work. Professional sports are for entertainment. Why are athletes held to much higher standards than other entertainers? Actors/actresses are allowed to have surgery to enhance their looks. Models are always airbrushed. Why spend so much time chacing these so called cheaters? We have much, much bigger problems to worry about.

• Link
• Report this comment

One day, maybe we will all be as righteous as you, Mark. Until then, I guess we have to listen to all the other righteous folk passing a guilty judgement on a man – even though they have no evidence. This is a classic witch hunt.

• Link
• Report this comment

Yet another waste of my hard earned money.

• Link
• Report this comment

It is amazing that there are still so many people in denial in this board, even today. He started doping in 1993, continued unabated for the next 15 years, and was seen doping multiple times every year he competed in the Tour de France (whether he won or not). Nearly all of his teammates (and the team doctor) were caught redhanded themselves and implicated Lance when confronted.

Let me tell you a little secret that should be obvious. It is impossible for human beings to average 32-33 miles per hour on a bike over any long distance, much less in the mountains, without some heavy duty doping. The very best clean riders are doing well if they can maintain 27-28 mph on flat ground.

There is a difference between being guilty and getting caught. How often do you speed in a car? All the time. How often do you get caught speeding? Hardly ever, less than 1 in 100 times. The same is true with doping. It has been very obvious that Lance has been doping since the 1990s, but for some reason most of you choose to deny. I don’t blame him. I do blame all of you for sticking your collective heads in the sand and allowing an environment in which he could get away with it for so long.

• Link
• Report this comment

I can’t say that I blame him — the man has declared his innocence for over a decade, has never failed a drug test, and has spent millions of his own money to defend himself from a witchhunt. I, too, would say “Screw you — I don’t have to prove a goddamn thing to you.”

HE knows what his accomplishments are. The world knows what he did. This agency has gone after Lance because, to pull him down would give them some sort of weird credibility. What in the hell does a government agency have to do with performance enhancement in sports? Is this what we are reduced to? To bring down athletic heroes who have actually triumphed over not only sport, but adversity, because we can’t bear to have people who are better than we are or can hope to be among us?

He has not confessed to anything. He has simply said, “I’m not putting myself and my family thru this any more.” It’s the classic, “When did you stop beating your wife?” conundrum. This whole thing makes me think less of the USADA, not Lance Armstrong.

• Link
• Report this comment

@The Carnivore: Yeah, and the 4 minute miles was once considered to be unreachable . . .

• Link
• Report this comment

OK–so one guy keeps changing his screen name and posting basically the same anti-USADA comments. . . . Grow up and get a job.

• Link
• Report this comment

this process was the process followed by tyrannical regimes where they are investigator, judge, jury and executioner. There was no due process here. The same group that “investigated” also “executed”. Their verdict was based on hearsay not evidence. They convicted Armstrong on the basis of what others said, in spite of the fact he never failed a drug test. This is not “justice”, it’s the opposite, injustice. Our country is better than to convict a man in such a manner.

• Link
• Report this comment

Did drug cheat actually have testicular cancer, or did he lie about that too?

• Link
• Report this comment

So, why would the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency be motivated to discredit Armstrong?

• Link
• Report this comment

Marion Barry (former mayor of DC) was caught on video smoking and snorting crack cocaine with a hooker while mayor. He was subsequently RE-ELECTED by DC voters.

I am not sure who has less sense – DC voters or most of you on this board.

• Link
• Report this comment

Armstrong quit fighting when last week a court threw out his case, then discovered that 10 former teammates were ready to testify against him at this arbitration.

Balco Labs founder Victor Conte said last week about Melky, “the only athletes getting caught failing tests are the stupid ones.”

Armstrong was a master at the PED use – that’s why he never failed a test.

He is a cheater who made $Millions.

• Link
• Report this comment

so you really think LA shot up drugs in front of 10 teammates? BS

• Link
• Report this comment

NO evidence means Not Guilty… So why do they continue to pursue him? They must have it out for him… what idiotic comments… who in their right mind would not fight if it weren’t true… Cycling has been shrouded for years with doping scandals. You are obtuse if you believe he is innocent…

• Link
• Report this comment

He tested negative during all his career and they still haven’t proved anything yet, for all who care that is a bunch of BS

• Link
• Report this comment

@CheatStrong — A tad harsh, perhaps.

• Link
• Report this comment

The real story here is the testing system the anti-doping agencies use. Armstrong passed over doping 900 tests while he was riding. How?

How did he pass those tests? If he was doping, why did they not catch him? Obviously the ‘testers” were incompetent. If they were incompetent then, what evidence is there that they are not incompetent today?

That is the real story.

So they put a lifetime ban on a retired person. That is cute at best.

So they lifted the titles they do not have the authority to lift. The 7 titles billions around the world saw with their own eyes on their local TV. He did not win them?

To answer the questions:

Yes, USC won the 2005 BCS.
Yes, Barry Bonds hit the most home runs.
I saw both with my own eyes.

• Link
• Report this comment

hey Mark, where is the evidence he cheated? How many innocent people that plead guilty although they are innocent but do so to get it over with? Lance has NEVER been found to have banned substance in his body fluids. No matter what WE think, he is INNOCENT and the doping people needs to PROVE he did what they suspect. These people are pathetic and I wish he would sue them for all they have.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mr. Bradley, the USC Trojans did not win the 2005 BCS championship game. The Texas Longhorns defeated the Trojans on January 4, 2006 in the Rose Bowl Game; that contest determined the BCS winner for the 2005 season.

• Link
• Report this comment

The evidence is in all the people lined up to testify against him. There are too many to ignore – former teammates, former opponents, team officials, tour officials, team doctors, etc. At some point it is best to stop fighting. We allow witness testimony in criminal trials, and that is what you people fail to see. We were about to hear plenty of witness testimony against Lance, and he knew all those years of lies were about to catch up to him in a very public way. Better to end it like this than face mountains of evidence in a courtroom.

• Link
• Report this comment

This is a perfect example of a sleeping dog that should be left alone. Lance was the best of his generation and is doing more good now than almost any other former athlete. We can’t know the truth so the USADA should have dropped it years ago. Someone has a vendetta.

• Link
• Report this comment

@Carnivore

Your an IDIOT! He never failed a test that was required… Just get some help!

• Link
• Report this comment

@cheatstrong – that’s an awful wish on someone, innocent or not.

• Link
• Report this comment

He didnt grease the right palms during his career now its payback. These guys will do whatever it takes to bring him down. So before Armstrong how many on this board had even watch a bike race? You can soar like an eagle but if you fly to low, the turkeys will bring you down.

• Link
• Report this comment

He never failed a drug test!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

He is still a champion in my eyes. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Even if he was using something and all of the other athletes were using something then he is still a winner. The USADA are the dopes. USADA needs to get a clue and worry about something else.

• Link
• Report this comment

@Hmmmmmm – First of all, is it required that a jury witness a murder firsthand to actually convict? Of course not, witness testimony is certainly allowed. Second, you were speeding this morning and didn’t get caught by the police. Does that mean you were not speeding? Third, it’s “you’re”, not “your”.

The mistake you are making lies in your belief that a doping test is the sole determinant of innocence or guilt. Your one-dimensional view of this situation is laughable and irrelevant to serious discussion.

• Link
• Report this comment

What a ludicrous article. Because he’s been accused again, he must be guilty? What of the fact that he’s defeated all of the other charges? One can easily understand Armstrong finally deciding that years of having to defend himself against these allegations is enough, and that he would prefer to spend his days living his life rather than having to defend his name – AGAIN. Shame on Mark Bradley.

• Link
• Report this comment

LOL ok Carnivore…. I leave the serious discussion to you….

• Link
• Report this comment

If Lance is willing to let USADA do this to him and walk away Michael Phelps should be scared he’s the next target. After all, he did win 22 or 23 Olympic medals and how many other awards in world championships over the past 12 years. In our current “hate the successful” USA society he couldn’t possibly have been that great a swimmer without help from the locker room pharmacist or our federal government as presbo likes to claim.

I just hope USADA doesn’t get away with this without having to show thier evidence. That scares me the most. The news agencies really need to demand all the evidence be put out on the table. Lets see the smoking gun! How can a guy pass hundreds of drug tests during competition, be acquited by the european agency who had it in for him all those years, have the case dismissed for lack of evidence by our own federal prosecutors, and yet USADA can claim they are all wrong and he cheated?

I want to see what USADA says they have on him before I label him a cheat and kick him under the bus. You are innocent until proven guilty in this country. Lets see the undisputable proof. Maybe he is truely just sick and tired of getting beat on by a government agency with too much power.

• Link
• Report this comment

He’s never failed a drug test, despite being the most tested man in the history of sport. USADA is a joke.

• Link
• Report this comment

Stands “revealed” as a cheat? Because he would not submit to an arbitrary arbitration process? He has admitted nothing and they have proved nothing. Whatever we may think, and all the circumstantial evidence points to his guilt, if for nothing else than the absurdity of seven straight titles, nobody proved nothing and by refusing submit to further stalking he certainly did not admit it. That they were so quick to toss him says to me their minds were made up and he was right: the meditation would have been a farce. We really have to stop this mouthing about innocent until proven guilty until we start to mean it.

• Link
• Report this comment

Buffy and carnivore, match made in heaven….

• Link
• Report this comment

Tested and found not guilty. What else do you want?

• Link
• Report this comment

Did I miss something? Did any of his tests show positive? Is there any proof other than allegations?

There must be an end to the mess at some point. There is no sense in Lance wasting all of his money paying lawyers for the rest of his life.

• Link
• Report this comment

Armstrong is the most drug tested athlete in sports history, and he passed every one.

• Link
• Report this comment

Come on now, sports are just a part of the entertainment industry. Armstrong gave us a great story we wanted to see. Like any actor, he hid his flaws by relying on good camera work and a receptive audience willing to suspend disbelief. He was also smart enough to play this out to the point where he made his millions before the truth caught up with him. He’s a rich celebrity. It’s the American dream. Maybe he can still preserve some semblance of honor thru his charitable work.

• Link
• Report this comment

Like the judge said, I have to wonder about Tygart’s motives. And how does the USADA have the authority to strip Tour de France titles? We’re not receiving the full story.

• Link
• Report this comment

Carl – Where can we read George’s testimony?

• Link
• Report this comment

Armstrong didn’t admit to anything. The press has gotten out of hand by convicting people who have never failed a test. Look no further than this article and Skip Bayless saying Jeter might be on something because he is having a good year.

Sad state of journalism today…..oh wait…their opinion writer’s so they can just make stuff up.

• Link
• Report this comment

Show me the results of ONE failed drug test and then I will be convinced he cheated. Hearsay and innuendo is how they are trying to convict him. The Feds found that even that wasn’t good enough and they can convict a ham sandwich if they want to. The USADA doesn’t need evidence beyond a reasonable doubt or convince a jury, so it’s easy for them to do what they want. Mark, don’t ever get on the bad side of someone with the power to abuse their authority.

• Link
• Report this comment

Splavistic @ 1:23 – If Lance is so ’strong’. Why can’t he keep fighting the good fight? What’s a few more hearings and proceedings? Was USADA stalking his wife and children?

What’s a few more hearing and proceedings? Probably a few million dollars, seeing as the hearings and proceedings would continue for the next decade or until a judge decides the USADA’s case is baseless.

Are they stalking his family? He’s been pursued since 1999 with nonstop accusations from either a ridiculous agency or from fellow athletes who were busted but are throwing him under the bus in order to get a deal for themselves

• Link
• Report this comment

One thing is absolutely certain, USADA would never have even begun any type of investigation of Lance Armstrong looked like Obama.

• Link
• Report this comment

So the Justice Department did not see sufficient evidence to pursue Armstrong’s alleged doping, but low & behold… hotshot Travis Tygart and the USADA violate their own rules in proceeding with their attempt to nail Armstrong.

Armstrong filed two lawsuits against the USADA but both were thrown out by a judge, who by the way noted “It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that USADA is motivated more by politics and a desire for media attention than faithful adherence to its obligations …”)

What a sham.

• Link
• Report this comment

He still has not FAILED A DRUG TEST!!!

Oh by the way Floyd Landis who DID fail a drug teat has had all charges dropped.

This is total BS!

• Link
• Report this comment

Maybe we and the media should stop putting athletes on pedestals and making them into what they are not- never were-never will be. Maybe we should put everyday heroes on the pedestals- the kids who complete school against all odds and make something of themselves; the single om rasing kids all by herself; the guy who stays married to his wife and doesn’t cheat; those people in LA who got electrocuted trying to save an accident victim; the whistleblower risking his job to do the right thing; the soldier who is killed in action; the soldier who comes home maimed/crippled…nah, let’s just praise our NBA stars, even though they act more like thugs and have more fatherless children than we can fathom, let’s demand our SEC football teams bring home winners and look the other way even though the athletes don’t leave school with skills to survive outside of football, let’s create these fairytales of athletes who are looked upon as ideal models of the human race simply because they can run faster, hit the ball further, dunk better, throw more touchdowns…etc…unfortunately this is or reality, we live through our Sunday afternoon heroes, the Friday night game champions, the Saturday afternoon victors……..it makes our Mondays and Tuesdays easier to deal with, it gives us watercooler conversations and lunch time discussion points……I guess it allows us to dream of what isn’t and never will be…it takes us out of our realities……..

• Link
• Report this comment

why do we spend our hard earned cash on these issues? we should feed the poor, clothe the children, take care of the elderly, fix our own house and then help our froends. We all are gulty but to make him such a valued asset in the eye of the jsutice. Shame..

• Link
• Report this comment

Amazing how the Armstrong team infiltrates and even attempts to take over conversation about their almighty one – hey a little similar to the almighty one’s team in the White House . . .

• Link
• Report this comment

Not sure if he is guilty or not, but I certainly don’t feel “cheated” as you put it Mark. I did not and will not put that much emotion into how I feel about a celebrity I don’t even know. I get my inspiration from my kids, loved ones, genuine people. Sorry your heart is breaking. You’ll be just fine.

• Link
• Report this comment

With the current state of athletics, it seems all are assumed guilty if charged. In this case, charged over and over again to no success. An organization comes along and declares him guilty with no realistic chance to have a decent defense so he chooses not to go through the charade. That means he MUST be guilty. Really? Guilty until proven innocent is the rule now? Is that where drugs and sports have taken us?

This case is built on others who cheated and want an out. It is built on a presumption of guilt not on evidence leading to the charge, but trying to find evidence to prove the assumption. And we are to buy it not just because he chooses no longer to fight, but because if someone exceeds, there must be cheating. Let’s condemn all the new world record holders from the Olympics as they can’t have honestly set new records above what others could have accomplished.

The frank truth is that we DON’T know if he’s guilty or not given the state of things. I just don’t like that the media and the general public has become so cynical that greatness has to mean cheating. Kinda makes one wonder why you’d want to excel as it just means people will say you cheated.

• Link
• Report this comment

True, it’s not about the bike. It’s about the money. He’s banked enough and been a poon-hound to rock stars and Hollywood loyatlty. At this point he probably just wants to take ambien and be left alone. I still think he’s cool for facing the cancer thing the way he did. Wear that braclet with pride for you too may one day be faced with a cancer scare. Just please, dear God, stop clogging up the streets with those damn boob-walks.

• Link
• Report this comment

He won 7 Tours de Fance with one nad and slept with Cheryl Crowe. I should be such a badas**

• Link
• Report this comment

WOW! Look at all the support for Armstrong. So many people are so sure he did not dope. I don’t have to wonder what color the supporters. Probably the same supporters that tried to crucify Barry Bonds. Pathetic! The guy’s a cheat plain and simple and that’s why he’s giving up the fight. What a coward!

• Link
• Report this comment

What a crock TommyP….Why don’t go pick some guy up off the street and throw him in jail? I’m sure they did something wrong at some point in time. You have no proof of course…you just know it. That’s the same logic here.

• Link
• Report this comment

Misty Fyed: Then clear Barry Bonds’ name and Mark McGwire’s name. They never failed a test for steroids.

• Link
• Report this comment

X-cyclist: Well said.

• Link
• Report this comment

As a long time cyclist, I have always believed that Lance used PED’s, but I also assume that every top cyclist does as well. It’s the culture of professional cycling. The ones who know what they’re doing don’t get caught, because they have a full understanding as to when you use and when you don’t.

The PED’s are really just a small part of what it takes to win the TDF. Lance trained for months on end, he weighed his food, and surrounded himself with teammates that he paid out of his own pocket. His accomplishments led to deals with Nike that provided him with the very best apparel and Trek who gave him the most dynamic bike you could ask for. Being a smart rider with better than normal conditioning along with good business sense allowed him to grow larger than the sport. IMO, anyone who is winning in cycling is on a doping program, so why try to punish someone who is doing what many others are but doing it better?

• Link
• Report this comment

@ Vain Jangling. Absolutely brilliant comments! Your insight is simply amazing. The ghosts of William Faulkner and Grantland Rice sing your eternal praises. The blogosphere, sir, bows before you.

• Link
• Report this comment

Bob, UGADawg and DawgDad, you guys are clueless. The sport is tougher than anything you might imagine. Comparing it to twirling seriously? The training a cyclist has to go pushes passed pain barriers and effort that is beyond anything a pro football player can even imagine. And yes the sports top event is in France, what’s your point? As for Armstrong, he has never failed a test so that should end it. I don’t know if he cheated, but if you can’t prove it, move on. Stop spending tax payer money on a vendetta.

• Link
• Report this comment

guess its time to educate all the Armstrong supporters here..

IN the world of doping, its a cat and mouse game, the dopers take dope that cant be detected, and the officials try to develop new methods of testing, this is one reason why they keep a cyclist urine frozen for years after a victory, so that when a new method of testing can be found, they go back and check urine samples. This appears to be what happened with Lance, they went back to the 2009 and 2010 urine samples, and they all tested positive. Add the fact, that almost his entire cycling team testified that Lance was a doper, it isnt good for Lance. He got caught cheating, and he should be punished for it, Lifetime ban, strip his victories.

• Link
• Report this comment

@Ken and @X-cyclist – I agree with both of you even though you disagree with each other. One is making the legal argument. Is their enough hard evidence to convict Armstrong in a real trial? Not really. You would have the testimony of 10-20 eyewitnesses, but most of these could be shown to have somewhat dubious credibility by any decent defense lawyer. You don’t have a confirmed failed test, and even if you did, it could probably be thrown out based on shoddy handling arguments. At a minimum, you could create enough doubt that a jury would favor Lance.

The other side is plain hard cold reality. Any endurance athlete knows that the performances of Lance and other top cyclists are utterly impossible without a solid regimented doping program. He had access to enough money and enough doctors to make detection virtually impossible. Like others have said, you have to be a fool to get caught, because the doping tests are always 5-10 years behind the doping programs, not to mention all the masking agents. USPS had its own drug van during the TDF for years. So did all the other top teams.

The best you can say about Lance is that while he doped, so did everyone else, and thus he should be allowed to keep his titles. It is wrong of the USADA to go after him this long after the fact, and in the end, cycling is a niche sport that is rarely in the public eye. The NFL players use tons of PEDs too, but the money there is so big that no one in their right mind would dream of upsetting that apple cart. Lance is only getting this much attention because he is the biggest fish in a very small pond.

• Link
• Report this comment

As usual some goverment hack has to justify his or her job, so if we just keep hounding the guy he will soon or later give up, sounds like the IRS to me not the USADA. Here are facts lance has never failed a drug test or proven to have taken prefromance drugs. just a final thought a lawyer will always tell you it is not what you know it is what you can prove. the goverments new motto we find you guilty with no proof now prove your not guilty. be careful you could be the goverments next target.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken, are you that dumb? Let’s have a contest. How many times can we get a dawg fan to say “He never tested positive” 123 GO

• Link
• Report this comment

@Who Cares?

Hopefully you’re next?

• Link
• Report this comment

If they had been subject to security cameras, wire taps and multi million dollar investigations, perhaps the saints and the founding fathers wouldn’t have come off as hero’s either. If memory serves me well, Lance peed in a cup after every race. If they couldn’t nab him then, why now? After all these years this seems like a vendetta from a bunch of self righteous creeps. Now that we have the technology to ensure that everybody remains “perfect” will we be better off?

• Link
• Report this comment

well if all the passed drug tests he took(he is the most tested athlete in history) doesnt clear him, nothing will. its amazing how they caught all the cheaters before and after him for the same CRAP. but not one possitve test from him. you simple minded pukes that assume he is guilty with all of the passed drug test he has taken are just jealous and weak MINDED.

• Link
• Report this comment

As a latent cyclist,

I can honestly say, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard that term.

If they had been subject to security cameras, wire taps and multi million dollar investigations, perhaps the saints and the founding fathers wouldn’t have come off as hero’s either.

The Constitutional Convention was actually conducted behind closed doors with guards posted on the doors and members were not allowed to discuss it outside the Hall. Lack of openness in politics is nothing new.

• Link
• Report this comment

The bottom line is — whenever someone gets asked “Who was/is the greatest cyclist of all time?”, the vast majority will say “Lance Armstrong”. So, they can’t take that away from him. It’s too bad his own team mates implicated him just to save their own hides — that’s the world we live in these days. I hope Lance has his medals and trophies hidden in a time capsule some where — he should never give them up.

• Link
• Report this comment

If Lance did dope, and he probably did, those guys he beat in those seven TDF’s were doping too. He remains in my mind the best rider who ever competed on two wheels. All this after beating testicular cancer.

• Link
• Report this comment

Who cares if the idols of our cult-of-personality are doping? We want endurance, athleticism, and blood-grueling drama from those who entertain us. Drugs are good! Big Pharma says so. If you have any doubts, talk to your doctor if you experience nausea, fatigue, night sweats, diarrhea, dizziness, have suicidal thoughts, or start breaking out in Judy Garland or Billie Holiday tunes.

• Link
• Report this comment

don’t like that he lied about it in all probability; but think i undertand why he did it . i saw him compete before all this stuff when he was teenage triathlete. great athlete, despite what dawgdad thinks of the sport. if it weren’t for mirrots doubt dd could see his…..

• Link
• Report this comment

As you point out, the drugs run so deep and so strong and so long in our obsession for the lifestyle of the winner, and I’m not only talking about sports…. when I was working and where I was working there were workers using….other things besides fruits and vegetables…..they called them “vitamins” inside quotes in the tone of their behavior

• Link
• Report this comment

First you can easily verify that lance is not the most tested athlete ever. That is a lie he repeats.
He failed a drug test in 1999 but was allowed to submit a prescription after he failed to explain it. Most of the time you have to submit prescriptions before the test ( to prevent fake prescriptions). Another lance lie you believe. The French retested his urine after they developed a test for epo and his urine tested positive. USADA claims they have analytical proof of doping, probably by analyzing his biological passport. If he weren’t American, you wouldn’t defend him.

• Link
• Report this comment

Carnivore,

In my view, opinions are opinions. But, what the USADA is trying to do goes beyond opinions. They are clearly trying to destroy Armstrong. Those are actions. If you carry out actions designed to cause harm to others then you better have hard facts on your side. I think USADA is walking a dangerous path for them.

Personally, I don’t know if Armstrong doped. Is it possible he did? Of course it is possible. But, you don’t destroy or attack a man in a very public manner based on possibilities. Barry Bonds went to court and was found guilty of perjury. Marion Jones confessed of doping. Floyd Landis was busted by UCI tests immediately after his Tour de France victory. Tyler Hamilton was also and he is also about to publish a “tell-all” book in which he attacks Armstrong.

George Hincape is someone who has not been busted. USADA made some nebulous claims that Hincape was interviewed, but USADA still has avoided releasing all their evidence. Why is that? They certainly were quite aggressive about publicly claiming Armstrong was guilty. So, why not release all the evidence with those statements? What could they gain by keeping that information secret?

We are going to find out a lot when USADA releases their data to UCI. If they refuse to give UCI their evidence, then reasonable people can draw reasonable conclusions that USADA is playing loose and fast with fairness.

Don’t you agree that is is very strange that UCI befriended Armstrong in US District Court? I sure do! UCI was the same organization that busted Landis, Contador, Hamilton, and many many other cycling stars. Contador won three Tour de France titles and it did not stop UCI from busting him. You really think just four more titles for Armstrong would cause UCI to go from aggressive sanctioning body to complicit confederate?

• Link
• Report this comment

Even if Armstrong doped, which of course is possible, doesn’t change my opinion on him at all.

First he was known for out working every single biker during the offseason. Did drugs allow him to sit on the couch and bulk up? No

Second with so many of his other competitors in those Tour’s cheating he really wasn’t gaining a competitive advantage.

Finally and most importantly, what Lance has chosen to do with his life, with his success is truly remarkable. His foundation has raised 500 million for cancer research. As someone who has done medical research projects, that kind of money is responsible for making truly ground breaking advances in cancer treatment. Every one who writes in this blog including myself likely won’t raise 0.1% of that money in our lives.

Lets honor the man for who he is and what he has done.

• Link
• Report this comment

Say what you will. This gut won 7 Tour De France races, and all his major competitors doped. So, to keep even, he doped. I’ve thought for years, that he wasn’t “clean”. That said, he still went out there and won!!! Seven times. I don’t like that he perhaps doped (we really don’t know that), but it’s pretty clear his major competitors did…and yet he still beat them. To me, it’s this. Your have the “rules” and then you have the “RULES”. He abided by the rules that still let him plan on the levelest playing field, and he still won…and then he lived by the “RULES”. Still…he’s the best…
If you want to back in time, even some the greats admit to taking still to boost their performance…mainly caffeine and other such…I’m just sick of the whole thing and glad it’s over.

• Link
• Report this comment

And we wonder what has happened yo journalism. This has to be the saddest excuse for an article ever for MB. The headline just screams “I’m a bitter wannabe” Unbelievable……

• Link
• Report this comment

What stands out about this is that Armstrong — whether he doped or not — was denied due process by a quasi-government agency who used people who had been bullied into offering “testimony” to protect themselves. That is not transparency or fairness — that is bullying. The government, with its gadzillions of dollars, armies of scientists and laboratories, couldn’t get him. So they turned to USADA — which as the judge noted — has a much lower standard.

Screw them. I don’t know if Armstrong is guilty or not, but he deserves the same fairness we would all want for ourselves when accused of wrongdoing.

This is an agency that urgently needs to be dismantled and replaced with something more equitable.

• Link
• Report this comment

This is a travesty. He has only been accused and has never failed a drug test.
Who is so jealous of this man’s talents to not only put him through this emotional trauma, but then have the unmitigated gaul to strip the man of his medals and ban him from sports.

Where is the proof? Only comments from another cyclist who has lost to Armstrong in the past. Sounds like sour grapes to me

• Link
• Report this comment

jdawg,

Please get the basic facts correct. The “cycling body” is the UCI (International Cycling Union). The letters are reversed because the Union is based in France and that’s how it is spelled in French. The UCI appeared in US District Court as a friend of Lance Armstrong. Do you understand this? It a very vital point. UCI rejects that USADA has any jurisdiction over professional cycling. UCI has now demanded that USADA turn over all evidence it has against Lance Armstrong so that UCI can independently review and analyze it.

UCI and only UCI has the actual authority to strip Lance Armstrong of Tour de France titles. UCI is the governing body of international professional cycling events such as the Tour de France. And right now, UCI says that Armstrong is clean and in good standing. The organizers of the Tour de France are very quiet right now because they are waiting to see what UCI decides.

If USADA really wanted to clean up professional cycling, why did they not turn over all their evidence to UCI very quietly and monitor UCI’s actions? Why did they not allow UCI to review the evidence? If the evidence is truly compelling, why would USADA believe that UCI would do nothing with it?

USADA has semi-accused UCI of discovering a positive drug test from the samples that Armstrong submitted during his last Tour de France in 2009. Yet, that would be a first for UCI who again has busted nearly every top ranking professional cyclist in the sports recent history. No one can reasonably say that UCI has been soft on dopers in professional cycling.

In fact, UCI has had the toughest drug testing procedures in professional sports. Their standards of testing make what the NFL and MLB do look like a joke! In fact, perhaps only the IOC (International Olympic Committee) can claim to be as aggressive as UCI in busting dopers.

I am very much a law and order kind of person. Go back and read what I have written in blogs for Jeff Schultz’s many columns on doping in sports. But, beyond that, I also believe in jurisprudence. I believe that peoples’ rights are vital and should be safeguarded. If Lance Armstrong had busted just one UCI drug test I would have rejected him immediately and agreed he was a cheat.

But, UCI tried every which way it could to catch the dopers in their sport, including random sampling throughout the season, during events, and at all kinds of hours at cyclists’ homes, training facilities, and hotels on tours. That is why they busted so many cyclists. That is why so many members of Armstrong’s own US Postal Team have already been formally busted by UCI.

Yet, UCI has never busted Armstrong. So, we are supposed to believe Armstrong and only Armstrong could do it and get away with it? You know, that is an appealing argument. “If they all cheated then so did Lance Armstrong.” Yeah, there’s some appeal to that line of reasoning. But, to conclude that you have to have a logical way to answer a basic question: How could Lance get away with it an no one else — not even members of the very US Postal Team who’s cyclists were lined up and all given some levels of immunity if they testified against Lance Armstrong?

You know, try as I might, I cannot form a logical answer to that one. Would you assert that Lance hung his fellow cyclists on the USPS team out to dry, to deliberately set it up so they got busted and he would not? Are you saying Lance was too stupid to realize if that was his intent it would not come back to haunt him?

The one thing Travis Tygart said that was factual in nature during today’s ESPN Radio interview on the Mike and Mike in the Morning Show was that the eyewitnesses said Armstrong and all the members of the US Postal Team engaged in organized “blood transfusions,” which is Tygart’s way of saying they engaged in what is more widely termed blood packing. This is where you take a few pints of whole blood from an athlete, but it in the fridge, and then wait a few months for the competition. Then, you “pack” the athletes blood by putting that extra pint in his blood system, giving him more red blood cells to promote increased aerobic conditioning.

It is illegal. Like I wrote, it was first used by Warsaw Pact nations’ Olympic teams. They got away with it for a while, but word got out and the test to discover was easy. Like I wrote, you just take a blood sample immediately after competition. If that sample shows elevated red blood cell count, then the athlete packed his blood! When the East European athletes got busted, the practice stopped. Yet, Tygart claims in todays interview that there is no test against it! Nope, just flat out wrong!

I want to see what else Tygart and his USADA have as evidence. I want it turned over to UCI and let’s see what the cycling body has to say about it. If UCI rules Armstrong cheated, then I’ll say Armstrong was a cheat. But frankly, I don’t trust Travis Tygart and therefore I don’t trust his USADA organization.

• Link
• Report this comment

Somehow I don’t think most of the people saying Lance is innocent, he never failed a drug test, would be quite so understanding if the person being accused was a female East German swimmer, a male Russian weightlifter or a Chinese girl who swam the final 50 m of the IM faster than Ryan Lochte.

• Link
• Report this comment

I’m glad this is over. Armstrong cheated as well as robbed so many other athletes of the opportunity to win and prosper, but they didn’t cheat. I knew he was cheater long ago, as I’m sure many others had same thoughts.

• Link
• Report this comment

Modern day witch hunt. How can one be so successful without doping? Let’s ask Hank or get deep into the bloodstream of Bolt.

• Link
• Report this comment

Marion Jones did fail a drug test, that’s why she gave in.

Lance Armstrong has never failed a drug test in over 500 times being tested.

Think about that!

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark,

Seems to me you’re missing something. The man passed hundreds of drug tests. Hundreds of them. The only “evidence” against him is a couple of dopers who got caught who have questionable motives. The hundreds of tests are what they are. You are insinuating in this post that he is guilty. How??? The drug tests disagree with you.

• Link
• Report this comment

You’re a writer and voter in the AP. The final BCS comes out before the NC game is played. Yes, the BCS’s goal is to pick who plays for the NC, but there is no BCS poll after the game is played.

Rather, the AP and Coaches choose the NC after the game is played. The AP has been and probably always will be the poll most people prefer.

All this being said, just when did the AP vote to rescind the Trojans NC vote? Please point me to that article. It didn’t happen. USC is still the National Champ by AP vote.

• Link
• Report this comment

Google 60 minutes Lance Cheat.

He knew he was in trouble with the evidence USADA had and bailed. In the end, Lance was a cheat and coward. That he used the money for Livestrong doesn’t matter. Who knows maybe one of the other winners would have parlayed their fame an fortune into good deeds.

• Link
• Report this comment

Yes, he did cheat,

The same 60 minutes that allowed Dan Rather to do a hatchet job on George Bush’s guard service with completely bogus, made up docs? When 60 minutes does a story they usually do it with a slant and a bias even if they do try and make it look neutral. I wouldn’t take what they air very seriously. I’ve seen several newscasts of their’s over the years where I knew more about the topic then they did and it was clear they were reporting from a pre-determined bias. They have no credibility sir.

• Link
• Report this comment

Tide Rising, you must have thought Paterno was a victim too.

Aug. 20: A federal judge throws out Armstrong’s revised lawsuit, leaving him three days to decide if he would head to arbitration to fight charges.

Aug. 23: Armstrong announces he will not go to arbitration. “The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense,” he said in a release.

I think the USADA, among other evidence, had 10 TEAM members willing to testify against him. Not 1, 2, 3, but 10.

He was sunk and knew it.

• Link
• Report this comment

Speaking of Paterno. One thing that can be said, “if it has been one of his 17 grand kids (17 now, not sure of how many he had when he learned of the shower rape) would he have done the same thing, especially after he saw his bosses did nothing. Absolutely not.

The timing of Lance quitting will forever haunt him. Like I said, a coward.

His speaking fees just dropped 1000%.

• Link
• Report this comment

Coop, read up on the sport and the validity of the test results. I learned today the sport if full of cheaters. But the difference was, Lance, like Paterno (success with honor), held himself out as being something he ultimately wasn’t.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hilltopper,

USADA said the doping evidence against Armstrong came from the statements of more than a dozen witnesses, including former teammates and associates. While Armstrong’s defense was consistent – he had never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs – USADA said that was irrelevant. Armstrong and his co-conspirators on the U.S. Postal Service team, it said, devised ways to cheat in ways that wouldn’t be detected.

I know of kids who can hide drugs from tests. Why couldn’t the above be true.

• Link
• Report this comment

What we have learned…

1) Cyclists in packs on public roads should be outlawed in all 50 states.
2) Everybody in professional cycling cheats or has cheated except Greg LeMond.
3) Lance cheated, or else how could he have beaten the other cheaters?
4) Cheaters do, in fact, prosper.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ditto. He passed every test. It is all history now. USADA is actually as stupid and worthless as the NCAA and that is saying something.

• Link
• Report this comment

You sure are quick to convict on hear-say. You should never serve on jury. Armstrong chose to not enrich a pack of lawyers.The usada’s lawyers are on retainer but over use will cause an increase in cost. Armstrong chose to keep his finances stable.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey “Bob the blogger” …. crawl back into your friggin’ cave, putz.

• Link
• Report this comment

he passed all the tests yet all the USADA can find and use is the word of others who have been proven to be cheats… I don’t buy it.

• Link
• Report this comment

Lance Armstrong is and always will be a Giant in the Bike Racing world. Where’s the proof? There is none. Most of the people out there have no idea what an effort Lance has put into his sport. The IOC has been relentless in their witch hunt and they are the losers here. GO pound dirt IOC .

• Link
• Report this comment

No one who dominates their respective sport is beyond suspicion any more.

Passing a test doesn’t wash away the stain. It’s an effective talking point for those who support the accused cheater maybe, but the chemists will always be a step ahead of the testing authorities.

As long as cheating pays, somebody smart enough will figure out how to get away with it – until they don’t. Then once the jig is up we get the evasive answer, the finger-pointing denial, a tearful contrition or delusional and disjointed testimony of Roger Clemens.

There’s a good chance many of the greatest athletic feats of our generation are tainted by PEDs. It didn’t detract from the thrill we got when they were originally performed. And the more athletes who are revealed as dirty, the less it bothers us.

• Link
• Report this comment

This was a witch hunt.I am not even a cycling fan and believe him innocent.

• Link
• Report this comment

Another example of the deep pockets of Govt beating a man into submission. How many million has Lance spent defending himself?

Here is the irony; this current Administration has spent millions of taxpayer money chasing two Republican athletes, yet this same Admin cannot find reason to prosecute former NJ Democrat Gov Jon Corzine after the fall of his investment firm, even though Corzine lied before a Congressional hearing. Corzine’s firm cannot account for over $1 Billion of investor money, they don’t know where it went which is evidently just fine with the Obama Admin. Where is the investigation of Kasim Reed’s handling of airport contracts at the new international terminal? Sorry, no time, we’re hunting down the big time criminals, like Lance Armstrong, no time for the minor things.

Armstrong is a victim of rank hard core Democrat politics.

• Link
• Report this comment

Lance keeps harping and you clowns keep buying (see Clayton County sheriff elect 37 felony thug) the tests results.

Lance knew that he could beat the tests. He did, he showed his teammates how.

I said the NCAA would strip Paterno of at least 2 victories (giving Robinson the record) because it could not have Paterno forever tainting the record. I said it the day Paterno was fired.

There is more to this story and Lance will be exposed. Sorry. Lance and Paterno’s myth shattered in less than a year. Wow.

• Link
• Report this comment

This tells me that petty bureaucrats can be worse than cancer, … (posted by Ben)

Wow – what an idiotic statement!

I still hold that his cancer was caused by his performance enhancing drug usage. This wife cheating on, self promoting jerk was never on my radar for Role Model candidate.

Reading some of these comments reminds me of the masses of dolts who defended OJ Simpson.

• Link
• Report this comment

Typical idiots defending this guy. So, you’re telling me he won 7 straight TDFs and did not cheat? And he won all of them against cyclists who were ALL cheating? Does that seem plausible? He was better than all of the cheaters for 7 years? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Just makes no sense. And you think 10 of his former teammates would all collaborate and throw him under the bus? COME ON.

Americans want heroes. Doesn’t matter if they are dirtier than a pig in sh!t. They love heroes. And they’ll put people on pedestals even if they lack scruples and morals.

In your hearts you know he cheated. Own it.

• Link
• Report this comment

I say, let’s put the USADA under a microscope and see what we come up with. Who are they? Who funds them? Did they conduct a vendetta?

These days it’s hard to trust any of the bureaucrats hiding behind a shield of the “government” authority. More have been proven corrupt than not. Some of the little pricks in these agencies get so swelled up with power, any objectivity is lost as they try win at any cost. And all too many of these pricks are co-opted by some monied interest.

Like so many have acknowledge, the man has been tested forever. Let’s look at the “new” evidence, its source, and the backgrounds of the USADA officials.

• Link
• Report this comment

“What do we make of the inspirational Lance Armstrong now?”

He never tested positive for drugs. Not sure how someone gets their titles stripped like that.

In other news, the Braves suck and Mark Bradley will most likely tell us about how the Braves will win the WS next year.

• Link
• Report this comment

“Did Southern Cal win the 2004 BCS title or not?”

They actually got proven in court that they cheated.

“Hank Aaron or Barry Bonds?”

Bonds admitted to using sports enhancers. Cream. Aaron won it by talent and also faced death threats from the KKK.

“Should Mark McGwire be in the Hall of Fame? Should Rafael Palmeiro? Should Roger Clemens? And what of A-Rod, who might well hit 763 home runs?”

All either tested positive or admitted to taking steroids.

Mark, do you ever do your own homework?

• Link
• Report this comment

HUH?????????????

August 25th, 2012
11:10 am

” the USADA is a non-profit, non-governmental organization.”

So how do they have any power to take someones titles away from a guy who never tested positive or admitted to taking drugs?

ok, the same way the ncaa can extract wins from a coaches resume. neither organizations are government and are part of what you have to sign into to participate is my guess. personally not sure if this organization is in cahoots with the organization that sponsors the tour de france but again bike races are not government business anymore than the ncaa, nfl, nba, nascar, etc that have their own governing bodies making the rules of engagement i guess you could put it.

• Link
• Report this comment

Armstrong is a polarizing figure. Arrogant, self-centered, determined, hard-working. He’s the best and worst of America all in one package. Yes, he did punishing, off-season workouts when everybody else was drinking beer and resting. He also, I believe (and the evidence in the form of his testing positive for cortizone use in 1999, as well as the series of samples from that same period that were re-tested with better testing technology and revealeded high levels of testosterone), was juiced to the gills. People believed in Armstrong so much they protected him and hid the truth — and he was willing to turn on his former teammates and call them dopers while denying he knew anything about what they were doing. Really? He ran that cycling team like a dictator, forcing talented team members to hang back and do less than they were capable of because the over-riding goal was for Armstrong to win. His team existed to assist him with that. In the end, his lack of character has revealed itself. I’m curious about the amount of money his Livestrong foundation raises; does anyone have any stats re: the percentage of money raised versus the percent used for actual cancer research? Does Armstrong receive a salary from Livestrong? Do any of his family members? I’d be interested in learning more about this part of his life.

• Link
• Report this comment

I still think he is the greatest.I sure wish the gov would stay out of sports>Like what they tried to do to clements.He always passed the drug tests before events I sure wish they would leave him along.I dont follow bike events but I dont blame him for telling them to stick it.

• Link
• Report this comment

Armstrong’s been a blowhard for years. Anyone who’s had cancer knows it. Armstrong survived testicular cancer, but he uses it like a club to beef up his ego. He “survived” it – he, all on his own, did not “beat” it. That honor goes to his medical team (all of whom he treated with hostility and arrogance – read the book), his inner circle/those who loved and helped him through it, yes to Armstrong himself, but buddy you better give some credit to the God that brought you here & kept you here. I survived brain cancer, and while I had a role in doing so, I can’t take full credit. You better acknowledge that higher power in your life or it’s a pretty long fall down. I give thanks to that same higher power that those #@%^ yellow bracelets might start going away.

• Link
• Report this comment

I call BS. At some point an investigation becomes a witch hunt. The USADA passed that point after the Dept.of Justice determined that Armstrong wasn’t guilty. To consider him guilty because he’s tired of fighting the same idiotic battles over and over again is completely asinine. I never considered you asinine, M. Bradley…until today.

• Link
• Report this comment

I find it sad that USADA had nothing better to do than go after some one who passed all the drug tests. How did they manage to do this. It’s some thing to make me worry whats next with the Justice system when hear say is allowable to go after any one with out cause.I think we all should be concerned. To assume that his team mates are or were dirty is not to be assumed that he was. Remember Mr. Justice you know assume makes a a$$ out u and me.

• Link
• Report this comment

Also, Viatcheslav Ekimov himself has never tested positive for doping in his career, but he was the victim of doping. It’s a small world as it was Tyler Hamilton, twice! In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Ekimov finished with the silver medal to Tyler Hamilton who won the gold in the men’s individual road time trial race. Hamilton had his A sample test positive for PED’s. However, Hamilton got lucky. The lab mistakenly froze his B sample and therefore the B sample could not be tested to meet the requirements for a matching positive test result. So, despite an appeal filed by the Russians, Hamilton kept the gold and Ekimov the silver.

The second time, Hamilton again won the gold and Ekimove the silver, this time at the 2004 Athens games. In 2012 Hamilton confessed about doping and so the IOC stripped Hamilton of his gold and it will be awarded to Ekimov.

So, it seems to me that if anything, being clean himself and having been victimized by dopers, that if Ekimov is saying Armstrong was clean, then perhaps we ought to put more weight on his information than the information from two confirmed cheats like Hamilton and Landis.

• Link
• Report this comment

Why did all these second and third place finishers get caught and he never did fail. The man has been basically retired for 7 years. The USADA has been on a witch hunt for years. Go after the one’s cheating now.

• Link
• Report this comment

USADA sucks.. I believe Armstrong.

• Link
• Report this comment

Yes, they can strip the wins. Every sport has that built in protection. How many touchdowns have been scored, but a few moments later were reversed. Did they not score. Sure they did, but somebody cheated (offsides, whatever) and the touchdown was negated. It happened, no it didn’t.

The rules say if you cheat, you run the risk of forfeit a win. Everybody knows that. Lance cheated and got caught.

• Link
• Report this comment

Lance is still the man. Witch hunt is an understatement USADA bunch of sissys. We still admire and believe you Lance.

• Link
• Report this comment

Lance’s in your face attitude today reminds me of Paterno telling the regents to not worry another second about him and get on to other matters. Ha. Fired, disgraced, dead.

Ken, maybe Lance has a grand scheme here. Wait for Tygart to hang himself, then sue. Yeah, right. My bets are on USADA just like the NFL commish and NOs and Emmert and PSU.

• Link
• Report this comment

Next thing we know the USADA will be going after Micheal Phelps. They’ll probably say that he drank a Coke within 24 hours of a race and therefore had an unfair advantage due to the caffiene.

• Link
• Report this comment

Wow…a BIG YAWN…Look, whoever thinks that pro athletes IN ALL SPORTS are not “juicing” in some form or another is a GIGANTIC FOOL! Here are three MAJOR REAONS: MONEY – MONEY MONEY…from ALL SIDES…promotion, fame, advertisers, investors, “hanger-on-ers”, etc. But the big thing is they have ALL learned how to beat the tests…I heard Victor Conte say that he thinks right NOW 50% of major league baseball players are “juicing” and IF YOU WANT THE PROBLEM FIXED, FIX THE TESTS…only about 60 palyers in MLB are tested EACH YEAR…so ‘what are the odds’ so to speak…and by now ALL athletes know how to “mask”…so let’s get our heads out of our ‘a…..s’ and stop all the “self righteous” “b-s” and stop acting like it matters…we’ll still go to games…still watch the olympics…and LANCE WON IT ALL “FAIR AND SQUARE” (at least by the standards provided)…and the USADA in my mind is JUST LIKE THE NCAA…ALL FOR SHOW TO JUSTIFY ALL THEIR BIG SALARIES…they prosecuted BARRY BONDS…shall I remind us how all that money and time turned out!!! YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK…TO LOSE!!! WOW…OUR GOVERNMENT…WHAT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS…chasing a baseball player and what was the crime again…”lying”…can you say let’s start prosecuting 5th GRADERS and CRYING because somebody lied about…oh gimme a BREAK!

• Link
• Report this comment

He had the best team and best strategy, so his team put him across the finish line in a shorter amount of time than all the other dopers. In my book that is a win.

• Link
• Report this comment

This just in from the brainiacs at the USADA:

“Lance is a cheat because he just was and our hundreds of drugs tests gave wrong results for him all those years, but, um, for everyone else the drug test results were all correct and any/all fines and/or suspensions levied against any other atheles are still legitimate and stand in good order.”

Them USADA people need to stick to rating steaks. They ain’t too bright.

• Link
• Report this comment

If you throw out Armstrong’s wins, you have to throw out the results for everyone else who lost, right?

They all passed the tests, but if the tests were wrong, you have to throw EVERYTHING out.

Nobody won, nobody lost, nothing ever happened, nothing to see here, move along. Nobody ever raced bicycles. They only raced Nascars. This is America, after all.

Oh my, who is really behind all this? GM? Chrysler? Ford? ExxonMobil? BP? Everyone whose interests are keeping cars in their places on the flagpole just above the American flag and the Bible? Ohhhhhhhhh.

Yeah, if Armstrong golfed or played football or baseball or soccer, nobody would care seven years later about anything he did or did not do.

Bicycling, though. That is the only sport with any redeeming quality. You can perform this sport in lieu of driving a car to get somewhere.

That concept scares the people who have money and power, so if the face of bicycling is slapped hard enough, maybe Joe The Plumber will stick with his car. “Them bicyclers is dopin’ qeers! FORD CHEVY”

• Link
• Report this comment

The value of ‘microsoft office’ suite towards corporate is certainly significant. Exactly the same is relevant with a common PC user too. Are you still using MS Office 2003? Things have changed a whole lot. Plunge to ‘microsoft office 2010 key and transform your productivity. This office suite besides seems to have a first-rate look and also renders stunning performance. In this article i will discuss about the most common reasons for switching to Microsoft office 2010 key. Explore this article learn more about this.Managing your files, presentations, spreadsheets and charts hasn’t ever been really easy. With ‘microsoft office’ 2010 you obtain the improved options that come with Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Publisher, FrontPage and PowerPoint. On this version, Outlook is even made more sophisticated. Comprising Social Connector feature for SharePoint, LinkedIn or Facebook it truly is a lot more powerful.Microsoft has first launched the Ribbon in microsoft Office Professional 2007 and with this latest edition you will get a significantly improved ribbon. Here you will get more tools for editing documents and pictures or images. The Broadcast Slideshow feature makes PowerPoint gets exceedingly creative and technologically advanced. New content auto-highlight, version support and author bar color-coding along with faster synchronization, real-time changes display, etc. are some of the other notable features.Can you work more with accounts and financial records? Well, Microsoft Office 2010 makes your livelihood easier with the Microsoft Excel. This advanced application integrates Slicers, PowerPivot and Sparklines. All these let the user to deal with data easily in cells better and precisely. While using windows 7 download enhanced macro support one can possibly accomplish more tasks seamlessly.Microsoft OneNote makes all the job of the virtual hosting clients easy with all the collaboration features and remote accessibility features. Added features are Outlook task creation, improved search functions and link integration, and math equations support, etc.In relation to the huge benefits, their email list is truly endless. office 2010 professional

• Link
• Report this comment

BTW Mark Bradley, assuming you bother to read these blog replies, is that the kind of society you want to live in? Is that the kind of reality you want your children to live in?

It’s easy to write words Mark, and while your words were more or less responsible, you never did mention all the tests and uniquely stringent lifestyle Armstrong had to live as a condition of his professional cycling.

• Link
• Report this comment

Mark Bradley has it seems moved on. But, this story has not. Here are few links from news sources that have had more to report on the story:

This one features a vote of confidence from Miguel Indurain, who won the tour before Lance went on his six consecutive victory tear. Indurain is also free of any busted tests and is seen as an honest rider:

http://dualfit.com/should-lance-armstrong-be-stripped-of-7-tour-de-france-titles/

This column offers a different take from what many others have taken, although there are plenty of columnists even at ESPN who have voiced various degrees of concern of USADA, including one who outrightly says USADA should have left well enough alone.

This article provides a bit more background on the feud between USADA and UCI:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/08/news/uci-wants-independent-panel-to-review-usadas-armstrong-case-files-prior-to-sanctions_234070

It has now been 48 hours since USADA ran full steam ahead with their conclusions that their evidence convicts Armstrong and yet they have given none of it to UCI. Don’t be surprised if this ends up ruining WADA and USADA, causing a formal break between professional cycling. If USADA and WADA continue in their refusal to turn the evidence over to UCI it would not surprise me that UCI formally recends its contractual agreements with WADA and in turn USADA.

• Link
• Report this comment

He failed THREE tests at least (1999, 2001, and during the 2009 comeback). Read the full USADA report and you will see they had him nailed, that is why he decided to call it quits.

• Link
• Report this comment

“Lance Cheatstrong,”

Name you chose says it all — too cowardly to post by your given name. But, I’ll make a brief exception and answer you.

Yes, I will vote for Mitt Romney and for the same reasons I have written what I have written here — because I choose to live in a world of hard facts and proof. And with budget deficits tolling over $16 trillion, I realoze that four more years of Obama will bankrupt this nation.

Your other comments come from you after you made the crass statement hoping Armstrong’s cancer would come back. So, that says all I really need to know about you.

It has now been four business days since Armstrong declined the USADA arbitration and which by WADA bylaws requires USADA to give the controlling body of the sport all its evidence. To date, USADA has given nothing to UCI. UCI is not going to wait forever for it. Eventually, after reasonable time has gone by, either USADA turns over its evidence for UCI review or UCI is going to refute USADA and their demands.

Again, those are facts, and so I hardly expect you to pay them any mind.

• Link
• Report this comment