Quote: (07-10-2018 01:28 AM)LaFleur Wrote:
I don't really care about him cheating in an era when everyone was cheating (in a sport that most people complaining don't give two shits about), or him hurting people's feelings, or fucking their live in girlfriends, or being a selfish prick and lying to protect his brand/image. Him beating advanced stage testicular cancer that had metastasized to his brain is enough for me to like the guy. Anyone who read It's Not About the Bike will understand. Sure, his survival was mostly due to the doctors in Indiana and the luck of the draw with how his body responded to treatment. But it was his choice to keep on fighting each day. He is still a warrior and a survivor and a competitor. He may not inspire many cyclists or armchair critics but he is still an inspiration for many dealing with more important shit than racing or trophies or endorsements.
It was a bitter pill to swallow when he was exposed as a cheat and liar and his 7 wins were stripped, one of those moments in life I will forever remember where I was and who I was with when the news dropped. I proudly wore my yellow Livestrong bracelet for several years until that day. Not just some fanboy tribute, it was bigger than that, cancer is like war, it leaves a permanent scar on people and they are part of that tribe whether they asked for it or not.
If you haven't already, you MUST read "The Secret Race" by Tyler Hamilton. He was on Lance's team, and goes in depth about how the doping worked, and how he realized it was an absolute necessity to make it to the top of cycling. Doping is a part of
all professional sports that have big pay days, and even some that don't. Hell, guys at the gym take gear to look better and put on muscle, but we're supposed to believe people making >$1M yearly won't??
After watching interviews with Lance and reading "The Secret Race", he comes across as a tragically flawed hero. His determination as an athlete, overcoming cancer, a super successful charity, and even mastery at doping all show he was a laser focused alpha male. His tragic flaws stem from the emotional wounds of being abandoned by his father. Lance would never have gotten caught if he did not treat people horribly. When people did get caught, he could have said "everyone makes mistakes, he is basically a good guy, he can come back one day, etc", but instead he would crucify the person, usually one of his own teammates.
In my opinion, he paid a fair price for his sins, this interview with Joe Rogan made me think he might now understand what an ass he was.