Tag: Lance Armstrong

Smoke And Fire

May 23, 2011 / DB

I’ve wanted to believe Lance Armstrong for a long time. I know I’m not the only one.

Each time there was a new allegation claiming Lance had, in fact, benefited from various banned substances and procedures during his Tour de France reign, I held the company line: He had been tested over and over and over again through his career and never been caught. He operated under as intense a microscope as any athlete in modern times, with seemingly the entire European cycling community focused on nailing him for doing something wrong, and was never caught.

They were just jealous an American came and made their race look like a joke for seven years. They hated his arrogance. They couldn’t tolerate how every rider who seemed poised to challenge him ran into PED issues of their own. It became an obsession, a witch hunt, and they would stop at nothing to finally nail him.

I’ll admit my view has changed slowly in recent years. I always subscribed to the where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire theory. Despite believing his main defense, that he had never failed a drug test, I was not so blind to think there was no chance he hadn’t put something into his system over his career.

But still I believed in the man and the myth.

I didn’t watch Sunday’s 60 Minutes feature in which former teammate Tyler Hamilton became the latest insider to assert that Lance had never been the pure rider he claimed. I did read enough summaries and reactions to the piece, though, to feel like something was different this time. What, I’m not sure. The straw that broke the camel’s back perhaps. There comes a point where, to continue to believe in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, becomes impossible.

I’ve said many times that PEDs in sports don’t trouble me much. So if Lance indeed was cheating over his career, what does that mean for his legacy? I’ve read reactions this morning that mirror those that have been around for a decade. “Well, everyone else was doing it, so why should I hold it against him?” Or, “He’s done so much good with his fame and fortune that I don’t care what he put into his body.”

I can’t buy into either of those arguments. Lance was different. He was the good guy who appeared to be the target of a campaign to frame him. He constantly said not only did he not cheat, but that he didn’t need to cheat. He reminded us that he had been through cancer, on the verge of death, and he would never do something like that to a body he worked so hard to repair so he could race again. We bought into it because his story was so compelling, so inspiring, and so American.

I still hold out hope that Lance was clean, that this is about jealousy and people with power leaning on those close to him to change the stories they clung to for so many years. It’s a tiny hope, though, and I admit at my core I’m not sure anymore. If a positive test comes up, if Lance were to tearfully admit that he did put something into his system, or if the evidence against him simply becomes so compelling that I can’t believe otherwise, I won’t be surprised. I will feel a little guilty for believing him and buying into his myth. But I long ago shed the belief that most elite athletes are clean. I’ll chalk him up as another athlete of his time who couldn’t resist the temptation to give his natural abilities a boost. Like Pete Rose, Mark McGwire, and Barry Bonds, all future discussion of his career will be tempered with that knowledge.
❖

Sports Shorts

August 9, 2010 / DB

A few thoughts on the burning issues of the day(s).

Tiger I know everyone wants to flip out on what’s going on with Tiger Woods, but let’s all just take a deep breath and relax. If he’s still shooting +18 next year, then we can start talking about the biggest fall from grace in sports history. But, given what he’s been dealing with this year, I don’t see how you can chalk this up as a normal year.

I haven’t written much about it because I’m really not sure what to say. I do think it is wise to delay making judgements about his golf career until he has more time to get healthy, rebuild his swing (again), and better deal with the mess he’s made of his private life. He may never be the fearsome competitor of his prime, but I think it’s far too early to write off the rest of his career.

Lance OK, depending on what happens with the investigation in Lance Armstrong’s past, maybe Tiger has some competition for the biggest sports fall from grace. I’m indifferent to PEDs; I believe everyone in cycling was doing something. But I tend to agree with those who say, at least in America, people won’t care if we do eventually learn that Lance was doping. They will talk about all that he’s done in the fight against cancer and say that was a reasonable bargain. I don’t know that I completely agree with that argument, but there is some logic to it.

Colts Like the rest of the NFL, the Colts arrived at camp a week ago and have been working out hard in preparation for another 12-win season. The normal questions abound: Will Bob Sanders play more than two games? Can the offensive line continue to protect Peyton? Can the running game move the chains? Will there be enough balls to go around for a fantastic, deep receiving corps?

But the biggest question surrounding football in Indianapolis is what’s going to happen to next year’s Super Bowl, scheduled for Lucas Oil Stadium? Will a lockout, which seems to be a given at this point, destroy the 2011 season? Will owners try to run out replacement players like they did in 1987? What if, in a worst case, the season is cancelled? Will Indy get another shot to host or was this our one chance to be in the rotation?

Prediction: if for some reason the Super Bowl does not take place in February 2012, the day it was scheduled to be played will be unseasonably warm in Indy and people will be saying, “What a great day this would have been for the Super Bowl!”

Baseball Thank goodness the Royals made a few moves around the trading deadline. The smartly wrote off the rest of the season in exchange for finally figuring out if some of their young guys will factor in what happens to the team over the next couple years. I expect them to mess up the bushel of prospects in the minors, but I remain cautiously optimistic about the future.

One other baseball note: we keep hearing about what a tough year it’s been for the Red Sox. They’ve been hammered by injuries all year, with nearly every key player spending time on the DL. They are basically out of the race in the first week of August, despite their massive payroll. Then you look at the numbers and see that they’ve won 63 games. Before the Yankees took three-straight over the weekend, those 63 wins would have put the Red Sox in first place in every other division in baseball. Even now, they’d be within two games of first everywhere but the AL East. Yet their season is a disaster. They could easily win 90 games and still finish third in their division. Baseball is a crazy game.

❖

Hello Again

September 10, 2008 / DB

I don’t know how to feel about Lance Armstrong’s return. I tend to want my retired athletic heroes to stay retired. Call me old fashioned. But, I read an article during this summer’s Brett Favre drama that convinced me that the whole idea of legacy and pleasing the fans is a little silly. Each athlete should do what makes him or her happy, not what keeps our mental image of them intact. So if Lance wants to hop on a bike again and attempt to prove that he’s got it, more power to him. I’ll follow the story, but I won’t have nearly the interest in it, or make the investment in time and emotion, that I did during the era when he dominated the Tour de France.

Accepting that does not clear him from criticism, though. He’s become a bit of a gossip page regular over the past years, and some have argued that his playboy ways have come to overshadow both the memory of his career as a biker and his efforts with the Livestrong foundation. I don’t know about that. When I hear his name, I still think of him riding up the Alps in a yellow jersey, no matter who he’s dating.

However, I do think it is a bit, I don’t know, sad, disappointing, frustrating that he is yet another supreme competitor that can’t turn those energies off. He seemed like someone who would make a good transition because of his focus on cancer research. Clearly that hasn’t been able to fill the void. While I admire him for his drive, determination, and epic commitment, I also feel a little sorry for people like him, Michael Jordan, etc. that are so driven that they can’t give up the thing that best quenched that thirst. Remember when Jordan seemed like the coolest, most together guy in the world? Since his final retirement, we’ve learned that he’s a bit of a freak, and probably not someone you want your kids to emulate. I fear Lance is heading down that same path, where a life of doing good and making a difference isn’t enough, and instead he becomes the sad, old guy who is hanging out with people half his age in an effort to prove he’s still got it.

And then there’s the whole doping angle. I still buy into his argument that he was tested time and again and never tested positive. But I’m not naive enough not to understand the best athletes are always ahead of the testing curve. The Tour has probably made the biggest and best strides in all of sports at nabbing offenders, and they damn near wiped out last year’s race they were so efficient in catching people. Maybe Lance is going to continue to pass every test and performance baseline they can throw at him. Maybe he always was and always will be clean. But I dread the headlines and resulting drama if he does ever fail a test.

So welcome back, Lance. I guess.

Assorted Sports Thoughts

July 27, 2005 / DB

Many others have written about this connection, but I for one think it’s very cool that I’m part of the generation that produced Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods. Lance avoided the curse of my recurring dream (Which, by the way, entailed him losing control on a mountain descent and going over a guardrail. I had this dream at least ten times over the past year.) and retired at the top of his game, with no questions about his ability left to be answered. Good for him. Hopefully he’s true to his word and stays away. I’ll miss following him each July, but he has bigger things to do in life. I hope he avoids his temptation to slip into politics that so many people seem to be talking about. He’s close with both President Bush and Senator Kerry. Reading his books, he alternately sounds very liberal and rather conservative, depending on what he’s talking about. Some might call him the perfect candidate to bridge the famous red-blue split that is plaguing this country right now. I say, don’t let your ego force you into a position where you’re destined to make 40% of the population dislike you. You can do things equally or more important as in politicians continuing your efforts with your foundation and other similar activities. And all without alienating portions of your fan base.

Tiger, or Toigah as the Aussies call him, has reasserted himself as the best golfer in the world this year. He may have the typical golfer vanilla personality and refuse to take interesting stands on any issue, but his golf is sublime. I don’t understand those who say it’s boring when he’s winning. He plays at a level no one has ever played at, and I love watching him.

As if the Nike commercial that used Lance Armstrong’s press conference in which he announced his cancer diagnosis wasn’t powerful enough, it was masterful to show it immediately after he finished his final ride. The picture of his scared head on the back of this week’s Sports Illustrated is equally amazing.
I’ll also miss people randomly talking to me about the Tour or asking how Lance did that day and having a moment of pause before I realize I’m wearing my <a href=”http://www.nike.com/wearyellow/main.html”>Livestrong</a> band and that’s what prompted the discussion.
Worth noting that another phenomenal athlete of our generation, Alex Rodriguez, does not fit into the group with Lance and Tiger. Why? Well, you don’t sign a quarter billion dollar contract then demand a trade because you don’t like losing. What was it Jason Varitek said to him last summer before they threw down…?
So why don’t they use bullpen carts to bring in relief pitchers anymore? I miss those chintzy little golf carts designed to look like a giant baseball cap they used in the 70s.
Regarding Rafael Palmeiro and his Hall of Fame credentials, I don’t understand why we have to decide whether people are HoFers before their careers are complete. Wasn’t Doc Gooden a can’t miss HoFer back in 1984-6? Raffy has always been one of my favorite players and he’s put up phenomenal stats. I’d say he’s borderline HoF now. Great player, but an all-time great? Not so sure about that. But what if he plays another five years, hits another 150 home runs and gets another 750 hits? Without knowing how his career ends, all the shouters and ranters on ESPN need to shut up and save their verdicts for when his career profile is complete.
Ron Artest survived the NBA summer league without any incidents. The Pacers signed European stud <a href=”http://www.jasikevicius.com/”>Sarunas Jasikevicius</a> over the weekend. If they stay healthy, look out. They’re going to be very, very good.

Now Playing: <strong>Diggin the New</strong> by <a href=”http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Joe%20Strummer%20and%20the%20Mescaleros%22″>Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros</a>

“A Systematic Destruction of The Field.”

July 12, 2005 / DB

“An infernal, murderous pace.”
“Vinokourov is about to pop.”
“What we’re seeing is a man destroying all of his competitors.”
“Lance Armstrong is an angry, angry man.”

I don’t know what I enjoy more about watching OLN’s coverage of the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong’s sublime performance or the pitch-perfect comments the announcers use to describe what is happening. Today was the second snapshot moment for Lance in this year’s tour. The first came in the opening time trial, when he caught Jan Ullrich and gave him a look over the shoulder as he passed him. Ullrich was utterly done for the Tour at that moment. Today, in a classic mountain performance, Lance left nearly everyone of significance behind. It’s become a cliche over the past seven years, but there is little in sports like watching Lance’s effort when climbing a mountain compared to his competitors. You can literally see the will and energy seep from their bodies as they attempt to match his energy. He peddles as if he’s on a Sunday ride and everyone else struggles to keep upright. I’m going to miss Lance very much.

Now Playing: <strong>Buena</strong> by <a href=”http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Morphine%22″>Morphine</a>

Be Careful What You Wish For

August 31, 2004 / DB

Remember how I was lamenting the fact our child wouldn’t fall asleep at night? Well, we’ve certainly got that problem solved. The girl slept something like 12 of 15 hours between late evening last night and late morning today. It was brilliant. The downside is the kid refuses to go down from early afternoon through the evening now. She takes a few catnaps here and there, but for the most part, she’s awake endlessly.
There are two problems with that. First, she’s only five weeks old, so there’s only so much either she or we can do to keep her entertained during her awake time. Her bouncy seat and swing only interest her for about five minutes at a time. We can read to her, but other than indirect benefits, it doesn’t do much to soothe her. Second, as the time since her last good sleep increases, her mood darkens. We’re pretty much resigned to about a three-hour window of crying, fussing, and aborted attempts to put her down. She’ll fall asleep on one of us, we’ll wait until she’s been out 10-15 minutes, gently put her in her pack ‘n play, and within five minutes she’s awake and yelling. While it’s much better that she does this during the day and evening than overnight, it’s still quite frustrating since nothing calms her down.

Gail made an excellent point regarding the US women at the Olympics, and I was greatly remiss for not acknowledging their accomplishments. Despite my general dislike for softball, I think it’s a good Olympic sport. Perhaps it is just because we kick serious ass. Or maybe it’s the fact that we have the best players in the world, and we know we’ll see them play in the games, unlike either men’s basketball or baseball (for different reasons, obviously).

Another point I forgot to make was the large number of athletes from all countries sporting Livestrong bracelets during the games. I wondered, are all these people really interested in Lance Armstrong’s foundation, or did Nike just dump a few buckets at the Olympic Village for anyone to take? Regardless, I suppose it’s a good thing that people wore them no matter why they took them.

More Friday Nonsense

June 25, 2004 / DB

Blogger appears to be a little jacked up. I haven’t been getting the automatic e-mails when people post comments for the past couple days. The two posts I added this morning didn’t show up for nearly an hour. I highly doubt Christie took the time to type her comments up five times (at last count) either! Oh the price I pay for using a free application. Hopefully things will work out soon and none of you are having trouble accessing the site or posting.

A few quick thoughts on the NBA draft, of which I only saw and hour or so. Based on what I read today, I’m in a tiny minority on this, but I just don’t get the whole Ben Gordon thing. Great college player, absolutely no question about that. But the dude is listed as 6’2”, which means he’s 6’1” at best. That makes him undersized to play the two spot in the NBA. He doesn’t have a pure point mentality, so I don’t see a smooth transition there. And then the Bulls, who already have Kirk Hinrich and Jamal Crawford in their backcourt, take him? There were rumors the Pacers wanted to trade for him, which I don’t get either. I may be way off here, but I just don’t look at him and see NBA star. Also, I don’t understand how the league can be so high on him, yet so low on Jameer Nelson. Nelson might be small, but he’s a proven point who can punish defenses with his outside shot. He’s not going to be a star, but I can see him being a high quality role player or backup for a long time.
I buy into the backlash against all the high school picks about 75%. I’ve lamented the rash of high schoolers thinking they belong in the Association for several years. I think it hurts the NBA, college hoops, and the players themselves. For every LeBron that’s clearly ready, there are three Kwame Browns who aren’t ready physically, mentally, or ability-wise and will never live up to the hype they arrived in the league with. Is it just me, though, or does ESPN orchestrate a backlash du jour (since I don’t know how to say “year” in French) for each year’s draft? Last year, we heard four hours of xenophobic rantings against foreign players. This year, it’s pile on the high school kids. Sure seems pre-planned to me.
Dick Vitale still knows nothing about the NBA.
Apparently ESPN poured most of their budget for June into the marketing for SportsCenter in HDTV. Memo to Bristol: You might want to get some decent audio equipment and test it before next year’s draft so we’re not forced to listen to reverb and feedback, not to mention entirely too much crowd noise, all night. It was like someone talking to you from the end of a long hallway. Then again, with Mike Tirico and Stuart Scott serving as hosts, maybe less is better.
Tom Tolbert’s magic suit must have been at the cleaners.
I’m always torn on Stephen A. Smith. Anyone who can get into full rant mode and still make complete points deserves respect. But not every opinion requires a rant to back it up. However, a nice counterpunch to David Alrdrige’s smooth personality.

In other sports news, the Royals Revival of the early 00’s is officially over with Carlos Beltran’s trade to Houston last night. When I was a kid, the Royals just didn’t lose homegrown talent. Here’s to hoping David DeJesus develops as everyone says he will, the young pitchers currently playing stay healthy, the young pitchers on the DL come back next year, and the prospects in the minor leagues develop quickly. Oh, and a new economic structure for baseball and/or an ownership group willing to spend money in order to win.

I received my Livestrong wristbands in the mail today. If you’ve not heard about these, it’s the marketing tool the Lance Armstrong Foundation is using to raise awareness and money for supporting those who live with cancer. $10 buys you ten bands. I’m married to the daughter of a woman who lost her battle with cancer ten years ago, and am the step-son of a man who beat cancer 15 years ago. $10 plus a donation to the foundation seems like a small price to pay to support a cause that touches my life so closely.

Random

July 30, 2003 / DB

One quick note, before I unload some pile-up that’s in my head. If any of you use AOL’s Instant Messenger, I now have a screen name: DDBinIndy. Shoot me a message sometime if you’re online.

Things on my mind:
In addition to being all whacked out about time here, I think there’s some kind of suspension of normal physics laws in Indiana. I’m only exaggerating in the slightest when I say that everyday a large truck flips over on one of the local highways, snarling rush hour traffic for hours. Not that if affects me, since my morning commute involves walking from the bedroom, down the stairs, and opening up the laptop. As an added bonus, yesterday a truck carrying painters and paint supplies burst into flames near the airport, snarling traffic there for several hours. Initial word had it that someone on the truck lit a cigarette. One person died and 12 others who were on the truck are in the hospital, most in critical condition. I just think something very Stephen King is going on here.
The downtown loop in Kansas City used to drive me crazy. All it took was one truck trying to get down to 45 to make those turns, then attempt to reaccelerate up the hills to back traffic up 10 miles. I thought about one day running for mayor on a rush hour platform: no big trucks on the highways between 7:00-8:30 AM and 4:30-6:00 PM. Sure, big business would use all their resources to trounce me like a beetle, but the momentum would start, my friends! You can’t keep the people down!

I’m working up a rant on preseason football, but it will have to wait until a few of those travesties have been broadcast.

Tour de France: I read Lance Armstrong’s first book while on our honeymoon. A fantastic read. I remember when it first came out and everyone who read it started referring to Lance as if he’s a friend (I’m doing it by calling him Lance). It’s a must read whether you’re into cycling, have any experience with cancer, or not. He’s really an amazing person. I watched more of the Tour this year than ever before. Mostly because it was on each morning and the TV is only 22 steps away. It was interesting to watch the doubters (at times even Lance seemed to doubt) hovering as he failed to stretch his lead to the length of previous Tours. The day he basically won the Tour, last Monday, with his amazing climb that included one fall and one slip, was the day that will be written about in the year-end columns. Is there any better sports metaphor than falling off the bike and getting right back on? He literally does it, and still manages to absolutely crush the will of his closest competitor. I think I watched the entire time trial Saturday, which was terrific drama with the rain and win.
I’m flabbergasted by the people who say Lance and his achievements are overrated or unimportant. First, what better message to the public, who face obstacles like cancer everyday than to beat it and win the world’s most grueling sports event. Five times. Second, I think all the doubters remember the carefree days of riding their bike all day, every day, during the summer. Try doing it for 80 hours over three weeks and 2100 miles, with thousand foot climbs and descents. Then tell me it’s no big deal to win the Tour.

Finally, local sports brief. I’m sure many of you were interested in my reaction to the Pacers acquiring Scot Pollard. On a personal level, I’m excited. There’s a special thrill to watching someone from your school play in the pros. Even cooler is someone like Pollard that you actually went to school with and saw around campus (He used to harass everyone outside my Sociology of the Family class). I don’t feel like I know the him, but I have a couple good stories I can share in a loud voice at games so people around me think I’m cool (not that they don’t already, it just reinforces the impression). Hell, for all the grief I give Greg Ostertag, I still claim him.
However, on a purely basketball level, it was not a great move by Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh. Pollard is an effective NBA player, and when he’s been healthy and started, he’s put up respectable numbers (7 points, almost 9 rebounds a game when Chris Webber missed extended time two seasons ago). I think he’ll work nicely with Jermaine O’Neal. However, the whole reason for the trade was the Pacers’ desire to keep old man Reggie Miller around for one more season, rather than resign Brad Miller. Let’s restate: a washed-up, has-been player for one year, or a young, dedicated, 7’ center who was in the All-Star game last year for the next 6-7 years? The math gets even worse when you learn that the Pacers will probably sign Jon Barry as well. One more time: a brittle, geriatric swingman who can’t hit the big shot anymore, plus a bench player to fill Reggie’s role as the defense stretcher for a center who compliments your franchise player perfectly. If the Pacers are so worried about having Reggie around to put asses in the seats, have Larry Bird walk around the court before, during, and after each game. That should do the trick. All that said, I wouldn’t be shocked if Pollard surprises a lot of people here. Anytime you replace a Purdue player with a KU alum, you’ve traded up.