30 Day Baseball Card Challenge

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly #10: Lance Armstrong

I'm a firm believer in the right to be found innocent, until proven guilty.  But things aren't looking good for Mr. Livestrong.

The Good:


July 1994 Sports Illustrated for Kids #276

In the mid 90's, Armstrong battles testicular cancer that spread to his lungs and brain.  In 1997, he forms the Livestrong Foundation which benefits cancer research provides support for people affected by cancer.  Since then, they have raised over $470,000,000 to support their mission with over 80% of every dollar raised going directly to support their programs and services for cancer survivors.


The Bad:

2001 Sports Illustrated for Kids #105

On
August 23rd, 2012... the US Anti-Doping Agency bans Armstrong from cycling for life.  Last week, he steps down as chairman for the Livestrong Foundation and many of his sponsors drop endorsement deals.  On Monday, the International Cycling Union strips him of his seven Tour de France titles.


The Ugly:

2004 Sports Illustrated for Kids #428

Regardless if Armstrong is innocent or guilty... the damage has been done.  Once a symbol of hope, hard work, perseverance, and strength... he is now just a man with a damaged reputation.  One that I would not wish on my worst enemies.

Assuming no additional news comes out and Armstrong never admits to any of the charges...

How will you choose to remember Lance Armstrong?

I personally feel this is one of those situations where most people will remember the "bad" more than the "good".  I've always felt he was innocent... but I'm starting to feel that I've been living in denial.  In other words... things aren't looking good for Mr. Livestrong.

Happy Hump Day everyone... and sayonara!

10 comments:

Nick B. said...

I will always remember him as a scumbag and a fraud. As a cancer survivor I hate those stupid yellow bands and Livestrong in general. Maybe if actually provided funds for cancer research I wouldn't feel that way, but they were raising funds for "cancer awareness", not research. The more than comes out about him the more we see his true colors and I hope he is remembered as nothing but a fraud.

Commishbob said...

Nick has it exactly right. Lance Armstrong was forever and always about Lance Armstrong. He treated his family, his teammates and his fans with equal disdain. I had bike enthusiast friends who traveled great distances and paid big bucks to 'ride with Lance' only to have him mumble a few words at the start, ride off from the pack and be long gone by the time everyone else finished.

You reap what you sow.

Nick B. said...

Commish,

I heard the same thing today. On top of that, In some cases it was a $50K "donation" to Livestrong in order ride with him, then when they were sent the tax forms it was only a $15K deduction since $35K went right to Lance as his "fee".

Zippy Zappy said...

All I'll remember about him is that he made those yellow wristbands that I still wear on a daily basis.

Fuji said...

Hey Nick... congratulations on being a cancer survivor. I didn't realize that none of the money went to cancer research. What a shame. Thanks for sharing.

Fuji said...

Wow... people would pay to ride with him and he'd leave them behind? That's insane! I'm sure it wasn't cheap... I'd be so ticked off.

Fuji said...

Wow... for Armstrong's sake and the sake of the people who donated the money... I hope this isn't true. :-(

Fuji said...

I still have mine too... although mine is sitting in a box somewhere. I wore the same one for almost a year... but it started smelling funny, so I eventually put it into retirement.

Anonymous said...

Dude rode a bike. Never thought much of him to begin with.

"I play real sports, not trying to be the best at exercising." - Kenny Powers

Hairylemon said...

I am a big pro cycling fan and have been for over twenty years.I was never a Lance Armstrong fan though,I always thought he came across aloof and uncaring of his legions of fans.Plus I always thought there was something not right about his victories.Now that he has been found out any respect I had for him has gone.I really hope he has the decency to own up to his doping so the rest of the cycling world can put this behind it and move on.I think there is little chance of him doing this though as his ego probably won't let him.He has disrespected the greatest cycle race in the world and for that he should never be forgiven.