Friday, January 25, 2013

Moving Thoughts Friday



Every Friday I’m going to ask a question. The questions I choose might be ambiguous on purpose. The goal is to have you answer the question according to your beliefs, where you’re at in life or a circumstance that might have recently impacted you. The only thing I ask is that you provide an explanation for why you answered the way you did.

It’s my hope to understand you better through this and also to gain a greater understanding of humanity and how people make decisions.

What are your thoughts about…


Lance Armstrong?

*photos by stock.XCHNG

14 comments:

  1. Liar, liar, spandex cycling pants on fire!!
    I'm a cycling fan, I still remember freaking when Greg Lemond was accidently shot in the stomach and thinking "he'll never ride again!!"

    I also remember Lemond saying waaaay back that Armstrong was either the greatest comeback in the history of sport, or the greatest fraud. Armstrong ruined Kathy and Greg Lemond's business and reputation. He had them threatened and Trek dropped Lemond because Armstrong wanted it that way.
    Lemond won 3 Tours clean, and against Bernard Hinault!! Come ON!! Nobody could beat Hinault!
    Armstrong is pathological. He's destroyed literally hundreds of people. He's blackened the sport the way nothing else could. EPO was everywhere and once Armstrong hooked up with Michele Ferrari (EPO doctor), cycling began its downfall.
    Lemond KNEW way back what Lance Armstrong was doing and Armstrong went after him. Oprah can only do so much damage control, but really? As if a pretty tear or two can fix ruining people's lives?
    If Lance Armstrong really was sorry, he'd start with the Lemond family and not stop apologizing until UCI and everyone else was happy.
    When you threaten someone's wife over a sport and your total domination of the cycling world is based on EPO, you should be in prison.

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  2. I know, right? "Come one, Jennifer, tell us how you really feel.."

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  3. Everybody who paid $1 for a Livestrong bracelet should be refunded.

    Haha, j/k. Actually, what his whole story makes me think is man, what must it have been like for him all those years trying so hard to hide from a lie? Can you imagine the fear he must have felt in those moments when he allowed himself to think about it all? Certainly not making excuses for him or anything...he deserved to be stripped of his titles and all that. But still...I think underneath the pride, the lies, the extreme lengths he went to cover it all up, there had to have been a hurting man striving for significance in a losing-battle kind of way. It makes me sad.

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  4. So, so, so, so sad.
    How many people -- his children included -- looked up to this man ...
    and it was all a lie.
    All of it.
    The one good thing that came out of this: He admitted this because he didn't want his son defending his lies.
    There's something to be said about that.

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  5. Okay - I am SO out of the loop. I know there's been news about Lance....but what happened exactly? (I give you all permission to laugh at my obliviousness)

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  6. Well, I just wished he would have admitted it right away. I think the lying made it worse. I'm disappointed.

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  7. What he did was wrong, and he should be stripped of his titles, whatever civil penalties deemed appropriate should be applied, and we should all move on.

    And perhaps we should move on with our heads bowed, because most of us have lied for our own benefit, at one point or another. The difference is that we're safe, and our lies won't be made public. If you stand apart from that in honor unblemished - I envy you.

    The media will do its best to make everyone who drew hope and inspiration from Livestrong feel cheated, until they tire of the story. It's such a double standard - we forgive presidents for lying because they are our emotional surrogate parents, we forgive entertainers their addictions and adulteries because they make our days pass more quickly. We won't forgive Lance Armstrong - partly because he's at the end of his career and is disposable. If he were 28, do you believe the condemnation would be as severe? I don't.

    I'm saying this because I know that I can be as good - or as bad - as anyone, given motive and opportunity.

    And because I happen to believe John 8:7.

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    Replies
    1. I do too, hermano. But I'm not saying he's disposable, or that I am without sin, I am saying he willfully destroyed people in his pursuit of being a 7 time Tour winner and person of influence.
      It is sad all around for everyone, and yes of course he deserves grace.
      But I do not believe he's sorry as much as I believe he's sorry he got caught.
      I do NOT stand apart from anyone, for anything, I just would like to see him shut up and BE sorry and make amends for the careers and personal lives he destroyed.
      To ME he is a criminal, because uttering death threats is a crime.
      Annnnnnnnnnd I'll hush up now...

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  8. I don't really know much about him other than he's a survivor! :)

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  9. I'm the waaaay wrong person to ask about this especially since I hardly know the difference between Lance Armstrong and Neil Armstrong....but, I don't really get what all the fuss is about. Is anyone really shocked that famous athletes use drugs? Don't they all take enhancers? I don't know...seems like he's being slaughtered when so many others get away with it (and worse). Opinion based on viewing one Oprah interview. :)

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  10. I don't follow the sports scene very closely. But, I didn't want to believe the story when it first came out. When he admitted that it was true. I felt sorrow for those who followed him. As I read the other comments, I was reminded of a scripture passage- Numbers 32:23 "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out." (NIV)

    Now, please don't misunderstand, I am not perfect. But this man was worshiped by a whole generation of people. When someone is in the limelight as a sports hero and messes up, those followers either become disenchanted or they smooth it over. Those that smooth it over are also doing an injustice to the fallen idol and to those around them.

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  11. Honestly, I think it's amazing that people think they can get away with lying and cheating. They never do... the truth always comes back to bite 'em in the keester!

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  12. I think the part that seems to get lost in the shuffle is he DESTROYED people who had the courage to say, "Excuse me, ahem, I think something might be amiss here." He went to extraordinary lengths to cover his lies. When a teammate told the truth, what did Lacnce say about it? His colleague was FORCED to tell the truth. So this isn't a man coming forward in contrition. The story about his son? I think that is a bit of fiction from a publicist.

    All cheating in all sports is a bad thing. All sinners deserve grace. But his recent response when confronted with the terrible things he said to one man's wife over her accusations and the professional and personal damage he had caused to her? "Well, I at least I didn't call you fat."

    There is something pathological with him. And he is not done lying. Grace doesn't find you in the pit until you stop digging.

    Beyond HIM, *I* got how we can not make anyone earthly our "perfect hero".

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  13. Although I feel sorry for him in a way, I hate what he did to all his fans and family. It's good he admitted his lies. I hope he and others learn from his mistakes. Such as. . . sports is only a game, and we shouldn't make idols of atheletes.

    I think we need to pray for him and his family. God is the great redeemer.

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