Lance Armstrong...Are You An Idiot?

Lance Armstrong...Are you an idiot?  YES.  More than that...your an ASS.  Let me begin my diatribe on dear old Sir Lance-of-Assdom.

First, let me say that over the years I saw two camps...those that loved Lance for what he did and stood for. The helping of cancer patients through Livestrong, the strong leader, the competitive spirit, the winner, the All American, the hero, and owner of the Tour-de-France.  The other camp saw him as a doper.  Faking his way to the top of the pyramid.  Always suspecting, never trusting his accomplishments, hoping he was going to fall someday.  Everything was put under a microscope.  The naysayers eventually got their wish.

Lance fell.  Fell hard.

As we know with all stories, America loves a winner...America loves to see them fall...and America loves to see the comeback as they get a second chance.  Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods, etc. are all examples of this in action.  America is the story of second chances.  Trust me, this was not lost on Lance.  He knows it and in fact, he's counting on it.

Of course, the not-so-secret meeting with the head of USADA to work out a deal so he could continue to race competitively fell through since they had Lance in their sights for awhile now.  They are holding him accountable to the gold standard which he created for himself and sold to the public.  As the USADA's evidence poured out in over 1,000 pages of evidence collected over the years.  It was a gusher and the wave was headed right toward Lance and hit him hard.

Over the past few months as the sponsors left, the friends disappeared into the woodwork, money began to dry up, a whistle-blower lawsuit against him from Floyd Landis moved forward, and now the  government is going to join Floyd's case in hopes of nailing him for millions of dollars he pocketed over the years as part of the USPS Racing Team.  Just wait for the civil suits for slander and defamation come next.

I always keep asking myself..."Why, Lance, Why?"

Lance will state that he did it to stay competitive.  That the other athletes were all doing it and he'd never make the top echelon of cycling without it.  He did not want to do it.  He had to do it.  The lies were done to protect those who looked up to him at the Livestrong Foundation, the cancer patients, everyone.

Why do I think Lance is an idiot?  Why is he an ass?  It's the way he went about it.  I honestly can buy the whole everyone did it part.  He got caught.  He wants forgiveness.  He wants a second chance to move forward.  I get it.  The problem is his narcissistic attitude about him being the center of the universe and being greater than just about everyone else...he thought he lived above the fray...that he could do anything he wanted...he could tear down and blame those around him.  The fact that he attacked those that spoke out so viciously...threatening suits, etc. is the problem.  He humiliated teammates, spouses, etc. in freaking public while he was guilty of the same damn thing.  Wrecking others lives is not acceptable in anyway so Lance wins my 'Ass of the Year' award.  He tore down others to build himself up.

If Lance deserved a second chance...which he doesn't...here's what he should have done during those years:

*When speaking in public...remember the golden rule..."If you have nothing good to say, don't say it."  In terms of responses, he could have said something like this..."I cannot speak for Floyd Landis, I cannot comment on why he accuses me.  He should focus on what he wants to say about what he did or did not do.  If you want a comment on his actions...ask him."  What did Lance do?  He called him out, called him a liar, a cheat, tried to destroy what little reputation he had left, threatened him with a suit, and basically tried to maul him in public.  Now let's be clear here, Floyd ain't no saint.  He should have shut the hell up about Lance and never mention him either.  Floyd is an idiot as well.  Floyd decided that when he was attacked, Lance should fall on the sword with him.  Lance declined.  Such is a lover's spat.

*Do not threaten anyone with physical or legal punishment.

*Do not play holier than thou.  It's ugly when people find out your human after all.

The Oprah interview is his first shot at redeeming himself.  It will be interesting to watch.  What did his publicists tell him to say?  Was he told to cry at certain points?  Tear up?  How is he ever going to make this up to the peoples lives he personally destroyed in a vindictive manner?  How much money is he going to be sued for?  How does re-build the brand that is Lance Armstrong?  Based on his past behavior, I hope he doesn't.