Confessions of a cheat - Lance Armstrong

[Noel]

Air of arrogance as ever but it's a start:

Youtube have removed any footage of the interview.

 

[bugbear]

I wonder how much of the money he'll be giving back...

BugBear

 

[Noel]

I wonder how much of the money he'll be giving back...

BugBear

Don't think "giving" is in the picture, more like courts ordering him to dip into his pocket, Sunday Times, Texas insurance company that gave him a million for every TdF win, US Postal Service and many other sponsors and backers and libel losers.

 

[stevebuk]

The video's have been taken down Noel..

 

[Noel]

The video's have been taken down Noel..

Told you he was an arrogant so and so.......

You didn't miss much. He was quite economic with the truth, insincere, totally lacked humility and treated the whole thing as a bit of show business IMHO. Should have got Paul Kimmage and David Walsh to shoot him a few questions.......

Transcript:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21065539

It's on the Discovery at the minute (20.07). Part two of the "interview" yet to come.

Lie-strong.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Not only was he arrogant but a very evil man as well, who didn't care how many others lives he ruined in his quest for "success". Thank goodness people like David Walsh kept on his case.

Let's hope they all get their money back.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Noel]

David Walsh's 12 old son was sadly killed when out on his bicycle. Armstrong heard about this and instead of a simple "sorry for your loss" he said "so that's why you're anti-cycling". Complete ******* and completely wrong about Walsh.

 

[Paul Chapman]

David Walsh's 12 old son was sadly killed when out on his bicycle. Armstrong heard about this and instead of a simple "sorry for your loss" he said "so that's why you're anti-cycling". Complete ******* and completely wrong about Walsh.

Yes, I heard about that. A very good example of what a nasty piece of work Armstrong is.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Noel]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-s ... 57096.html

 

[Wood Monkey]

I know I'm gonna be unpopular in this thread , but....

I've been a Lance Armstrong fan for a long time. I've ridden bikes for a long long time. I live with a cancer survivor who believed for a long time that she would never see our 4 year old daughter (4 at the time, now almost 8) grow up.

Don't immediately stop reading. I agree he's a cheat and done a lot of bad things (although I've never heard the David Walsh story and dearly hope it isn't true).

His cancer story in isolation is inspirational. He was given a 40% chance of surviving after they found the cancer in his brain and lungs and virtually 0% chance of participating in any sport let alone competitive sport. That he set himself the goal of not only surviving but returning to the sport that is comfortably recognised as the hardest endurance sport ever conceived shows many people that there is hope. Shame he lost his way when he got there.

The use of performance enhancing drugs is wrong. No question about that. It makes me angry that cycling has, justifiably, been universally labeled as dirty and I (fat bloke who likes bikes) get labeled accordingly. It makes me sad that the LA fairy story isn't all it was once believed to be. However, many people who are not cycling fans, followers or participants probably don't realise that regardless of the use of drugs the riders still have to go out and push themselves beyond their natural limits day after day. They have to realign their lives to match the demands of their sport. The drugs do not give you 100% nor do they give you the unnatural physiology that marks endurance cyclists apart. This possibly explains, but doesn't justify, why it's these types of athletes that turn to drugs.

You don't see elite endurance athletes in Hello Magazine every week in their pimped up sports cars simply because they don't have time to buy such toys, let alone enjoy them. You can't say this about our beloved premiership footballers, who incidentally flout the rules and openly cheat week after week and arguably have a greater influence on a wider range of people - just go and watch a junior football match and watch them mimicking their heroes.

The worst thing for me is that The Livestrong Foundation has and still does great things and it will be very sad to destroy this. Equally the sponsors who supported Livestrong should, in my opinion, continue to support what they helped start or at least donate all the profit they've made from their association with LA and Livestrong to a relevant cause.

All said and done, what LA has done is still wrong. He's a rich man which many people find hard to accept. But I think he now deserves a chance to try and do something good from this situation. He's done no more wrong than many others who have been punished differently.

Ironically I recently went to see a specialist due to rapidly increasing pain in my lower back, groin and thighs. I'm thinking it's herniated disc in my back and will be fixed and I'll be back on my bike in no time. I was knocked for 6 to find out I have advanced arthritis in both my hips and require a double hip replacement. Until this diagnosis I rode my bike 50 miles a day. It is more than just a means to get me to work and back or to enjoy a sunny day. The Livestrong Foundation through it's advice, forums and subscribed specialists has provided me with hope that I may get back to something resembling my previous mileage and performance and certainly be back on my bike.

One thing is for sure. When I get back on my bike for the first time I will reach past my various cycling hero branded kit and I will grab my Livestrong branded helmet and glasses.

Let the abuse start ;-)

Jon

 

[Kalimna]

Jon - whilst I tend to agree with essentially everything you have said (particularly the bit about drugs not giving you 100% of the skill to win, and the good that has come out of the foundation), I think what most people have an issue with is the attitude of complete indifference and arrogance shown by this man in his treatment of other people. That is what rankles most, I think.
And yes, footballers are no different.

Adam

 

[Wood Monkey]

Yes Adam I can understand that.

But the flip side is that if people don't do wrong or behave badly then we'd never have developed the ability of forgiveness. I'm not suggesting we forgive everyone nor suggesting we should forgive completely. Many others who have cheated, and didn't admit it until they were found out, have had partial or complete forgiveness. Additionally, if there is the chance that some good can now be done to off-set the wrong doing (I think we call it making amends) then this should have a chance.

David Millar has proved in cycling circles that there is benefit with allowing people the chance to make amends.

 

[MIGNAL]

Well if the drugs aren't so effective in turning an average rider into a winner, why take them at all? Why do so many professional sports people risk their careers if the drugs didn't give such an advantage? The logical answer is very simple: they make the difference between winning and losing. In some Sports that difference might be a fraction of a second but that is all they need.
. . . errmm and he can start by paying back ALL the money that is owed to the people that he lied to, bullied, cheated and besmirched. There are quite literally dozens of them.
Let's see if Armstrong hands over any money voluntarily (that's the real race!) or will he always remain a bully, a serial liar and a serial cheat.

 

[Kalimna]

The other flip side to that is that if people never did wrong or behaved badly, then we wouldnt *need* an ability to forgive... But that avoids the point a little.
I think it is one thing to forgive a person an action that is looked upon as being wrong when that person is genuine in their contritrition, but another entirely when there is little sign of sincerity in apology.
I see no sincerity in Mr Armstrong. And I see little in his actions on Oprah that could be called 'making amends'.
I do not deny that some good has been done in his name and set up by him, and that surely should continue, but to forgive him his attitude? Not yet.

Adam

 

[Noel]

I know I'm gonna be unpopular in this thread , but....

I've been a Lance Armstrong fan for a long time. I've ridden bikes for a long long time. I live with a cancer survivor who believed for a long time that she would never see our 4 year old daughter (4 at the time, now almost grow up.

Don't immediately stop reading. I agree he's a cheat and done a lot of bad things (although I've never heard the David Walsh story and dearly hope it isn't true).

His cancer story in isolation is inspirational. He was given a 40% chance of surviving after they found the cancer in his brain and lungs and virtually 0% chance of participating in any sport let alone competitive sport. That he set himself the goal of not only surviving but returning to the sport that is comfortably recognised as the hardest endurance sport ever conceived shows many people that there is hope. Shame he lost his way when he got there.

The use of performance enhancing drugs is wrong. No question about that. It makes me angry that cycling has, justifiably, been universally labeled as dirty and I (fat bloke who likes bikes) get labeled accordingly. It makes me sad that the LA fairy story isn't all it was once believed to be. However, many people who are not cycling fans, followers or participants probably don't realise that regardless of the use of drugs the riders still have to go out and push themselves beyond their natural limits day after day. They have to realign their lives to match the demands of their sport. The drugs do not give you 100% nor do they give you the unnatural physiology that marks endurance cyclists apart. This possibly explains, but doesn't justify, why it's these types of athletes that turn to drugs.

You don't see elite endurance athletes in Hello Magazine every week in their pimped up sports cars simply because they don't have time to buy such toys, let alone enjoy them. You can't say this about our beloved premiership footballers, who incidentally flout the rules and openly cheat week after week and arguably have a greater influence on a wider range of people - just go and watch a junior football match and watch them mimicking their heroes.

The worst thing for me is that The Livestrong Foundation has and still does great things and it will be very sad to destroy this. Equally the sponsors who supported Livestrong should, in my opinion, continue to support what they helped start or at least donate all the profit they've made from their association with LA and Livestrong to a relevant cause.

All said and done, what LA has done is still wrong. He's a rich man which many people find hard to accept. But I think he now deserves a chance to try and do something good from this situation. He's done no more wrong than many others who have been punished differently.

Ironically I recently went to see a specialist due to rapidly increasing pain in my lower back, groin and thighs. I'm thinking it's herniated disc in my back and will be fixed and I'll be back on my bike in no time. I was knocked for 6 to find out I have advanced arthritis in both my hips and require a double hip replacement. Until this diagnosis I rode my bike 50 miles a day. It is more than just a means to get me to work and back or to enjoy a sunny day. The Livestrong Foundation through it's advice, forums and subscribed specialists has provided me with hope that I may get back to something resembling my previous mileage and performance and certainly be back on my bike.

One thing is for sure. When I get back on my bike for the first time I will reach past my various cycling hero branded kit and I will grab my Livestrong branded helmet and glasses.

Let the abuse start

Jon

It is true about Walsh's son and Armstrong's treatment of him and there are plenty of other examples of such crass and cruel behaviour. Yes, the charity work and money raised is great although it's a measure of the man when he used the cancer suffering, charitable work and the Livestrong brand to mask his cheating. You think it's only sport but it is thanks to likes of him who attempt to use and justify PEDs that many professional cyclists have died through the used of PEDs and others who have had their lives ruined or driven out of the sport. Armstrong is scum and deserves nothing but contempt. His so-called version of the truth has only been constructed/fabricated by his PR people so he can take part in tri-athlons and Ironman events. Lie-strong.

The UCI, McQuaid and Verbruggen are culpable too, protecting their cash cow and suing journalists who don't toe the line, time they went and LeMond takes over.

Here's a long and informative article you may find interesting about PEDs in cycling, Armstrong and a fallen TdF winner:

http://nyvelocity.com/content/interview ... diskimmage

 

[MARK.B.]

Is he sorry ??? yes of course he is.
sorry he got caught !!!
imho he deserves every thing he gets, just a shame that so many others will have to suffer as well ( not the other cheats and lets not forget there are quite a few of them) but friends/family/assosciates etc and of course the tens of thousands of people both young and old who looked up to this man as a hero. The foundation that was set up and all other good causes he was involved in will suffer in one way or another.
Those large companies that sponsored him ,should they get their money back nahh sorry NOT a chance they have made much more from the deals than they paid out and are still making it hand over fist because publicity is the name of the game and certain brand names have recieved so much free publicity over the past few months that the number cruncher's in the finance departments must be jumping for joy.

 

[Losos]

I think what most people have an issue with is the attitude of complete indifference and arrogance shown by this man in his treatment of other people. That is what rankles most, I think.
And yes, footballers are no different.
Adam

Yep agree on both points - his ex personal trainer (a woman) was allegedly verbally attacked by LA and called all sorts of names, ****, whore, etc. don't know if it's true (I don't really follow cycling as a sport) but she was interviewed and she seemed convincing to me.

Don't get me started on footballers :lol: their behaviour is often terrible and yet youngsters seem to ignore it and idolise them - why :?:

 

[Noel]

I think what most people have an issue with is the attitude of complete indifference and arrogance shown by this man in his treatment of other people. That is what rankles most, I think.
And yes, footballers are no different.
Adam

Yep agree on both points - his ex personal trainer (a woman) was allegedly verbally attacked by LA and called all sorts of names, ****, Peach, etc. don't know if it's true (I don't really follow cycling as a sport) but she was interviewed and she seemed convincing to me.

Don't get me started on footballers :lol: their behaviour is often terrible and yet youngsters seem to ignore it and idolise them - why :?:

This is one instance in what I referred to earlier about ruining other people's lives. Yes, Emma O'Reilly was treated like dog dung on the sole of your shoe by Armstrong. Why? Because she refused to go to a clandestine meeting to collect EPO or a bag of fresh blood or whatever during his USPS years. Emma then tried to tell the authorities. How did dear Lance handle the situation? Put about rumours that he was easy, was an alcoholic and other really pleasant stuff. Oh, and then he sued her, nearly forgot about that...
Armstrong rang on Sunday night to apologise, 9 years too late and just before his Oprah nonsense. Emma missed the call............

 

[Noel]

 

[Paul Chapman]

=D> =D>