tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post1120225178951220510..comments2024-03-11T15:46:13.155-04:00Comments on In The Arena: Ruminations About Competition: Lance Armstrong is the Latest--and Greatest--in a Long Line of Cycling CheatersDavid Friedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08444347475303187373noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-50094171565690935352012-08-28T06:31:41.303-04:002012-08-28T06:31:41.303-04:00A few points that people seem to miss when discuss...A few points that people seem to miss when discussing the Armstrong case:<br /><br />(1) Most people who have been busted of using performance enhancing drugs are caught through their involvement with drug rings, suppliers, doctors, and the associated paper trail. Very few are caught through positive drug tests. So "I passed drug tests" excuse really doesn't fly. There is a lot of other evidence out there; evidence more powerful and reliable than drug tests when taken as a combination.<br /><br />(2) Eyewitness testimony would have consisted of a lot more than, "I saw Lance stick a needle in his shoulder". Lance also has a long track record of cajoling and threatening others, eventually resorting to harrassment and character assassination. The victims include people like Andreu, Hamilton, Lemond, and Landis. It's all easily verifiable and it all would have come out in court. These are all signs of a guilty man.<br /><br />(3) I am frankly appalled and stunned at people's inability to accept the bad with the good. Yes, is entirely possible for a human being to be an extremely successful athlete and encourage others to ride the bike more and be strong in fighting cancer, while using drugs and actively ruining others' lives in a futile effort to hide his own drug use. A human being should be viewed as a whole package, instead of covering up all the flaws just because he happened to do a few good things (or the reverse).<br /><br />(4) A no contest plea is a guilty plea. So-called "analysts" are over-thinking and overcomplicating this matter. The dude did it, implicitly admitted it, and wants to move on with his life.DanielSong39noreply@blogger.com