Two things bother me concerning Lance Armstrong's interview

[mtnsnake]

First, I need to say that I'm a big fan of Armstrong, and I hope these allegations are bull. Still, this all leaves me wondering.

I didn't see the Larry King interview live last night, but it was discussed on CNN Live this morning with Soledope O'brien and Carol Costello playing several clips of it.

1) Lance was asked by King (and I'm paraphrasing here), 'If you're as clean as you say you are, then why don't you go after each and every one of the doping authorities in court?' Lance then implied that he didn't want to go after them all because all that would do would be to prolong what's being said about him and give more attention to it, and would possibly drag on for years. After the clip, Soledope, who was outwardly defensive of Lance throughout the show, turned to Carol Costello and asked her if SHE would sue the authorities if they had done the same to her in a tone that suggested she didn't think that he should have to bother. Carol turned to Soledope and said something to the effect, "You bet I would go after them. If it meant clearing my name, I don't care how long it would take."

I think Carol makes a very good point, and I fully agree with her. If I was completely innocent and someone was tarnishing my reputation by accusing me of something I didn't do, I would do anything it took to clear my name, no matter how long it took. If Armstrong is as clean as he says, and I hope he is, I can't understand why he wouldn't go after them all in court for bringing up bogus accusations. If he knows he hasn't done anything wrong, what's he got to lose?

2) This one is kind of dumb, but I'll be damned if Lance Armstrong didn't have a similar sounding tone of voice and some very similar mannerisms in his speech as our distinguished president does when he's defending his own policies. Maybe it was just me, but in his denials, I thought Lance sounded hauntingly similar to Bush.

[mattclearing]

1. I didn't watch it, but I saw some snippets on the Today show.

Two things struck me:

1. He seemed to have some plausible ways that the urine could have been contaminated.

2. Does anyone honestly believe that whatever this was that supposedly was found in his system from several years ago could have enabled him to win 7 tours?

It might cast a shadow of a doubt on his accomplishments, but I don't see how it diminishes them.

Even so, what are the odds that other tour riders, subjected to the same scrutiny, wouldn't have the same problem?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Ahh, the trials and tribulations of a cheating, millionaire, jock.

Stealing Michael Jackson's spotlight.

[LiberalinNC]

3. Every year the French news goes after Lance, and every time

he tries to fight them. They are after him because they have taken their Precious Tour de France championship away from any Frenchman. (He basically said that in one of his books.)

It would cost him millions of dollars, plus precious time away from this cancer foundation to fight these guys. I don't blame him for not wanting to sue. But I feel he probably will have to in the end, if they don't come out and state HOW the tests where done, where or how the urine was stored and IF the person who preformed the tests is legitimate.

As a cancer survivor myself, I highly doubt Lance would take any drug(s) that could harm him in any way. (JMO!) - And he did state that last night on Larry King.

[Flagg]

11. They are after him because they have taken their Precious Tour de France c

Bul.

No Frenchman has been in a position to win the Tour for at least 15 years.
And the French loved Greg Lemon.

[bicentennial_baby]

12. bullshit

"They are after him because they have taken their Precious Tour de France championship away from any Frenchman."

Hmmmm, I don't recall the French press or the French people going after Miguel Indurain...and he's certainly not French....he won the Tour several times as well.

[BiggJawn]

15. But Indurain is not American.

And they didn't love LeMond too much the first time he won, either.

I read something recently, i think it was from Eddy, and he said that basically, the French Press loves a Loser. when you finally fall from your perch on top of the world, they will pick you up, hug you to their bosom and declare to the world "See??? He's HUMAN!!!"

Lance never gave them a chance to do that.

[Hobarticus]

16. So if Lance said it, it must be true...

Lance has many traits to be admired for, but he's just as much as pissy and petty as the French are over this.

[BiggJawn]

4. Lance already has several lawsuits on the stove.

He's suing the people who came out with the book "LA Confidential", I believe he has a suit against 2-3 former employees who claim they found "drug residue" in his room...
What do we expect him to do? Sue the whole fucking WORLD?

Hell, there's even more than a few here on DU that he'd have to sue for slander...

For an idea of what a man looks like when he becomes a "Litigation Machine", look at Fred Phelps.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. It sounds like he has been advised by KKKROVE...IGNORE IT

and it will just go away. THAT'S THEIR WAY!

[rfkrfk]

6. if Lance sues, the Tour will take his victories away . n/t

[mtnsnake]

9. Did he say that? I'm not aware of that, so can you provide a link that

would explain why he'd lose his victories were he to sue? Thanks.

[rfkrfk]

20. my comment is just conjecture, I just think it is unsportsmanlike to ...

sue the sports-association that awarded you their...
blue ribbon, yellow jersey, or whatever.

nobody likes being sued, and you have to fight back when sued,
{for disputed call in the game or elsewhere,}
or refs and umps will be spending all day in court

[madokie]

7. I had pulled for Lance also

I didn't see the show but I'm starting to wonder about his possible doping. Each year I kept telling myself that he's stronger more determined, feels like he has something to prove ETC. What would be the odds of his having accomplished this so easily going so far as telling us a year in advance that he was going to win. YES, I will defend my good name as long as I have a breath to draw. And so yes his denial without teeth is lame.

[Lochloosa]

8. Come on...he is likely the most tested person on the face of the

earth. The French are just pissed that no one could beat him. IMO

[mrbscott19]

10. Something wasn't right.

I saw the interview last night. And just let me say that I hope this is all proven false, BUT...five minutes into it, Lance had me completely convinced that he is lying through his teeth. His body language was screaming it. He also have that "arrogant" tone about him, like he knew it didn't matter what he said since he is retired. JMO though.

[mtnsnake]

13. Yeah, from the clips I saw, I got similar vibes

I wish I had seen the entire show like you did.

[BiggJawn]

14. I have an idea!

Let's tie the guy hand and foot, and throw him in the river. If he's innocent of these doping allegations, then the water will accept him, and he'll sink.

If he's lieing, then the water will REJECT him, and he'll float.

Hope neither of you 2 are ever on a jury deciding MY fate....

[mtnsnake]

18. Man, talk about getting dramatic

Last I knew this was a discussion forum, not a court room, so you don't need to go getting all radical just becasue some of us might have read something into it that you did or didn't. Lighten up.

[BiggJawn]

19. what?

"Last I knew this was a discussion forum, not a court room, so you don't need to go getting all radical just becasue some of us might have read something into it that you did or didn't. Lighten up."


Oh, because YOU don't like what *I* bring to the discussion, I need to "lighten up"?

"Read" anything you want into it. I'll wait for FACTS.

[TWiley]

17. I watched it and I heard a bizzare collection of arguments.

1) Who does the media think they are by policing sports?
2) Doping charges were handled correctly by the Baseball league
(There is not a bicycle league that I am aware of)
3) Nobody supervised the tester
4) The test is flawed and not accurate

bla bla bla

I turned the channel because it sounded like bullshit.

I did not hear him say "I did not do it". I only heard wierd arguments attacking everything else while evading the question.