Posted on 07/22/2014 3:02:57 PM PDT by Baynative
STURGIS | Perhaps, the comeback starts in Sturgis.
Lance Armstrong, who has been stripped of seven Tour De France titles and received a lifetime ban from competitive cycling for doping, was named Monday as the grand marshal of the 12th Annual Mayor's Ride at the Sturgis motorcycle rally.
(Excerpt) Read more at rapidcityjournal.com ...
City officials defended the decision by saying that everyone deserves a second chance, even if in this case it is an individual who fell out of favor with adoring fans around the world and lost of millions of dollars of sponsorships in the process.
"We understand the controversy that surrounds Lance, but we are willing to meet it head on. The city of Sturgis is about second chances," said Brenda Vasknetz, Sturgis motorcycle rally director.
Doesn’t everyone in that sport cheat?
That sport's not unique. My wife claims to have read that Keith Richards of the Rolling Stone used to get blood replacement transfusions to help him straighten from heroin binges before tours. But, it's not cycling.
"It's the new ultra-small bike pump kit! Really!"
No. No, they don't. He's already had tons of second chances - every time he fixed a blood test.
comments self censored.
Scumbag Armstrong doesn't deserve any honors whatsoever for the rest of his life.
Hope someone at lease has the decency to boo him.
How gracious of you. Remaining comments self censored.
Lance being set up.
Achievement in Biochemistry?
Hope someone at lease has the decency to boo him.
Probably not going to happen as there is a pretty good understanding of “decency” at the Sturgis Rally. I’ll be there to witness the action.
“...The annual mayor’s ride is a fundraiser for the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department. In past years, the governor, state legislators, industry professionals and a cross-section of motorcycle enthusiasts have participated in the ride...”
If they think it will help raise money for the SVFD go for it.
Very, very interesting choice though.
Eeeeevvvrybody hates Lance.
Forgiveness folks. Think about it, can’t have no American winning the TDF 7 times. As far as the doping, I’ll bet it’s going on right now, just maybe more sophisticated and better hidden.
Too bad OJ isn’t out on bail. He’s famous too. Which apparently is the only criteria that matter to the clowns who made this choice.
(the whole episode of doping during his career is a completely different subject, but it sure brings out a lot of comments from people who seem to have led perfect lives)
(Check out the TdF official website for the years Armstrong was in the race- It only lists "Armstrong - disqualified for doping").
He has never won a tour de France.
In football, for instance, steroid use seems to not be so offensive. Baseball is a bit different, so it seems. Tennis ...maybe no big deal.
My personal opinion is that sports are entertainment. People pay to see fantastic performances. We pay other entertainers to look and perform in ways normal folks can't. We have no problem with actors, singers or dancers filled with silicone, cut and pasted and doped to the max so they can function they way they want. So why the problem with an athlete enhancing human performance?
As to the TdF winner designation for Armstrong; the list of past TdF winners includes Marco Pantani, Bjarne Riis and Alberto Contador. Pantaini tested positive numerous times and died of a cocaine overdose. Riis admitted to doping and Contador was caught flat out and suspended. Yet, their names are still there.
I think if you could ask all athletes at the point of turning pro whether they would risk future health problems to use dope and dominate while they are young, the majority would say, "Yes". That means nothing beyond the human desire for fame and fortune. Is that abnormal in the world that oogles over "Dream Teams" rolling over amateurs in the Olympics?
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