<p>As the wife of someone diagnosed with testiular cancer at 30, the LiveStrong stuff is what hurts most.<br>
He was the "Susan G Komen " bring cancer into reality face for the number one solid tumor in young men.
He made it a topic you could talk about
He beat it</p>
<p>My husband did also.
Educate your sons about self exams and catching this disease early.</p>
<p>And no, DH was never into sports, steroids or other drugs…</p>
<p>Thanks NJres. I couldn’t find it.</p>
<p>From looking at his twitter, Lance seems truly compassionate towards people who have/had cancer. He may have cheated at his sport and verbally and legally attacked those who defied him (both of which are not laudable, to say the least), but I do think his strong commitment to cancer issues and his compassion towards those affected by cancer is legit.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Because they were children who were drugged without their knowledge or consent. At least, the swimmers were.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>And lots of bad people love their mothers, too.</p>
<p>Notice how the only way LA is getting any sympathy is when he is attempting to control the narrative–on Twitter, Oprah, etc. Remember, the cancer angle is a big part of his story, so it behooves him to draw attention to it whenever possible. I am not saying he doesn’t genuinely care about people with cancer or that he hasn’t done great things with his foundation. But every single thing he has done has been self-serving in one way or another.</p>
<p>He did p.e.d.s, broke the established rules, lied about it, got caught and was punished. Too bad, that’s life, you get held accountable for your actions. It was the lying, abuse of others and bullying in the process that’s the real transgression though. The reality is that all the top contenders at the elite level of professional cycling were doing the same thing and if anyone thinks for a moment that the corporate interests involved in the sport didn’t know, suspect or choose to turn a blind eye, with all due respect, you are naive. The only ones who really cared were the organizations and individuals whose existence and livelihoods were dependent on rooting out the “evil” of p.e.d.s and who shaped policies and rules based on self serving zealotry and a “just say no” approach to what otherwise could be a well regulated and controlled application of good science and medicine to the field of human performance. And then, of course, there is the “outraged public” who for whatever reason engages in idol worship of sports figures and now feels a sense of betrayal.</p>
<p>The continuing public fascination with this debacle is just another train wreck of a reality t.v. show that is being kept alive by a voyeuristic public. The only ones who should really have any continuing interest in this are those who have cognizable legal claims against him. As to the rest of the world, just say good riddance. Why waste any more time and energy keeping this alive. Wouldn’t ignoring him and not keeping this in the spotlight of public fascination be a most appropriate way of marginalizing Lance if that’s what you want to begin with?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>AND a very willing actor, Lance Armstrong.</p>
<p>But, could he take never being in the limelight again?</p>
<p>Woody, I know a number of young men who were dxed with testicular cancer, yes stage 4 and have survived it. I lived in the oncology unit when one of my kids was dxed with leukemia which as you may know often goes to the testicles of males, so, I knew all of the pediatric cases treated during that time span. </p>
<p>Steroids are know to increase the chances of getting cancer. Testicular? I don’t know. Was LA’s onset a result of this, or just one of those things? I dont know and I don’t think anyone can say for sure. At the time, the question did come up in some circles, but there was no evidence. Not that many athletes in the doping sports have had testicular cancer to come up with a direct statistical connection.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No. I think this is different than the reality tv show thing. The Lance Armstrong story is really a Shakespearean tragedy for out times. It’s interesting because it is what made him win that did him in. His “fatal flaw.” </p>
<p>Also, he was this “too good to be true” here, much like Tiger was, and yet, one more has feet of clay. Of course, they all do. I bought the book “the Secret Race” last night after watching his two interviews. </p>
<p>But, I wouldn’t equate this with watching people who have never done anything admirable in life parade around television having temper tantrums, shopping, and having too much to drink. It’s a different kind of story, and very interesting precisely because of Livestrong, because of his 7 jerseys and his arrogance/determination.</p>
<p>Another wife of a testicular cancer survivor here. My H was lucky and his hadn’t spread by the time we found it (against an 80% chance that it would have due to the mixed type of tumor he had). Had it already spread, we would have headed to Indiana, where the leading expert at the time was.</p>
<p>We had never heard of testicular cancer before–and yes, all young males should do a monthly testicular exam.</p>
<p>Poetgirl, I’m not sure what you mean by his “fatal flaw”. If you mean the use of p.e.d.s, I would disagree. In that respect, he was no different than any other elite level pro cyclist, all of whom were using 'em. What he did have was a level of natural talent, skill, determination, structure and strategy to his training and riding regimen that put him above all of his similarly situated peers. He was simply the best of the best, notwithstanding his use of p.e.d.s - all of his competitors were using p.e.d.s too. regardless of the “disgrace” into which he has now fallen, none of that diminishes one bit what he accomplished on the bike. His “flaw” is that he got caught in the lie and used his position and power so abusively in an effort to maintain the lie. That’s hardly a Shakesperian Tragedy, just a reflection of his personal character no different than the excesses of many successful people who step on others on the way up.</p>
<p>As to the reality t.v. comparison, it’s the same voyeuristic phenomenon that made celebrity reality train wreck shows such as Ozzie Osbourne, Bruce Jenner and the Kardashians and Joane and Melissa Rivers so popular. There are probably others I am forgetting.</p>
<p>If I recall correctly, the fatal flaw is usually hubris. Don’t know if that’s what Poetgrl meant.</p>
<p>Lance Armstrong was a gifted athlete. He made the mistake of LYING over and over and over…to everyone. To be honest, I can forgive the doping which was stupid, but I cannot forgive the lying.</p>
<p>Well, you can frame it how ever you want. From what I understand, the reason they aren’t giving the Tour championships he’s lost to the other competitors is that in some years you have to get down to #10 or #11 to find someone who they never caught doping, which doesn’t even mean they didn’t dope, only that they finished so far behind.</p>
<p>But, I see his willingness to do anything to win as the reason he won AND the reason he doped, his need to win at all costs as the reason he made the comeback, which is the reason he got caught.</p>
<p>But, I don’t think you have to find it interesting. I do find it interesting.</p>
<p>I find it tragic and fascinating, and not at all like reality TV (which I have never watched).</p>
<p>His ex, Kristin, is getting slammed on Runners’ World online in comments to her weekly blog column. I really disagree with bashing her. Yes, she knew, but it’s his deal, not hers.</p>
<p>MOWC, I’ve been thinking about Kristin and wondered what she knew and how it factored into the divorce.</p>
<p>According to the big report, she did know and actually helped hand out the drugs to the team. However, she was young and married to a very powerful man. I’m not making excuses for her, and neither is she for herself, but I can understand it.</p>
<p>He said she wanted him to stop, encouraged him, etc. I remembered columns back in the beginning when he left, she ran her first marathon to help her sanity. His ego and wanting all the trappings seemed important at the time and maybe her “lack of support” in some areas might have caused friction. She said she couldn’t keep rotating around him, she had 3 children. I can see that being an issue.
I don’t know what his son Luke said to him when he told him, it sounded unlike a 13 year old but I hope they can forgive him and not have too much pain from his choices. Children always pay some price for parents bad choices but when they are famous, it’s worse because of the publicity.</p>
<p>Anyone read this?</p>
<p>[Kathy</a> LeMond: Lance Armstrong embarrassed, not sorry - More Sports - David Epstein - SI.com](<a href=“http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/20130118/lance-armstrong-admission-kathy-lemond-reaction/#ixzz2IR0zE1KN]Kathy”>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/20130118/lance-armstrong-admission-kathy-lemond-reaction/#ixzz2IR0zE1KN)</p>
<p>Personally, I can understand the doping. I can understand the lying. </p>
<p>I cannot understand the vindictiveness and character assassination.</p>