Praise for Armstrong’s Mission

If you have followed cycling at all, or even if you are just a passing sports enthusiast, you are probably aware of the amazing accomplishments Lance Armstrong has been a part of. You probably know that he has overcome testicular cancer to win seven—yes seven—Tour de France races. And you probably know that his Livestrong campaign—and the yellow Livestrong wristbands that market it—has been one of the most successful non-profit organizations of all time. But you probably also know that Armstrong has been accused of cheating. In a recent report from ESPN, one writer is saying that even if he did cheat, this man might be forgiven. “Warning: You may not want your teenager to read this column. I say this because I don't want my teenager to read this column. At least not until he's older. By winning, Lance Armstrong made U.S. fans pay attention to cycling. With his yellow Livestrong wristbands and advocacy, he brought added attention to cancer research. You see, I don't want to know the truth about Lance Armstrong, and that could be problematic for me because I've always taught my son to seek the truth. I've always taught him that truth is important. When Armstrong announced his official retirement from professional cycling this week (for the second time) the news stories also mentioned the ongoing investigation stemming from suspicions he used performance-enhancing drugs. I found myself thinking: I just don't care. Terrible, I know. But I'm just over it. If he was the kind of guy who sat on his stack of millions and gloated about his out-of-this-world accomplishments, then maybe I would feel differently. But as of now I am having a hard time getting worked up enough to vilify a man whose foundation has raised nearly $400 million to fight cancer. I don't feel like looking for my pitchfork to chase the Frankenstein who successfully lobbied lawmakers and citizens in Texas to provide $3 billion over 10 years for cancer research” (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=6135037). What do you think? Did Armstrong cheat? And if he did, is it forgivable, considering all that he has done outside of cycling?