Uncategorized Lance Armstrong gets the Last Laugh

Lance Armstrong gets the Last Laugh

Uncategorized

Don’t you love the sound

Of the last laugh my friend

Don’t you love the sound

Of the last laugh at the end

-Mark Knopfler-

I’ve long been a fan of the great film Les Miserables starring Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush. If you haven’t seen it go , now, and rent it tonight on Netflix. It’s an amazing film about redemption and the warped pursuit of justice at all costs. It so reminds me of the real life scenes being played out these days between Travis Tygart and Lance Armstrong. Tygart seems to have a vendetta against Armstrong that must be accomplished no matter the fallout that will forever effect the popularity of the sport of cycling. Let’s face it. Lance Armstrong put cycling on the map. Now that he’s gone, only those who actually consider themselves cyclists are apt to follow it. And those who found themselves inspired by the Lance Armstrong story will most likely always be inspired. Here’s the thing. Lance Armstrong has done more for the good of mankind than any other athlete in history. His Livestrong foundation is only second to the Susan G. Komen foundation in raising cancer awareness and financial contributions toward research and finding a cure.

In August of 2000 I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Mine was, fortunately, caught early, and was one of the less aggressive forms of the disease (There are 7 different types of testicular cancer.) Armstrong’s was much more aggressive than mine was. I also had one hell of a great urologist, Dr. Ed Eigner, from Denver. I was one of the lucky ones, blessed, if you will, to survive. There wasn’t a day that went by that Lance Armstrong didn’t inspire me. During 8 grueling weeks of radiation treatments he inspired me and the following 8 weeks as the radiation peaked and finally abated, Lance Armstrong inspired me. Travis Tygart’s life will inspire few if any. His legacy is one of a pathetic man hellbent on bringing down one of the most influential athletes of our time at any cost. His mission is accomplished. Thankfully, so is Lance Armstrong’s.

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5 thoughts on “Lance Armstrong gets the Last Laugh”

  1. Good Morning from Omaha,

    The USADA finally fan Lance down and rode over him. I guess they thought that lance was bigger than the sport and had to brought down a notch or two. Or maybe Tygart was jealous of lances accomplishments. I have read some articles that have used Greg LeMond as a source and it seems to me that Greg might have been a bit jealous of Armstrongs accomplishments

    Biking may appear to be a team sport but you only hear the leaders name . Its not like football or baseball where its truly a team game its laance or greg or levi out in the lead.

    What ever happened keep in mind that lance NEVER failed a drug test and he took almost 500. He has decided when to quit and then the USADA said no you’re fired. In my little mind nothing will erase lance’s 7 tour wins. Its almost like the story of Jim Thorpe, and the Olympics but that is for another day.

    Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

    Gene

  2. While I do understand the need to bring justice (and that is assuming that Tygart’s motivations are pure – I try to give people the benefit of the doubt – in that he believes in not letting a “cheater” off the hook just because of time or great influence), there should be a statute of limitations. How ridiculous is this now after more than a decade. The fact that now some riders may want to share the “truth” – now that their careers are done and no harm can come to them – is nothing more of selfishness and immaturity, not heroics. Whether you believe Lance doped or not, he still worked unbelievably hard and was the best of the best (the best of all the other dopers if you think he was guilty). It’s so ironic to me how everyone wants to claim that him giving up on the fight is an admission of guilt. It’s actually a blessing to us all. Now we can move on, as he can. Per this post, now he and his fans can just focus on his inspiration.

  3. Drew Litton hit all of the key points in this sordid story. Tygart and the USADA ran an won a smear campaign for dubious, if not outright malicious, reasons. His point comparing this to 1950’s McCarthyism is spot on. Lance is the reason I got on a bike 7 years ago and continues to motivate me to get on it as often as possible. I will always be thankful for that. Ride on Lance.

  4. I admit when this whole thing started I thought Lance was cheating. But as time went on and u did some research I started to realize that it WAS just a witch hunt and I started to root for Lance. In the end though what Lance lasting legacy will be his Livestrong Foundation and everything he’s done for charity. NOT the Tour or the Witch hunt the USDA conducted. Good luck Lance.

  5. Drew, you have such an intelligent following. I think that speaks to you and the thought you put in your cartoons. Thanks everyone for the usually well thought out and well written comments over the years. This one seems to be bringing out the best in everyone. Except maybe Tygart……love the comparison to Napoleon.

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