Lance Armstrong, just another golden calf.
It was an argument in 2008 that, as usual, I started in the office. With the Barry Bonds steroid inquiry captivating the news I opined that it was no different from how Lance Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs or techniques to win his unprecedented consecutive Tour de France titles. Several of the folks in the office were aghast that I would accuse cancer survivor Lance Armstrong of cheating.
All Hail Lance!
It was amusing to see how people held Lance Armstrong in irrational esteem for his accomplishments. Purely from a statistical stand point it was nearly impossible to win so many Tour de France titles in a row. Especially in light that before Lance was treated for cancer he was a great athlete but never displayed a phenom-in-the-waiting.
Real world pro sports
Modern training, sports schools and biological science have leveled the playing field for all the athletes. If you show any talent at all, a child is groomed to compete at the highest levels if she or she has the aptitude. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly rare that a new face bursts upon a sports or music scene with skills and ability that put them in a category of phenomenon.
Your not that special
I have always contended that for every great athlete or artist there were a thousand people with even greater skills that never had the opportunity to participate. These are people that grew up where the sport or art was not practiced or socio-economic situations prevented their ascension to greatness. Undoubtedly there is some kid in Africa, Canada, or Asia that in the right environment of opportunity could set records in a sport they have never heard about.
Phenomenal
Occasionally through out history we see the athlete so well endowed with not only physical prowess, but the mental abilities also, to shatter records and create a whole new level of performance or create works of unquestioned genius. Cycling and baseball are not emerging sports were new training regimens or a new source of players create super athletes. So many of the current professional athletes were identified at early stages and have been groomed to compete by fellow professionals. The Tour de France is such a grueling competition, with equally prepared cyclist facing numerous challenges to even finishing, that to win 7 times in a row is just not probable.
All welcome at the Church of Lance
The church of Lance Armstrong was embodied in the Live Strong Foundation. From his pulpit of public appearances, Lance could denounce his critics as heretics. With what now seems like feigned indignation, Lance would proclaim his achievements were all derived from his physical aptitude and faith in himself. His cure from cancer and subsequent improbable Tour de France victories anointed Lance as a super athlete messiah in the minds of many of his believers. Was Lance another golden calf?
Jimmy Baker, Jimmy Swaggert, Lance Armstrong
Just like a televangelist, Lance would promote himself, the foundation, collect endorsements and contributions. He was building a church of faithful followers that put their trust and belief in Pope Lance. When the mounting evidence of Lance’s infallibility began to take shape, cracking the walls of the Armstrong citadel, his disciples gave explanations of conspiracy theories against their chosen one. The government and sore losers were out to get their prophet of life, Lance Armstrong. Lance was idolized by millions of people. We all know that we should never put our trust and faith in idols.
Perhaps the most damning revelation about Lance is not that he used performance enhancing drugs, but that he perpetrated the fraud upon his followers to continue his fame and fortune. The parishioners have woken up to realize their treasury of faith in miracles has been robbed by the Bishop himself.