People Who Cheat and Win

I just finished "The Secret Race" by former pro cyclist Tyler Hamilton and writer Daniel Coyle revealing the dirty tricks, including doping and payoffs to the international testing agency, Lance Armstrong deployed to win multiple Tour de Frances and other races. Like Tony Soprano, Armstrong apparently bullied his way into being on top by virtually killing the competition. If anyone got in his way -- as did Hamilton -- he cut off access to drugs. Or with other Tour de France contenders, he would snitch on their doping (they all used the same doctor-dealer) to the testing authorities.

Armstrong's the Jesse James of bike racing. Eventually, he'll get shot down but in the meantime he's managed to evade the law and cycling agencies by playing the good guy against cancer. He's also paid off sponsors, which is why none of them have dropped him, and why most of his former teammates, who participated in the doping, are still afraid to go public although they have been deposed by the testing agencies and the FBI.

You've got to admire a guy who is not only a great athlete but also a successful bully and sociopathic liar. I wonder how his PR armada will deflect the veracity of this heavily documented book. One can only hope that like the other criminal-escapist and superathlete, OJ Simpson, Armstrong's temper will once again get the better of him and land him in the can.

Comments

[Al Spohn]

Terribly sure of ourselves, aren't we? Well, in fairness I haven't read the book, but will. I guess having been duped once by Tyler Hamilton, I didn't consider it worth my time - particularly given the dubious timing of the book's release and his penchant for, time and again, playing the martyr.

In the end I suspect history will view Hamilton as the wiley snitch who finally got his slice of the notoriety pie, and Armstrong among the worlds elite athletes ( drugs or not) who was in love with himself and winning at all costs, but who, by the way, did more for those without hope than all the USADA pinheads and their stoolies could ever dream of (not that they would ever aspire to such a thing.)