Originally Posted by
guadzilla
Sure... I know that happens, I just dont think that should be the case. For a so-called evolved and educated society, we sure tend to behave very childishly about some thing.
We arent a court of law. If we can put people on a pedestal based on our preconceptions ("he swings a stick really well, he's a great man"), then we can choose to knock them off the pedestal equally easily.
The thing is, Lance's fall is undeserved b/c he (or any other sports person) shouldnt have been put on that high a pedestal to begin with.
Your two comments are interrelated, of course.
Countries, for a long time, have regarded sportspeople as being a ticket to national pride. This has engendered a fervour that in turn has put incredible pressure on sportspeople to succeed on the international stage. The more they succeed, the higher the pedestal. Heaven knows that here in Australia, the Federal Government has pumped millions into programs to indentify talent and train athletes for success internationally.
While it was amateurs originally, at the top of the pedestal tower has been money, and bucketloads of it. And when there is money, there are vested interests that want success at any cost.
It can be argued that the two individuals under the microscope here -- Woods and Armstrong -- weren't representing their country, they are or were representing themselves in pursuit of money and prestige.
Well, yes, but on the world stage, they are Americans and every time they won, they were adored by Americans, American corporations and non-Americans. And America ruled.
The same happens with Contador in Spain. Probably Cavendish in the UK.
The trouble with America (and I am looking at this from an outsider's point of view) is that in the past decade or a bit longer, it has been let down by the people who have been charged with leadership, whether in sport, politics, finance or entertainment. The falls from grace have been spectacular and have hurt a lot of people not just in America, but around the globe.
It's that power corrupts thing... that absolute power corrupts absolutely. So the cynicism is such that whenever there is a whiff of controversy, the American public has been conditioned to condemn and convict first, irrespective of that principle of innocent until proven guilty.
It's a sad situation, and unfortunately for America, the rest of the world is starting to adopt the same attitude towards America's behaviour on the world political, financial and sporting stages.
If Armstrong is charged and convicted, it will be seern as yet another American failure to play by the rules... with Armstrong just being the face of the failure.