{"id":1333,"date":"2013-01-17T06:19:39","date_gmt":"2013-01-17T11:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1333"},"modified":"2013-01-17T06:37:21","modified_gmt":"2013-01-17T11:37:21","slug":"falling-from-grace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=1333","title":{"rendered":"falling from grace"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is the day.\u00a0 According to multiple news outlets, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the world\u2019s most infamous and (previously seemingly)<\/em> successful cyclist, Lance Armstrong, has admitted to intentionally using performance-enhancing drugs.\u00a0 The interview is scheduled to be aired today on Oprah\u2019s OWN network.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The significance of the admission is obvious:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Armstrong has been incredibly successful; his career has included 7 Tour de France victories (albeit titles of which he has since been stripped).<\/em>\u00a0 And,<\/li>\n
  2. Armstrong has vehemently denied drug usage for years; his denials have also, often, arguably, publicly defamed other people…<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    When fellow Tour winner (and fellow Tour-title-stripped winner),<\/em> Floyd Landis, implicated Armstrong, Armstrong publicly declared Landis “desperate for attention and money.”<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    When the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency was investigating, Armstrong called the head of the quasi-government agency, Travis Tygart, \u201cobsessed\u201d with \u201cgetting\u201d him, boldly proclaiming that Tygart was executing an \u201cunconstitutional witch hunt.\u201d<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    With today finally being the day, we now know that all of the above were lies.\u00a0 We also know that all of the denials of truth telling around him were intentional efforts to discredit others instead of deal with self.\u00a0 (We like to do that sometimes… discredit others instead of deal with self… but alas, I digress…)<\/em><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Once more, the infamous has fallen from grace.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Some fall hard, friends… well, at least initially… Marv Albert, Jim Bakker, Kobe Bryant, John Edwards, Tonya Harding, Marion Jones, Richard Nixon, Sandi Patty, David Petraeus, OJ Simpson, Michael Vick, Tiger Woods… persons supposedly at the \u201ctop of their game,\u201d widely admired, yet those who fell a long, long way down.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    My mind wanders…<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Did they ever deserve to initially be so admired?\u00a0 Did we<\/em> allow their words, athleticism, or success to substitute for a wrongful impression of sound character?<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Did their immoral act simply unveil their true character \u2014 a character that was previously well hidden under the surface of celebrity?\u00a0 That\u2019s fascinating to me, especially as I see many of the above seem to pay only the penance of time, flying intentionally below the media radar for a specified period \u2014 and then ease back into a comparable, original role, undoubtedly hoping few will mention the reason for their fall.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Still, are they each capable<\/em> of redemption?\u00a0 I mean, most of us observed what happened at Penn State last fall \u2014 and the extent of the passion directed not only at the perpetrator but also at all associated with him.\u00a0 Was\/is Jerry Sandusky even capable<\/em> of redemption?\u00a0 What if we ever falter? … are we<\/em> capable?<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Finally \u2014 thinking again of Armstrong\u2019s admission \u2014 how should we feel about the \u201cgood\u201d Armstrong has previously done?\u00a0 Lance Armstrong\u2019s \u201cLive Strong Foundation\u201d has provided significant support and inspiration to cancer survivors for years.\u00a0 Now that Armstrong\u2019s unethical acts are evident, how are we to think about the past good he has done?\u00a0 Was it all just a facade?\u00a0 Can the efforts and actions now even be considered<\/em> good?<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Once again I\u2019m humbly reminded as to how consistently through history, broken people are used for a greater good.\u00a0 Warts and all \u2014 many who have at one time (or more)<\/em> engaged in unethical acts \u2014 can still contribute to the good.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    I wonder then what the future holds for Lance Armstrong.\u00a0 Is he capable<\/em> of redemption?<\/p>\n

    The better question, however, is will he be humble enough to actually\u00a0seek<\/em> that redemption and thus be used for the greater good.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    We shall wonder.\u00a0 Some shall pray.\u00a0 Praying, too, that no other broken person feels so confident of throwing that first stone…<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Respectfully,<\/p>\n

    AR<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Today is the day.\u00a0 According to multiple news outlets, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the world\u2019s most infamous and (previously seemingly) successful cyclist, Lance Armstrong, has admitted to intentionally using performance-enhancing drugs.\u00a0 The interview is scheduled to be aired today on Oprah\u2019s OWN network.   The significance of the admission is obvious:   Armstrong … <\/p>\n

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