Is Lance Armstrong the Next Hero To Fall?

Sad news today.

In the face of the a federal doping investigation, Lance Armstrong hired a criminal attorney.

Of course he made the usual caveats.

According to the AP, Armstrong made this statement, "Obviously, you need some legal counsel on this...I wouldn't read anything into it, I'm 100 percent confident that there will be a satisfactory resolution for me."

Sounds like deja vu all over again to me. And not in a good way.

The investigation was spurred by allegations from former teammate Floyd Landis. You remember Landis. He's the American that followed Armstrong onto the winner's stand at the Tour De France only to be stripped of his title when he tested positive for PEDs after the event.

Since then, Landis has made it his life's ambition to become the most hated man in American sports. First by refusing to admit his crime. Then finally coming clean, and tattling on everyone else in the sport.

Apparently Floyd wasn't at school the day they went over the rules of the playground. 

But this article isn't about Landis. It's about a series of events that never ends well.

Sustained doping rumors about a sports hero. Repeated denials from said sports hero. The start of a federal investigation. And then...well, we know how this story usually ends. 

I'm not positive how this story will end. I'm not a fortune teller. I just know what's happened in the past. I'm a student of history.

Alex Rodriguez, Marion Jones, Roger Clemens, and many others have all professed their innocence only to have to backtrack and admit they did in fact use PEDs. 

Armstrong's case is particularly ominous because law enforcement is involved. Let's face it. Millions of dollars, extensive scientific research, and a whole lot claims have gone into the anti-doping industry, but the fact is most big-name PED users have been busted by law enforcement. 

Bonds, Jones, Clemens, Shane Mosley, Rodney Harrison: all busted by Feds, not by testing. 

Jones was tested over 200 times by the very best WEDA had to offer when she was a world-class track star and she never tested positive once. She would still be America's sweetheart if it weren't for the Balco investigation. 

That's why I am concerned about Lance Armstrong. I have a bad feeling about his situation. Despite his comments to the contrary, the fact he's hired a criminal attorney can't be a good sign.

I'll be honest. If Lance did use PEDs, I don't want to know.

Not because I care about his seven Tour De France wins. I never liked bike racing that much anyway. I hate most bike riders even more. 

Not because he's an American. I was happier when our teams struggled to win against the drug-fueled Eastern Bloc nations back in the Cold War days.

Wins seemed richer back then. More deserved. 

There was nothing better than watching some lithe 16-year-old blond girl from Mission Viejo knock off a mannish, designer drug enhanced East German swimmer in the 100 meter freestyle back in the 80s. I loved it when Rocky Balboa beat Ivan Drago.

The reason I don't want to know if Lance used PEDs is I don't want his work for cancer research tarnished. Armstrong has done more for cancer research and cancer victims than any single individual in the last 15 years.

Do we really want to throw all that away because a creep like Floyd Landis wants to get back at the world? Really?

The country should honor Lance's contribution in my opinion. Especially right now when funds for so many other things are so scarce. 

I'd rather see the money spent on this investigation go to hire a beat cop or a teacher. 

And I don't think an investigation is going to change anything.

I don't mind those people who argue for stronger testing. Although considering the millions that have been spent on groups like WEDA and USADA and their abysmal track record, I don't know what more testing will accomplish. 

WADA has busted one HGH user to date. A rugby player in December 2009. I don't think that's a cost-effective use of funds. But that's me.

PEDs are here to stay. We might as well admit it. Going back and busting people after the fact won't change that.