Lance Armstrong and Joseph Smith
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:06 am
I used to be a big cycling fan, both riding and watching the sport. I'll never forget the day I was shooting the bull with the owner of the local cycling shop, who I would ride with on Saturday mornings. We were talking about one of the big upcoming professional tours. The conversation went something like this:
Him: You know that all of the pros are doped up.
Me: Really? Even with all the testing?
Him: Every. last. one. of. them.
I learned about the history of cycling and figured out that he was probably right. But, I still held out hope that Lance Armstrong was the lone clean rider. Then Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton came out and I knew that Armstrong was a doper. The only real defense against them was that they were bitter and jealous of Lance Armstrong. That and Armstrong's constant denial of "I've never tested positive" (note the phrase was always carefully worded that way, he always was sure to emphasize that he tested clean above any denials of doping).
Because Lance was a hero, people kept wanting to believe. After all, his story was a really good story, provided the doping allegations were false. I kept saying in the back of my mind that there would need to be a smoking gun to get people to wake up, there had to be some testimony that was unimpeachable. I figure that if George Hincapie testified against Lance, that would be it. Hincapie and Armstrong were always best buds and Hincapie's popularity is almost entirely due to his riding with Lance on so many Tours de France.
Well, Hincapie has spilled the beans and admitted to doping, implicating Armstrong in the whole process. As an added bonus, several other witnesses in the know have come forward, including Johnathan Vaughters and Christian Vande Velde. Neither had anything to gain by confessing and neither is enemies with Armstrong.
And then I realized that as long as Lance continues to deny this, there are going to be a small core of people unable or unwilling to acknowledge the truth. The story of the cancer survivor who wins the most grueling sporting event on the planet is just too inspirational. The story must be almost mesmerizing to those who have experienced or are experiencing cancer. In a way it is cruel to tell the truth to those who for several years have flocked to Armstrong, to his Livestrong campaign, who have proudly worn yellow bracelets, and who have been inspired by someone not only beating cancer, but thriving.
And then I realize that no matter how much you tell people about Joseph Smith, there are always going to be a core of people unable or unwilling the acknowledge the truth. It is an inspirational story, at least the sanitized version that the LDS church teaches. Miraculous visions, endurance through persecution, victory in Nauvoo, followed by martyrdom are all so inspirational. It's almost cruel to tell people about polyandry and the Book of Abraham, not to mention several dozen other facts which muddies the sanitized version they have heard and prefer to keep on believing.
Him: You know that all of the pros are doped up.
Me: Really? Even with all the testing?
Him: Every. last. one. of. them.
I learned about the history of cycling and figured out that he was probably right. But, I still held out hope that Lance Armstrong was the lone clean rider. Then Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton came out and I knew that Armstrong was a doper. The only real defense against them was that they were bitter and jealous of Lance Armstrong. That and Armstrong's constant denial of "I've never tested positive" (note the phrase was always carefully worded that way, he always was sure to emphasize that he tested clean above any denials of doping).
Because Lance was a hero, people kept wanting to believe. After all, his story was a really good story, provided the doping allegations were false. I kept saying in the back of my mind that there would need to be a smoking gun to get people to wake up, there had to be some testimony that was unimpeachable. I figure that if George Hincapie testified against Lance, that would be it. Hincapie and Armstrong were always best buds and Hincapie's popularity is almost entirely due to his riding with Lance on so many Tours de France.
Well, Hincapie has spilled the beans and admitted to doping, implicating Armstrong in the whole process. As an added bonus, several other witnesses in the know have come forward, including Johnathan Vaughters and Christian Vande Velde. Neither had anything to gain by confessing and neither is enemies with Armstrong.
And then I realized that as long as Lance continues to deny this, there are going to be a small core of people unable or unwilling to acknowledge the truth. The story of the cancer survivor who wins the most grueling sporting event on the planet is just too inspirational. The story must be almost mesmerizing to those who have experienced or are experiencing cancer. In a way it is cruel to tell the truth to those who for several years have flocked to Armstrong, to his Livestrong campaign, who have proudly worn yellow bracelets, and who have been inspired by someone not only beating cancer, but thriving.
And then I realize that no matter how much you tell people about Joseph Smith, there are always going to be a core of people unable or unwilling the acknowledge the truth. It is an inspirational story, at least the sanitized version that the LDS church teaches. Miraculous visions, endurance through persecution, victory in Nauvoo, followed by martyrdom are all so inspirational. It's almost cruel to tell people about polyandry and the Book of Abraham, not to mention several dozen other facts which muddies the sanitized version they have heard and prefer to keep on believing.