Armstrong's ego is out of control, and yes, he was an awful bully. But he didn't put his teammates or anyone else at risk. Believe me, as someone who's followed the cycling circuit for years, Armstrong didn't have to bully anyone into cheating. They didn't do it because he told them to, no matter what they might say in interviews. Doping has been a persistent scandal at every level of the sport, and Armstrong's behavior is not unusual for any of the cyclists who compete in the Tour de France.
Phelps did put the lives of innocent people at risk, and he knew he did, and it wasn't the first time so I don't think it's a fair comparison. A lot of elite athletes have huge egos. It's a component of their personality that enables them to hit the elite ranks. Like politicians. Driving drunk is in a separate category altogether. No excuse.
I would give Michael an ounce of grace long before Lance. At least Michael is owning up to his stupidity and not lying for years and years like Lance. I highly doubt Michael got into his car thinking about putting peoples' lives at risk. What he did was wrong, dangerous and selfish, but I don't think he's approached Lance Armstrong levels of corruption and denial just yet...
Armstrong's ego is out of control, and yes, he was an awful bully. But he didn't put his teammates or anyone else at risk. Believe me, as someone who's followed the cycling circuit for years, Armstrong didn't have to bully anyone into cheating. They didn't do it because he told them to, no matter what they might say in interviews. Doping has been a persistent scandal at every level of the sport, and Armstrong's behavior is not unusual for any of the cyclists who compete in the Tour de France.
Phelps did put the lives of innocent people at risk, and he knew he did, and it wasn't the first time so I don't think it's a fair comparison. A lot of elite athletes have huge egos. It's a component of their personality that enables them to hit the elite ranks. Like politicians. Driving drunk is in a separate category altogether. No excuse.
I would give Michael an ounce of grace long before Lance. At least Michael is owning up to his stupidity and not lying for years and years like Lance. I highly doubt Michael got into his car thinking about putting peoples' lives at risk. What he did was wrong, dangerous and selfish, but I don't think he's approached Lance Armstrong levels of corruption and denial just yet...
