I think however, that #3 is the only real reason.

To #1: There are literally no parallels between him
and Bonds/Clemens, both of whom were among the best
ever prior to steroids use

The other reasons you listedjust seem to follow from the fact
that you wanted to root for him because you needed him to be
perfect for emotional/sanctimonious reasons. He gave you
and a lot of other people hope.

All that stuff about the French and all that isn't relevant
if you don't need him to be perfect.

And this is really the worst part about this scandal:

He completely fucked with the hopes and dreams of millions
of people. Literally nobody can say that about a baseball
player.

The fact that his "foundation" isn't much of one and that he's
a scumbag who basically robbed people out of money on false
pretenses is the second worst thing about it.

>1. For the same reason I defended Barry Bonds: people could
>talk as much shit as they wanted about what they "knew" or
>believed, but he never tested positive. And he was tested more
>than most. And despite lots of allegations, his detractors
>hadn't been to prove anything.
>
>2. Honestly, the people who lined up against him just sounded
>mad. What, I'm going to side with the French, who were mad
>that an American was dominating "their" race? I'm supposed to
>side with the sour grapes former champions that were mad that
>someone won the race more times than they did in a fashion
>more dominating than they ever did? I'm supposed to side with
>guys on other teams who were mad that he was kicking their ass
>every year (and probably were just as dirty as he was)? I'm
>supposed to side with former teammates with an ax to grind for
>various reasons? Nah, man, they all just sounded mad as fuck.
>
>3. Might sound goofy, I always liked the way dude beat cancer.
>Maybe because I've got close relatives that are cancer
>survivors, but it always make me smile when someone kicks
>cancer's ass. I also like the way he dealt with his religious
>"critics." They complained that he wasn't thanking God enough
>for his recovery, and he countered that he didn't beat cancer
>because of God, but because of his doctors hard work and his
>own efforts. That also made me smile.
>
>4. Finally, I can never get worked up after performance
>enhancing drugs in sports. True for baseball, football,
>basketball, cycling, whatever. All sanctimonious crap about
>the "purity of the sport" has always made me want to puke.
>It's ten tons of horseshit spouted by assholes who pine for
>the time of "purity" in athletes that never actually existed.
>So the "Oh, he cheated!!!!" warbling never has and never will
>move me. I'm honestly more offended by Armstrong's shady
>charity practices than I ever could or would be by him
>admitting to doping.


----------------------------

Young Broadway Star Urgently Needs a Bone Marrow Donor. Is it you? http://MatchShannon.com/







O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "