Lance Armstrong

[RichC]

It's hard to know though. His life has imploded to the point where he may now want to pursue another line entirely.

I expect there'll be a limited confession of wrongdoing. It will be interesting to see how he justifies it. The obvious course of action is 'everyone was at it' and 'everyone knew how it worked' but for some reason I don't think that will be the line. It has a large element of truth to it - it wasn't everyone but it was endemic and systematic, it was enabled and even sometimes instigated by the team managers, it was wilfully ignored by the authorities who chose to turn a blind eye.

But I can't see how that would achieve what has to be his objective - some sort of redemption or forgiveness, by the public and/or the sporting authorities. You never know, maybe he'll announce he is going to co-operate fully. I wouldn't be surprised if he says it but that doesn't mean he'll really do it.

Whatever happens, I think it will be purely about what he wants to achieve for himself and that's a pity. Maybe eventually he'll think about the damage he's done but it's too soon for that now.

Oh this is all for whatever he sees as being in his best interests now which makes me think he won't put his hands up "mea culpa" sort of style as there is potentially so much more to lose for him by admitting guilt, I mean the financial implications of holding his hands up could be enormous and then you've got the swearing under oath in court.

I do hope it's not all just lip service though and used solely as a PR vehicle to try and repair some of the damage his reputation has taken.

I'll also say though I am not overly keen on Tygart in all of this either, comes across as a very obsessive person and rather than doing this for the sport it's become a very personal issue.

[kev776]

It's just blind guessing though unless you have some narrative that makes it at least as plausible as the myriad other explanations.

It adds nothing and merely distracts from the central issue, and if anything spreads the blame from the main culprit identified so far.

Do you actually mean "Stop ****in waffling Nigy"

[Neil Young]

Alway.

[barnes10]

He's a psycho. a psycho isn't going to be arsed about redemption.

If he does 'confess' i think he'll be doing it purely to take anyone and everyone down with him. As much damage as he can to those around him.

There seems to be very limited upside to his confession and seeking redemption. So why would he bother? His life as he knew it is over. I think he'd be more enraged by the fact that others have thrown him under the bus and he may see them as having 'gotten away with it'. He'll be after revenge and out to prove that 'you don't try to screw over lance armstrong' more than he'll be shedding tears because he genuinely wants forgiveness.

Could be quite funny

[Fredo]

He's a psycho. a psycho isn't going to be arsed about redemption.

Err

[dom9]

He will produce tears 11 minutes and 22 seconds in to the interview. A tissue will be on standby.

Whatever turns you on I suppose.

[Neil Young]

Lance Armstrong interview: 10 questions Oprah Winfrey should ask

Will Lance Armstrong use this interview as a chance to come clean on his involvement in doping, bullying and the murky goings-on in cycling?

William Fotheringham
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 January 2013 14.36 GMT



Lance Armstrong after a dope test in Montaigu in 1999, the year he won the first of seven Tour de France titles. Photograph: Andreas Rentz/Bongarts/Getty Images

1. You have yet to respond in detail to the case made against you by the US Anti-Doping Agency which provides overwhelming evidence that you headed a doping programme "more extensive than any previously revealed in professional sports history … a fraudulent course of conduct that extended over a decade". Usada's case against you includes sworn statements from more than two dozen witnesses including 15 professional cyclists and a dozen former members of your teams. How can you deny their case?

2. Past experience of doping confessions suggests that you will claim you had no alternative but to dope because that was the culture of the sport at the time and it was the only way to succeed. Has it ever occurred to you that in 1999, when you won your first Tour de France, the sport was in a state of transition, with a body of riders and teams clearly and publicly committed to change, and that your doping, and that of other US Postal riders in that Tour and those that followed, contributed strongly to the sport being sucked back into the doping vortex? More importantly, did it cross your mind at the time?

3. In the light of the overwhelming evidence of doping against you in the 1999 Tour, have you any words for Christophe Bassons, whom you intimidated during that race over his anti-doping stance? Similarly, have you any thoughts for Filippo Simeoni, whom you bullied out of a possible 2004 stage win after he testified against your trainer Michele Ferrari?

4. What would you say now if you were alone in a room with any of the whistleblowers – Emma O'Reilly, Greg LeMond, Betsy Andreu, David Walsh – who you threatened when they attempted to expose you?

5. Usada's reasoned decision states that you had "ultimate control ... over the doping culture of [the US Postal Service] team..." that you "required that [your team-mates] adhered to the doping program outlined for them". Was this indeed the case?

6. It is known that you made two substantial payments to the International Cycling Union during your racing career. Why did you make those payments?

7. Could you detail any meetings you may have had at the UCI to discuss doping matters and recall what was said at those meetings?

8. In 2009 you returned to the Tour de France after four years' retirement. Usada claims there is evidence that suggests you used blood doping during that race. Can you confirm or deny that? Either way, why did you refuse your consent for the ICU to supply Usada with their laboratory and collection information from that race for analysis and will you now grant that permission?

9. A cycling fan, who believed in you for many years, asked how people like him could possibly now have faith in any of their heroes. What would you say to him and those in the cancer community who believed in you for so long?

10. In July this year, all the living riders who have raced in the Tour de France in its 100 editions will be in Paris for the finish. Will you take your place among them or do you feel your place is elsewhere?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-rad...ance-armstrong

If only.

[Neil Young]

Ten questions Oprah Winfrey probably will ask Lance Armstrong

Get the tissues to hand and discover if Lance Armstrong is still crying over the death of his dog when he was seven years old

Barney Ronay
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 January 2013 13.41 GMT



Oprah Winfrey might be concerned how Lance Armstrong, left, was able to cope when the Tour de France peloton passed a dog such as this near Bourg Saint Maurice in 2009. Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

1. Have the past few months been crazy, emotional, frightening and full of lots of scandalous – truly scandalous – lies that sadly you can't talk about right now for legal reasons?

2. If you feel the need to cry, or even make your voice wobble a little like you're going to cry but instead fight back those tears and take a breath and keep right on with what you were saying because dammit you're better than this and you owe it to not just the world but to yourself to tell this story then do you think, Lance, that you might be best just giving in to it?

3. Would you like to see an uplifting montage of slow-motion footage of you looking triumphant and sad, soundtracked by Love Lift Us Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes?

4. Do you by any chance have a folksy anecdote about something your father said to you when you were a very small boy, perhaps while sitting on a porch or playing catch in the back yard? You do?

5. Would you like to talk for quite a long time about what Being An American means to you?

6. Is there a sense that perhaps a lot of people have always been jealous of your success? That maybe there was and remains a lot of jealousy out there, a lot of European jealousy, a British press-led European conspiracy of jealousy? Do you think, Lance, that might be a possibility? I'm just putting it out there.

7. Looking back now, how badly did the death of your dog when you were seven years old affect you? Looking at this picture of your dog right now can you feel the tears welling up, the anger coming out? Can you feel the tears for your dog? Would you like to reach out and pat the dog? Pat the dog, Lance. Cry. Cry and pat the dog.

8. Do you by any chance have plans for a nationwide tour of schools speaking about the dangers of caring too much, falling foul of the temptations of others, being at the wrong end of a vast sporting witch-hunt and basically not learning to love yourself enough?

9. How about a new book too? Possibly something in big type with lots of pictures called Lance: My Longest Journey or Lance: A New Hope or perhaps just Lance: I Suffered For Your Sins?

10. Shall we hug now?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog...ance-armstrong

[Chazza]

Matt McGeehan @mattmcgeehan
Oprah's ppl on Armstrong: "No payment for the interview. No editorial control, no question is off limits". No transcript before broadcast

[Tee]

He has an opportunity to do the right thing today. Lets see what he decides, becaus eif he comes clean he will at least gain some respect for doing that (finally).

[Shaggy]

It's next week isn't it? Being streamed live online.

[Tee]

It's next week isn't it? Being streamed live online.

I thought it was today, thanks for clarifying.

[spud_gun]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/536311/bets-taken-on-the-words-lance-armstrong-will-use-during-tv-interview.html

British bookmaker Ladbrokes is taking bets on the words and phrases that Lance Armstrong may - or may not - use during his 'tell all' television interview with veteran broadcaster Oprah Winfrey on Thursday, January 17.

Speculation is rife that Armstrong will use the show to admit to using banned performance enhancing substances and/or blood doping during his seven Tour de France wins, all of which have been stripped from Armstrong by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after it investigated allegations into doping at the US Postal cycling team. Armstrong is fighting to restore public credibility after USADA's damning report.

Ladbrokes are only offering evens on Armstrong's use of the word 'Confess' and the phrase 'Never tested positive' during his chat at his Texas home with Winfrey. The phrase 'Witch hunt' and the names of British journalists David Walsh and Paul Kimmage offer slightly better prospects at 2/1.

The recently knighted 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and Sky team principal David Brailsford also make the list, at 4/1 and 8/1 respectively.

"We're sure that he'll apologise but if he actually means it is a whole different issue," said Ladbrokes spokesperson Jessica Bridge.

"A full confession seems unlikely but if he wants to even attempt at rebuilding his public reputation he's got no choice but to fess up."

The words and phrases that may be used by Armstrong, and Ladbrokes' odds:

Sorry 1/4
Apologise 1/4
Confess evens
Conspiracy 1/2
Innocent evens
David Walsh 2/1
Paul Kimmage 2/1
Sunday Times 4/1
British Press/media 4/1
Witch hunt 2/1
Integrity 6/4
Never tested positive Evens
Livestrong 1/4
Team Sky 8/1
Bradley Wiggins 4/1
Sir David Brailsford 8/1
USADA 4/6
WADA 6/4
Tour de France 1/8
Floyd Landis 4/1
Tyler Hamilton 6/4
George Hincapie 4/1
Johan Bruyneel 4/1
Dr. Michele Ferrari 5/6
EPO 6/4

[dom9]

He has an opportunity to do the right thing today. Lets see what he decides, becaus eif he comes clean he will at least gain some respect for doing that (finally).

Not really. It will just confirm that he's a cunting scumbag.

[Hollowman]

Yeah, but F Scott was wrong. Americans love them a redemption drama. If he comes out, confesses to it all, then weeps into a stars and stripes hankie, he'll be the Democrats' presumptive candidate for the 2016 presidentials.