JMBeaushrimp said:
As you seem to be someone who can appreciate his alter-ego of CancerMan, does the good he has done for survivors absolve him of his cycling misdeeds?
I'm just trying to gauge how the non-cycling world would view him. Would it matter if he cheated for his TdF wins? Does that even matter in his non-cylcing millieu of 'survivor'? How does the cancer community feel about integrity?
I'm not taking the p*ss out of him, I'm just curious. I'm not a cancer survivor, nor am I a LA fan. Hence, I'm looking for more of a reading from the LA cancer community.
I would just like to get a feel of the 'community' regarding all that's going on, without the the troll-baiting...
yeh it is a conundrum.
Does his good deeds absolve him for the way in which he got there? Does the end justify the means? In his case I would say No.
He has done good things - but he has acheived fame and fortune by cheating, and it doesnt make it all better that he gives some (not all) of that back by being a good citizen with the public's largesse.
My post was really about the LAF/Livestrong. That it does do good, and I am a bit tired of people suggesting that his charity is a scam. Its not, it does do good things ....but TheHog is right in some ways too. The info and support is already there. It can be difficult to navigate around, and the LAF / Livestrong HAS certainly helped people in need and made things easier for them ... but people will still survive cancer without them. The foundation isnt looking for a cure, or paying for medication when people cant afford it.
As for the general public - I think the vast majority of the 'community' (ie non-cycling fans) actually dont really beleive he doped. I have really only just started being more than just a casual July fan .... (access to the internet and paytv means I can actually follow the sport), and before then had no real idea ... I did actually think he was clean.
(Have since done a lot of reading and had my naivity exposed)
People beleive in the miracle - they want to. People beleive him when he says 'they are just out to get me' .... and dont really want to think about the truth. Even if they beleive he doped, they actually dont really consider the consequences of that in the wider community ....
As for me - Im actually one of the lucky ones. My version (CML) is treatable (though at this point not curable) ... and Australia is a great country to live in as we have great health care. Its been a rocky road - but coming out the other side
(ETA : All the luck and best wishes to you too tubularglue)