WARPED SENSE OF VALUES

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
http://www.philstar.com/sports/2013/01/23/900079/warped-sense-values



Some wise guy once said you’re not cheating unless you’re caught. If you can get away with deceit for an advantage, go ahead and do it. If you’re found out, apologize and ask for forgiveness. After all, you’re only human and everyone makes mistakes.

 
Lance Armstrong’s confession that he used performance-enhancing-drugs (PEDs) to string up seven consecutive Tour de France victories from 1999 to 2005 was a desperate act to salvage a losing situation. The fact that he did it on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show was an indication of insincerity – Armstrong wanted to use the celebrity’s widely popular program as a vehicle to launch a recovery platform. Winfrey shouldn’t have agreed to be manipulated but then, her motive was probably as murky as Armstrong’s. Winfrey couldn’t care less about Armstrong’s sincerity. She was in it for the ratings and you can’t blame her for that. If she was asked to treat Armstrong with kid gloves in exchange for an exclusive appearance, then Winfrey could be guilty of compromising journalistic ethics.

 
Armstrong, 41, was a manufactured character of superhero proportions. Here was an athlete diagnosed to be suffering from a form of testicular cancer in 1996 with a supposedly 50-50 chance of survival because the disease had spread to the brain and lungs. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy. Four months after his diagnosis, Armstrong was declared cancer-free and less than a year later, was back on the professional cycling tour. Remarkably, Armstrong went on to win all those Tour of France titles and became an inspiration to all.

 
Throughout his comeback, there were allegations that Armstrong was on PEDs. He strongly denied the accusations and over 600 drug tests produced negative results. Armstrong sued a slew of accusers and skeptics suspicious of drug use to preserve a reputation as a clean-living, overachieving cancer survivor. But when over 10 former teammates testified that he was a drug user and pusher to avoid being severely penalized themselves, the truth finally prevailed. The United States Anti-Doping Agency revealed findings of Armstrong’s drug use and the Union Cycliste Internationale announced a lifetime ban. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped Armstrong of recognition as a cycling third placer in the road time trial at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and has asked for the return of the bronze medal. The IOC has also banned Armstrong from ever participating in the Olympics.



In his heyday, Armstrong was like a demi-god who could do no wrong. He left his first wife Kristin for singer Sheryl Crow and eventually wound up with another woman with whom he fathered two children, conceived naturally despite a previous prognosis of impotency due to his cancer. Whatever indiscretions Armstrong had, the public was forgiving because he was Superman. He signed multi-million dollar contracts to endorse a variety of products for Oakley, Nike, RadioShack, Anheuser-Busch, Trek Bicycle and others.


Armstrong retired from pro cycling after his seventh Tour de France win in 2005 but came back in 2009. Early last year, he turned to pro triathlon. Armstrong was a US sprint course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990 so it was like going full circle.

 
What is alarming in Armstrong’s disclosure is how he was able to avoid detection for years. He has admitted to using testosterone (“the building block from which all steroids are created … strength, speed, recovery: this is what testosterone is all about,” wrote Gabriel Montoya in Boxing News) and erythropoietin or EPO (“increases red blood cell production, thus creating more oxygen in the blood and increasing endurance,” noted Montoya). But how did he escape detection in over 600 drug tests? There is proof that Armstrong made contributions to anti-doping agencies but did he bribe his way out of positive tests? If drug tests are inutile, how many champion athletes are on PEDs?

 
Writer Scott Ostler said when listening to cheat confessions, “I never sensed shame or regret which is probably because cheating is genetically ingrained, an extension of the competitive nature of man … with some athletes I interviewed, I got the sense they believe it’s dishonorable, dumb or unmanly NOT to cheat.”

 
Is there a difference between a basketball player, having touched the ball last before it went out of bounds, trying to convince the referee it was off the guy in a different uniform and an athlete who takes a PED to gain an unfair advantage in competition? Winning at all costs has warped the sense of values among some athletes. You never compromise the integrity of sports for if you do, how do deliver the message of honesty, sportsmanship, working hard and discipline to young athletes? Sports is a vehicle to build character not a window of opportunity for an athlete to become a conscienceless monster.



On the Winfrey show, Armstrong wasn’t completely truthful as he spoke about keeping a promise to his former wife to be drug-free in his 2009 comeback. It now appears his former wife was in on his drug shenanigans and he used PEDs in his comeback. Armstrong has dug a deeper hole for himself. He talked about leveling the playing field as if to justify the use of drugs as a way to cover for a handicap and was totally out of whack.

 
If his intention was to generate public sympathy for making a clean breast of his drug use, it certainly didn’t work – Armstrong has lost all credibility as a chronic liar. If his intention was to try to win back the $75 Million he lost in endorsement contracts, it didn’t work. If his intention was to campaign for the lifting of his lifetime ban, it didn’t work. If his intention was to begin a new career as a celebrity speaker, it didn’t work. Armstrong is a disgrace to sports and to humanity not only because he cheated as an athlete using drugs but also because he pushed drugs. He deserves the most severe sanction conceivable for an athlete gone wrong. 


Livestrong has outlived its relevance.

LEAVING A LEGACY

LEAVING A LEGACY
http://frostwhisper2012.blogspot.com/2012/10/leaving-legacy.html

THE UNDERTAKER: 20-0 AT WRESTLEMANIA. 3-TIME WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.

A TRIBUTE TO THE DEADMAN
 

I HAVE CHOSEN THE UNDERTAKER TO BE
 
MY ROLE MODEL
MY IDOL
MY HERO


I HAVE LIVED THROUGH 
THE 22-YEAR CAREER OF THE UNDERTAKER

I FIRST SAW HIM AT WRESTLEMANIA IX
Ceasar's Place, Las Vegas, Nevada 1993

HE WAS FIGHTING THE GIANT GONZALES
A MAN WHO DOES NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO WRESTLE
EVEN HE WAS IMMORTALIZED BY THE UNDERTAKER

IT IS ONLY BEFITTING THAT
THIS 2012

I WILL WRITE MY TRIBUTE TO THE UNDERTAKER
CEMENTING HIS LEGACY FOREVER

A MAN SHROUDED IN DARKNESS
SHEDS SO MUCH LIGHT TO PEOPLE
ALL AROUND THE WORLD

 
IN THE MATCH PROPER:
Harvey Wippleman (Manager) threw Giant Gonzalez a Rag soaked with CHLOROFORM knocking The Undertaker OUT COLD
The Undertaker was carried out of Ceasar Palace on a STRETCHER
The Giant was celebrating in the Ring.
After 1-2 Minutes...
THE DEATH BELL TOLLS
Green Smoke Appears
The Undertaker groggily comes back to the Ring
Paul Bearer grabbing The Undertaker's Long Hair
Restraining HIM
And Chops down the Giant with 2 Tomahawk Axhandles off the Top Turnbuckle
Then Finishes him off with the Running Clothesline
The Referee disqualifies The Giant for using a foreign object
Awarding the match to The Undertaker

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, "JR" Jim Ross, Macho Man Randy Savage (TV Commentary Team) STOOD THERE
SPEECHLESS
AWESTRUCK
AMAZED BY THIS RESURRECTED
HUMAN BEING

HEENAN SHOUTS
OH MY GOD!!!
HE IS NOT HUMAN!!!

HE IS NOT HUMAN!!!


IT WAS HERE THAT I MYSELF DECIDED....

I WILL FOLLOW THIS MAN
I WILL FOLLOW HIM WHEREVER HE GOES
HE IS IMMORTAL
NOT HULK HOGAN
NOT THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR
BUT HIM

I CHOSE THE UNDERTAKER
I CHOSE HIM
I KNEW HIM
I BELIEVED HIM
HE WILL BE MY GUIDING LIGHT
THEN
NOW
FOREVER


MATCH LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXLha7tbt50







 

WWE: Undertaker - The Streak DVD Cover

THE SHOWCASE OF THE IMMORTALS



WRESTLEMANIA
The Signature Event of World Wrestling Entertainment
THE UNDERTAKER IS 20 AND 0....
ZERO!!!




FOR OVER 20 YEARS....20 LOOOOONG YEARS....
NO ONE HAS EVER COME CLOSE
ONE BY ONE
THEY HAVE CHALLENGED HIS IMMORTALITY
BUT THEY FAILED
ALL SOULS FALL VICTIM TO THE DEADMAN
 
I HAVE CHRONICLED ALL HIS LIFE
I HAVE RECORDED ALL HIS LORE
HIS WORK ETHIC FOR 20 YEARS HAS ENCOMPASSED EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE
 
BLOOD
SWEAT
TEARS
DISCIPLINE
BROKEN BONES
EMOTIONAL TURMOIL
DIVORCE
BREAKUP
TO FIND NEW LOVE
TO BE A FATHER TO HIS NEWBORN BABY
TO BE MARRIED TO A CHRISTIAN (Michelle McCool)
TO ENDURE Ortibal Eye Injury, Hip Replacement Surgery
WRESTLING A Hepatitis-B Infected Cowboy Bob Orton AT THE RISK OF HIMSELF GETTING INFECTED
THE WILLINGNESS TO REINVENT HIS PERSONA (Funeral Parlor Mortician, The Ministry of Darkness, American Bad Ass, Deadman, Modern MMA Influenced Deadman)
TO BE PART OF STABLES AND TEAMS (Brothers Of Destruction, The Ministry Of Darkness, The Corporate Ministry)
THE HUMBLENESS TO ACCEPT NEW WRESTLING STYLES, SUBMISSION STYLES AND MMA TECHNIQUES
THE WISDOM TO ADD TO HIS ARSENAL OF FINISHING MANUEVERS (Tombstone Piledriver, Chokeslam, Hell's Gate Submission)
TO SACRIFICE LOSING AT THE COST OF HAVING ONE GET OVER HIM
THE WILL TO WIN...NO MATTER THE COST
THE VOICE OF THE LOCKER ROOM
TO ALWAYS HAVE THE 10/10 BEST MATCH IN ANY WRESTLEMANIA EVERY DAMN YEAR


THE UNDERTAKER'S LEGACY WILL NEVER NEVER EVER BE REPLACED BY ANYONE
THE UNDERTAKER'S LEGACY WILL LIVE ON IN OUR LIVES FOREVER










SORRY
ABOUT THE LENGTHY WRITEUP ABOUT MY IDOL
BUT I AM HERE NOW TO PROVE THIS POINT TO YOU
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN
WE HAVE


 

LANCE ARMSTRONG: CYCLING CHAMPION. CANCER SURVIVOR.

FALL FROM GRACE


In June 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) charged Armstrong with having used illicit performance-enhancing drugs.
In August 2012, they announced a Lifetime Ban from competition and 
Stripping Lance Armstrong of his SEVEN Tour De France Titles.

TOUR DE FRANCE --- THE ULTIMATE CYCLING RACE OF ALL TIME

On August 24, 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency stripped Armstrong of ALL competitive results
from August 1, 1998 to present.
On October 22, 2012, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the sport's governing body endorsed USADA's verdict and confirmed both the lifetime ban and the stripping of titles
(Source: Wikipedia)


THINK ABOUT IT...

LANCE ARMSTRONG SURVIVED TESTICULAR CANCER
A CANCER SURVIVOR
LANCE ARMSTRONG IS BANNED FOR LIFE
SHAMED FOR LIFE
STRIPPED OF ALL HIS TITLES
PEOPLE WILL FORGET NOW
LANCE ARMSTRONG IS A DRUG ADDICT
A LEGACY THAT CAN NO ONE CAN EVER BE PROUD ABOUT

BUT AS FOR ME
I STILL AM PROUD OF LANCE ARMSTRONG
NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY
I LOOK AT THIS GUY'S CHARACTER AND HEART
LANCE  HAS WHAT IT TAKES

BUT YOU SEE
THAT IS ONLY MY OPINION
WHAT ABOUT THE OPINION OF OTHERS
LANCE ARMSTRONG IS BANNED FOR LIFE
SHAMED FOR LIFE
HE CANNOT BE A ROLE MODEL FOR KIDS
ALL OF HIS CORPORATE SPONSORS DUMPED HIM LIKE TRASH






A LEGACY FULFILLED

NARUTO'S PARENTS: Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina

LEAVING A LEGACY
TO THE NEXT GENERATION
A GOOD LEGACY
AN EVIL LEGACY


WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT
THE LIFE WE LIVE NOW WILL IMPACT 
THE GENERATIONS AFTER US


TO PASS IT ON
TO PASS IT FORWARD
TO YOUR CHILD
TO YOUR CHILDREN
TO THE NEXT GENERATION

WE WILL ALL BE GONE SOON...

I am a Flower Quickly Fading
Here Today and Gone Tomorrow
A Wave Tossed in the Ocean
A Vapor in the Wind

GONE SO SOON....




I JUST WISH
I JUST WISH
I CAN TAKE MY OWN ADVICE
I WISH I CAN DO THAT

I WISH I COULD DO THAT
WHEN THE TIME COMES
I WILL
I WILL BE READY
SOMEHOW

A Mother's Love