Why do we give Lance Armstrong a free pass, but not Barry Bonds?

Or Mark McGwire? Or Sammy Sosa?

snip

AUSTIN, Texas -- A former personal assistant to Lance Armstrong filed court papers Thursday alleging that he discovered a banned substance in the cycling champion's apartment early last year.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=2027015

It just seems odd that we'll believe the people whom have an axe to grind when it's the baseball players, but we won't believe it when it's Lance Armstrong. Why is there a disparity there?

Yeah, baseball's steroid testing isn't as good as cycling's, but that doesn't mean cycling's is fool-proof. It isn't, by any means, and most certainly, there are people that do get away with it in that, and every other sport.

I'm not saying Lance IS doing steroids... nor am I saying the named baseball players AREN'T doing them. I'm just pretty angry about the double standard involved.

Based on a VERY layman's understanding of steroid use, but isn't that used to build massive muscle mass? Aren't most cyclists within 3-5% body fat and very few over 150 pounds?

Would it be wrong for Armstrong to use steroids to regain strength lost because of his cancer treatment?:shrug:

My dad had cancer, and while he was not a cyclist to begin with, I assure you, he is not in the best shape of his life afterwards. Not that I truly would blame him, but that doesn't change the fact that it's against the law.

...a French sporting event, and the media panders to yahoos who like "sticking it to them thar cheese-eatin' surrender monkeys?"

Because a lot of the baseball players in questions aren't quite as white as Armstrong?

Seriously, though, I'm not sure. Just speculating.

They only just broke the story. It takes a few days to whip up a frenzy of public outrage.

--p!

Let's start with the fact that the guy making the allegations has an axe to grind personally with Armstrong, the article cites a lawsuit over claims that Armstrong promised to help this guy open a bike shop. Next, Armstrong's story, recovering from cancer, is extremely compelling. And you make a good point that the drug testing in cycling is far more rigorous than anything in baseball. I also believe that Armstrong is not as well compensated as the baseball players.

Armstrong has some physiological abnormalities that allow him to process oxygen far more efficiently than normal human beings, but he was born with these. So, there's proof that his exceptional abilities are a result of physical gifts with which Armstrong was born.

I would also think that baseball, having gone on strike a few times, has disappointed us all and that we are inclined to believe the worst about baseball players, and owners too, because we see them as greedy. Cycling is nowhere near as essential to the American psyche as is baseball, so any thought of "spoiling" cycling just isn't going to get the press that it would get when messing with baseball.

:shrug:

however, when I look at Bonds and look at Armstrong, only one of them looks like they've been "enhanced"

And I don't know who's got an axe to grind with McGwire, Schilling, Giambi and the others...........

We KNOW Bonds used them. He said so! He said it was an accident, and we can choose to believe or disbelieve. But, he flat out said he used the Clear & Cream. He says he just didn't know they were steroids.
The Professor

i think he should be tarred and feathered just like Bonds has been. anyone who cheats deserves the same treatment.

that he is a cancer survivor. Being a cancer survivor myself, I don't see myself or any other C.S. using any type of "drug" not necessary. jmo

And he's been tested WAY more often than anyone in baseball. Bonds admitted to using steriods to a grand jury. (Yes, I know. He claims he didn't know they were steroids. He thought it was "flaxseed oil".)

Sammy had the corked bat.

McGwire admitted to using a performance enhancer during his record-breaking season, a drug which has since been banned by MLB. He also did himself no justice during his recent testimony to Congress, where he cast serious doubt on any claims that he never did stronger steriods.

The guy accusing Lance used to work for him and tried to extort money from him. He doesn't have much credibility as a witness.

Where is the double standard that you speak of?

he might have a low testosterone because of his testicular cancer and his doctor may have prescribed a testosterone supplement

for steriod use during the tour de france. Barry Bonds has never been tested.
That is the difference.

Lance has never had a positive result, nor has he refused to submit to a test.
The man is a superhuman; his heart is HUGE compared to other adult males and even his peers- it's one of the reasons he dominates.
Steroid use? Doubt it.
But we'll see. These days, nothing is out of the realm of possibility.
However, I admit bias because Lance is one of my personal heros...

Lance has been tested more in the past year than Bonds has been tested in his entire life, and has come up clean every time. Also, Lance looks just about exactly the same as he looked 10 years ago (I've got a Bonds rookie card and a 2004 Bonds card, and they don't look even vaguely similar). What else ... Oh yeah ... Bonds has admitted in Grand Jury testimony to being juiced! (accidentally, of course).

Armstrong hasn't bulked like the Hulk over the past ten years, unlike Bonds.

Armstrong doesn't have the "chipmunk cheeks" that most 'roid users get, whereas Bonds looks like he is storing a whole harvests' full of nuts in his mouth.

Armstrong has been tested to death it seems, whereas Barry has yet to donate a drop.

Armstrong's stats are showing an athelete who is aging gracefully, with his figures slowly trending downwards. Bonds on the other hand is suddenly looking like Superman the older he gets:wtf:

Sorry, but I seriously doubt that Armstrong has done any 'roids here, whereas I have no doubts that Bonds is juicing up.