Dopage

So, Lance doped. Or so says Tyler, Floyd, Frankie and, possibly, George. The skeptics in the cycling community were holding out because Tyler and George had not commented and, to be fair, George is still keeping mute... until the federal investigation notes are released. All fine and whatnot. What does it mean?

1) The US wants to sue somebody. Maybe lock some up and make a lesson of it. Shame, that. Why the US wants in on baseball and cycling is, to be frank, beyond me. Really, there are bigger fish to fry.
2) Maybe Lance will get off the high horse for a while. Go be the great philanthropic hero that the world adores and live in that sphere for a while. When it all comes to light, maybe then just nod unapologetically and say what Tyler said, "Yeah. I did it...like everyone did."
3) Cycling can move on and decide where to draw the line with controls before we are stuck watching children's races.

My take? Everyone was doing it. It was the requirement for competitiveness. We, as a public, saw demanding physical acts of beauty. Wonderful and memorable ones. For me, doping doesn't really change the artistry involved in Lance narrowly missing Beloki's head on the winding descent and having to manage some improvisational cyclocross. Not one bit. It was an act of wonder.

Manolo? Bjarne? Great DS's. They, too, did what was necessary to secure sponsorships and be competitive. Great DS's.

We, as a culture, want it both ways. We want to see greatness and then want to poke and prod until we discover vulnerability and nod disapprovingly. We want to lift up our icons and then pick at their foundations to watch their descent. We turn the fall of others into some kind of minor ascension of ourselves. Shame on us. Me included.

For me, however, it was never Lance's doping or not. Nope. Most folks started suspecting years ago. It was his impenetrably smug nature about 'most tested/never caught' commentary as his lieutenants were consumed in his wake. All these guys love cycling. I love cycling. Watching Floyd race was fun. Watching Tyler break away at LBL was inspiring.