Good points, Charm. My admiration for Brian is and ever will be total. I was dismayed to learn about Lance as he too had been a kind of hero to me, both for his athletic prowess as well as his work off the bike. Of course, Livestrong is still there and I hope they continue their work.

I do not excuse his lying. I don't condone the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports... but it's not exactly a black and white situation. You can say things like steroids and EPO are bad. What about baseball players who use Adderall and the like, whether they have a legitimate medical reason or not? And that's only what I've read about.

One mitigating factor in the whole Lance business - and I'm not saying this excuses anything, merely stating what I believe to be the case - is that from everything I've heard the use of these substances was pretty widespread until recently. I hope it's no longer the case but I don't know that. I mention this only in the context of Lance's Tour victories, which I think need also to be considered within this context, i.e. that in a weird sense he was in fact competing on a level playing field, so to speak.

Again, that does not excuse any of it. Merely an observation.

Finally, I do take good-hearted exception to your opinion, Charm, of pro cycling. Disclaimer: I own a bicycle which I ride infrequently, and slowly. (I'm more of a hiker) I think those guys are among the greatest athletes on the planet. Riding 100+ miles a day for more than 3 weeks, as they do in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia or the Vuelta de Espana, is mind-boggling enough. Doing it at rates of speed that amateurs can only dream of, and up and down mountains, is astonishing.

And those comments, plus $4.95, will get you a small coffee at Starbucks. Thus I endeth. (except to say that if I were ever to find myself in trouble with the law I sure wish I could get you to represent me, Charm)