Tour de Lance

Perhaps due to my raging indifference toward professional sports as a whole and professional cycling in particular, I can’t say the decision to strip Lance Armstrong of his past Tour de France victories has had any effect on my daily life.

Nevertheless, I can’t help feeling vaguely betrayed, not by the athletic community but by America as a whole. Our nation has always presumed innocence until conclusive evidence to the contrary has been presented.

As a people, we still value this ideal so highly that we are willing to pretend Mitt Romney is a scrupulous taxpayer, yet after unquestionably passing 500 to 600 sundry drug tests, Lance Armstrong is somehow still not beyond reproach.

No, my sense of hurt and frustration runs far deeper than that. I feel as if I have been violently shaken awake from the American daydream.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has no evidence that Armstrong is involved in any wrongdoing, save for the allegations raised by his bitter rivals. The logic underlying their condemnation of Armstrong can be broken down into three irreducible steps.

Firstly, Armstrong has won one of the world’s most competitive bicycle races a record-breaking seven times. Secondly, this is so wildly implausible it must be beyond the capacity of a mere mortal.Therefore, finally, Armstrong must have cheated, in spite of all scientific evidence to the contrary.

I have never suffered from wide-eyed, unthinking patriotism, the affliction which convinces a terrifying number of Americans their country and culture are the secret envy of the rest of the world. However, for our many flaws, we have always celebrated achievement.

This is the country that developed a polio vaccine, sent people to the moon and discovered the alternating current.

We have always taken pride in the accomplishments of its extraordinary citizens, our favored sons and daughters.

If America was to have a legacy, until today, it would have been reminding the world, sometimes loudly and ostentatiously, that anyone can change the world, regardless of the adversity he or she might face.

Why are we renouncing them now?

Do we honestly believe that humankind has achieved all that is possible?

 Do we still have the capacity to be surprised, astonished, surpassed and inspired?

I hope we do, for the sake of everyone reading this column. If a cancer survivor cannot overcome the cruelties of genetics and happenstance to become a wealthy, successful philanthropist, what possible chance can any of us have to make a meaningful mark in the world?

I don’t claim to know whether Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs, but I do believe he should be afforded the benefit of every doubt. Don’t misunderstand.

I couldn’t care less about who has more medals in competitive cycling, or even which athletes are breaking steroid rules.

I care that a great man has been mercilessly hounded by champions of mediocrity because his accomplishments stretch beyond their limited imagination. Live strong.

-stefsoko@indiana.edu