[RobertT]

Whether it's because he's been taking the stuff all along and forgot to mask it, or because he tried overloading on it for a possible one-time boost, the fact is that he has tested positive x2. And it pisses me off to no end. Not because he's an American and I loved the idea of Armstrong being followed up by another American winner (I reserve the right to root for the athlete of my choosing). No; what pisses me off is that to all accounts he's a cheater. And I'm heartily sick of cheaters in sports, any sport, not just cycling, and not just doping.

We see it everyday. Athletes committing on-purpose fouls or penalites and/or acting as though the referee's/umpire's call is wrong, even though they surely know that the call is correct. When's the last time anyone saw an athlete get called for something and simply acknowledge the offense and admit guilt? Or perhaps in a gentlemanlike manner ask the official something like, "Are you sure?", and when confirmed act like a sportsman and accept the call. Both are pretty rare.

It's all the same thing: Doping in cycling or intentionally grabbing a receiver after five yards and acting like nothing untoward took place, or arguing a call at second base when everyone in the park knows you're out. I call it a lack of sportsmanship. Or, simply, cheating.

Not cheating doesn't mean you're not trying. Hell, I give 100% to everything I do, but if the ump calls a strike or says I'm out, well, that's that. I'm not going to pretend he's wrong if I think he may be right, and if I'm pretty sure he's wrong I'll still accept his decision.

Are we teaching our kids to be good sports or to win at all costs?

Anyone ever read/hear about Bobby Jones, one of the greatest golfers of his era, admitting to unintentionally moving his ball even though no one else noticed the event? That's how a sportsman acts. Follow the rules and play as hard as you damn well can to beat the heck out of your opponents. But first follow the rules.

Did Landis follow the rules? It sure looks like he didn't, all the hyperbole aside. Don't get me wrong...even though I knew it wouldn't, I was hoping hard that the B test would negate the A and I could relax. Is it okay that Landis cheated just because the entire sport does it? Not in my opinion.

I tried to stay on-topic here, respecting the fact that this thread is about cycling and Landis. But I firmly believe that it's representative of a general malaise toward cheating in all sports. I think we need to teach our children that working hard, practicing, and focus are the ways to win, not playing outside the rules.