So I’m totally new to this thread because I just learned of this story after watching "The Armstrong Lie†documentary and talking with my friend about it, who then told me about this. Fascinating stuff. Whether or not Rossi knows it, he is doing exactly what Armstrong did for over a decade. Lance lied and cheated to win (all seven Tour de France races), then he continued to do so to protect his reputation, his brand, his money, his charity and the “hopes and dreams of millions of cancer survivors". He knew what he did was wrong, but he totally believed NOT revealing the truth was in the interest of the greater good.
Mike will never admit the truth. Because he would have to look his family, his friends and his clients in the eye and admit that he cheated, and that is far worse punishment than any troll can ever inflict on him. He is just waiting (and hoping) for the story to fade.
Problem is, like Lance he is a competitive, egomaniacal narcissist. So rather than sit back and fade, he delights in posting his mug and taking shots at his critics at every opportunity. Armstrong was also pathological – bordering on sociopathic – in his own defense, waging vicious legal and personal attacks on anyone that challenged him. He was a bully. Which only fueled the critics further. But in the end it wasn’t the critics, or the preponderance of evidence (and there was a preponderance), or the international bike racing community (who didn’t want to take down their poster boy) that did him in… it was only when his former teammates finally rolled on him (compelled by Federal Prosecutors) that he was cornered and had to admit the truth.
Mike doesn’t have to worry about any of that. And Like Armstrong he was never “caught†(Armstrong technically never tested positive for PED’s, he was too good at beating the tests). But we all knew. The evidence and data was all right there. He was the strongest, fastest, winningest guy in a sport where everyone else was doping.
Funny thing is, Mike claims he ran the race of his life, but the truth is he has NO proof that he actually ran it.
But the most damning evidence against is really the photos. Here is a guy that seeks out the cameras and mugs and poses for every photo possible, yet during the race of his life he suddenly becomes camera shy? His body language in the finish photo at Lehigh Valley couldn’t demonstrate more guilt. Rather than his typical triumphant preening, his head is down buried under his black hat … like a guy robbing a 7-Eleven who knows the security cameras are on.
"Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling." Proverbs 16:18
