Over the weekend, after the whoopla over Lance Armstrong and the Mateo madness, a friend emailed me with a question of the day. He wrote:
….Anyway much is going on in the news these days with-- how can I put it, attention craved people or win at any cost or get my name out front by any means. Let me explain; Of course I know you heard about Lance Armstrong and now the Norte Dame football player with the girlfriend hoax story and just this morning heard on the radio, TJMS reporting that Anderson Cooper stated he only dated females so that he could talk to their brothers. If that wasn't enough also TJMS reporting that Tatiana Ali's PR publicist stated to lose weight she cries three days in a row and she loves one night stands. As they said on TJMS, TMI. Yeah, I agree. I did not watch the Lance Armstrong interview, however, I heard the news snippet this morning that he didn't think he could win the Tour De France 7 times in a row without doping. So, with all of that said, the question is, are we as a society too obsessed with winning?
No one likes to lose I admit that, however, sometimes it's necessary in order to really know what it means to win. I will leave you with this quote I read in a book. "It's the best five players that win the game, not the five best players."
To this, I respond:
Where do I start? Lol, being on the brink, well-being engulfed in a society that is now driven literally by reality TV, reality stars, if you will.... It is amazing what people will do for attention. Lying about a deathly ill girlfriend I can't even say is the worst. And that is terrible. When there was once a time that psychiatric evaluation would definitely be ordered after such a hoax. I have to recall all the brain numbing shows on TV and the fact that what they do steers the success in their career. If that's the road they travel. It's sickening, yes, but so true. Reality, not so much, but truth that whoever gets the most attention on those shows are the ones who get renewed contracts; which in their reality equals a paycheck. For the ones who do not stir up enough trouble attention are considered "boring" it's a troublesome thought for sure.
As far as Lance Armstrong, it's a serious disappointment and let down because, who once and could have been a legend to read positive sentiments about; will now be another historical imprint that reflects negativity instead. How do I teach my son showmanship and sportsmanship when this is the example? How do I teach him how to win fair, when the examples are baptized in deceit? When you un rightfully take championships that's stealing literally, from the ones who put in all the hard work and there's no way to go back and give it back. You have a moment and an historical one at that!
While Lance Armstrong was cruising away on his journey to win the Tour De France, his competition was doing the same. Lance UN evened the playing field by cheating. This course taken can easily be compared to workplace relationship, where you are constantly working hard to achieve maximum results but you cannot succeed honestly when someone is cheating unfairly. After these disclosures, I ask the same question as my friend who sent the message; what was the reason? Was it sincere guilt or was it attention seeking.
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