Waking up at 8 a.m. for 21 days during the summer with my dad to watch Lance Armstrong race and win seven Tour de France’s is not an easy thing to forget as my child hero is labeled as another athlete doped up on steroids.
To deal with the embarrassment of wholeheartedly supporting someone who has clearly been proven a man who’s threatened, bribed and lied his way to his seven wins of the Tour de France is not an easy burden to bear. This disappointment, which comes with the fall of any hero, opens my eyes beyond a protective high school environment to a real adult world.
Other athletes may lie, cheat and bribe their way to the top. It may be difficult for other competitors to ignore them and continue forward to success the fair way. But when the common man progresses with integrity, dependence on false heroes will fade and focuses will change to everyday heroes.
