No way back for drugs cheat Lance Armstrong

THERE’S really only one story this week Lance Armstrong and his interview with Oprah Winfrey.

You can’t overstate just how much of an all-American hero Lance was. So it makes his fall from grace all the more spectacular.

I’ve met Lance.

Now, I get on with most people even if I know I’m never going to end up being best friends with them.

One word for Lance, I’m afraid. Arrogant. I just didn’t take to him.

Is there any way back for him?

I don’t see it. Let’s not forget he didn’t come clean and make a confession. He got caught. And he denied cheating, time and again.

You couldn’t help but wonder during the interview if there were times he was still lying. If you’re going to have sympathy for anyone, make it Emily O’Reilly, the Irish girl who worked for Lance and became a whistleblower.

He bullied her mercilessly and dragged her reputation through the mud in an attempt to shut her up. Imagine what she must have gone through to be the one to speak up must have taken huge courage.

The sad thing is Lance is not alone. I covered the Barcelona Olympics and I was shocked at the widespread drug use. One young guy got banned and everyone was laughing at him for being naive and getting caught. That opened my eyes and saddened me.

Oprah Winfrey is being talked about as much as Lance himself.

She did well to get the interview the whole world was after. And her TV station hasn’t been doing too well, so she’ll have been chuffed.

I’ve met Oprah. Let’s just say she made it clear she was very powerful! She had that way about her and maybe didn’t have much time for those less powerful. Yes, people like me!

Forgive my bitchiness but some of the interview was a bit dull. Plus there were so many ad breaks. You’d only get a couple of minutes of the Lance and Oprah show then ads. It was so frustrating. No one is praising Lance for his performance. Some are saying he lacked empathy and, despite saying he was sorry, he didn’t actually come across as being that bothered. Worldwide, there’s no doubt Lance’s star has faded.

But in his home town of Austin, Texas, you’ll find plenty of Lance supporters even now. It’s where his charity foundation, Livestrong, is based and also his cycling shop, Mellow Johnny’s. To this day it’s half-shop, half-shrine.

For many residents, he remains a hero. I can’t agree. Make him pay back every cent he made and jail him. Imagine the message that would send about drugs in sport.