I lost a good friend today. That friend has been with me around the clock for the last seven years. He has been a constant talisman, a guardian of sorts, protecting me in some way from a disease that is trying to take me. With the snip of a pair of scissors, I cut my yellow LIVESTRONG bracelet from the place on my right wrist that it has occupied, rain or shine, through operations, radiation treatments, infusions and needle sticks for almost 7 years. I wore that bracelet as a tribute to my hero, Lance Armstrong.
I was co-owner 0f Ride On Bikes here in Columbus, Ga. at the time I wiggled the bracelet on my arm.ย I wore it with the word LIVESTRONG facing out, so that all who read it might gain some of the good karma I felt it was gathering from the universe around me and allowing to flow into my body. In addition to using it in my daily fight against cancer, I gave them, sometimes with great ceremony, to others. My mother, my son, my brother, Eric, on the day he was diagnosed with the same cancer Lance had.
Like many others, I suspected Lance was doping but I chose not to believe the reports because he represented to me everything good and powerful, not only on the slopes of the Pyrenees, but in the war against cancer. When people would ask me whether or not I believed the reports of his doping, I just wouldn’t respond. He was my hero, and I just wasn’t having it. I chose to hold him up, to continue to cheer him on, to allow him to be a beacon in my personal war against cancer.
The last few days with reports from his trusted lieutenants starting to come to light, it is now obvious to me that my hero is a fallen man. I’m not as upset about the alleged doping as I am the apparent elaborate string of lies and deceit that it took to cover it up. I’m just sad about it.
Honestly, it felt very strange going toward my wrist with the scissors. Jill asked me what I was doing and as I let the blades fall on the yellow band of plastic, I said, “That’s it. I’m cutting it off. Now I’ll probably die by next week.” Like it was really a magic deterrent to death by cancer. Without nearly as much of the ceremony I have employed showing it, looking at it and sharing it, I just cut it in half and threw it in the trash.
Lance, thanks for the hours and hours of excitement you’ve given me over those awesome years of your seven Tour de France wins. Thanks for the leadership you’ve shown in the epic battle against cancer. But, dude, I’ve got to move on and I’m going to do it without you.
Jack Basset says
Damn right. “Move on Mike”and do it without Lance.
Jan Venable Davenport says
I know, right ????!!! So very disappointing…..money and greed got a hold on him and wouldn’t let go ๐
It makes me sick to think how much money he made over the years from all his lies…while there are people out there struggling in this economy. SHAME ON YOU, LANCE !!!!
K…I’ll get off my high horse now…If I had one of those bracelets, I would cut it off too ๐
Betsy Covington says
Yeah. Like Jack B says. You’re going on with your fight with every bit as much ammo as you’ve ever had, you’re just chosing to stay on the path of courage and honesty. Somewhere along the way — turns out earlier than you realized until now — your path & Lance’s diverged. To paraphrase another friend, Mr. Frost, may yours be the one that makes all the difference.
Shelice says
Gary got our whole family into watching “the tour” the month before Nathan died. He bought a Livestrong band and wore it 24/7. He put his in the casket with Nathan and bought us all new ones. We wore them to symbolize living strong through our battle, to support our Hero and all those who battle cancer, to support the work for a cure, and to remember our whole family cheering together. My heart has just hurt this week. I don’t want to believe it (I’m somewhat of a fan of denial). Thank you for putting into words what my heart feels…
Maridonna says
I never was a huge Lance fan partially because of the fact that in his healing he never gave any glory or thanks to God who Is the source of his healing. I am impressed with his amazing biking and all that he did. I never had any doubt that he probably had/has a huge ego, but he’s a professional athlete… All that said, I still wanted the doping stuff to not be true and am so very sad about all that has come out making him seem so much a liar. I don’t want the world to know all my deep, dark secrets or see the worst there is of me. Unfortunately for Lance, we are getting to see his. Lance was NEVER your protector and ONLY God will determine the “length of your days”. I’m trusting Him for a BUNCH more for you, Mike Venable. Keep up the good fight!!!
Carol Ann says
Thank you for sharing this pivot able moment in your life. Although it was without much fanfare, it symbolizes your movement in the right direction. You have God, prayer, family and friends. You have good mojo seeping out of your pores. No bracelet needed.
Susan Wiggins says
Hey, Mike! I have never even come close to being as motivated by Lance Armstrong as I have been by Mike Venable and his journey. Not only did your courage, strength and optimism help me through my own battle with cancer three years ago, but each day since the minor battles of daily existence seem insignificant compared to what’s on your plate each day. I look up to you and Jill. I never think of the two of you without thinking of unconditional love and just sheer AWESOMENESS! Move on Mike is right!!!
Perry Ann says
Guess the moral of the story is, no one person, or one movement is ever that powerful. We give the power in our own minds and hearts.
But, they are mere mortals like the rest of us. They have triumphs, they have tragedies.
Lance is but a man. Not a Greek god of epic proportions.
Cancer will be fought. Races will be won. Lance will go down in disgrace with footnote of doing some genuine good in his life.
He was an inspiration. Guess if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Carole Rutland says
Good for you, Mike. You are so much more of a hero and example of how to live one’s life. Lance should have been so lucky to have known you. You will always be my hero.
Mark Venable says
Mike, Lord willing, you will not die next week, or the week after that, or the week after that, or …
I’m glad that you divested yourself of that terrible, tainted talisman.
Still praying for you in Florida.
Jennifer says
Random thought: I wonder if there is cancer treatment potential in the drugs he took.
Barbara Marks says
You know Mike we all have those fallen heroes in our lives. It is always a sad day when we just have to face it and cut them loose. But, we hopefully learn a lot from them and take that with us and much, much more. You are already a hero to many and I know that you will always be honest and true. We love you Buddy…Barbara and Andy
Hallie says
Well, as God said in the 2nd Commandment: “Thou shall bring no false idols before me.”
Katherine says
Mike-Saw this on CNN’s website this morning and thought of your post.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/18/living/lance-armstrong-livestrong-legacy/index.html?on.cnn=1
Rachel Crumbley says
Good for you. You are much stronger than that yellow bracelet. I arrnged for my then 4-year-old, and his entire pre-k class, to see him race through Callaway Gardens during the Tour de Georgia. He had on the bracelet before the world even knew about it. It was one of the ways, when someone on his team pointed it out, that we knew we had captured him in the front of the pack in a great photo. I know so many people who are wearing, or by now, “were” wearing the yellow bracelet in the same spirit for themselves or, in some cases, their child who was battling cancer. He has let an awful lot of people down.
Mrs. Dr. Who says
To Jennifer: “I wonder if there is cancer treatment potential in the drugs he took.” Yes, the Epogen and blood transfusions he used are EXPENSIVE and very widely used in the cancer community. He used them like Gatorade. When I found that out, I disowned him, too! Many cancer patients have to go through hell and take Epo injections every day to keep their H&H counts up so they can safely take their tx. And we all know blood is always in demand with some blood types being less available than others. It made me very mad that he was able to buy these things as if they were vitamins. Good move, Mike.
Kevin Loncher says
Mike,
I too was disappointed with the events surrounding Lance. In some ways his fall from grace has seemed too harsh to me. He is after all just a man with frailties, imperfections and real triumphs too. I hope the media doesn’t defrock any more Heroes for a little while now, instead just let us believe for a little while longer…I am bringing you a new wristband that representative of the strength that you have shown during this battle. It reads HOOAH! and it is representative of millions of Heroes. I still believe in Heroes.
Kevin