Integrity

So we’re at the end of August – virtually the end of summer.  Did you blink? Yes we did have a few moments of sun though not where you are.  We’ll soon be into Autumn, conferences, conkers, bbc vs itv ‘home of drama’ hyperbole, deciding when to stop mowing the grass, staff appraisals, an MES 10k run in Sept (www.justgiving.com/teams/MES), working on company strategy for 2013, expanding our team, Christmas …. actually the next few months sound OK.  And to ease us into it we have the Paralympics, which after only a day already look to be the phenomenon and inspiration promised.

So its not a very engagementy thing to talk about but the main thing on my mind this past week has been about integrity (no. 2 in The MES Philosophy). The Lance Armstrong/drug issue has really got to me (if you’re not familiar you can read about it here - The Telegraph – follow the links to other articles too).   


I am not a huge follower of the sport, I cycle a bit and am an armchair fan of this particular group of athletes.  I did follow Armstrong though, read his books, wore the yellow band, and was just hugely impressed by his achievements – as indeed so many people have been.  This turn of events has just really unsettled me.  I like the idea of heroes.  Beating odds.  Raising the bar in extraordinary circumstances.  And yes, integrity. I don’t want it to sound trite but it really is so important to have figures to inspire us. 

I’m actually still not totally convinced  – though this may be me being a little desperate not to believe the allegations for the reasons outlined above.   I need to hang on to the ideal.  There are some key points I don’t quite get.  Armstrong not only did what he did as a cancer survivor and impressive athlete, but significantly and specifically enhanced his reputation and legacy under a ‘no drugs’ banner.  He made such a thing about it.  Would you do this if guilty?  Surely that attracts more attention, although maybe that was the plan.  Us not seeing the wood for the trees etc etc? 

If you were abusing the system though, would you risk the shame and massive fall from grace of making such a song and dance about it or just go about your business quietly?

And USADAs allegations are not just that he himself took illegal performance enhancing drugs  and blood transfusions but was actually the ringleader – the pusher for his fellow riders!  If true that’s just pathological isn’t it?  Plus how did he hide this from all his testing anyway?

I suspect and fear I am hanging on to threads here though, and this says too much about my love of superheroes.  The Armstrong era had made me believe that some were real.  If in the future a huge conspiracy is uncovered and Armstrong is found to have been innocent of the charges, remember this blog entry though.  I suppose the over-riding feeling for so many is that the whole sport, for a good 10-15 years in the 90s and 000’s looks like it was a total sham.  His titles can’t go to anyone else because it seems virtually everyone on the tour at some point tested positive.

See you in September.   Careful cycling – rain is forecast.