I watched the documentary, The Armstrong Lie this weekend and I can't help but think Lance Armstrong's story is eerily similar to Rob Ford's story thus far. When you look back at Armstrong's bullying, lying and being caught, there's a lot of similarities.
Lance Armstrong had millions of fans throughout his career despite the controversy that surrounded him. Rob Ford obviously has his "nation" of supporters who will defend him at every turn.
Lance Armstrong was a bully to anyone who spoke out against him. Greg LeMond was one the first people to accuse Armstong of doping. Armstrong went after him and his business by getting Trek Bicycles to cut their ties with LeMond's business. When Frankie Andreu tried to leave the USPS team, Armstrong made sure no other teams would give him a contract. Ford and his brother have regularly gone after councillors who disagree with them, called for Bill Blair's resignation and encouraged a slate of councillors to oust those who don't vote alongside him. Gary Webster anyone?
Armstrong worked with the controversial Dr. Michele Ferrari, who brought doping to a new level. Ferrari knew the doctors in anti-doping agencies and could help his clients cheat by having insider knowledge about when tests could be conducted and what they would be looking for. When Armstrong was questioned about his relationship with Ferarri, Armstrong saw no reason why anybody would draw a conclusion that he was doping. Rob Ford has countless sketchy characters in his life, many of whom are involved in serious illegal activities. Ford doesn't see why anyone would draw any conclusions about him regarding these relationships.
Armstrong was never actually caught and retired shortly before dozens of cyclists were busted for doping. Though he was never technically caught by tests, the man's life is the epitome of the saying, "where there's smoke, there's fire." It was only after a decade long witch hunt and countless testimonies of Armstrong' doping, did he finally come forward and admit the truth. Ford has never been charged with anything serious as mayor and most of what we know about him, still isn't proven in court. As people around Ford quit their jobs, we can only hope that they will speak up and shed some light his behaviour.
Both men were the subject of an intense, well-deserved witch hunts. With Armstrong it took over a decade of pressure of international media and anti-doping agencies. There was definitely fire behind his smoke, it just took a lot of time and pressure to find it. I believe the same is true of Ford and we'll learn the rest of the truth one day. Maybe Doug's claim of Oprah's OWN network contacting them for interviews won't be far off from the eventual truth.