For the last 10 years or so I've spent many of days in July watching amazing athletes compete in what I considered one of the great athletic events ever, the Tour de France. I began watching a couple of years before it became the chic thing to do. I've noticed each year it became easier and easier to find live coverage of the event. I'm a huge sports fan and the strategy involved in cycling has always been really intriguing to me as an arm chair athlete. Now I'm just floored.

I just watched the final yellow jersey awarded to the winner of the general classification of the Tour de France and I don't know if I should be happy for the Discovery Channel or disgusted and happy that this thing is over. Over the last 20 days our so, I've watched a sport that is already on shaky ground from more and more of their stars being caught and accused of doping, absolutely self destruct right in the middle of their biggest event. This is like watching the NFL waiting until the Super Bowl to bust 20% of its players for cheating. The outrage from that would be unreal. I'm just amazed at what people will do to win. Even when they know that they are being tested and what the consequences could be. These guys are receiving a 2 year ban from the sport they "love", a fine from their team, a fine equivalent to 1 year of their annual salary from the cycling associate, the public persona that they are cheaters, and not to mention the impact that this has on their health. Like that wasn't enough, they are now talking about making these guys pay back the sponsorship money they've won as well.

I just don't get it. Why do people feel the need to cheat. Is it possible that the desire to win shines above morality and personal health? I fear this will only get worse. I feel so cheated. I feel like all of the good things are being destroyed by cheating people that will do anything for a win.

Is there anything we can do to stop the madness? I was so pleased to see that major networks stated that if any additional cheating occured they would pull out and not cover the event if any additional scandals occured. The funny thing is only a day later they had to act on that threat. I hope that all the sponsors of these cheaters pull out.

Man, I feel like a whiner but I guess I'm just disgusted. Eventually my son will begin to follow sports and I hope by that time the desire to win with hard work, discipline and practice will be the formula for success versus the current cocktail of epo, hgh, steroids and other designer drugs.