Sonnen: Lance Armstrong “Gave Himself Cancer”
The No. 1 contender for the UFC middleweight champion unleashed another verbal attack on a professional athlete, although Chael Sonnen chose professional cyclist Lance Armstrong:
“When you screw up, you have to own it. That stuff really gets under my skin. Take Lance Armstrong. Lance Armstrong did a number of things and he gave himself cancer. He cheated, he did drugs, and he gave himself cancer. Well, instead of saying ‘Hey listen, I cheated and gave myself cancer, don’t be like me.’ He actually made himself the victim and then went out and profited something like $15 million dollars from this ‘Hey, poor me, let’s find a cure for cancer’ campaign instead of just coming clean and saying, ‘Look, here’s what I did, I screwed myself up, and I hope people learn from my mistakes.’ You just watch these guys and can’t help but think, God, what a fraud. You got the whole Michael Phelps being a pothead thing too. I’m just glad I’m in the business I’m in so I can get them in the cage and kick the crap out of them.”
I’m an avid fan of professional cycling, and heavily support Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong organization, but the current federal investigation has damaged Armstrong’s public image. At the beginning of July when the Tour de France started, Armstrong had an 86 percent online approval rating — but that number slid to 58 percent by the end of July.
Many people already assume Armstrong has taken banned substances — but until it has been proven — he should be able to ride in the pro peloton and raise money for his foundation.
I’ve greatly enjoyed Sonnen’s continued trash talk, but I think he should remain focused at targeting Silva and his camp.
(Found article on BloodyElbow, but the interview was on the Pro MMA Radio/transcribed by MMA Mania.)