BY ADEYEMI OSHUNRINADE
The belief in the entertainment industry is that success comes with the Oprah Winfrey name. The likes of Dr. OZ, Nate Berkus, Dr. Phil and Gayle King, are testimonies to the success stories that follows with getting airtime on the Oprah Network. Many have gone on to star on their own TV program with great ratings and acceptance by American audience and those overseas.
Next to join the list of Oprah success stories could be the former seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. This week, he sat in an interview with Oprah where he confessed to the allegations of doping and use of performance enhancing drugs, to which he denied in the past. Many wonder why he chose the Oprah show for his confession, but there is speculation he may have done so as part of a process of redeeming himself or possibility of a comeback plan, which may include getting a show on the Oprah Network that deals with drug abuse in the entertainment industry.
Since the allegations of drug use surfaced, Armstrong has repeatedly and vehemently denied involvement or participation in any activities, pointing to the use of any prohibited performance enhancing drugs or illegal blood transfusion, despite the most convincing evidence and testimonies presented by dozen other athletes. People got surprised the onetime celebrated athlete suddenly chose to come out, after deceiving the entire nation and the cycling community into believing that all allegations mounted against him, were nothing but a witch hunt and a move designed to assassinate his character.
While some believe Armstrong deserves a second chance, many are unhappy about the way he carried himself throughout the investigation, when he refused to confess despite all evidence supporting the doping allegations. Specialists and psychologist who saw his interview with Oprah, view his gestures throughout the interview as that of dominance and one still filled with deception. On one hand, he blames the media for his ordeal and on the other he wants to draw sympathy from the public. The belief is that, he has betrayed the sport and his integrity and it will be difficult for people to trust him again.
Perhaps the Oprah card was a good move, since many think he should have a second shot. And in the future if he gets to stand before the audience as the host of his own TV show, he may have less explaining to do if same people he deceived are quick enough to forgive him. No doubt he weighed possibility of criminal sanction before telling all on the Oprah Show. The likelihood of incarceration is remote at this time though, civil actions likely not far away. However, USADA’s lifetime ban is not going away anytime soon but a future Lance Armstrong Show could be a route to redemption.
Dr. Adeyemi Oshunrinade [E. JD] is the author of ‘Wills Law and Contests,’ ‘Constitutional Law-First Amendment’ and ‘SAVING LOVE’ available at http://www.amazon.com/author/adeyemioshunrinade. Follow on Twitter @san0670.
Categories: Disorderly conduct, Entertainment
Gettysburg Institute Post 
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