Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/104301
2B Daily News – Friday, January 18, 2013 CYCLING TENNIS Murray keeps Armstrong admits to doping on Oprah's show his cool under CHICAGO (AP) — He did it. He finally admitted it. Lance Armstrong doped. He was light on the details and didn't name names. He mused that he might not have been caught if not for his comeback in 2009. And he was certain his ''fate was sealed'' when longtime friend, training partner and trusted lieutenant George Hincapie, who was along for the ride on all seven of Armstrong's Tour de France wins from 1999-2005, was forced to give him up to anti-doping authorities. But right from the start and more than two dozen times during the first of a two-part interview Thursday night with Oprah Winfrey, the disgraced former cycling champion acknowledged what he had lied about repeatedly for years, and what had been one of the worst-kept secrets for the better part of a week: He was the ringleader of an elaborate doping scheme on a U.S. Postal Service team that swept him to the top of the podium at the Tour de France time after time. ''At the time it did not feel wrong?'' Winfrey asked. ''No,'' Armstrong replied. ''Scary.'' ''Did you feel bad about it?'' she pressed him. ''No,'' he said. ''Even scarier.'' ''Did you feel in any way that you were cheating?'' ''No,'' Armstrong paused. ''Scariest.'' ''I went and looked up the definition of cheat,'' he added a moment later. ''And the definition is to gain an advantage on a rival or foe. I didn't view it that way. I viewed it as a level playing field.'' Wearing a blue blazer and openneck shirt, Armstrong was direct and matter-of-fact, neither pained nor contrite. He looked straight ahead. There were no tears and very few laughs. Whether his televised confession will help or hurt Armstrong's bruised reputation and his already-tenuous defense in at least two pending lawsuits, and possibly a third, remains to be seen. Either way, a story that seemed too good to be true — cancer survivor returns to win one of sport's most grueling events seven times in a row — was revealed to be just that. Winfrey got right to the point, asking for yes-or-no answers to five questions. Did Armstrong take banned substances? ''Yes.'' Was one of those EPO? ''Yes.'' Did he do blood doping and use transfusions? ''Yes.'' Did he use testosterone, cortisone and human growth hormone? ''Yes.'' Did he take banned substances or blood dope in all his Tour wins? ''Yes.'' Along the way, Armstrong cast aside teammates who questioned his tactics, yet swore he raced clean and tried to silence anyone who said otherwise. Ruthless and rich enough to settle any score, no place seemed beyond his reach — courtrooms, the court of public opinion, even along the roads of his sport's most prestigious race. That relentless pursuit was one of the things that Armstrong said he regretted most. ''It's a major flaw, and it's a guy who expected to get whatever he wanted and to control every outcome. And it's inexcusable. And when I say there are people who will hear this and never forgive me, I understand that. I do.'' Anti-doping officials have said nothing short of a confession under oath — ''not talking to a talk-show host,'' is how World Anti-Doping Agency director general David Howman put it — could prompt a reconsideration of Armstrong's lifetime ban from sanctioned events. He's also had discussions with officials at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, whose 1,000-page report in October included testimony from nearly a dozen former teammates and led to stripping Armstrong of his Tour titles. Shortly after, he lost nearly all his endorsements and was forced to walk away from the Livestrong cancer charity he founded in 1997. Armstrong could provide information that might get his ban being reduced to eight years, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. By then, Armstrong would be 49. He returned to triathlons, where he began his professional career as a teenager, after retiring from cycling in 2011, and has told people he's desperate to get back. There were very few details about Armstrong's performance-enhancing regimen that would surprise anti-doping officials. What he called ''my cocktail'' contained the steroid testosterone and the blood-booster erythropoetein, or EPO, ''but not a lot,'' Armstrong said. That was on top of blood-doping, which involved removing his own blood and weeks later re-injecting it into his system. All of it was designed to build strength and endurance, but it became so routine that Armstrong described it as ''like saying we have to have air in our tires or water in our bottles.'' ''That was, in my view, part of the job,'' he said. MCT photo Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o poses with the Bronko Nagurski Award on Dec. 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina. TOWN (Continued from page 1B) ported girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, died of leukemia in September. But on Wednesday, the website Deadspin.com posted a lengthy story saying there was no evidence that she ever existed. Notre Dame officials then confirmed the hoax but were insistent that Te'o was only the victim. Te'o is a hero and role model to many children in Laie and nearby small towns like Hauula, 49ERS (Continued from page 1B) ''It's helping us. If it's helping us get to where we want to go, I'm with it,'' Gore said. ''I feel like I'm a football player. I'm a ball player. I'll adjust to anything. I just had to be more patient getting the ball. That's about it.'' The 49ers also have kept Gore fresher as opposed to years past when he often wore down late from countless carries. He split time with Kendall Hunter before the backup suffered a Kaaawa and Kahuku along the two-lane highway snaking through Oahu's northeastern coast. Students at Hauula Elementary often wear Notre Dame jerseys with his number ''5'' on them. Te'o has often returned to the area to talk to speak to students. The father of another high-achieving athlete who lives in the area said he felt for Te'o's parents, and for Te'o himself. ''Of course you're going to love them no matter what and support season-ending ankle injury in a Week 12 win at New Orleans. Speedster LaMichael James, the former Oregon standout, has limited Gore's touches since Hunter's injury and had an increasingly expanded role in the Pistol offense. San Francisco's strategy showed results when it mattered. Gore ran for 119 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against the Packers, even while Kaepernick set a quarterback player record with 181 yards on 16 carries. ''Hopefully, they keep looking out for him and 21 keeps getting the ball and I'll just do what he them. There are times when you fall down, but you get to rebound. And that's where Manti personally needs our support, probably,'' said Benny Kai, a Kahuku resident and father of former U.S. Olympic soccer player Natasha Kai. ''I support him in everything he does.'' Makala Paakaula, 38, a high school administrator, said Te'o should be lauded for uniting Notre Dame during his senior year when he could have left for the NFL, she said. ''It's amazing how he did last week,'' Gore said, referring to his jersey number. Where Gore goes after his playing days are over is uncertain. All of 29 years old, Gore doesn't think those days are happening anytime soon. After enduring six non-winning seasons to start his 49ers career, the last two under Harbaugh's guidance have rejuvenated the running back's career. More than anything, Gore wants to avoid the kind of heartbreak that came with last January's 20-17 overtime loss in the NFC title game to the eventual Super Bowl brought together the whole school to become one ohana, one family, where they all belonged, where they all had a purpose,'' Paakaula said. Phi Smotherman, 46, said people in Laie are sorry a guy like Manti became a victim of hoax. He said the town should throw a parade for him when he comes home in recognition of his career at Notre Dame and all the awards he received. ''I hope he does great, goes to the NFL and finds a real girlfriend that he can marry and actually champion New York Giants. That doesn't mean he might not still have one eye on the future, often lending his instincts to coaches and even offering his opinion on players before the draft to 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. ''I think I'd be a great coach. For one, I love the game of football. I've been around the game all my life, since I was 4. I could tell who is a real football player. I've got an eye for talent,'' Gore said. ''I love being around football. So if Coach Roman ever gets a head job and he wants to hire me, I'll be ready.'' hot Aussie sun MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — On a hot day at the Australian Open, it was perhaps fitting for Andy Murray to be talking about short shorts. And the weather, of course. After soaking in an ice bath to cool down, Murray said he was thankful that his match went quickly on Thursday when temperatures reached 106 degrees — and the court felt like a sauna. ''There were very few long rallies. So it worked out well for me because it was really, really tough conditions,'' said Murray, who won in straight sets over Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. Murray sat between changeovers sipping bottled water and with an ''ice towel'' slung over his neck — a towel packed and bound with chunks of ice. Union Jacks and Scottish flags flew in the stands, where fans sang a song called ''Andy Style'' to the tune of ''Gangnam Style.'' After the win, a confident Murray tossed his racket to the ground and thanked fans by hurling his sweaty wristbands and a damp towel into the stands. The 25-year-old Scot has been dubbed ''A New Andy'' at this year's Australian Open. Unburdened by the pressure that followed him on previous trips to Australia, he arrives this year as the reigning major champion. Now that he has ended the 76-year drought for British men at the majors, he doesn't have to field the same nagging questions about whether he has the talent to win a Grand Slam. Which is why the world's No. 3-ranked player was talking about tight shirts and short shorts in his post-match news conference. The subject of his shirt had come up in the first round when he explained he hasn't bulked up his upper body, but it may have appeared that way because he's wearing a tighter shirt this year. Elaborating Thursday, he said the change of style was decided on by his sponsor, Adidas, but he didn't mind the snug new fit and preferred it to tops with low, baggy sleeves that can impede the elbow during swings. ''The less material there is on the shirt I think probably the better. There's less to get in the way,'' he said, with his typical deadpan delivery. ''So long as they're tailored somewhat, I think there's no real problem.'' Murray was then asked his personal view on cer- NFL PLAYOFFS CONFERENCE TITLE GAMES Sunday, Jan. 20 San Francisco at Atlanta, Noon (FOX) Baltimore at New England, 3:30 p.m. (CBS) WILD CARD Saturday, Jan. 5 Houston 19, Cincinnati 13 Green Bay 24, Minnesota 10 Sunday, Jan. 6 Baltimore 24, Indianapolis 9 Seattle 24, Washington 14 DIVISIONAL ROUND Saturday, Jan. 12 Baltimore 38, Denver 35, 2OT San Francisco 45, Green Bay 31 Sunday, Jan. 13 Atlanta 30, Seattle 28 New England 41, Houston 28 PRO BOWL Sunday, Jan. 27 At Honolulu AFC vs. NFC, 4 p.m. (NBC) SUPER BOWL Sunday, Feb. 3 At New Orleans AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 3 p.m. (CBS) tain men's players who seemed to be wearing shorter shorts this year in a nod to the 1970s. ''I actually wore a pair at Wimbledon,'' he said. ''Not quite like what Ivan (Lendl) and those guys used to wear on the court. I can't see a return to them, to be honest.'' Thinking about it made him smile: ''Yeah, they were a bit too short. Didn't leave too much to the imagination.'' Lendl, the eight-time Grand Slam champion, is Murray's coach and is the man he largely credits with his winning streak and an added aggressiveness that carried him through a breakthrough year in 2012. On Thursday, Lendl sat in the stands watching Murray, leaning on a towel draped over the hot railing. Since teaming up with Lendl, Murray was runner-up at Wimbledon, a gold medalist at the London 2012 Olympics and then won his first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open. He has come tantalizingly close in Australia, where he was a finalist in 2010 and 2011 and a semifinalist in 2012. Standing in the way of a potential second Grand Slam title for Murray is a likely semifinal against No. 2-ranked Roger Federer and No. 1 Novak Djokovic, whom he could face in the final. Murray knows his next opponent well — qualifier Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania. The two have trained together ahead of past Australian Opens and practiced together earlier this month at the Brisbane International, where Murray defended his title just before heading to Melbourne. The 22-year-old Berankis is playing his first Grand Slam in Melbourne and ranked 110th. ''He hits the ball pretty big from the back of the court. He plays aggressive. He's a very flat hitter of the ball,'' Murray said of his opponent. ''It's nice to see him do well because we spend quite a bit of time practicing together.'' NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific L.A. Clippers WARRIORS L.A. Lakers KINGS Phoenix Southwest San Antonio Memphis Houston Dallas New Orleans Northwest Oklahoma City Denver Utah Portland Minnesota W 31 23 17 15 13 L 9 14 21 24 28 Pct GB .775 — .622 6.5 .447 13 .385 15.5 .317 18.5 W 30 24 21 17 13 L 11 13 19 23 26 Pct GB .732 — .649 4 .525 8.5 .425 12.5 .333 16 W 31 24 21 20 16 L 8 17 19 19 20 Pct GB .795 — .585 8 .525 10.5 .513 11 .444 13.5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic New York Brooklyn Boston Philadelphia Toronto Central Indiana Chicago Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland Southeast W 25 23 20 16 14 L 13 16 18 23 25 Pct GB .658 — .590 2.5 .526 5 .410 9.5 .359 11.5 W 24 22 20 14 10 L 16 15 18 25 31 Pct GB .600 — .595 .5 .526 3 .359 9.5 .244 14.5 W L Pct GB Miami 25 12 .676 — Atlanta 22 16 .579 3.5 Orlando 14 24 .368 11.5 Charlotte 9 29 .237 16.5 Washington 7 29 .194 17.5 —————————————————— Thursday's results New York 102, Detroit 87 L.A. Clippers 90, Minnesota 77 Milwaukee 98, Phoenix 94 Miami at L.A. Lakers, late Today's Games Chicago at Boston, 4 p.m. Toronto at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Houston at Indiana, 4 p.m. Charlotte at Orlando, 4 p.m. Atlanta at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m. Sacramento at Memphis, 5 p.m. Golden State at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m. Washington at Denver, 6 p.m. Oklahoma City at Dallas, 6:30 p.m.