You would think Lance Armstrong could not fall any lower as he faces global ridicule and what he calls a "death penalty".
But for all the pressure that he is under, he has cut a relatively composed figure during the interviews with Oprah Winfrey - except when he spoke about his son.
Perhaps the former cyclist thrives in that type of pressure cooker environment, although as we all know he had alot of "extra help" during the stresses and strains of his Tour de France career.
This ability to withstand mental strain may explain why he believes that he can and should compete again in the future.
Of course he is not the first cyclist or athlete to cheat or use performance enhancing drugs. Nor would he be the first to achieve redemption.
But does he deserve another chance?
But first things first. Maybe he should ask the people he admitted to bullying and suing into silence what they think becaue Armstrong's case was not just about lies.
It went far beyond that. He used his considerable influence to sue his former massuese Emma O'Reilly and Sunday Times David Walsh when they threatened to expose his lies, when he knew full well that they were telling the truth.
And maybe he should look to his former US Postal team-mates who claim they felt threatened into participating in the doping programme - although it must be noted that Armstrong denies that accusation.
Too many people were caught up in his web of lies and the question has to be asked: would he even have owned up to his untruths had USADA not found overwhelming evidence of doping?
Based on his track record, that is doubtful in the extreme. It seems he only felt the need to jump when he could not fall any lower.
During the interviews with Oprah, he readily admitted that he was controlling. But a future return to the sporting arena, will be in other people's control.
And when the decision to review his lifetime ban comes around, they should not just look at the doping alone.
The bullying and the lives that have been adversly affected should also be taken into account.
