[Whitfield:] More doping allegations against Lance Armstrong and the heat meet the thunder. NPR sports correspondent, Mike Pesca, is with me for the best in sports today. Good to see you. All right. Let's get straight to Lance Armstrong. This story of the weak Armstrong has accused of doping by the anti-doping agency and now he is firing back saying this is a witch-hunt. He cannot compete in France's ironman triathlon this weekend. Is he being banned from everything pending this new investigation?
[Mike Pesca, Npr Sports Correspondent:] Since the ironman triathlon, and triathlon is one of those agencies that subscribe to the protocols of the U.S. anti-doping agency, then yes there is a temporary injunction against him participating in that event. If he was a professional baseball player that wouldn't be the case. The U.S. Anti-doping Agency is not a government agency. It gets some funding from the government. It can't prosecutor level a charge. And the actual government, the federal government which was looking into Lance Armstrong announced a few months ago it was dropping his case against him. They hadn't done well in their prosecution of Barry bonds. Only got one conviction. Moist of the charges he was found not guilty by the jury. The Clements, Roger Clemens trial has gone on for a long time. So him, the federal government saying all right, Lance Armstrong, we'll let you go. That was seen as a good sign. And then, a few days ago it go and comes out that the U.S. anti-doping agency says we have samples, we have some of your teammates ready to testify against you. We are going to be bringing this case against Lance Armstrong.
[Whitfield:] So, are these new samples or is this revisiting old sample with new technology and testing? Because he has passed hundreds of drug tests.
[Pesca:] Yes, five to 600. Although, you have to realize with a lot of these drugs, there exists no tests for them. So, EPO up until a few years ago, you could say hey, I never tested positive for EPO. There was no test for EPO. So yes, the technology is to some extent catching up with the doping if there was doping in this case. What we heard, what the U.S. anti- doping agency says is they have testimony that goes back to maybe 1996 when he started to be a competitive bike rider. But they also say they have samples from 2009 to 2010 which they said are consistent with EPO and human growth hormone use. We are not sure exactly what that means. Another interesting wrinkle is that four of his former teammates who are likely to go to the Olympics are not going to be on the Olympic team. They withdrew their names from the Olympics and it was a surprised to some. And some are speculating that it might be tied up with his case somehow.
[Whitfield:] My goodness. OK. Let's move on to the NBA playoffs. I know what's your fave. You know, the Heat and even the series. But for those of us, who haven't followed it so closely. However, I did watch Tuesday night's game knowing you and I are going to talk about this. And, you know, what baffled me the most was who was fear the beard? I was just looking, you know, who is the one wearing the beard? Because Lebron James has a little goatee thing. But that's not the fear the beard. Who are they talking about, by the way? James Harden is like the mountain man who comes off the bench from Oklahoma City. Yes, I mean, he is the 6th man and his beard, the 7th. So, yes he is a great player for Oklahoma City. This has been an interesting series. And I know, as a sports journalist, I'm supposed to say it could go either way. And you say that because you don't want to prejudge and sometimes sports journalist But?
[Pesca:] I don't see how you could watch either this two games and say one team is clearly better. And they both, not only play close basketball, but such exciting basketball. Lebron James is attacking the hoop like he hates it. And that's exactly what he has to do. The biggest problem in this whole series is that Oklahoma City starts out slow, which is great news for the network airing the series because it gives you an incentive to tune in to quarter one to see if Oklahoma City has gone behind by 10 or 17 points, a little drama in the early part of the game also.
[Whitfield:] And the other distraction for me OK, explain the whole gold mouthpiece, you know, teeth thing Lebron sporting every now and then.
[Pesca:] Yes. And roman numerals XVI, 16, that's the number of games you have to win. I don't know. You know what, if he needs that kind of motivation, he's doing something wrong.
[Whitfield:] You are right. OK. All right, Thanks so much, Mike Pesca. We'll continue to watch. Thanks so much. And you keep us posted, of course. All right. Today's father's day. And a time to celebrate dads. And Happy Father's day, Mike. But American journalist and author Buzz Bissinger is using this opportunity to celebrate and appreciate the gift of his challenged son. I spoke to Buzz about a road trip the two took together.