Armstrong said 'sorry' to Livestrong staff, employees cried

[jsr]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CYC_ARMSTRONG_OPRAH?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-14-15-28-12

Jan 14, 2013 3:28 PM EST
AP source: Armstrong 'sorry' to Livestrong staff
By JIM VERTUNO

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Lance Armstrong apologized to the staff at his Livestrong cancer foundation before heading to an interview with Oprah Winfrey, a person with direct knowledge of the meeting told The Associated Press.

Stripped last year of his seven Tour de France titles because of doping charges, Armstrong addressed the staff Monday and said, "I'm sorry." The person said the disgraced cyclist choked up and several employees cried during the session.

The person also said Armstrong apologized for letting the staff down and putting Livestrong at risk but he did not make a direct confession to the group about using banned drugs. He said he would try to restore the foundation's reputation, and urged the group to continue fighting for the charity's mission of helping cancer patients and their families.

After the meeting, Armstrong, his legal team and close advisers gathered at a downtown Austin hotel for the interview.

[Nye Bevan]

1. Yeah. "Sorry" he got caught (nt)