Widespread reports indicate that the world will soon know for certain what most have long suspected: That cyclist Lance Armstrong cheated and lied about it for years.

Armstrong is believed to have finally confessed to using performance enhancing drugs in a more than two and a half hour interview with Oprah Winfrey Monday that is set to be broadcast Thursday on the media mogul’s television network.

Armstrong has been investigated for years but was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles following a massive U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report that “portrayed him as a ruthless competitor, willing to go to any lengths to win the prestigious race,” according to an Associated Press report.

This may sound like a sports story, but it is far more than that. It is a reflection of much of what is wrong with our society and our willingness to elevate celebrities and athletes to icon status.

Although Armstrong was the one who cheated, we have to lay some of the blame on ourselves.

Raising people so high, only makes the fall that much more painful as the entire American public was essentially betrayed.

Much of the talk will now turn to forgiveness, but some levels of trust will never be regained.

Far too often, individuals who cheat in sports and in life are sorry that they got caught, not sorry for their transgressions.

Only time will tell where Lance Armstrong falls on this.