What is a hero? Webster's dictionary defines a hero as someone who's admired for his achievements and noble qualities, and one who shows great courage. Fortunately, today we have many examples of  real heroes. Look no further than the U.S. military, police and firefighters -- men and women who put their lives at risk for others.

A real hero also is the person who is fighting cancer or some other chronic illness, and does so with great dignity and grace. Though they may be in pain or discomfort, they somehow make those around them feel better, do better, and be better.

Which brings me to Lance Armstrong.

I was a supporter of his since his first Tour de France win. Coming back from cancer the way he did, and racing the way he did drug-free (supposedly), inspired me to no end. When others questioned how he was able to do the things he did without any help from performance-enhancing drugs, I defended him as if he were a personal friend.

As a cancer survivor myself, and someone who continues to battle the disease daily, he inspired me. He gave me strength when I felt like I had none. He even motivated me to challenge myself by attempting demanding physical feats, like hiking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail beginning to end. When I got tired and wanted to quit, I'd think to myself, “If Lance can do the things he does, I can do this, too.”

So, his recent revelations to Oprah Winfrey hit me like a 50-pound sledgehammer to the chest. When he admitted to lying about taking performance enhancing drugs, I felt like he had personally lied to me. And that's when I knew that he is nothing more than a fake hero.

Fake heroes have none of the qualities of a real hero. Rather, they lie, cheat, steal, and do whatever it takes to make themselves look good and heroic. Winning, to them, is the most important thing, and who they hurt in the process really doesn't matter. All of which, sadly, describes Lance Armstrong.

I know he still will have his defenders. I've already heard from people who have basically said, “Well, what about all the good he's done for cancer research?” While that is true, and I certainly hope that Livestrong is not negatively affected by Armstrong's admission, the fact is that the whole organization was started based on a lie.

He never would have had the millions of dollars, the fame, and the incredible story if it had not been for the lie that he told for so long. And, although it is uncomfortable to say so, how do we know that he did not get cancer because of his taking performance enhancing drugs? Would that have changed his story? I'm sure, for many, it would have.

And what of his admission now? Surely, that took courage? It was heroic, right? Hardly! First of all, look at to whom he chose to tell all of the details. Oprah Winfrey. I have no doubt that was a well-thought-out strategy on his part. He, undoubtedly, was advised to go where he would most likely garner sympathy and do it before an audience that probably knows little about cycling, and that is most likely to give him a pass on his transgressions.

Even with all that though, he still could have done the heroic thing. But he did not. He could have looked into the camera and said in the sincerest way he could muster that steroids are not the way. That he, in all likelihood, gave himself cancer in his quest for fame. Think of the kids who could have benefited from hearing such a thing. Instead, however, he defiantly said that since everyone else was supposedly doing it, he felt justified in doing it, too. Very hero like, huh?

About Jay Platt: Jay Platt was medically retired from the Marine Corps in 1998 after suffering complications from the cancer von Hippel Lindau (VHL), a genetic disease that resulted in brain and spinal tumors, kidney cancer, and the loss of his left eye. Told his future would be considerably dimmer than his past, Platt set out to rebuild himself physically, mentally and spiritually, and to challenge himself by setting demanding physical goals. He is one of fewer than 300 people to have hiked the 2,100-mile southbound Appalachian Trail; one of three to swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco with hands and feet tied; and the only person to swim across the Mississippi while blindfolded, handcuffed and shackled. Proceeds from his adventures and sales of his documentary benefit non-profits, including the VHL Family Alliance. For more information, visit: www.livingunstoppable.com.

Although the World’s Toughest Rodeo is known as one of the nations’ most exciting professional rodeo live events, it is also respected for another special attribute; each show opens with God and Old Glory. 2013 brings a tribute to our heroes, including local firemen, policemen, and EMTs, as well as the military, both veterans and active duty soldiers. But through a unique Facebook promotion, fans of World’s Toughest Rodeo were able to nominate a Hometown Hero and a unique individual was selected that is a hero in many hometowns across the nation.

Larry Eckhardt from the Quad Cities area, known as “The Flagman,” has taken it upon himself to honor soldiers that have paid the
ultimate sacrifice in a very heartwarming fashion. Though Eckhardt never served in the military, he assumed his patriotic duty after attending a funeral six years ago in Galesburg, IL. "We had a local soldier go down and the citizen turnout was great, but I didn't think there were near enough flags," the former International Harvester employee says. Eckhardt purchased 150 flags and began hauling them in the back of his pickup truck to military funerals across Illinois, soliciting help from American Legion and
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts to stake the Stars and Stripes. He now has over 2500 flags and awaits the call and travels to the hometown of soldiers all across the nation.

He arrives the night before and solicits local volunteers to line the funeral route with the flags he has purchased through donations as well as personal investment. provided these communities the ability to support the families in a very meaningful way
and this outpouring of group support helps the families begin to heal. Taking little credit for this, Larry is a true hero in every sense of the word. World’s Toughest Rodeo will provide the first 1,500 fans each night with a flag as we raise them in praise of a man that has raised the spirits of so many through his personal initiative.

The 2013 edition of the World’s Toughest Rodeo will feature top professional rodeo competitors in Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bull Riding and Women’s Barrel Racing, comedy of John Harrison, Professional Rodeo’s 2012 Comedy Act of the year,
award winning bucking horses and bulls of Three Hills Rodeo as well as the greatest show on dirt…But the finale event is BACKWARDS Bull Riding, as Brandon Lindsey, World’s Toughest Rodeo Bull Fighter attempts to wrap his legs around the bull, Crazy Train’s horns, lay face down and ride for 8 seconds. You won’t see it anywhere else.

It’s an action packed, star studded show.  Tickets start at just $18 and kids tickets half price every day at www.ticketmaster.com or iWireless Box Office.

For more ticket information: www.iwirelesscenter.com. For event and entertainer information : www.wtrodeo.com. For more information about Larry “The Flagman www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNJ9umv10EM