Second Chance Celebrities By Angela Guzman

Lance Armstrong

Despite the denial of prior allegations associated with doping, Lance Armstrong has now admitted to using athletic performance enhancers. Armstrong has won several awards which included seven Tour de France titles. Due to allegations and several testimonies proving Armstrong's drug use, the Tour de France titles were stripped and endorsers have pulled their name from association with Armstrong.

Armstrong is known for overcoming cancer and battling the odds to win title after title in the cycling world. Many question if he'll ever be able to redeem himself considering the longevity and depth of his continued lies and denial. Now the integrity of the Livestrong organization, that Armstrong founded, is tainted due to Armstrong's doping use. He has personally apologized to the Livestrong organization for the connected controversy they have endured. However, is sorry enough?

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."

Bill Clinton

While serving as president, Bill Clinton was accused of having sexual relations with intern Monica Lewinsky and harassment charges against Paula Jones. The House began the impeachment process however the Senate later voted to acquit Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

Clinton went on to serve two presidency terms, left the office with the highest end-of-office approval rating of any U.S. president since World War II and has continued to be active in humanitarian and other philanthropic issues around the world. Despite the controversy that surrounded his life and threatened his career, Clinton has prevailed and became one of the most respected public figures in politics.

“If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.”

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods will go down in history as one of the most successful American golfers of our time. Woods has won countless tournaments, was once named the highest paid athlete by Forbes and has continued to win every possible award in the sport of golfing.

In November 2009 news broke that Woods had countless affairs with several different women while he was married. Accenture, AT&T, Gatorade and General Motors completely ended their sponsorship deals, while Gillette suspended advertising featuring Woods. TAG Heuer dropped Woods from advertising in December 2009 and officially ended their deal when his contract expired in August 2011. The magazine Golf Digest suspended Woods' monthly column beginning with the February 2010 issue.

On February 29, 2010 Woods issued a public apology/televised statement stating he completed a 45-day therapy program and stated that he didn't know when he would return to golfing. Woods returned to golf in April 2010 and has continued endorsement partnerships with Nike and several other companies.

"I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have to go far to find them. I was wrong. I was foolish."

Michael Vick

Michael Vick was once one of the highest paid athletes, deemed as one of the best quarterbacks in history and set records for his rushing capabilities as Atlanta Falcons quarterback. Soon everything came crashing down upon Michael Vick when everyone found out the illegal activity that centered around Vick.

In April 2007, Vick was implicated in an illegal interstate dog fighting ring. In August 2007, he pleaded guilty to federal felony charges and served 21 months in prison, followed by two months in home confinement. Hurt financially by the loss of his NFL salary and product endorsement deals, combined with previous financial mismanagement, Vick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2008.

After Vick's release, former Indianapolis Colts head coach, Tony Dungy became a sounding board for Vick's return to the NFL. In 2010 Vick became the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles and lead them to a 2011 playoffs game. Vick was selected as the 2010 Comeback Player of the Year and attended his fourth Pro Bowl. In the December 2012 Vick was sidelined and replaced as the starting quarterback of the Eagles.

"During my time in prison, I told myself that I wanted to be a part of the solution and not the problem."

John Edwards

John Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator, from North Carolina. Edwards was the vice president nominee in 2004 and was a presidential nominee in 2008.

On June 3, 2011, Edwards was indicted by a North Carolina grand jury on six felony charges of violating multiple federal campaign contribution laws to cover up an extramarital affair he admitted to following his 2008 campaign. Edwards' trial began on April 23, 2012, and had he been convicted, he would have faced up to 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine. On May 31, 2012, Edwards was found not guilty on one count, and the judge declared a mistrial on the remaining five charges, as the jury was unable to come to an agreement. On June 13, 2012, the Justice Department announced that it dropped the charges and will not attempt to retry Edwards.

Since then Edwards wife, Elizabeth Edwards, filed for legal separation after 33 years of marriage and in 2010 Elizabeth passed away from metastatic breast cancer. Later in 2010, Edwards finally admitted to fathering a child with his mistress during his marriage to Elizabeth.

"The story is false. It's completely untrue, ridiculous. Anyone who knows me knows that I have been in love with the same woman for 30 plus years."

Mel Gibson

Actor, director, investor, philanthropist - Mel Gibson has worn a great deal of hats and has succeeded in each one. He has starred in movies like Braveheart, the infamous Lethal Weapon series and has directed and co-wrote The Passion of the Christ. However, despite his best efforts Gibson has managed to cause quite a bit of controversy which forced many onlookers to question his sanity and sincerity.

Throughout his career Gibson has been linked to racism, accusations of homophobia and alleged anti-semitism due to his inappropriate comments in interviews and in various public appearances. In 2006, Gibson was arrested for a DUI and later entered a recovery program to battle his alcoholism. After a 2009 divorce from his wife of 26 years, Gibson was highlighted in the media limelight in 2010 due to domestic violence charges from his then girlfriend. A restraining order was issued, keeping Gibson away from his ex-girlfriend and their child. Several phone messages were leaked on the internet and were played over radio and news programs, that highlighted Gibson's threats and abusive language against his ex-girlfriend. Despite the constant controversy, Gibson has continued to act and direct films.

"If you take a little time out to think about other people, it’s good. It’s uplifting."

Lindsay Lohan

Actress, model, recording artist, and fashion designer are all of the titles Lindsay Lohan has established on her resume. She has starred in The Parent Trap, Mean Girls and several other films. She has even recorded an album that did well on the charts. However, in 2006 things took a turn for the worst and Lohan began to become associated with drugs and alcohol. Lohan was also arrested for two DUI's and charged with possession of cocaine.

Lohan is no stranger to the court room. She's been sentenced to jail time, house arrest and had to wear an alcohol-monitoring bracelet. After several ins and outs in therapy and rehab Lohan believes that she's done with trouble.

Recently Lohan starred in the Lifetime movie Liz and Dick and has filmed a few other appearances for other films. However, in November 2012 Lohan was arrested and charged with striking a Florida woman in a Manhattan nightclub. Later that day, Lohan was charged with lying to police, obstructing an officer, and reckless driving stemming from a car crash earlier that year in Santa Monica in which police determined she lied by telling them her assistant was driving at the time of the car accident. She has scheduled court appearances for those charges.

"Everyone has highs and lows that they have to learn from, but every morning I start off with a good head on my shoulders, saying to myself - It's going to be a good day!"

Colin Farrell

Talented actor Colin Farrell has starred in several Blockbuster hits like Alexander, S.W.A.T, Minority Report and Miami Vice. He has developed as an actor in each role that he plays.

In December 2005, Farrell voluntarily checked into a rehabilitation treatment center for addictions to recreational drugs and painkillers.

Since then Farrell has continued to star in films and maintain his sobriety. In 2007, Farrell joined other celebrities to become an official games spokesman for the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China. Farrell has also lent his support to the anti-bullying campaign Stand Up! organized by the Irish LGBT youth organization BeLonG To in March 2012.

"You're scrutinized all through your life - you're scrutinized by your family, by yourself, by society, and your friends in a certain way, shape, or form."

David Hasselhoff

David Hasselhoff, also known to many of his fans as the Hoff, is an actor, producer, bodybuilder and businessman. Hasselhoff is best known for his roles in the hit television shows Knight Rider and Baywatch. Over the years, Hasselhoff has made appearances in movies such as The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, The Knight Rider made for TV movie and has appeared as a contestant on the hit show Dancing With the Stars. From 2006 - 2009, he was a judge on NBC's show America's Got Talent.

From 2006 - 2010, Hasselhoff was linked to several events associated with alcoholism. Videos and other audio tapes were released over those years displaying Hasselhoff's extreme alcohol abuse. He's never came out to the public and admitted that he has an alcohol problem despite several hospitalizations associated with binge drinking.

Hasselhoff continues to make cameo appearances and have other roles in upcoming films.

"Celebrity means that I can affect people in a positive way."

Big Ang

Angela Raiola, better known as Big Ang, is the star of the hit reality television series Mob Wives. Raiola's grew up with ties to the mob. Her father was the captain of the Genovese crime family, so Raiola was involved in that mob lifestyle most of her life. She battled issues with drugs and alcohol.

In April 2011, Raiola made her television debut on Mob Wives and has since opened her own business, stared in her own reality show entitled Big Ang and has also wrote a book about her life and the challenges that she's faced. Raiola continues to be an inspiration for others and has established Big Ang's Angels, which dedicated its efforts to helping victims of Hurricane Sandy. Raiola has used her stardom to rise above and help others in the process.

"You can’t control that much in life. Bad things happen. Accidents. Arrests. Problems hit you out of nowhere. But hair? That’s one thing we can (usually) rely on."