I remember as a kid, every time a big deal was made about something, someone quipped, “Don’t make a federal case about it.”

You think cyclist Lance Armstrong is getting the same feeling?

Armstrong, if you remember, was the seven-time Tour de France champion, who has spent most of his competitive racing days — and a few years after — fighting charges he needed a little help in winning those titles.

Armstrong is still pleading his innocence, but just grew weary of facing the allegations by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and threw in the riding towel. By no longer fighting the charges, he was handed a lifetime ban from competitive cycling, as well as having his seven Tour de France titles stripped.

You would think, “Oh, look, another athlete shamed by performance-enhancing drugs.

“Lump him in with Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon and the hundreds that have been busted before.”

But, here’s the thing: Do you care?

Face it, the PED train has left a long time ago. When Clemens was on trial by the government, the general consensus was that nobody cared. The U.S. government was wasting taxpayers’ dollars on this.

No one is shocked anymore. It’s the culture of sports today. We would actually be shocked if someone wasn’t on something.

But here’s the thing: Armstrong has actually emerged as a hero in all of this.

It’s not because he grew tired of fighting PED accusations and not because his body was once riddled with cancer and he won, but because he isn’t tired of fighting the good fight.

Armstrong’s Livestrong charity has raised more than $470 million over 15 years in the fight against cancer. He wasn’t in hiding after his career, dodging questions that he may have been caught cheating.

In truth, Armstrong never failed a drug test, but allegations continue to emerge.

When Armstrong tired of fighting the USADA, some saw it as an admission of guilt. In the end, only Armstrong knows if he purposely used PEDs.

Armstrong won the last of his seven consecutive Tours de France titles back in 2005. Since then, he’s turned to training for marathons and working for his charity.

So, the question is this: Which Lance Armstrong will you remember: The seven-time Tour de France winner, the rider who had those seven titles stripped away from the books; or the one who has devoted his life to fighting cancer and raising almost half a billion dollars so far?

As Armstrong is showing, you have to pick your battles. Some are just bigger — and more important — than others.

Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.