The whole world seems to be all atwitter with the confirmation of earlier rumors that Lance Armstrong will be returning to the pro peloton. Could this be the return of a living legend? Or a way of firmly setting his legacy of being a phenomenal and clean athlete.
This comeback is pretty much a no-win situation for Armstrong. For him to prove that he won 7 Tours drug-free, and firmly erase doubt about his past, he will have to win the Tour de France. Anything less and a cacophony of naysayers will steadily point their fingers at him and cry "J'accuse!" at the top of their lungs. This is a shark jump of epic proportions and we are all in on the ground floor.
It is truly audacious, but I don't think it is the best idea. Sure, Trek are probably sacrificing every virgin they can get their hands on in an effort to get this deal done and in the books. Oakley reps are probably holding them down for 'em... There isn't much to gain from this kind of comeback, but there is much to lose. Remember Michael Jordan retiring and playing pro baseball? Remember him playing for the Wizards? Sometimes the competitive urge whispers in your ear and you've got to ignore it.
5 comments:
Lance doing this for no financial compensation is seriously putting his money where his mouth is, and he's certainly clever enough to realize that there is nothing he could do that will do more to put the Lance Armstrong Foundation on the map, in people's minds, and raise awareness... and funding... for cancer research.
And people are worried about whether Lance was doping in an era when everybody seemed to be ... even though they never managed to get him to prove positive for a decade? Whatever.
It's not about the bike. It's not about the doping. It's not about Lance. It's about the cancer awareness and fund raising. And if Lance gets off on racing again - more power to him. He knows that the money he'll make from commercial endorsements will be his financial security, and that his Foundation will reap untold millions from his bike racing comeback.
But forget all that. Ask yourself this. How many cancer patients and families will draw inspiration and hope from all this? How many lives will be enriched, saved, how many desperate people will see a ray of hope in all this? I can't think of anything any athlete or celebrity could do that has more potential for good for millions of people than what Lance announced yesterday.
So Go Lance? I say hell yes Go Lance. The anti-Lance crap I read blows my mind. He has had nothing to lose since he took on a death sentence and won. The rest is gravy.
The best tour moments in my cycling lifetime were spent watching an American cyclist, on an American team, riding an American bike kick ass on French soil. I know that hating Lance may be the “hip bike culture” thing to do. I've never cared about that. I think back for all he has done for the sport. How many have awkwardly clipped into their pedals because they watched Lance pull away from from his rivals to win a stage in dramatic fashion. I loved watching that cocky Texan drape the American flag on his back seven times. Screw the haters. I'm not ashamed to call myself a patriot. And I'm not ashamed to call myself a Lance fan. Sorry... but I'm rooting for the home team.
I'm on the edge of my seat.
I agree that lance is pretty much in a no win situation, but what is to be gained potentially from his return is that cycling will gain a much needed shot in the arm that is desperatly needed. Since he left the sport all those who only watched to see Lance win another tour have more or less gone away. If he can come back and even be competitive while being completly transparent on being tested, that would bring an air of credibility back to the sport that many are unwilling to acknowledge.
Can he come back and win the tour? I don't know, can he come back and be competitive, I believe he can, finishing 2nd at leadville lends some creedance to him still having legs. I know the leadville is no 3 week grand tour, but with his determination and will to win, I think we will see him make some waves. If nothing else him winning the tour again would really piss off the French!
So is lance coming back a good thing, I say yes if nothing more than to give cycling a boost back onto the national stage, and to begin regaining some of our sports lost glory.
cacophony ? I had to look that up "Harsh, disagreeable sound". Sounds like what my legs made the last trip up Hwy-181. I am questioning if maybe Golden is promting Shawn?
Eddie W
Are you saying that Golden is a more gooder writer than me?
Love the latest post , I have read about Mr Hibell a few times and his death is only another tragic example of IDIOT motorist.
Having lived with my wife for 18 years I assumed everyones wives were "more smarter'en them"
Eddie
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