Tuesday, September 06, 2005
"Just to Piss 'Em Off"
Apparently that rationale was assigned to Lance’s possible comeback in the 2006 Tour de France, and not his decision to marry annoying fan number 1 Sheryl Crow. If he want’s to stage a boxer’s retirement, fine. But to hang the decision ostensibly on spite stemming from L’Equipe’s allegations is absolutely ridiculous. What will that really prove? Absolutely nothing. If he wins again, it just confirms for the French that Lance continues to dope, using some drug that a test has not yet been developed for. If comes back and loses, it just confirms that he can’t win unless he’s doped to the gills.
Fittingly enough, Lance’s statement to the American-Statesman came on the same day that Jerry Rice announced his retirement, giving rise to talk at Labor Day football games around the country of why he didn’t hang it up years ago. ESPN’s Outside the Lines segment was on why few athletes go out on top of their game (you had the feeling it was a canned segment kind of like the obituaries written for celebrities just in case the finally do kick it). Prior to Lance’s retirement, Bernard Hinault is one of the few top cyclists who quit when they were still in their prime. Indurain also probably still had a good season or two left in him. But most leave like Lemond and Fignon – swept up by the broom wagon and no longer selected by their teams to ride the Tour.
Of course the healthy dose of egoism that seems an essential ingredient in top athlete’s rises to the top plays a huge part in the decision to return to the game. Johan Bruyneel mentioned that Lance misses the competition, “and all that goes with it.” Usually the athlete mentions the camaraderie within the team, because it would be unseemly to state flat out they miss being in the limelight…
In all likelihood, if Lance returns to the Tour, he’ll be the overwhelming favorite to win an eighth time. But that victory will do nothing to end the persistent rumors of his alleged doping that have dogged Armstrong almost his entire career. On the plus side for his ewgo, however, is the certainty that he’ll add to his allure and national icon status as the good ol’ American willing to stand up to those nasty Frogs.
Fittingly enough, Lance’s statement to the American-Statesman came on the same day that Jerry Rice announced his retirement, giving rise to talk at Labor Day football games around the country of why he didn’t hang it up years ago. ESPN’s Outside the Lines segment was on why few athletes go out on top of their game (you had the feeling it was a canned segment kind of like the obituaries written for celebrities just in case the finally do kick it). Prior to Lance’s retirement, Bernard Hinault is one of the few top cyclists who quit when they were still in their prime. Indurain also probably still had a good season or two left in him. But most leave like Lemond and Fignon – swept up by the broom wagon and no longer selected by their teams to ride the Tour.
Of course the healthy dose of egoism that seems an essential ingredient in top athlete’s rises to the top plays a huge part in the decision to return to the game. Johan Bruyneel mentioned that Lance misses the competition, “and all that goes with it.” Usually the athlete mentions the camaraderie within the team, because it would be unseemly to state flat out they miss being in the limelight…
In all likelihood, if Lance returns to the Tour, he’ll be the overwhelming favorite to win an eighth time. But that victory will do nothing to end the persistent rumors of his alleged doping that have dogged Armstrong almost his entire career. On the plus side for his ewgo, however, is the certainty that he’ll add to his allure and national icon status as the good ol’ American willing to stand up to those nasty Frogs.
