The world vs. Lance Armstrong

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The old joke about the French was “Why did the French plant trees along the Champs-Elysses? So that the German soldiers could march in the shade.” Now the joke has another ending. “So that Lance Armstrong can ride in the shade to another Tour de France championship.

Armstrong may well be the best thing and the worst thing that ever happened to the Tour. He has always captured the interest and some coverage and advertising money from the US whenever he has been involved. I guarantee that I would not spend one second writing about the Tour were he not in it. When he retired after 7 wins in 2005, the US and much of the world forgot about the race. ESPN, and the Sporting News Radio would spend a couple of seconds on it only when a winner had been crowned.

But things are different now. Armstrong has crept within a couple of hundredths of a second of the lead. Given his previous performance through the mountains and the latter stages of the race, if he’s even, he’s leavin’.

His story is remarkable. 7 titles despite fighting cancer and the French organizers doing anything they could to prove he was cheating. The French have been violating their own guidelines in an attempt to catch him with anything in his body that is not approved. The French just can’t believe that anyone has the drive to keep his body capable of such accomplishments. I can’t help but think that MLB should bring the French drug testers in to help with the steroid problem.

Armstrong is carrying the American Flag and his team on his back. He deserves all the attention he is getting and more. It is only the race that deserves to be ignored unless Armstrong is involved.

That’s what I think. Tell me what you think.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for and edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on and edits .

Technorati Tags: Tour de France,Armstrong,Germans,cancer,steroids,MLB
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5 thoughts on “The world vs. Lance Armstrong”

  1. So do you think he has a chance with this one again? I thought my friend was only joking when he told me that Armstrong is going for Tour de France again. Oh well, not a fan, though I admire how he fought his sickness just to participate on TD, but I wish him luck.
    (So was the first paragraph really just a joke? :D)
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  2. I can’t help but think that MLB should bring the French drug testers in to help with the steroid problem.Armstrong is carrying the American Flag and his team on his back.

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  3. I want to wish Best of luck to Lance. I am very inspired of him.

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  4. I can’t help but think that MLB should bring the French drug testers in to help with the steroid problem.Armstrong is carrying the American Flag and his team on his back. He deserves all the attention he is getting and more.

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  5. He might not have it in him this time around to pull off the win. I think he’ll come back next year and try again to pull off another victory.
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