Lance Armstrong: I'm an athlete and that's all

espn.com ^ | March 25, 2003 | ESPN.com

[RetiredArmy]

Armstrong: I'm an athlete and that's all

From: The Associated Press; Posted At ESPN.com, March 25, 2003

MADRID, Spain -- Lance Armstrong will worry about his team's safety this summer during the Tour de France if the United States is still at war with Iraq.

The four-time champion said he would be concerned about his U.S Postal team as it rides each day through the mountains and countryside.

"Two-hundred kilometers (124 miles) of road without barriers cannot be kept under control,'' Armstrong said Monday on Catalan regional television.

"I don't represent one side or the other, but I do represent a sponsor'' of the war, the Texan added.

"I'm an athlete and that's all,'' he said. (Is he not an American?)

Armstrong has overcome cancer to win his Tour de France titles. If he wins a fifth straight race, he will tie the record of Spain's Miguel Indurain, who won from 1991-95.

Armstrong is in Spain for the Catalan Week race.

[RetiredArmy]

"I don't represent one side or the other, but I do represent a sponsor'' of the war, the Texan added."

I don't know about you folks, but I was a Lance Armstrong fan. This really bothers me. "I don't represent one side or the other, I represent a sponsor??" This bothers me. Sorry. It just bothers me a lot!

[ambrose]

No, he is keeping his trap shut and sticking to what he does best -- just as we have often urged Hollyweird celebs to do...

[Bikers4Bush]

At least he's not spewing crap like the hollyweirdos do.

Bottom line is that the guy rides in a race that has him exposed to assault every inch of the way if some nutjob decides to do it.

I'd keep my mouth shut too.

[gridlock]

You can't complain about Natalie Maines speaking up and then complain when Lance Armstrong sticks to cycling. If I want to discuss hill climbing strategy or blood doping, I'll talk to Lance. If I want insight on the war, I'll stick to FR.

[The_Victor]

Lance is simply admitting that he's not qualified to comment. Any statement pro or con will hurt his sponsor and he knows it. Smart move on his part.

[billorites]

I'd hate to be an American athelete competing in Europe this particular month.

Hard enough to be competing, but for someone like Armstrong, to additionally have to answer to a hostile European population abouth his position on American policy? No thank you.

Smart of him to keep his head down.

[RetiredArmy]

Irregardless of him keeping his mouth shut or opening it, he would be a potential target. I felt that during last years Tour.

[Bikers4Bush]

Potential if he doesn't say anything, definite if he does.

Big difference.

[LibWhacker]

He probably tripled his chance of being targeted by terrorists by opening his mouth.

[RetiredArmy]

Then maybe he should have just kept his mouth shut now and said nothing at all. Why speak up now?

[Prolixus]

Hey, isn't Lance Armstrong already a hated man in "le france"? He was booed by "les francais" during the last tour de france. He's probably keeping quiet now to minimize the threat of violence to him and his team-mates during the next tour.

I don't know his politics but, since he has received remarkably little coverage in the media - considering his status as a champion world class athlete, I assume that he believes in hard work and discipline ...

[TADSLOS]

So, I guess he won't mind NOT waving the American flag across the finish line then. Maybe he can wave a USPS postage stamp like this one instead:

[optik_b]

There are much more important things happenning right now than a Bike race but I really hope nothing happens to Lance. He's been an inspiration to me having overcome cancer. I really will fear for his safety at this year's Tour De France.

[Freebird Forever]

I know he's a fellow Texan and all, but if he's not boycotting france, he's not worth my time.

[krb]

I think it is cool what he is saying. He really doesn't "represent" anything regarding the war. He is just an athlete trying to keep his mouth shut, and I don't blame him. He needs to be training, not evangelizing any political points.

[dd5339]

Lance ping!

Semper Fi

[pittsburgh gop guy]

I read somewhere that he lives and trains in france for most of the year. Makes trips back to the States only for TV/PR appearances.

[joesnuffy]

Hope we send some secret service with him this year

[Digger]

If I want to discuss hill climbing strategy or blood doping, I'll talk to Lance. If I want insight on the war, I'll stick to FR.>/I>

Nuff said.

[RonF]

Lance has paid quite a price to get where he is. And all it would take is one nut to throw a stick into his spokes while he's on a downhill to get him seriously injured or even killed. I don't blame him for being concerned. Most guys who are representing America with a flag on their clothes in foreign countries these days get to carry guns to defend themselves with.