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.

[CheneyChick]

I don't know about you folks, but I was a Lance Armstrong fan. This really bothers me.

Me too.

[Dan from Michigan]

I think keeping it quiet is smart. I have no problem with that. I don't even have a problem with those that say "I don't support the war" if they leave it at that.

I just have a problem with the Michael Moores, Ditzy Chicks, smug Frogs, Deutch, and the like. Arrogant jerks, cowardly "Americans" that bash the US in other countries, etc.

[the_doc]

IMHO, you guys are overreacting. Lance is just trying to avoid a useless and perhaps even counterproductive politicizing of athletics.

(Lance's stature as an athlete might give him a podium, but no thoughtful person would say that this gives him special credibility. Besides, his pro-American stance would not further the discussion.)

[Office Manager]

I've lost a whole lot of respect for Lance lately, as i heard about him leaving his wife and three little babies (set of twins) after all they've been through together. They claim his being gone most of the time has led to a breakdown in their family unit.

Really? Now what a shock!! They both know better -- sad to drag kids through this, especially after all that God has blessed him with -- and recovering from a fatal illness -- and multiple victories that almost no one on earth has the stamina to accomplish.

marriage and family mean NOTHING anymore....sad

[newgeezer]

Any statement pro or con will hurt his sponsor

On the bright side, it would give his sponsor -- the United States Postal Service -- reason to argue for another rate increase.

[Dan from Michigan]

That doesn't bug me there and something I can respectfully disagree. He's not being a jerk about it like a lot of the others.

[gridlock]

Only because he knows so much about blood doping because everybody else is doing it, silly!

[DSH]

marriage and family mean NOTHING anymore....sad

That sort of situation, involving people one doesn't know, is always difficult to comment on, given that it is an intensely personal matter. But I agree with you, and had the same reaction.

[the_doc]

I forgot to mention that Lance does not like the war; I think he would have preferred the UN approach, with a much longer inspection interval.

(Seven percent of FReepers agree with Lance, of course.)

But at least Lance is pretty much keeping his mouth shut. In this regard, he has better instincts than most other celebrities.

[newgeezer]

Hope we send some secret service with him this year

Yeah, right. Secret Service protection for athletes on foreign soil? If the danger is that bad, he should consider staying at home.

Sheesh.

[MEG33]

I agree .Iwouldn't want to be on a bicycle when those crowds rush in,especially now that we're on the outs.He hasn't bashed the US or the President.

[rambo316]

What a d!ck! I was, too, an Armstrong fan but now, I am not. I started feeling negative about him when he did to his wife and kids what he did. He should have retired and kept his promise to his wife; "til death do us part" and raised his children.

[sam_paine]

He accepts his place. He's not a know it all. He served me tequila once at a bar. Lance is ok.

[drew]

Great point. Also, if he were against the war he'd say it in no uncertain terms, it would go over well with the Euroweenies. But they already hate him so much, he is taking the wise course. Please, Lance, win another Tour and piss off the frogs!

[sam_paine]

but if he's not boycotting france,

You mean you don't want him to go over and kick Euro Ass again?

[JFC]

Lance is a good guy, even if he is from liberal Austin Tx. He is however real good friends with many of the Hollywood snobs.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I'm not bothered by it. He's in the regrettable position of having the premier competition in his sport take place in France. He's trying to walk a fine line. He might've said this a little bit better, but I won't find fault with him for this.

[Heyworth]

If I'm not mistaken, Lance use to own a house in France and stayed their often to train. But, when the French got all in his face over dopping and such, it pissed (no pun intended) him off pretty good. I've heard he sold that house and now owns a residence in Spain.

Lance left France because of a tax dispute. On the Tour, the winner gets all the prize money, and then he distributes it to his team. The French were trying to make him pay income tax on the entire amount. They've never gone after anyone like that before. Of course, there hasn't been a French winner of the race since Hinault in 1985. After that came Lemond (3 times), then Indurain (5 times), then Lance (4 times and counting). The others, if anyone cares, were an Irishman(!!!), a Dane, an Italian, a German, and another Spaniard.

[BunnySlippers]

He's an American who has long lived in France. I think he's fine. Think about it, would you rather he be pontificating like Michael Moore?

[F16Fighter]

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

Nice to know Lance Armstrong feels he is but a citizen of the world; a mere mercenary and businessman, which is his prerogative.

But quite frankly, why then should we as Americans derive any pride in how or where he finishes?

Hey Lance -- (YAWN)