Jul 25 2006
You’ve Got to Be Shot
This is my final post on the 2006 Tour de France, and it will be a short one. Think about this: Greg Lemond won two tours in a row, then got shot during a hunting accident and nearly died before coming back to win his third and final yellow jersey. Armstrong, never a tour contender before, recovered from testicular cancer that spread through his lungs and brain to win seven in a row. And while Landis’ pending hip replacement cannot be considered life-threatening in any way, still, he is suffering from avascular necrosis, leaving a dead and rotting knob of bone grinding in his hip with every step he takes, and every pedal stroke he makes. Can you imagine the pain? And yet, he overcame this agony to win the hardest sporting event in the world with panache that the cynical and jealous French can no longer deny. Clearly, there is much more to these men than big lungs and stronger-than-average hearts. They have super-human willpower. An asset far greater than biology could ever deliver.
I’ve been thinking about things like this for a while. Now I love Lance (until some of these allegations are ever proven or he becomes a political candidate that isn’t Independant) … but what do you think about this Brad:
Barry Bonds (Mark M, Sammy Sosa, et al) are cheaters because they’ve used steroids, Andro or HGH. But what about the athletes who have Tommy John surgery? Or Lasic eye surgery? In the 1950s pitchers would have careers of a few years because they toiled in the minors and then blew out their elbows or something. Now you can replace knees, ligaments and eyeballs! I think Ladis’ accomplishment is amazing. But I also think that if he wins again post-surgery it will be a lot less impressive. I agree that these athletes have “super-human willpower” and that makes a huge difference. I think Barry Bonds had more impatience than will power. Talent can only get you so far. Being the best ever takes near-death defying will power or medical assistance. Isn’t that why atheletes “are bigger today than ever before”?? Sports like Cross Country running and Cycling are indurance tests for some crazy people who can really tolerate pain long term. Those are already special people. This isn’t an indictment at all on cyclists, but in general, does medicine allow atheletes to be better than they have a right to be? Where do you draw the line? Cortizone shots? Lasic? What about technological improvements in the actual bicycle? In 15 years will a rider have an advantage over Lance? What about those weird helmets that decrease wind resistance? Just thinking here….
I love that Nike poster you used to have in your apartment: Lance is riding a bike and says: “I”THIS IS MY BODY AND I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT TO IT…. I CAN PUSH IT, TWEAK IT, STUDY IT.. EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT I’M ON…. WHAT AM I ON? I’M ON MY BIKE SIX HOURS A DAY BUSTIN MY BUTT! WHAT ARE YOU ON!”
You’re right, JT, the bikes are better and the training is way better. Lance benefited from an inexhaustible budget for development of new technology and training techniques. The bikes are lighter, stronger and faster than they were even five years ago. But change has always been part of the sport. Lemond shocked the world when he came out for the final time trial of his second tour (I think) wearing a long helmet and riding with long bars on his handle bars. He overcame a big deficit to win that day because of technology — and now aerobars and long helmets are standard equipment for all time trial riders. It’s not just a bike race — it’s a race to be better in all aspects: training, technology, nutrition. Drugs certainly have played a role. Is it unfair to compare athletes who take advantage of advancements with those who had no such edge? Probably not. Does that mean records of modern athletes should have asterisks beside them? I don’t think so. My thinking is that racers and ball players in the past were seeking every advantage they could get when they were competing, too. My point with this post was the strange way that the three American winners have all suffered through painful, and in two cases, life-threatening situations and won this tough race.
Oh no. I’m having my morning coffee and I read this:
“Ladis had positive drug test after Stage 17″
Say it ain’t so!!
–JT
I am holding out hope that it was a mistake and the second test will prove him innocent. This test occurred after he made the miracle ride to get back in the race. If it’s true, this will be on the level of the ’94 baseball strike for me. I will have lost all faith in the sport, and will be truly heartbroken.
I bet this isn’t your LAST post on the TdF after all.