reasons you support Armstrong?

paris_boy

to my good American friends:

if Armstrong was not American would you support him?

I mean if he was Canadian (or dear god, French Canadian) would you be supporting (and defending) him with such passion? is your passion based on patriotism or love of the sport?

gunnar_roadie

Um, I don't support Armstrong. I don't care for his or US Postal's style. My favorite riders are Kazakh, Spanish, German, French, Italian, etc. And yes, I'm American. My passion is based on love of the sport. There's an article on yahoo sports that sums up my feeling rather well:
http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_yl...ov=ap&type=lgns

paris_boy

thanks for the article link.

I like the line "Armstrong brought laser-like focus -- and largely ignored other major races such as the Italian Giro or Spanish Vuelta."

that is why Armstrong will only be a TDF champion and never a cycling god like Bernard Hinault.

mojomarc

Actually, I like French Canadians. Nice people.

And Yes, I would support Armstrong, just like I supported Indurain. Great champions are worth supporting.

paris_boy

that's funny because the French Canadians hate Americans more than the real French.

meehs

You know, that's a really good question. I was a big fan of Hinault and Indurain when they were in their respective primes. I think I can honestly say that even if Armstrong weren't American, I would at least give him the benefit of the doubt. What surprises me is how many people (American or otherwise) are willing to condemn him on what amounts to nothing more than circumstantial evidence and specualtion. That being said I can't argue that we Americans aren't biased toward Armstrong. If Hinault were to have been accused of doping (assuming the "evidence" against him were the same as that against LA), would you have defended him or jumped right in and said, "yeah he must be a doper"?

HellonWheels

>>>>

1 because he fought off a cancer that had devastated his entire body, and lived to win not one but 6 Tdfs (something hard to imagine even for an always-healthy man!)


2 Because he has done so much to help people with cancer and our families, esp. children with cancer.

3 because he is top cyclist.

4because he is a man of character and decency.


It has little to do with his nationality...I rooted for Merckx in the mid 70s.

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"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior"--Confucius

HellonWheels

>>>>

Hence the term "fucking Canucks."



"The French would rather eat and make love with their faces than fight".--English officer, LAST OF THE MOHICANS (film)

__________________
"He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior"--Confucius

jhuskey

Yes I believe I would. I love the hell out of Voeckler.I think he is great and will pull for him next year or any other race that I am aware of that he is in. I also like Hamiliton we have a lot in common. He was a skier before injury, I was a skier before injury,he loves dogs, I love dogs, he is a great cyclist, I ride a bike. As far a Canadians. Do they cycle?

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Whenever I can't get excited about riding I just fantasize about someone else's bike.

homeycheese

Do Canadians Cycle?

You must be joking or have no clue about the lineage of the USPS cycling.

Think Motorola and Steve Bauer!! He only road in 11 TDF's

craigstanton

I'd like to point out that MANY Americans do not support Armstrong. Many of my riding pals who are American can't stand him. Their irritation with him pre-dates recent successes in the TDF, and cancer survival. Many Americans have never liked Lance, because he was/can still be such an SOB.

Suggesting that all Americans support Armstrong is just about as worthless as suggesting that all French Canadians hate Americans, all French hate Americans, all Americans hate the French, etc . . .

Surely Paris Boy simply has a twisted sense of humor, and believes that the best way to provoke genuine responses is to run into a crowded room shouting offensive things.

jhuskey

I was just kidding.

__________________
Whenever I can't get excited about riding I just fantasize about someone else's bike.

Azulene

Yes I would support him if was Canadian, Spanish, French ect. He has proven himself just like the other 5 time winners. But the first to win six.

homeycheese

That Lance is receiving so much attention is due to non-cycling fans.

LA is unique, not for being American, but for bringing a different "human interest" story to the sports world.

Because he is American, however, he brings greater media exposure, marketing dollars and his compelling story came along at a time the TDF could have collapsed under the early stages of a real serious drug scandal.

It's the ultimate "feel good" story that you have to root-for, regardless of his nationality.

The fact that he is the supreme TDF rider makes it all the more sweeter for long suffering American cycling fans like myself.