Professional Cycling - So, can we stop debating this now?

From the Charlie Rose interview with Lance Armstrong:

CR: What about the debate as to whether or not you are the greatest cyclist ever?

LA: If someone were to say I was the greatest cyclist ever I would just cringe, because I’m not. I focused too much on the Tour (to be called that), and not on the other Classics and Grand Tours; however, my job is not to be the greatest cyclist in the world nor my mission.

CR: What is your mission?

LA: To be the greatest ever? No. But to win the Tour and use that to make a difference in other people’s lives? And so if someone comes to me and says, “Well you never won the Tour of Spain,” I can say no, but I did ride the Tour of Hope every year for 4 or 5 years, and I spread the message of clinical trials and cancer survivorship – what’s wrong with that? …and that’s the reason I didn’t do other things (races) because I was busy doing other things. It’s not all about winning professional bike races. Doesn’t it count to do other things? It has to.

WOW I can't believe I love him even more!

COOL! What a neat reply!

Joe

That was nice.

Classy...

Lance is a deeper person than he allows himself to show.

Corsaire

He's got a great publicist..

I've been involved in many of the 'greatest' debates. I've often said I have no problem with Lance and that I've never said him say he was the greatest. He found a goal to try for, reached it and is happy with that. Looks like he is a winner in the most improtant way.

Lance is a deeper person than he allows himself to show.

Corsaire

He's much deeper than some of his fans

It’s not all about winning professional bike races. Doesn’t it count to do other things? It has to.

Which is all he really has been saying, all the way back to "It's Not About the Bike"...

But people do not read or listen very well.....

yeah, the whole debate of who is the greatest cyclist is just so stupid. i really don't understand why people take sides the way they do. it's not like THEY did anything, or met these riders, had a beer with them, or even know what they are really like.

Exactly... it is kind of a dumb debate.

Now... who was better, Ty Cobb or Ted Williams? Marino or Montana? Feynman or Einstein? Euler or Reimann? There's some debating for you. Right? Oh.

Exactly... it is kind of a dumb debate.
True, but it will never be over. Well, maybe when they find the person who was on the grassy knoll.

Surely you jest ... :)

Exactly... it is kind of a dumb debate.

Now... who was better, Ty Cobb or Ted Williams? Marino or Montana? Feynman or Einstein? Euler or Reimann? There's some debating for you. Right? Oh.

No debate at all. I think Einstein would have kicked Feynman's a**. He may look scattered, but I bet you he's very scrappy, and Feynman would be crying uncle in about a minute. That one's easy.

Exactly... it is kind of a dumb debate.

Now... who was better, Ty Cobb or Ted Williams? Marino or Montana? Feynman or Einstein? Euler or Reimann? There's some debating for you. Right? Oh.


Williams...Cobb was an @sshole but Williams was a better @sshole... :eek:

Montana...how many rings does Danny have??

Feynman was Einstein's lead out man...

Euler or Reimann??? hmmmmm.....Reimann could "dance on the pedals..." :D

He's got a great publicist..

Cynic

Never ever use absolutes. All absolutes are rubbish - like those two.

Who cares about greatest, nicest, sexiest, etc. If you can't objectively measure something, it shouldn't be compared to something else. Is LA the greatest cyclist? According to what and using which variables - other tours? the classics? Hour attempts?

He's a better athlete than most other professional athletes - but so are most T de F riders - and Jan has such a cute earing!

Why must we keep elevating those who are good at something to the position of idol or spokesperson? Look at Bob Geldof. What the hell did Live 8 achieve? a lot of media coverage for a lot of bands who wanted to rejuvinate their lagging sales! When did he and Bonor become the spokespeople for the poor and destitute...yeah yeah, nobody else stepped up, but there are countless out there doing the legwork that needs to be done.

Biking, right, back on topic....What roadwarrior said rings true (the first stuff).

He focused on the tour to "make a difference in other people's lives". He rode the Tour de Hope instead of the Giro and made speeches/lobbied Congress instead of riding the Vuelta. What a hero! He deserves to pat himself on the back. I'm sure he would have won all the races if he hadn't devoted so much time to being a great humanitarian.

Now... who was better, Ty Cobb or Ted Williams?
Hank Aaron, clearly.

The comparison debates in themselves are natural and harmless- it's the nationalism, the subjectivity, the irrationality, the aggressive tone, that can be off-putting.

I like to test my opinions and respect the replies of knowledgeable fellow forum posters. If we take this kind of discussion out of the equation, we are left with conspicuous consumption.........'check out my spiffy $5k ride'

;-)