Road Cycling - ESPN TOP 100----No Lance!!

Unbelievable that ESPN lists the top 100 athletes of the past 25 years and no Lance. Talk about no respect.......
But then again, Charles Barkley says that Lance "just rides a bike"........

Odd that Sports Illistrated sure does love him then isn't it?
ESPN sucks anyway.

I thought they listed him at #3 behind Gretzky and Jordan. Read that somewhere.

He was #3 in the "ESPN era" of all-time greatest. I saw the last 10 they did on the show.
Ride Safe,
Ti-Carbo

Where did you see this?

If it wasn't for the fact that Lance is American, those ******* at ESPN wouldn't even know how to spell cycling. I think it is great for cycling that, again, an American is on top. I just wish the last 5 years had translated into prime-time network coverage of at least Le Tour. LeBron James has had how much ESPN coverage? How much has Lance had compared to his feats? I wouldn't give those morons at ESPN the time of day ...

It was on ESPN last night 6/9/2004
They did a show about the greatest athletes in the espn era (since espn came on tv).

Ride Safe,
Ti-Carbo

I'm so bored with the whole Lance is my hero blah blah blah crap that freakin SATURATES this board. It's BEYOND ridiculous. Some of you guys really need to get a global and historical grip on things. The bottom line is, is that the US would be lucky to MAKE the top 100 cycling NATIONS of all time.

Okay, now let's see who takes that flamebait and runs with it :) :lol:

I am a proud American, who is proud of the number one cyclist in the world, globe, planet, solar system, galaxie, universe, time space continuem. LANCE. I don't care if he never wins another race. His character and demeanor are what I like to see in a person who has accomplished what he has accomplished. I also like Jan Ulrich, but, Lance is...is...is...

Lance is my hero.
Lance is my hero
Lance is my hero
Lance is my hero
Lance is my hero
Lance is my hero

Lance rides a Trek - I ride a Trek
Lance rides Dura Ace - I ride Dura Ace
Lance eats Power Bars - I eat Power Bars
Lance "uses" Nike - I "use" Nike
Lane wears a Giro - I wear a Giro
Lance makes 10+ Million a year - I make....errr... ooops... never mind!
Lance has won the TDF 5 Times - I'm the fastest rider on my Street! <- it's a short street!
Lance drives Subaru's - My brother-in-law has a Subaru
Lance is dating a Rock star babe - I dream about dating a rock star babe!
etc... etc... etc...
So.... how much more do you need!

Ride Safe,
Ti-Carbo

Lance rides a Trek - I ride a Trek
Lance rides Dura Ace - I ride Dura Ace
Lance eats Power Bars - I eat Power Bars
Lance "uses" Nike - I "use" Nike
Lane wears a Giro - I wear a Giro
Lance makes 10+ Million a year - I make....errr... ooops... never mind!
Lance has won the TDF 5 Times - I'm the fastest rider on my Street! <- it's a short street!
Lance drives Subaru's - My brother-in-law has a Subaru
Lance is dating a Rock star babe - I dream about dating a rock star babe!
etc... etc... etc...
So.... how much more do you need!

Ride Safe,
Ti-Carbo
Ya what he said!

Was the list for the top 100 American athletes of all time?

Greg Lemond and Lance Armstrong are the only reason that the USA even knows that there is a TDF! It is amazing that the US has these two great cyclist when we really stink compared to other countries. Heck, LA is probably the only reason that I ever bought a road bike. I have him to thank (my wife would say otherwise $$$).

After reading his book, I get the impression he can be very hard to get along with. I don't know him, never met him, but I respect what he is doing for cycling in the US. I hope he can continue to win, although I think his time is coming to an end. That's too bad because I think cycling is on the up-swing in the US. Maybe Tyler can carry us for a couple of years.

Lance could be the biggest jerk in the world, but he deserves to be respected. His cancer survivor to 5 time TDF winner story gives people with cancer hope, and a reason to fight.

Ok, enough positive. I don't think LA is going to pull off the win this year, but I'm pulling for he and Tyler. We need good US riders to get "the talking heads" at ESPN to even mention the sport. What we really need is a good rider that will say colorful things like, "Basketball! All they do is bounce a ball around and try to put it in a metal cylinder."

It's very odd that Lance was not listed in the top 100. Was it a viewer poll? Consider that Lance won the a recent ESPN Ultimate Athlete poll by 71% of the votes. Lance has also done commercials for ESPN. I particularly like the one where they show the ESPN offices late at night and some guy working on his computer when all of a sudden the lights go out. He then makes his way to the basement and opens a closet door to find Lance sitting on his bike hooked to a trainer wiping sweat from his face. The ESPN guy says something like, "Hey Lance what's the deal?" Lance replies with something like, "oh sorry... I thought everyone had gone home" and proceed to start pedalling... at which point the lights come back on. The doubly-funny thing is that given Lance's power output, he could conceivably run a lamp and a small computer system by pedal power.

I think i read somewhere with all the power lance puts out during a typical Tour, he could power the entire state on cali for 3 seconds

It's very odd that Lance was not listed in the top 100. Was it a viewer poll? Consider that Lance won the a recent ESPN Ultimate Athlete poll by 71% of the votes. Lance has also done commercials for ESPN. I particularly like the one where they show the ESPN offices late at night and some guy working on his computer when all of a sudden the lights go out. He then makes his way to the basement and opens a closet door to find Lance sitting on his bike hooked to a trainer wiping sweat from his face. The ESPN guy says something like, "Hey Lance what's the deal?" Lance replies with something like, "oh sorry... I thought everyone had gone home" and proceed to start pedalling... at which point the lights come back on. The doubly-funny thing is that given Lance's power output, he could conceivably run a lamp and a small computer system by pedal power.

Exactly. The people at ESPN are rather fickle... I would't take any of their polls or tallies seriously.

Lance rides a Trek - I ride a Trek
Lance rides Dura Ace - I ride Dura Ace
Lance eats Power Bars - I eat Power Bars
Lance "uses" Nike - I "use" Nike
Lane wears a Giro - I wear a Giro
Lance makes 10+ Million a year - I make....errr... ooops... never mind!
Lance has won the TDF 5 Times - I'm the fastest rider on my Street! <- it's a short street!
Lance drives Subaru's - My brother-in-law has a Subaru
Lance is dating a Rock star babe - I dream about dating a rock star babe!
etc... etc... etc...
So.... how much more do you need!

Ride Safe,
Ti-Carbo<shakes head> Such a sad life you lead. Vainly trying to mirror someone else's life in a futile attempt to identify with someone you only wish would take the time to acknowledge your presence. I never understood Lancies but then again I've always thought for myself. Don't blame me I only call them how I see them, hece the use of the quote.
Though I have a lot of disdain for his "acolytes" yes he will repeat

I admire Lance, but he is not my hero

well you folks probably have a better grasp of this than me, so let me ask something:

is there a case to be made that LA is the fittest person to have ever lived?

i'm not very historically savvy and i don't follow endurance sports much, but for me - if you allow for that ignorance - part of the reason i stand up and take notice if there's a little interview clip on tv or whatever is that i'm thinking, 'that might be the most hardcore mother****er there ever was.'

i'm interested in hearing what ppl think who follow endurance athletes and pro cycling more closely.

I'm so bored with the whole Lance is my hero blah blah blah crap that freakin SATURATES this board. It's BEYOND ridiculous. Some of you guys really need to get a global and historical grip on things. The bottom line is, is that the US would be lucky to MAKE the top 100 cycling NATIONS of all time.

Okay, now let's see who takes that flamebait and runs with it :) :lol:

I'll rise to the bait, but not the way that you'd expect.
I agree, we (the US) probably could not make the top 100 cycling nations (well maybe we can
beat out Zimbabwe or Micronesia).
Given this fact is it any wonder that a majority of the americans hang on lances every word?
there just isn't a whole lot out there, ya know.
How many folks (not just americans) know that prior to WW2 American dominated track racing
(six days, Madison (named after madison sq. garden)) how many folks can name more than
1 six day rider? And these guys were the Lance of their times.
How many American riders have done the Tour? The Giro, The spring classics? not that many and
then only recently.
I know it gets kind of thick around here, and on OLN and every other cycling forum in the US
(note I didn't say worldwide!) but hell, we have to start somewhere, right?
If all this does is increase US awareness, and 1 kid in 500 says "I want to be like Lance" and begin
to ride seriously than its a success. In 10 years who knows the US might even be in the top 50!

Marty

well you folks probably have a better grasp of this than me, so let me ask something:
is there a case to be made that LA is the fittest person to have ever lived?


I don't know that he's any more fit that a Merckx, Hinault or Kelly.


I know it gets kind of thick around here, and on OLN and every other cycling forum in the US
(note I didn't say worldwide!) but hell, we have to start somewhere, right?
If all this does is increase US awareness, and 1 kid in 500 says "I want to be like Lance" and begin
to ride seriously than its a success. In 10 years who knows the US might even be in the top 50!

Unfortunately history hasn't shown that this level of interest and awareness will continue after Lance and Tyler retire. When LeMond was in his prime, there was lots of coverage of the TDF in the U.S. and most people could tell you who he was. He retired and so did most American cycling fans.

What most dissapoints me is that Lancemania doesn't carry over to any other event but the TDF. Or more accurately, any event that Lance isn't in. How many 99ers followed the world cup this spring? How many know of the incredible feat that Rebellin pulled off?

What most dissapoints me is that Lancemania doesn't carry over to any other event but the TDF. Or more accurately, any event that Lance isn't in. How many 99ers followed the world cup this spring? How many know of the incredible feat that Rebellin pulled off?
Agreed, but what I have noticed that a few folks who watched the tour actually enjoyed
watching it. I got asked alot of questions about racing and explained as best I could.
Some of these same folks are now watching everything OLN is showing.
Sure, most Americans only know Lance, TdF maybe TdGeorgia (since there were daily reports
on the news, at least here in tejas), but little by little the average american is getting the idea
that maybe there's more to cycling than huffy and murray, that it really is very much a sporting
event.
I think the one big difference between Lance and Lemond is the advertising. Sure Greg did some
(really bad commercials), but there wasn't the saturation that we see with lancemania.
One other point (soon to be moot) Greg rode for FRENCH teams, Lance rides for a US team
I think that makes a huge difference here with regard to fan support and the general public.

Marty

I'm so bored with the whole Lance is my hero blah blah blah crap that freakin SATURATES this board. It's BEYOND ridiculous. Some of you guys really need to get a global and historical grip on things. The bottom line is, is that the US would be lucky to MAKE the top 100 cycling NATIONS of all time.

Okay, now let's see who takes that flamebait and runs with it :) :lol:

Well, it all depends on how you rate cycling in a nation I suppose. Cycling is really a pretty minor sport in the USA. It is right up there with dog sledding and white water canoeing as far as coverage goes. However, as far as participation goes, it is a major US sport. We have quite a few recreational cyclists and many of them are quite proficient. I know people who have travelled to Europe and they tell me that we tend to have more cyclists running around here then many of the european nations do. But that is hardly a valid study now isn't it?

The USA has produced two major international cycling stars in the last 20 years: Gregg Lemond and Lance Armstrong. They have teamed up for a total of 8 Tour de France titles. Also remember that Lemond had that hunting accident where is brother shot him and had that not happened, Lemond might have picked up another tour or two.

Although competitive cycling in the USA has been a recent sort of thing to most people, it was a pretty big sport at the turn of the 20th Century.

Maybe ESPN doesn't like that "rock star babe" Lance has hanging on. She's way older than he is and I think (IMO) that her star is fading as well as her biological clock ticking away. Not having seen the show, I don't know who else was listed or omitted, so I won't comment on that. I think LA is a great athlete and has overcome some great odds to get where he is. Top 100? Hmmm. Perhaps. He's top 100 in my book, and that's my final answer.

Hey, it's an ESPN list.
ESPN is a television show.
Who are ESPN's customers? People that sit in front of a television for hours on end, probably out-of-shape, over weight and drinking a six-pack of beer, watching football, basketball, baseball, hockey or NASCAR.
Most of the people of this forum are not typical ESPN customers. While we may watch some of the major sports on ESPN and the other networks, we prefer to be in the saddle and on the road, rather than on the couch consuming empty calories.
ESPN is going to rank "athletes" based upon their customers. We are not their target market.
Obviously!

-Spoke