WJ13US

I was thumbing through the paper on Sunday and I came accross a short article that mentioned Lance Armstong's name so I had to read it. As it turned out Lance's mother wrote a book and was going to be at a LBS for a book signing. I'm not sure if this is old news or not but Lance's mother has a new book out. Its called Raising lance and Myself (or somethng like that).

Don't get me wrong I'm a huge Lance fan. I resepct what he has done on the bike and even more so what he has done for cancer, but I'm getting this eerie feeling that the LA thing is going too commerical and we're all going to feel "used" at some point. I see Lance's coach all over the place now, I'm sure he is making a bundle. Now his mon. What next is Trek going to come out with a line of bikes for woman endorsed by Lance's mon? Who'd next Lance's doctor, one of his close friends, a guy who had a 30 second conversation with him? A Lance reality show where 10 riders start out to make the Discovery team and each week Lance eliminates one?

I would hate to see Lance get away from being a sports legend to some run of the mill celebrity.

Bill

velocipedio

cycling is the most commercial sport in the world. always has been.

Olebiker

Actually, Lance's mom has a pretty interesting story to tell. As a middle aged old fart, I find her a lot more intersting than Ms. Crow.

Cerberusgl

Everybody is trying to cash in on a book deal. I wait until I hear the reviews and not the plugs on the back cover. For authors I really like I will buy the hardback but otherwise I will wait for paper back or even for used paper backs if I only have a little interest.

MrCjolsen

I disagree. The NBA still has us beat.

I wish cycling were more commerical.
I wish it were bigger.
I wish that yellow cycling jerserys became as fashionable on elementary school playgrounds and high school hallways as Lakers and Raiders gear.
I wish that a kid could go to Arizona State on a cycling or triathlon scholarship.
I wish that more people followed a sport that they could actually get off their arses and do, rather than just watch on TV.

Just a little rant before I go ride.

Laggard

Nah, I'd go with NASCAR. Ever listen to a driver interview? "Yeah, the Tide/Napa Chevy really ran well today." This is being said as someone behind the driver is changing his hat every minute so all the sponsors get some air time.

I don't know the last time I heard a rider say "A big shout out to Quick Step. Our Colnagos really performed well today."

sunninho

velocipedio's sarcasm... i agree, cycling is getting out of control and i see it everywhere. it's starting to get old and i'd rather watch bowling.

actually, the most overrated "sport" right now is poker

sunninho

When you start seeing Nike-built bikes (think Tiger's golf equipment) with Marlboro (the irony) decals, then cycling has really gone to the dark side.

jitteringjr

Nobody is paying $2 million for 30 seconds of TdF commercial time like the Superbowl....


Sport? It's bad enough that people call golf and bowling sports, so lets not push it.

timmhaan

to me it's not the commercialism that bothers me. bikes, jerseys, socks, team cars, banners, etc.. are all plastered with logos. it's all the stuff that surrounds an athlete when they get too popular that bothers me. all the body guards, the press, death threats (which LA has received), and the general public's embrace of one rider to the exclusion of all others. i love the sport of cycling because it's one of the few things where you can go to a race and see your favorite riders up close, get autographs, maybe even a quick conversation. i just don't want them to become larger than life and distance themselves from their fans like in other sports.

Bécane

I always thought it was Formula 1 racing.

goldfish

damn man, you beat me to it!

anyways, i wish cycling was more commercial up here....OLN doesn't even air its cyclism sundays up here anymore....i almost cried when i saw that.

now i'm just praying that at least they show the TdF

khuon

Bicycle racing has to be commercial. I mean, there's no price of admission to actually watch the races. Even say something like NASCAR, you have to pay to get in. Same with all the court sports. The only way cycling can make money is through commercial endorsements and equipment sales. To be honest, I'd rather have it this way.

Doggus

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shaharidan

I agree F1 has to be the most commercial. if it keeps going the way it is in 10 years it will cost a billion dollars to run a top team.

Marge

you are so correct!!!

suntreader

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

webist

This is so true. I also agree that the more attention that is paid to LA or any other cyslist the better. The bigger the rewards, the more likely the number of people cycling will increase.

timmyquest

Ummm...how about NASCAR

oboeguy

Best response yet. It's like the little AMD infomercial during OLN's coverage of the Dauphiné Libéré, where Lance had to say how much AMD has helped the squad over the years. He tried very hard, but it seemed a little scripted. (that being said, how cool is it that a microchip company sponsors a cycling team and gets involved in the whole process racing?)

khuon

It wouldn't be the first time... nor the first time for Lance. Remember a little chip company called Motorola?

oboeguy

Yeah good call, but how involved were they in all the fancy windtunnel testing etc? That little spot on OLN made them look, well, pretty involved, despite Lance's canned bit.

hi565

Yes in the end we are all TOOLS!

khuon

Yeah, true. I don't know how much support Motorola gave or how involved they were other than fronting cash.

juf2m

Actually, that's a reality show I would watch!