There are a few traditions that characterize summer better than anything else: barbecue, baseball, and Lance Armstrong dominating cycling’s most prestigious race, the Tour de France. Armstrong returns to cycling after a four year retirement, and the world is surely watching.
Many things have been said about Armstrong over the years, and not all of them have been endearing. Critics have espoused that Arrmstrong is arrogant, selfish, and perhaps worst of all, a cheater.
To his credit, Lance has always been proactive in defense of a legacy that includes seven Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005. The allegations of doping began during Armstrong’s first victory, as French officials took issue with slight abnormalities with his urine. Armstrong was ultimately cleared when the substance was traced to a skin cream, but the nature of the case and its publicity was a sign of an onslaught of doping allegations that would plague Armstrong on his amazing winning streak at the front of the peloton.
There’s no point in going through a laundry list (former teammates, rivals, physical therapists, etc.) of the accusations made against Armstrong. For all the smoke, there is no fire, and he is, after all, the self-proclaimed “most tested athlete in the world.” Armstrong has been tested more than two dozen times in 2009 alone.
More important than any one thing, Armstrong’s diagnosis and subsequent comeback from testicular cancer characterizes him. Individuals are welcome to have their own opinion, and Lance may not be the most charming fellow to have ever interacted with the media. He’s either cheated to become one of the world’s most recognizable athletes or he hasn't. Armstrong’s victory over cancer, however, is not up for debate.
The man beat cancer. It doesn’t get more simple than that. Armstrong has raised the profile of cancer victims around the world, raising an estimated $14.4 million dollars to assist individuals in their fight against cancer.
Rooting for Armstrong isn’t about cheering on an American, but rather, it’s something much more. Lance carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, he’s a beacon for hope, and his public profile has advanced the fight against cancer well-beyond any monetary figure.
Armstrong isn’t everyone’s hero, but maybe he should be. Supporting Lance Armstrong to win the Tour de France is comparable to supporting the human condition. At the end of the day, it just makes sense.
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