Lance Armstrong Contemplates Pissing off the French

Lance Armstrong is now engaged to Sheryl Crow; he's also contemplating a charge for an 8th Tour de France because "I'm thinking it's the best way to piss (the French) off." Armstrong began entertaining the idea two weeks ago after French newspaper, L'Equipe, reported that he had tested positive six times for a banned blood booster as he was winning his first Tour in 1999. When asked how serious he was about another Tour, Armstrong said, "I'm exercising every day."

Was he serious? I have to think not because I can't see why Armstrong suddenly cares about pissing off the French. If he wins, is he the best cyclist ever... extra? That'll show 'em. It's time for him to enjoy the fruits of his labor, watch his kids grow up, and let it go. I know he's desperate to disprove the doping charges but there will always be doubts. I don't believe him just because he says so.. nor should anyone - an athlete's denial of doping should be looked upon as a sort of formality. But we do believe him because he's the survivor with an aura that transcended sports. He's the survivor surrounded by voices of suspicion that come with European accents. Only those with the rosiest of glasses believe in the total credibility of any cyclist, Lance Armstrong included.

Having said all that, I hope he's not serious. In the beginning, I was a fan. He was this mythic yet flawed survivor; half human, half hero. But in time, that all fell away for me, as, despite the 50 million yellow bracelets, SI covers, and Tour victories, he showed himself to be an obnoxious, vindictive wanker. I'm not offering up more blind loyalty and support for this guy and, to be honest, I'm sick of seeing him in the news. I hope this is the last we hear of him for quite some time. Good luck to him as he follows Sheryl around on the Lilith Fair tour.