Lance Armstrong named SI Sportsman of the Year

[Guest CanadianChris]

From CNNSI.com:

 

After becoming the first American to win the Tour de France four times and the fourth cyclist to win four in a row, Lance Armstrong spoke about his legacy. "There's never been a Tour de France victory by a cancer survivor before me," he said. "That's what I'd like to be remembered for." Forgetting what Armstrong has achieved since returning to cycling after a battle with testicular cancer would be impossible, seeing as he has come to completely dominate his sport's most celebrated competition. The 31-year-old Texan's Tour performances in the past three years have been so strong, in fact, that 2002 race officials shifted most of the mountain stages to the end in an effort to increase the drama. But even a more challenging course could not keep Armstrong from reaching his goal. With the help of his U.S. Postal Service teammates, Lance made his customary surge in the Pyrenees on the final climb to La Mongie, winning the first mountain leg and the yellow jersey, which he never relinquished. Armstrong went on to win the Tour by seven minutes and 17 seconds, the second-biggest winning margin of his career, and no other rider finished within 13 minutes of his total time. With the victory, Lance surpassed Greg LeMond as the most successful American cyclist in the history of the Tour and is now one win shy of the record of five titles, shared by four riders. And Lance doesn't plan to stop there. He hopes to ride into history in 2004 by becoming the Tour's first six-time winner. "There are no limits for Armstrong, and he will be around a long time," said five-time Tour champion Eddy Merckx. "He's a great racer and a great person."

 

This still doesn't make up for the 1999 fiasco with the women's soccer team, but it's great to see anyway. I don't think there's ever been a more inspirational figure in sports, and no one deserves it more than him.

 

Lance rules.

[Guest ShooterJay]

I think a horse won it instead of him too one year.

 

But yeah, about frigging time indeed. Congratulations Lance.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I can agree that they should have given it to him the first time, a great story goes along with it. The female soccer team was a media creation...we really didn't care as much as they said we did.

 

I hate to sound rude to Armstrong...but to me now he's just the winner of the "Adult Bicycle Race"...the first time it was cool, but should be win it for one event?

[Guest starvenger]

I can agree that they should have given it to him the first time, a great story goes along with it. The female soccer team was a media creation...we really didn't care as much as they said we did.

 

I hate to sound rude to Armstrong...but to me now he's just the winner of the "Adult Bicycle Race"...the first time it was cool, but should be win it for one event?

Probably not, so I'd consider it a "make good" award for the other years as well. Is that fair? Nope, but then it's no different from awards like the Heisman or the Oscars, where a lot of hype never hurt a contender.

[Guest CanadianChris]

See below.

[Guest CanadianChris]

Actually, he had one of the best years, he's ever had. He won the Dauphiné Libéré and the Midi Libre (both multi-stage races) in preparation for this year's Tour, and is now ranked number two in the world, which, considering his focus is exclusively on winning the Tour, is astounding.

 

But, more to the point...six years ago, LA had tumours in his lungs and on his brain, and he was given a better chance of dying than of living. For him to have even survived that is incredible, but to perform in perhaps the most physically demanding sport in the world at an unthinkably high level (he conquered the two most brutal mountains on back-to-back days in 2001, a feat one writer compared to the Bulls' two threepeats in the 90s) is mind-boggling.

 

True, most people think of "that race in France" when they think of cycling, but that doesn't diminish what he has accomplished, or the manner in which he has accomplished it. He is unquestionably the most deserving, not only this year, but the past three years, and likely the next three as well.

[Guest phoenixrising]

Actually we did care about the women's soccer team. Not because they played good mind you, we just liked Brandi Chastain stripping off her shirt. Other than that moment....ehhh. Lance should have won it that year. I've heard Armstrong talk numerous times on Jim Rome and I am a big fan of his. He is a true inspiration and a great role model for anyone.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Brandi Chastian can keep her shirt on.

 

War Emblem would of won the Sportsman of the Year had he won the Triple Crown.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

Brandi Chastian can keep her shirt on.

 

War Emblem would of won the Sportsman of the Year had he won the Triple Crown.

How can you call a horse a "Sportsman"...when I think of a Sportsman of the year I think of someone who did great in and out of their profession...for all you know that horse could have been a real dick.

 

I would have much rather seen Mia Hamm rip off her shirt

[Guest Kenju Matsuki]

The Sportsman of the Year should have gone to Lance the last 4 years, and they should probably retire the thing because I doubt anyone will ever match Lance's accomplishments.

 

Like a poster said earlier, the guy was *this* close to dying, and had to work insanely just to come back to live normally. Then, he comes back to the cycling scene. In the Tour de France, he has to race 150km a day for 3 weeks, which is an incredible accomplishment in itself, because most athletes who are fully healthy and train year round can't do that.

 

And for 4 years Lance ANNIHILATES every other racer and wins easily. He even toyed around the last 2 years because he knew when the mountains would come, he would win easily.

 

Lance Armstrong is the greatest Sportsman ever. He's the greatest story, and the greatest athlete for everyone to aspire to be.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I guess you're a big fan of adult bicycle races? More people only know him frim the big adult bicycle race in France, that's it.

 

Should have gotten it the first year...and I say that's it.

 

Why not Koivu for the Montreal Canadians...he came back from cancer?

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Brandi Chastian can keep her shirt on.

 

War Emblem would of won the Sportsman of the Year had he won the Triple Crown.

How can you call a horse a "Sportsman"...when I think of a Sportsman of the year I think of someone who did great in and out of their profession...for all you know that horse could have been a real dick.

 

I would have much rather seen Mia Hamm rip off her shirt

Ok SportsAnimal of the Year. I'm not saying he should of won but the Triple Crown is a rare feat that I think War Emblem would of won the yearly reward.