Lance

I picked up the October issue of Bicycling magazine yesterday and there was a 'big story' featuring the rivalry of Lance and Alberto. Berto had a great year to be sure and all the fans give him credit for being a fine cyclist.
Lance on the other hand has DOMINATED the sport of cycling for the first 6 yrs of this century the way Michael Jordan dominated basket ball for ten yrs; the same way Joe Montana dominated football for 10 yrs; the way Tiger woods has dominated golf for 10 yrs and so on.
These men are Icons, they are or were the reining kings of their sport. Its sad to me that every arm chair quarterback who has an axe to grind wants to knock the king off the throne.The strength of the Icon is that they make everyone around them, weather teammate or rival, reach for higher heights and dig deeper to achieve personal greatness.
Recently Michael Jordan was quoted as saying..."I've failed over& over & over in my life, that's why I succeed"...this is from one of the greatest basket ball players ever, a captain of his team, a coach and an all around good guy and we see Lance as cut from the same cloth. Some are born to greatness while others have it thrust upon them, for a time.
I have not followed Lance's career nor have I been what you would call a fan but I do recognise his place in history. I believe he has a few big seasons left in him, if he wills it to be so. G-Ds speed Lance, we'll be watching.