the month of Lance

That’s what we call July in my house. Every year, I don my yellow “livestrong” bracelet during the month of July as an ode to the superhuman freak we mere mortals call Lance Armstrong (the man, the myth, the legend). It is easier to wear now because it is not so trendy anymore. Back a couple years ago, every celebrity and politician running for office was wearing one for good p.r.
I wear it in July as a nod to the Tour de France. I am an avid spectator of the race (starts Saturday!!!) which isn’t good news for Janelle because there is about 8 hours of daily coverage on the one sports channel that we get (Versus). This year I look forward to giving my relatively new TiVo a good workout.

The sheer athleticism and stamina that it takes just to finish that race is respectable, but most people are not cognizant of the prominent role that strategy plays in the competition. I grew to really appreciate the Tour when Lance was in his prime. I had never witnessed a sport of such selflessness. Lance’s teammates, who were top grade athletes and riders in their own right, made it their sole mission not to win themselves, but to ensure that Lance did. They would circle around him like the secret service when he rode in the pack to protect him from crashes, would shield him from the wind, and some riders were only there to pace Lance half way up the grueling mountains so that he could make his infamous climbs that would generally seal the deal. If only we found that kind of selflessness more often.
It’s true that it doesn’t have the same allure and mystic without Lance in the saddle, but it’s good TV just the same.