Lance Armstrong named Male Athlete of the Year

[Drew]

Armstrong chosen AP Male Athlete of the Year
By JIM VERTUNO, AP Sports Writer
December 27, 2004

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Even by his lofty standards, Lance Armstrong's return to the mountaintop in 2004 was pretty special.

The question now facing Armstrong and his legion of fans is whether he'll return to challenge the Pyrenees and the French Alps again in 2005.

Already recognized as one of the truly inspiring athletes of his generation, Armstrong took his cycling legacy a step further when he won a record-breaking sixth consecutive Tour de France in July.

And for his accomplishment, he was honored Monday as The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third straight year.

Armstrong joined Michael Jordan (1991-93) as the only athletes selected by sports writers and broadcasters three straight times since the honor was first awarded in 1931.

"For me it was a special year,'' Armstrong said. "It's always nice to win the Tour, but this year was special simply because I broke the record and made history.''

Armstrong received 51 first-place votes and 312 total points. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was second with 17 first-place votes and 156 points.

The voting reflected Armstrong's return to dominating form in an event where he separated himself so far from the pack there was little question of the outcome.

In 2003, Armstrong struggled to win his fifth Tour de France, capturing cycling's premier event and one of the world's most grueling sporting events by a mere 61 seconds.

It was also the year he got divorced, and he acknowledged that he struggled to balance the pressures of his personal and professional lives.

Yet the 33-year-old Texan stormed back in 2004 with arguably his best U.S. Postal Service team and his best individual performance on the bike. He won five individual stages and a sixth with a team time trial in France.

"I certainly feel like I recovered my true strengths. I haven't felt as in control of a tour as this year,'' Armstrong said.

While other top riders and rivals such as Tyler Hamilton and Jan Ullrich withered during the punishing race, Armstrong powered on.

Germany's Andreas Kloden, the Tour runner-up, got a close up view of the American's strength in one of the hardest Alpine stages when Armstrong sailed past him to win a sprint finish in the last few meters.

"No gifts this year,'' Armstrong said after the stage.

But as dominant as Armstrong was in France, he has yet to commit to going for a seventh title next year. He promises to race again in the Tour de France before he retires, but won't say if it will be next year or 2006.

Armstrong says he's ready to pursue other challenges in racing.

He has dedicated most of his cycling life to the Tour, leaving little room for such Classic races as the Spanish Vuelta, the Paris-Roubaix or Fleche Wallone, which he won in 1996 shortly before being diagnosed with testicular cancer.

But he also knows that it's the Tour de France his American fans want to see him win.

"I could win the Tour of Flanders and I wouldn't win AP Athlete of the Year,'' he said.

Armstrong and his team -- which has a new sponsor with the Discovery Channel -- will release their schedule in January. Armstrong won't say if he'll race the Tour de France until May.

Whatever his choice, it will be all or nothing. It won't be a case of him riding to help someone else on his team win.

"If I'm going to ride, I'm riding to win. I'm not going to suffer for three weeks not to win,'' he said. "I've gotten too used to standing on the Champs Elysees at the end.''

Armstrong had a big year off the bike as well. His personal life spilled over onto the celebrity pages when his relationship with rocker Sheryl Crow turned them into a star couple.

And his Lance Armstrong Foundation, which is dedicated to cancer survivorship programs, got a monumental boost with the popularity of its promotional "Livestrong'' yellow wristbands.

Boosted by his most recent Tour victory, the foundation sold nearly 30 million of the wristbands this year, spawning a fashion trend that even made its mark on national politics. Democratic nominee John Kerry sported one on the campaign trail, and President George W. Bush has one, too.

"I plan on wearing mine for a long, long time,'' Armstrong said, noting that he will always think of himself as a cancer survivor.

"We never set out to create a fashion statement, we simply set out to make a statement and symbol for cancer survivors.''

[D]

he rides a bike!!

i dont think he shouldve received this award. i guess however there wasnt very much competition from anyone else.

[Drew]

I think Lance is an excellent choice for the award. I just don't want to see it given to a regular typical atlete such as a basketball, football, soccer, baseball, hockey, etc., etc., etc., type of player.

Also, I'd like to see it given to the winner of the Hawaiian Triathlon or any triathlon one year. In my opinion that's about as true as an anthlete you can get.

[wilson]

Is this American Sports man of the year?

[Tj]

he rides a bike!!

That's a pretty ignorant thing to say. Love to see you huffing and puffing, trying to keep up with him and the other cyclists in the races. Most sports can be summed up in a simple sentence, but that doesn't mean they're easy to master.

[D]

anyone can ride a bike

how many can hit a 99mph fastball or a curveball?

how many can skate on ice and score goals?
how many can take punishing hits by 250 pounds linebackers?


its a cool feat but what kind of competion is he competing against?

NFL,MLB,NHL,NBA and soccer u are competing against the best of the best in the world. how many people ride bikes?

[Tj]

Anyone can ride a bike, yeah, but anyone can complete the basic actions of hitting and throwing a ball, for example. You make baseball seem harder than cycling, by describing it in more complicated terms.

Anyone can put ice skates on and move along on ice to a certain degree, whilst holding a stick, but it takes practice to become capable of skating and using the stick in a controlled way.

Anyone can stand on a field and have a fat man run into them, but it takes guts and determination to achieve a physique capable of sustaining those blows properly.

So yeah, anyone can ride a bike, but it takes a lot of training and hard work to reach the strength and fitness levels required to do it at a professional level, as is the same with all sports. You or I wouldn't stand a chance against Lance Armstrong, and neither would any Baseball, American Football, Football, Baseball, Ice Hockey or Basketball player, in the same way that Lance Armstrong wouldn't stand a chance against them in their sports either. As much as I dislike Baseball, and most American sports, I can understand the commitment and skill required to do well in them, as much as I can understand it in Football ('soccer' to you, but we need not start that discussion  ), and cycling is no different.

[KeVoRkIaN]

Cycling to some is gay
Male figure skating to most is gay
Hell professional bowling is viewed as gay

Being dominant in your sport should be admired, respected and heralded

[Tj]

Cycling to some is gay
Male figure skating to most is gay
Hell professional bowling is viewed as gay

Being dominant in your sport should be admired, respected and heralded

Ditto. I really enjoy watching figure skating actually. Mainly when it's pairs, or whatever they call it, but yeah, pretty impressive stuff.

[D]

im just saying the best athletes in the world play NFL football, football *soccer*, basketball,baseball or hockey.


u dont think an athlete like Micheal Jordan couldnt have dominated bicycle racing if he trained for it?


Lance doesnt have to compete against the greatest athletes in the world, only the athletes that choose to cycle and im sure there are very few who lean that route.

he is amazing and great at what he does

but when people put him over baseball,NFL football,basketball,hockey and soccer *football* players i have a problem with that.

[Tj]

What makes someone among the 'best athletes' though? Ability to run and catch, skate and push someone over the barrier, or...y'know, what? It's pretty subjective.

And what makes you think Michael Jordan could have dominated bicycle racing if he tried? Perhaps you don't realise the amount of pain some of those riders go through during races. A hell of a lot more than basketball players, or players of any of the other sports listed so far. That's at least equally admirable as bouncing a ball, so there's no reason to suggest he could have done it.

I think you're underestimating the athleticism and even the mental toughness involved in Tour De France etc. It's a different kind of fitness to the other sports we've been through, because it's an endurance sport, unlike Ice Hockey etc., and that doesn't mean they just take it easy for a few hours; it means they have to plan race strategies and know what pace is best for them at different stages of the race, in order to be able to achieve the best finishing position. It's just like Football teams plan set-pieces and formations, and send scouts to watch their opponents, so they know who to watch and where the weaknesses are etc.

I bet you're one of those people who refers to marathon running as 'jogging' 

[D]

Oprah ran a marathon, Puff Daddy ran a marathon does that make them athletes?

its almost essentially the same thing

if i trained hard enough and knew how to properly go about the training,diet etc etc i could complete the Tour De France

couldnt win it but i could at least complete it.

could i play in the NFL,NHL,NBA or MLB?

hell no

[Stokesy]

u dont think an athlete like Micheal Jordan couldnt have dominated bicycle racing if he trained for it?

Jordon couldn't of dominated at cycling as he's far too big.  The more weight you have to shift up a mountain the harder it is.

I doubt that you could compete the Tour De France as you would probably be eliminated after the first stage for being too far behind.  Its not just about getting from A to B, there are time limits.

Very few people (I would include a lot of very successful athletesin this categary) have the ability to put themselves through the phyisical and mental pain that is required to train and compete day after day in such a demanding sport.  That ability is as much a skill as being able to kick a ball.

[Tj]

Oprah ran a marathon, Puff Daddy ran a marathon does that make them athletes?

Well, yeah...in a way. For example, my art teacher in school used to say that anyone who draws is an artist, and it's true to an extent. I can draw and I can run - probably much better than Oprah and Puff Daddy - but not well enough to consider myself among the elite in either category. You go ask Oprah if she considers herself athletic for running the marathon, I bet she does and I bet she's proud, but then ask her if she considers herself an athlete as much as the current Olympic marathon gold medal holder.

Thank you Stokesy for pointing out the elimination process to him for me 

D, I imagine you'd stand a much better chance at competing in the NFL, NHL, NBA or MLB, than you ever would at completing the Tour De France. I don't understand how you can say the things you've said about cycling. Seriously...so much pain involved. Personally, I'd rather play Ice Hockey.

[D]

im not saying it isnt hard and very physically demanding. i acknowledge and agree thats it an extraordinary accomplishment

however i just think the talent is more widespread in other sports because more people play them whereas Lance dominates the same field of riders over and over and there isnt a huge crop of up and coming superstars like there are in other sports

that is what im tryin to say.

[Tj]

Ah forget it, I'm done with this discussion now.

[Pike Pounder]

I think Lance deserves it. I envy the man because I myself am into mountain biking, but trying to merge into road biking. He's been through so much and is the only person who can count there Tour du France wins on two hands, and now he's going for a seventh, thats courage considering the cancer, and odd's he'd been put against. Really there arn't too many out there who can contend with that, although I am sure there are a few. This is all my personall opinion though, but I think it was all right.

--Mike

[Drew]

Armstrong wins fourth straight AP Male Athlete of the Year honor

By JIM VERTUNO, AP Sports Writer
December 29, 2005

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Lance Armstrong takes fewer bike rides these days. He even describes himself as out of shape since retiring after his seventh consecutive Tour de France victory in July.

But he remains unbeatable.

Armstrong was honored Wednesday as The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth straight year. He is the only athlete to be selected by sports writers four times since the honor first was awarded in 1931.

Armstrong received 30 of the 83 votes cast. Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush of Southern California was second with 23 votes, and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was third with eight, followed by tennis star Roger Federer and golf's Tiger Woods with seven each.

"It's nice to win," Armstrong said. "I'll never win again."

No, he won't. Not unless his new hobby of kiteboarding -- yep, think of a small surfboard or ski attached to a kite -- becomes a mainstream sport.

"I may have to take up golf," he said. "Take on Tiger."

Also Wednesday, Annika Sorenstam was selected as the AP Female Athlete of the Year.

The 34-year-old Armstrong retired after deciding there were no more mountains to conquer on his bike.

"I'd hoped to go out on top," he said. "As a sportsman it's really hard to do, to time it right."

The Texan calls his 2005 season "a dream." His final Tour was another dominant performance -- he won by the comfortable margin of 4 minutes, 40 seconds. Stepping off the winner's podium for the final time, his goal was to kick back "with a beer, having a blast" and play with his three young children from his first marriage.

But it wasn't long before things turned sour.

In August, barely a month after he stepped into the Parisian twilight, the French sports daily L'Equipe reported that six urine samples Armstrong provided during his first Tour win in 1999 tested positive for the red blood cell booster EPO.

It was the most serious challenge to the legacy of an athlete who survived testicular cancer, which spread to his lungs and brain, to become one of the most inspirational athletes of his generation.

Armstrong angrily denied the charge, saying he felt like the victim of a "setup" in a long-standing feud with the French media.

"The latter part of the year with the rumor, that was a nightmare," Armstrong said. "Fortunately, sports fans see through it."

By September, he was happy again and announced his engagement to rocker girlfriend Sheryl Crow. But his competitive side was creeping up.

He created a stir when he said he might come out of retirement, mostly to win the Tour again in one last, grand taunt at the French. But he quickly retreated from that idea.

"It was fairly serious, but I didn't realize how much play it would get," Armstrong said. "My fault. In hindsight, I shouldn't have done it."

He isn't spending much time looking backward anymore. It's all about what lies ahead.

He founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997 and is ready to dedicate his time to lobbying for money for cancer research and survivorship programs.

"Cancer and what all can be done there, not just in the world of health care, but if it's education or political, this is a very real issue," Armstrong said. "We're at an interesting time in medical research. That would be a serious rush for me if I could effect change there.

"The initiatives to effect change will come out of the foundation," he said. "The think tank is there."

Armstrong points to rock singer Bono's lobbying for help for the world's poor and AIDS-stricken as a prime example of the power celebrity can bring to an issue.

He also realizes that battles involving politics and money could be much more difficult than anything he faced on the bike. He figures he won't being doing it alone, though, noting the 60 million "LiveStrong" yellow bracelets the foundation has sold since 2004.

"I know not all 60 million bought them because of a connection to cancer, but a lot of them did," he said. "When you consider that army, there's a powerful force for change.

"It is a challenge," he said. "But ultimately it has a reward."

In the meantime, Armstrong is settling into a life of not having to train every day or watch everything he eats. But even that can't last too long -- he's put on about 10 pounds and says that's enough because "I'm out of shape."

Two days before Christmas, he went on a two-hour mountain bike ride on his Central Texas ranch. It was on a retreat to a coastal resort in Mexico when he tried kiteboarding, something he says "I never could have done" when he was still competing.

He also recently finished shooting a cameo role in the upcoming movie "You, Me and Dupree," with Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson. Just like his spot in the movie "Dodgeball," Armstrong plays himself.

Now he says it might be time to branch out in his acting.

"No more being me," he said. "I want to play like a crazed killer, something out of 'Pulp Fiction."'

[McGann]

Armstrong is OK
But the REAL lifetime top guy?
Kurt Angle, of course!!!!!!!!!1

/Mike

[mikegiuliana]

I can't really comment to me this would be like dale jr being athlete of the year or some bowler....