12/21/24
June 29, 2010
Armstrong: This is My Last Tour de France: Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong announced on Twitter Monday that this year's ride will be his last: "And yes, this will be final Tour de France. It's been a great ride. Looking forward to three great weeks."
Assuming you're talking about Zidane's final curtain, there could have been no more fitting ending to his career. He grew up playing football on the street in Marseille and throughout his career, that fight came out of him on the pitch and often resulted in a red card. His final match had all the elements of his glorious career: genius, deftness of touch, exquisite passing, prolonged periods where he couldn't get into the game, missed opportunities, frustration and ultimately anger spilling over into violence. The French (insofar as such an entity exists) appreciated the flawed beauty of his final act.
An equivalent final Tour for Lance - encapsulating his whole story-so-far - would see him start badly, face insurmountable odds, overcome them, win and then fail a drugs test! I suspect the French would appreciate that too.
[/tongue-in-cheek]
I hope he finishes with some glorious bang and doesn't do what I suspect he probably will and fade back into the peleton with a whimper. I also hope he doesn't get caught juicing, ever. I have so much admiration for what he has achieved, it would be like that 1988 Ben Johnson sinking feeling to the power of 100.
posted by JJ at 03:12 AM on June 30, 2010
I think she's referring to the "other football" and a Green Bay / NY / Minnesota quarterback who has retired multiple times and is the midst of another decision right now.
But, the Zidane insight was excellent. I don't follow futbol much at all except World Cup, and the one thing I remember about 2006 was how stunned I was at some of the skills Zidane showed in multiple games. I was really disappointed at the time to learn that was the finishing touch on his career, but it sounds like it truly was a fitting way for him to go out.
Sorry, back to Lance ...
posted by littleLebowski at 07:52 AM on June 30, 2010
Oh THAT football. The one you play with your... hands.
Is Favray really thinking about coming back again?
The Zidane thing is just my view (as formed in conversation with some French friends). Moments before he headbutted Materazzi, he nearly headbutted the ball into the back of the net to win the game for France. He had a free header and hit it straight at Buffon. Either side of him and he would have scored, becoming a two-time winner of the World Cup, having scored twice in each final. I'm sure the headline writers had all sorts of "double" puns warmed up and ready to go.
If you haven't seen it, I recommend "Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait". It's a fascinating insight into the man, and the game. And if you dig a bit of Mogwai and fancied smoking something not entirely kosher before you watched it, well I could only say the experience would be enhanced!
This clip is kinda cool (not from the above, but clearly inspired by it).
posted by JJ at 12:10 PM on June 30, 2010
And yeah, back to Lance - sorry, rcade for the hijack - here's a clip to make up for it. That's nearly as disappointing as it would be to discover that he was dopping. The look wasn't a look? Say it ain't so, Lance!
Lance: "The absolute truth is that I was not looking at Jan Ulrich."
Phil Liggett: "You've just ruined my whole life."
posted by JJ at 12:12 PM on June 30, 2010
Yes, I was referring to Favre, I should have used the term "gridiron" in light of the World Cup happening now.
But thanks for the Zidane info, very nice.
posted by steelergirl at 06:33 PM on June 30, 2010
Best Wishes, Lance. Just don't be like a certain football player we know.
I think we know him, maybe not, no I am sure we know him, wait...(why can't I get my HTML to work?)