migblog

this guy is ridiculous

i'm sure all of you know about lance armstrong's world-record six wins at the tour de france, and how this year he's going for a seventh which, would not only be unprecedented, but also something that will very much insure his place in the history books as ye high and mighty god of cycling.

you've all probably seen his nike ads, where he's holding back tears announcing how his testicular cancer had spread to his abdomen (and unknowingly his lungs and brain). that was way back in 1997, before any of this silly stuff with livestrong and nike or the postal service, before he was ever in a yellow jersey, and before he even met sheryl crow.

and now, to come back eight years later, stronger, cancer in remission, and with a goal of just finishing -- he is retiring after this race, after all -- he's an awesome guy to just, you know, admire.

not to mention his cameo appearance in "dodgeball" was one of the most memorable scene-stealers in the past three years. to think, he was the best deus ex machina for vince vaughn's character, and now, he's the guy holding the discovery channel team together.

and did you see the reports about how his still heart rate was about thirty-two beats per minute, and his working heart rate is above 200? the guy is a machine; his heart is twice the size of the next person's. he's built to shatter records; he's built to be a goddamn inspiration. which i'm sure he hates sometimes, but most of the time, wouldn't you want half of the world looking at you, thinking, 'man, i wish i could be that guy'?

so i doubt you'll ever read this, lance armstrong, but if you ever do, i want you to know that you are one of the most awesome people this planet has. you're not killing anyone, you're not effectively destroying how americans are portrayed to the rest of the world, and your last name isn't "bush," "cheney," "frist," or "bolton," any of which ought to scare the next american, but won't. you're a true inspiration, and yes, some may consider you to be a god. but what i really admire about you is that it never seems to get to your head, and you know better than anyone what your limits really are.

and yes, i have a livestrong bracelet. not because oprah told me to get one, but because your cause, your determination, and your balls-to-the-wall attitude makes spendig that dollar worth it.

you rock, dude.

posted by Open Source Food @ 1:38 PM