Austinist: Le Tour Sans Lance

anon

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:26:22 -0600

I love it when people can't formulate actual rebuttals. I also love it when people can't read and understand that I'm siding with thier views. I support the tour and I support soccer. I was merely pointing out that great sports like this are underappreciated in this country and that the overwhelming interest for any sport in this country comes from the dominance by a US athlete or team. Plus, it's my opinion, or are you one of those who believes that opinions should be regulated if it doesn't fit your views? Better yet, why did you come back to check to see what I responded with this time? Get out and get some exercise!

Uniball

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 18:47:30 -0600

If you're so in love with cycling and soccer, why in the hell are you still sitting in front of a computer checking your comments on the Austinist? For Christ's sake, shut up and go get some exercise and stop worrying about the general public’s TV and sports habits. And just because you follow “cult” athletic events like the Tour de France or the World Cup doesn’t make you to be some sort of connoisseur of all things unappreciated. You sound like a damn poser. The Lone Nut

Ami

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 18:46:04 -0600

Maybe so, but the general public sux.

anon

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 18:08:18 -0600

Look - all I'm saying is that only 14 newspapers in the US applied for credentials and only 2 US reporters are actually in France for the entire tour (this according to one of the newspapers reporting). Populatiry polls in France are even down (much to be expected with the WC final on the horizon)and even though OLN is showing everything they are still expecting a drop in ratings and attendence. You can't tell me its as popular as it was 12 months ago and that next year it won't be less popular in the eyes of the general public.

Ami

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 17:23:30 -0600

My money's on George. He so deserves it and he's kicking ass early on but not wasting energy by gunning it too early. Go George! I've been watching Velonews highlights every day. Would watch more, but don't have OLN. And, for what it's worth, I don't think cycling is a fad at all. Obviously you won't see as much fanfare in Austin come Tour time sans Lance, but that doesn't make the sport of cycling obsolete by any means. Ye of little faith. Jeez.

anon

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 17:09:20 -0600

Wow - calm down now. I for one watch the tour (yet I can say I haven't watched any yet) mostly because I've been watching every WC match this year. Seeing I'm at those pubs you speak of, I have yet to see a majority American crown during the work week, most are from Ireland, Spain, Germany, Costa Rica and other countries who not only care, but understand the game. You do have to realize though that hardly any of the public watches the WC in the US and that most of the average public doesn't even own a bike. Its fun to think that you're involved in something that is large and popular, but in reality, when you get outside of the group in which you have those things in common, most people have no idea what you are talking about. My point is that this time last year and for years before, there was yellow everywhere, people talking about how awesome Lance was etc... - now you'd be lucky to have a regular joe tell you three names that are in the tour right now. Like I said; its sad really and I'd be willing to bet the amount of nice road bikes on Craigslist and eBay start to grow in numbers over the next few years and I'll bet the model years of those bikes coincide with the last few years that Lance rode. I'm not putting down cycling, just pointing out that the "fad" portion of it has ended, now it will go back into obscurity like it had been 8 years ago. Think boxing, think cricket, think ultimate and you'll see what I'm talking about. How many people have you seen taking off work to watch the World Domino Championships?

michaelfavia

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 16:54:46 -0600

You might want to tell that to the people taking off work to watch the world cup at local pubs or the OLN network that is covering every day of the tour as it has for years now. Additionally, i predict a US cyclist WILL be crushing the competition in Paris and his name will either be George or Floyd but only time will tell. But, now you can save yourself the additional 1:30 recap and return to your enthralling baseball season. Cycling is a decent participitory sport and i think we would to well to embrace a few of those before diabetes overtakes heart disease as the number 1 killer in america.

anon

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 16:20:15 -0600

Its sad that the cycling fad will now go away, especially in Austin. Lance did so much for his sport, but like other sports (i.e. soccer) - it will fail to retain a viewing audience in this country unless a US citizen is simply crushing the competition. Has any of the tour even been shown on TV this year? Hell, most of the public, including cyclists have told me that they forgot that it had even begun. I feel bad for the cycle shops here in town; it was hard enough to stay in business while the fad was at its peak, but now that there won't be any fat middle aged men and women buying $5000 bikes and treking out to 360 in all spandex gear I fear that the interest in this city is dead. You had a good run cycling; people were even starting to entertain the idea of giving you overzealous cyclists the rights you asked for even with your total disregard for the laws you are supposed to follow yourselves. Best of luck to all the shops - I do hope you stay open so that people like myself continue to have options. I'll just check Sports Center in a month when they show the 1:30 min recap of the tour.