With international hype and swirling rumors, Lance Armstrong returns

September 9, 5:36 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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Lance Armstrong. Photo: Dailyceleb.com

Lance Armstrong announced today that he intends to ride in five races next year including the Tour de France in an effort to raise awareness of the toll that cancer takes on people worldwide. Merely hours prior to his announcement, rumors of him rejoining his old team, Astana based in Belgium, were refuted by a team spokesman. That team was not invited to participate in the Tour de France this year after more than a few doping incidents.

Several former teammates of Armstrong's still race for team Astana, as well as the 2007 Tour champion, Alberto Contrador. Many in the cycling world believe that Armstrong used an endurance boosting hormone known as EPO despite being finally cleared of allegations stemming from the 1999 Tour de France.

Others would be happy to have him back if they were sure he wouldn't bring undue attention (how would that NOT happen?) to the effort of a cycling team earning one of the world's biggest prizes. They also would prefer he hook up with a team that has pledged to be transparent about its blood testing. Armstrong says he is willing to do so.

But who needs the usual cast of characters on your old team if you have the power that resides with Armstrong today? He cannot give any specifics at this moment about joining an existing organization or building one of his own but I think there won't be much trouble finding financing. How do I know?  He will be making an announcement about his plans and strategy at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York on September 24, 2008.

Lance does nothing on a small scale, and to coincide with today's print and video announcement (see link below) a very long and almost fawning article about him appeared in the online version of Vantiy Fair magazine. Written by esteemed journalist and biographer of presidents Douglas Brinkley, it does manage to tweak Armstrong just enough to get reactions the general public has not seen or heard before, including profanity the kids who wear his Live Strong bracelets would never imagine.

And yet, while drinking Armstrong's boutique label wine and enjoying the comforts of his Austin mansion Brinkley can't help but fall under the spell of Armstrong and ask paparazzi type questions about Armstrong's plans to run for governor of Texas as well as details of his public persona post-breakup with Crowe or the public criticism of his new bachelor lifestyle.

Lance describes himself as someone who avoids failure at all costs rather than one who is driven to win. His close circle and those at the top echelon of his Lance Armstrong Foundation reinforced that by hissing at Brinkley when he asked if Lance is not afraid of the toll that age and absence from his sports mignt take on his attempt at a comeback.

But when you have the cover provided by the Clinton organization a direct pipeline to the President of France and the intention to take no prize money from your efforts, you can make it all about the children or cancer patients and survivors and deflect any negativity that might come within earshot.

I applaud the efforts of Armstrong and I understand the depth of feeling about him as a positive figure in the fight to stamp out cancer which is now being called the plague for our time. I just don't feel like bestowing sainthood on him as a result of his feats of strength and will. Just one woman's view.