Lance! by Art Rothafel

Whew...!  I have such trouble with comeback athletes.  Don't get me wrong.  I root for them all the way.  But, so often they end-up disappointed, hurt or dead. 

Bill Johnson comes to mind.  He was the 1984 downhill skiing Olympic Gold Medal winner who decided to make a comeback.  It damned near cost him his life on March 22, 2001 when he crashed horribly during a training run as he prepared for the downhill race of the 2001 U.S. Alpine Championships.  As it is, he is brain-injured and continues to rehab. 

Then, there is Muhammad Ali - arguably, the most famous athlete in the world.  Was it really worth it to keep entering ring?

Brett Favre - celebrated as the most durable quarterback in NFL history - is also making a comeback... or is it.  It's not like he sat out a single season.  O.K. jury is out and he did win his first game as a NY Jet over Miami by throwing a couple of TD's, one of which was a 56 yarder.  Go figure... it's Brady who's out for the season. 

And let's not forget 41-year-old swimmer Dara Torres who won Olympic Silver - but then, with absolutely no disrespect intended... swimming doesn't carry the same risks as some of the more extreme sports.

I guess ... being surrounded by a generation of "Comeback Kids" and his recent 2nd place in the Leadville Trail 100 (Colorado), Lance Armstrong is compelled to win the Tour de France again for the eighth time! 

O.K.  I'm on board. 

Train hard.  Eat right.  Take your vitamins.  Go Lance!