I always liked him, though I couldn't tell you the first thing about racing bikes. He was cool in the movie Dodgeball though. I was mostly just speaking from a general American attitude. Lance was the feel-good, do-good story.
It's a shame how the whole steroids thing has ruined sports in so many ways.
Yeah, I've seen a lot of conjecture that the whole steroids issue is why the Baseball Writers Association didn't vote anyone into the Major League Hall of Fame this year. Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro were all eligible for the first time this year, and none of the four received more than 40% of the vote. I'm somewhat disappointed that local hero Dale Murphy fell through the Baseball Writers' net and can't be voted in now until he's eligible for consideration by the old-timers committee.
Next year, though, both Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine will be eligible for the first time. Let's see if Mad Dog can become the first player ever elected to the HOF by unanimous vote. I can remember those two years (1994-95) when his ERA was a full 3 runs or more below the league average. Never had a fastball faster than about 92, and never had amazing "stuff", except maybe for his circle changeup, but in his prime his control was so razor sharp and his pitch movement so active nobody could get anything good to hit off him. He was also one of the best fielders ever for a pitcher.