Lance Armstrong - team manager/coach maybe?

[avanti]

In the USA sports fans and the media have a love affair with team managers/coaches (e.g. Tommy Lasorda-baseball, Tom Landry-football, and Phil Jackson-basketball). Heck I know these names even though I know next to nothing about their sports.

Could it be Lance Armstrong’s ambition to continue to be a household name by becoming a team manager/coach for the RadioShack team or its follow-on incarnation?

I'm not a LA fan but I do agree that he is responsible for bringing attention to bike racing in the USA.

Just conjecture but so are many of the threads.

 

[Moondance]

Meh... I doubt it. It's not like he needs the money. The names you mention, and most other great player/coaches, date from a time when professional sports didn't pay the (relative) megabucks that they do today... A career at a top baseball/(American) football/basketball team didn't necessarily allow you to be set up for the rest of your life as it does today.

Cycling lags behind FAAAR behind those sports even. I think the development that cyclists earn well into the 6-figures (or even more for a rare few) is a very recent development, probably started around the Armstrong era. Armstrong himself is probably more than set for life, although in his case that has all to do with books and sponsorship and those kinds of things, rather than the salary he earned with US Postal or any other team. He might stay in cycling for the love of the sport (even if I do think its unlikely) but if he does I doubt it will be as a DS for a team. That just seems like way too much of a hassle. If he stays, I imagine he might do something like try to start a race in America, or take over management of the Tour of California or something like that. There's the outside shot he might work with some kind of US development team for young riders, although in the US there no type of public money for a project like that, unlike in Europe or Australia for instance... He won't try to run RadioShack, or any other professional team though, that much I'll guarantee.

 

[Wrecktangle]

Well, first things first...

...Lancie-Boy has to beat the drug-busting Feds first. Taking money from a Federal entity (the Post-toasties) is serious sh*t.

...and now with the Lemond-Landis Axis in place, the teflon may be wearing thin.

Besides, he has to run for Texas Governor too, right?

 

[Angliru]

I really don't see him as the nurturing type. I don't recall him ever really taking a younger rider under his wing and showing them the ropes during his 7 year run of Tour wins. I could be wrong though but I just can't remember that ever being communicated through the media.

 

[Moondance]

I really don't see him as the nurturing type. I don't recall him ever really taking a younger rider under his wing and showing them the ropes during his 7 year run of Tour wins. I could be wrong though but I just can't remember that ever being communicated through the media.

Well, he tried with Phinney.... And was subsequently tossed aside like a dirty washcloth when a Swiss millionaire came around offering megabucks...

 

[Angliru]

Well, he tried with Phinney.... And was subsequently tossed aside like a dirty washcloth when a Swiss millionaire came around offering megabucks...

I didn't see that as a nurturing relationship. I believe Armstrong used their "relationship" to continue his moment in the spotlight--buddying up to the hottest new American rider who also happened to have his own journal/column on the internet and in magazines. Undoubtedly Armstrong knew Phinney couldn't help but mention how in awe he was of being able to hang out with Armstrong, of which I'm certain Armstrong loved reading every word about himself. Armstrong also thought that Phinney riding for RS on a Trek was done deal but of course Phinney proved to be smarter than that and was thinking long term.

 

[David Suro]

Lance has piles of money in the bank, a nagging investigation to try and beat, a flock of kids, a girlfriend he lives with, vacation homes in some of the nicest places in the US, and his cancer foundation.

I would be surprised if he decided to live a life of travel. If he does, then his competitive fire verges on being a pathologic condition.

 

[The Hitch]

I really don't see him as the nurturing type. I don't recall him ever really taking a younger rider under his wing and showing them the ropes

Alberto Contador.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

The real question is. Why do I receive mails (newslettesr) from RadioShack when I never signed up for it and actually never even visited their site.
Spooky.

PR/Brainwash department?

 

[kurtinsc]

Well, first things first...

...Lancie-Boy has to beat the drug-busting Feds first. Taking money from a Federal entity (the Post-toasties) is serious sh*t.

...and now with the Lemond-Landis Axis in place, the teflon may be wearing thin.

Besides, he has to run for Texas Governor too, right?

He's a democrat. He can't win a senate or governor's race in Texas.

US House maybe.

And before people say anything about his upcoming trial... think for a moment about how many US politicians have been re-elected despite criminal charges or serving jail time.

 

[kurtinsc]

The real question is. Why do I receive mails (newslettesr) from RadioShack when I never signed up for it and actually never even visited their site.
Spooky.

PR/Brainwash department?

You probably gave information to a site which radioshack then purchased.

Pretty common. Crappy... but common.

 

[pedaling squares]

I agree with Angliru. I don't see Lance Armstrong giving two shakes about coaching, mentoring, developing any single rider let alone a team. Yeah, yeah Livestrong development team and all that - I don't imagine he's too hands on with that squad. Coaching requires a "you first" attitude. I don't think even his biggest fans describe Armstrong in that way.

 

[The Hitch]

He's a democrat. He can't win a senate or governor's race in Texas.

US House maybe.

And before people say anything about his upcoming trial... think for a moment about how many US politicians have been re-elected despite criminal charges or serving jail time.

Marion Barry

Loads more have been tainted heavily by corruption etc.

The real question is. Why do I receive mails (newslettesr) from RadioShack when I never signed up for it and actually never even visited their site.
Spooky.

PR/Brainwash department?

Might be because your email is available here. Someone went on the Dekker Tifosi page and so your email address. Simple.

 

[Epicycle]

I think he does probably need the money to keep up his lifestyle. I thought his comeback had a lot to do with making money. His endorsement power dropped after he retired but increased again when he started racing again and the appearance fees didn't hurt either. Obviously being a DS isn't going to bring in that kind of exposure and cash though, and as somebody else already said he's got serious legal issues to work out.

 

[Wrecktangle]

He's a democrat.

Where did he say that?

Besides, the Demos can easily come back in Tejas and Teflon-Lance could easily be their boy, if he slicks out of this one. I doubt that Hispanic vote will ever go back to the Repubs with their anti-immigrant stance they have, and thats a powerful block to have against you in Tejas.

 

[The Hitch]

Where did he say that?

Besides, the Demos can easily come back in Tejas and Teflon-Lance could easily be their boy, if he slicks out of this one. I doubt that Hispanic vote will ever go back to the Repubs with their anti-immigrant stance they have, and thats a powerful block to have against you in Tejas.

With the 2009 Tour in mind, i seriously doubt any hispanic vote is going to go to Lance.

 

[Christian]

He's a democrat. He can't win a senate or governor's race in Texas.

Really?! I thought he was really good friends with George Bush?

I think the team manager role is a good possibility. After all, he basically created Trek-Livestrong and Radioshack by himself, and he seems to already be involved in the decisions on whom to sign or not to sign according to one of his latest tweets.

Plus being a team manager for a few years does not exclude running for governor one day. In fact I think it'd be best for him to play it slow and wait a few years. Do a few more of those Afghanistan, etc. visits to the troops like he just did and then maybe run in 10 years. He's got it in the bag (assuming he is Republican, which I always thought but I might be wrong), he just has to play it cool. The only thing going against him is his age right now, in 10 years he'll win hands down.

 

[Christian]

Lance has outlived almost as many US presidents as Fidel Castro

/edit: This one interrupted Lance while training and listening to "Soak up the Sun" by Sheryl Crow; needless to say - he didn't make it.

 

[NickBVK]

He's already a part owner of Radioshack, I presume he'll stay in cycling in some regard even if it is just as part owner of a team.

Doubt he'd ever sit in the car except as a bit of a gimmick.

 

[Anonymous]

He could coach the prison football team I suppose.

 

[The Hitch]

Lance has outlived almost as many US presidents as Fidel Castro

ANd dont let it be said that hes not international

 

[Christian]

He's already a part owner of Radioshack, I presume he'll stay in cycling in some regard even if it is just as part owner of a team.

Doubt he'd ever sit in the car except as a bit of a gimmick.

I don't see him as a DS either but manager fits him I'd say.

Or the team's motivational coach

 

[TERMINATOR]

Well, first things first...

Besides, he has to run for Texas Governor too, right?

Yeah, Lance recently said on a TV talk show that he is going to run for governor on an anti-gun platform...in Texas. Good luck with that delusional campaign strategy.

Second, Lance does not have a college degree. How many governors don't have a college degree?

 

[jimbob_in_co]

Yeah, Lance recently said on a TV talk show that he is going to run for governor on an anti-gun platform...in Texas. Good luck with that delusional campaign strategy.

Second, Lance does not have a college degree. How many governors don't have a college degree?

But he has PhD's in: pharmacology, 'creative' finance, and banging blonds that are 'hotter than donut grease'

And this dude can lie straight faced to the most innocent and helpless segments of our population.

I'm surprised he isn't already in the US Congress.

 

[Christian]

Second, Lance does not have a college degree. How many governors don't have a college degree?

Funny you should ask, TERMINATOR