Much of the world complains that America and/or Americans seem to be under the impression that we are or must be the best at everything that we do. The notion that we always have to win seems to be a large part of how we are perceived globally. I won’t deny that this is also the way it looks to me, but I don’t think that winning or the desire to win is such a bad thing. If you are competing for any other reason except winning, I suspect that you won’t taste victory very often.
We are not alone, though, in our quest to be on top. I think that it is a universal goal.
Several years ago I was listening to a program about the Olympics, and the guest was asked why the Olympics weren’t as big of a deal here in the States as they are in the rest of the world. His answer made a lot of sense to me. He stated that the Olympics provided a chance for many countries to be able to lay claim to the number-one position in something. Countries like China and the U.S. dominate the Olympics overall, but there is enough gold to go around that small Caribbean nations, among others, have a chance of taking some of that home. It is one of the few opportunities that these smaller countries have to beat up on the global dominators. They should be proud when they do win.
So should we when we win, even if we win a lot.
Another sport that offers smaller nations a chance to be number one is professional cycling. Cycling is hugely popular in Europe, perhaps second only to soccer. By contrast, back here in the States we pay little, if any, attention to the world of cycling, I doubt that many Americans could name an event outside of the Tour de France. Even the Tour de France gets relegated to “oh yeah, that bike race thing” status over here – unless an American is winning.
On July 4 (how appropriate), American Lance Armstrong made his return to the Tour de France. He has pulled himself up from the chaise lounge chair of retirement to join the ranks of other professional athletes who keep retiring only to return to their occupation when they realize that they are 60 years younger than everyone else at the retirement villa in Jacksonville.
As of this writing, Mr. Armstrong, while not in the lead, appears to be once again in the driver’s seat of the Tour.
The Tour is currently in its middle stages, and there is no way to tell who will win for sure, but Armstrong has been putting on a very good show thus far. Currently he is sitting only a few seconds off of the overall lead. If he manages to avoid mishap, it is almost certain that he will wear the yellow leader’s jersey by this time next week, if not sooner, much to the chagrin of the rest of the world.
The biggest sporting event in France, and the biggest cycling event in the world, is undeniably ruled by an American. There is such a slim chance that anyone could ever unseat Armstrong as the all-time top winner of the Tour de France. Winning the Tour itself is tough enough. Being the best ever (Lance has won the Tour seven times, consecutively) ... I think that will be a title held by Armstrong for a very long time. Only four other riders in the history of the Tour de France (it started in 1903) have even come close to Armstrong’s record, and they have only had five wins each, and none of those four are active riders.
This year there is a very good chance that Lance could take the Tour for an absolutely unprecedented eighth time. To do this, especially having been away from the race since 2005, would do much to elevate the “we can’t stand you, Americans” level in France and around the world.
To be fair, Lance has made it abundantly clear how much he likes France and its culture, and aside from the sports media, France loves Lance Armstrong, but I’m not sure that sentiment carries over to the rest of us, nor should it.
Maybe we Americans will just have to live with the fact that we can’t win everything, especially the global popularity contest.
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