Golfers are Athletes?

[tstew]

I think part of it may be that this is a list from an American perspective. I'm not the biggest golf fan in the world, but I think that golf is infinitely more popular in America than competetive biking. That's not to take anything from Lance's achievements in his chosen sport. I think the fact that he was second is a testament to how he as an individual has transcended his sport in America.
If you take Lance off the table, the average American would be hard-pressed to name three active professional bikers. I think that affects things like this.

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by tstew

I think part of it may be that this is a list from an American perspective. I'm not the biggest golf fan in the world, but I think that golf is infinitely more popular in America than competetive biking. That's not to take anything from Lance's achievements in his chosen sport. I think the fact that he was second is a testament to how he as an individual has transcended his sport in America.
If you take Lance off the table, the average American would be hard-pressed to name three active professional bikers. I think that affects things like this.

Even though I'm a cyclist, this isn't really about cycling too me. It's about being the Athlete of the Decade. This is prestigous, and personally, I think the person selected should be unsurpassed in physical ability and endurance.

I just don't see golf as the type of sport that resembles the extremes great athletes endure, even though I know it's tuff to hit the little white ball out of a sand trap.

Again, this is just my opinion.

[tstew]

Originally Posted by NotforSale

Even though I'm a cyclist, this isn't really about cycling too me. It's about being the Athlete of the Decade. This is prestigous, and personally, I think the person selected should be unsurpassed in physical ability and endurance.

I just don't see golf as the type of sport that resembles the extremes great athletes endure, even though I know it's tuff to hit the little white ball out of a sand trap.

Again, this is just my opinion.

I know what you are saying. I also know plenty of golfers who do not seem like an athelete to me. That having been said, golf has been defined as a sport for better or worse and its participants as atheletes. Given that, in my opinion the award is basically for the most celebrated person in the recognized sports world. There are probably quite a few atheletes that could make a case...Lance would certainly be among them.
Obviously, the guys in the individual sports have an advantage...and the bigger the sport, the bigger the advantage.