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Lance Armstrong is in the running to be the Associated Press’ Athlete of the Decade.

They say that his return from cancer to win the Tour de France 7 times, then to come back and stand on the podium after taking two years off “raised the bar on the definition of ‘exceptional’”.

The article acknowledges that he is one of the most divisive figures in the sport, placing those who view him as a miraculous savior of the sport against those who say that he must have doped and would do anything to keep from being exposed as a cheat.

When it comes right down to it, his attention to detail and use of new technology raised standards in cycling. He was among the first riders to methodically familiarize himself with the course and climbs of the Tour while others were content to show up and “race into shape”.

Armstrong is up against the following for for honor. Opinions, of course, my own:

• Serena Williams: She definitely brought a new level of physicality to the women’s side of the game. With the exception of 2006, see didn’t go a year without winning a major tournament. She took the career Grand Slam in 2003.
• Usain Bolt: Certainly a standout at the 2008 Olympics, but not the decade.
• Tiger Woods: Despite recent “difficulties” you can’t dispute his dominance in golf. Like Serena Williams he it necessary for the rest of the competition to step it up a level or two. Since 1997 he’s captured 5 Masters titles, 3 U.S. Opens, 3 British Opens and 4 PGA Championships, among other wins.
• Roger Federer: Considered by many to be the best tennis player of all time. He was ranked first for 237 consecutive weeks. One of six males to capture the career Grand Slam and he appeared in the finals in 10 Grand Slam events in a row.
• Barry Bonds: It’s safe to say that he used steroids. It’s safe to say that he lied about it in court. Sorry. No. And as far as the decade goes, he pretty much dropped off the scene in 2004 when the doping scandals hit.
• Kobe Bryant: Like Bonds, his dominance skews to the early part of the decade before sexual assault allegations sidelined him for a while. He seems to be making a comeback though, grabbing the NBA National Championships this year as well as nabbing the NBA’s MVP title in 2008.
• Michael Phelps: Like Usain Bolt, you could say that he is a bit of a “Mikey Come Lately”, but 37 World Records is nothing to sneeze at.
• Annika Sorenstam: She achieved most of her athletic goals in the 90’s, but found a way to reinvent herself in the last decade, and dominated enough to be named The Golf Writers Association of America Female Player of the Year for the six years in a row (2000-2005). In 2003, she was the first female player to go up against the men since Babe Zaharias, playing in the Bank of America Colonial Open (where she missed the cut in the first round) and the Skins Game (where she came in second against Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Mark O’Meara).
• Tom Brady: His career pretty much spans the decade. After a rookie year in 2000 he came to the fore in 2001 and from then to now, he has won 3 Super Bowls, played in 4 Pro Bowls and was named Super Bowl MVP twice. His W/L record is 109–32 (career) as a starter and he is 7-1 in OT games.

I’m sure that you can guess who we’d be voting for if we worked for the AP. Out of the group above, however, I think that Williams, Sorenstam, Federer and Woods are all worthy of consideration. Nothing against Bolt and Phelps, I just think that they have more to show us. Bryant didn’t impress me all that much and Bonds’ omission should be evident. I’m frankly surprised that he was even up for consideration.

Here’s what it comes down to: If Woods, Phelps and Federer were asked to race the Tour de France, they would probably make it a couple days. While Armstrong couldn’t match Phelps’ speed in the pool, I have no doubt that Lance would be able to keep up with Phelps’ training schedule. Armstrong wouldn’t make the cut against the likes of Woods, but I’m sure that he could play 4 consecutive days of golf.

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