6
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
JULY 13-JULY 19,2005
TOUR DE FRANCE
Tour coverage minimal in bars
BY ADAM LAND
aland@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Lawrence residents who want to see Lance Armstrong's seventh and final Tour de France with a beer in hand may have to sit at home to watch him.
Big-screen and plasma-screen televisions show the Tour de France in Henry T's Bar & Grill, 3520 W.6th St., said Sean Gerrity, owner.
Armstrong became an inspiration to aspiring cyclists when he battled advanced testicular cancer, which spread to his lungs and brain, and returned to win the Tour again. As Armstrong seeks his seventh consecutive Tour de France victory, the American cyclist leads after the tenth stage of the tour by 38 seconds.
The tour began on July 2 on the western coast of France and will continue through July 24, when it will end in Paris.
The tour can be seen every day in Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, 802 Massachusetts St., said Paul Davis, bike shop manager.
Although no cyclist has ever won seven consecutive tours, coverage of the event throughout Lawrence is hit-and-miss.
Since Armstrong began his winning streak six years ago, more patrons have come in that may not have come from a cycling background, Davis said.
"I think his story draws people in," Davis said. "He is a normal guy with a talent that people can relate to."
Popularity for Armstrong and the tour may be high, but that popularity has not translated into widespread viewing.
Buffalo Wild Wings, 1012 Massachusetts St., has never shown any part of the tour, said Ryan Rosinsky, cashier. The restaurant would show the tour if there was interest, but no one had asked for it, Rosinsky said.
He said he believed the sport was just not as exciting as some of the alternatives.
Franck Fife/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A spectator urges on Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, in the Tour de France cycling race between Grenoble and Courchevel, July 12.
"I can think of better sports to watch than a bunch of guys riding bikes," Rosinsky said.
Support, or at least viewership, varies from place to place. The lack of local attention overall, however, does not surprise Davis.
The tour is not a celebrated American sport, and may never be, Davis said. So expecting most restaurants and bars throughout the city to cover it might be wishful thinking.
"They are sports bars and cycling isn't necessarily considered a sport," Davis said.
Cycling has to compete with the three big American sports — football, baseball and basketball, said Davis. The tour may never compete with the Superbowl, World Series or NBA Finals, Davis said, but it is still worth watching.
— Edited by Erin M. Droste
CORRECTION
Last week's University Daily Kansan contained an error. The article, "Commission balks at smoking law decision", stated Connie Roach was the owner of Hereford House, 4931 W. Sixth St. Roach is the general manager.
NATION
Bush consults senators on Supreme Court spot
WASHINGTON President Bush is consulting four top senators about the Supreme Court vacancy,but the lawmakers suspect they'll leave without learning the names on Bush's short list.
While the president has spoken with the four senators before, Bush's breakfast with the four July 12 is their first meeting in person about the vacancy.
"The president is not prejudging anything," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said July 11. "He wants to hear what their views are and hear what they have to say as we move forward on a Supreme Court nominee."
Bush is meeting with Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the committee; Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.; and Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
The Associated Press