It's Harder to Root for Lance

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LANCE ARMSTRONG is not going to win the Tour de France. Boo hoo.

It's an interesting thing. The cycling fans I know — yes, they exist — share the same sarcastic sentiments as mine above. Such is our fickle sports nation.

Armstrong has been the most inspiring sports story in my lifetime, having overcome near-fatal cancer to win one of most grueling endurance tests seven times.

Even at 37-years-old and after a broken collarbone slowed his training schedule, Armstrong — in third place as of Thursday — is amazing.

Still, this run feels different.

Is it that we, as sports fans, grow sick of the trend of athletes' coming out of retirement? We're looking at you, Brett Favre.

That may be part of it, but that doesn't explain the malaise surrounding Armstrong's comeback. The fact that his sport is cycling — something most like to do but not watch — is part of it.

But here is my theory: Armstrong has been in the spotlight so long that his flaws have come out.

For as great an athlete as he is, Armstrong comes across as an arrogant jerk sometimes. His interviews can be condescending, as are his tweets.

So it is. A man capable of superhero-type accomplishments is still just an imperfect man.

It's less fun cheering for Clark Kent than Superman, isn't it, Lance?

Photo by Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images