Stevan,
Hows this for serendipity? I had loan out my copy of the '86 Tour tape to a friend nearly a year ago. I expressly told him not to lose it and to make sure to return it. He agreed. Finally I sent him an email and he told me it had been sitting on the table next to the front door since January. Anyway, I just got it back. I popped it into the VCR to rewatch it and the first thing I noticed were the production values were a little different at the time, especially the sound track.
As the film opens a young commentator with an English accent begins to speak. I start to laugh as I see how funny Paul Sherwin looks when the text appears below that says "Phil Ligget"! I really start cracking up because Phil looks quite young and is obviously still a but "green" as an on film personality. I then realize that the period of time is too early for that to be Paul Sherwin anyway. Next thing I know the camera pans over to another kid with a microphone. I'm thinking "who invited Beaver Cleaver to the Tour de France"? Then the text again. Holy Crap! It IS paul Sherwin commentating his first Tour, having retired from racing just prior that. I'm now incapacitated and rolling on the floor with stomach cramps, induced by laughter. That whole thing was hilarious! The tape is priceless, the tour was priceless, Kathy Lemonds' voice was REALLY annoying. Even though this coverage is very short and most stages show only the finish; it was an epic race. I don't know if the Badger is a RAT or not, but Greg did the job. I can't really fault a Frenchie with a name like the Badger. Now if he was called the skunk............
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA
>
> In a message dated 9/9/02 5:43:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time, monkeylad@mac.com
> writes:
>
> << So you're saying The Badger wasn't someone you'd want on your team?
> OK, I'll take him. >>
> The tour in which the two of them, Hinault and Lemond, raced each other as
> competitors instead of team mates was one of the best tours in history. We
> all know that Greg sacrificed his own chances to win a tour so that Bernard
> could win his 5th. Even though Bernard said "Greg sacrificed for me, I will
> sacrifice for him next year", Bernard was faced with having the opportunity
> to be the first man to win 6. Unfortunately he had to go for it. I understand
> why he had to do it, but his 5th was a gift at someone else's expense. If I
> was good enough, would I want Bernard on my team? It depends. He's certainly
> a good rider, ok, a great rider. Is he reliable as a team mate? Not if his
> personal gain exceeds that of the team. I have to say, I was disappointed in
> Bernard, particularly as he lost his bid for 6. Had he won, fair and square,
> there still would have been the issue of #5 being a gift he didn't earn. He
> would have had to win a 7th, fair and square, to redeem himself in my eyes.
> He didn't. As great a champion as he is, he is a little tarnished in my eyes.
> I still admire him with some reservation. Then again, "they" didn't ask me
> what I thought. It's just my opinion.
> Stevan Thomas
> Alameda, CA