Most awkward moment of Lance Armstrong’s 30 for 30 documentary
Viewers have been divided over Lance Armstrong’s two-part documentary, but one moment involving his son left everyone in disbelief.
Disgraced seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong left viewers cringing as they watched part two of his ESPN 30 for 30 documentary LANCE.
Seven years on from being exposed as a drug cheat, Armstrong decided the time was right to sit down and tell his version of events.
But the ending to the second part of the feature documentary stood out for all the wrong reasons and to some, painted a clear picture of just who the infamous cyclist truly is.
Armstrong’s son Luke, a college football player at Rice University, was brought into the documentary in the latter stages. He admits to never “bringing up who he is” in an attempt to distance himself from the stigma surrounding his father and not wanting others to paint him in a negative light.
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You can see why Luke would take that approach when a speech Armstrong gives to his football team falls awkwardly flat as he calls out the wrong jersey number of his son.
“This idea of work and process, honestly that was my favourite part of the game. Whether it’s diet, sleep, strength work, tactics, morale, all of this minutiae — the small things — truly, truly matter,” Armstrong says.
“I’m proud of all you guys. I’m obviously proud of number 48 (pointing to his son).”
The camera captures the moment Luke hears the wrong number being called. He takes a short breath before looking off to the side.
After the speech is wrapped up the two stand in the room and Luke tells his father what jersey number he actually wears.
“And I’m 35,” Luke says.
“Not 48?” Armstrong responds as Luke shakes his head.
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Also, in regards to the Lance documentary: The scene where he said his sonâs football number was 48 when itâs actually 35, sums up the type of man he is. #lancearmstrong
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) June 1, 2020
Damn, #LANCE didn't even know his son's jersey number??? Whew...
— Ñony (@TeeJayLew) June 1, 2020
Lance Armstrong just got his sonâs football number wrong while talking to his entire team, and somehow itâs the hardest Iâve cringed all day.
— Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz of Summer (@Benoit_Ballss) June 1, 2020
Lance didnât even know his sonâs jersey number, Says it all #Lance #30For30 pic.twitter.com/RJS5U8BKHm
— Lee Thomas (@Leethomas4) June 1, 2020
Lance Armstrong didnât know his sonâs jersey number and shouted out the wrong guy ððððððð
— Kirko Buxaplenty (@Kirko_Slime) June 2, 2020
Director Marina Zenovich never shied away from asking Armstrong the hard questions surrounding his drug use and if he would change anything from his past. In talks with Luke she asks if he would ever follow in his father’s footsteps.
“I’ve always felt like grinding for something, and really working for a specific goal has always been so much more worth it than taking the shortcut,” Luke said.
“I also feel like if I ever did that and got caught, for random people, they would be like, ‘He’s just like his dad’.”
Armstrong’s response left plenty of wiggle room when he was asked what he would say if his son approached him about using performance enhancing drugs.
“If we were put in that position where Luke as a college football player came to me and either said, ‘I’d like to try this’ or ‘I am doing this’, I would say, ‘that’s a bad idea’,” Armstrong said.
He added: “It might be a different conversation if you’re in the NFL. But at this point in life, in your career, not worth it.”