Not sure whether he used the down time to invent the Internet or refine his position on global warming, but he seems to be walking fine now, which requires no fossil fuels.
This probably should be a cautionary tale for President Barack Obama, who loves basketball and looks like he's got some game. He's 47 years old - though a young-looking 47, I admit - which is actually a year older than Gore was when he felt that tell-tale pop.
There are enough stories of middle-aged guys - famous and otherwise - who have suffered this injury playing pickup basketball that I'm thinking of making a documentary about it.
Working title: Hoop Screams.
Of course, you can bust an Achilles in all sorts of ways, but you're a lot less likely to do it playing golf than basketball, which might explain why Watson was hiking around Turnberry for 76 holes at 59 and I was sitting on the couch with my leg perched on a couple of pillows rooting heavily for him to cheat the calendar.
Meanwhile, Armstrong was doing the same, attempting to win an unprecedented eighth Tour de France after a long layoff. Of course, he came all the way back from a life-threatening bout with cancer to perform the amazing feats that have made him an inspiration to millions around the world.
Compared with that, a few months on crutches will be a piece of cake.
Listen to Peter Schmuck weeknights at 6 on WBAL (1090 AM).
