Posted on 02/25/2006 11:12:09 AM PST by saquin
Feb. 23, 2006 - Four months ago, Bode Miller sat across from me in the bar of a New York City hotel and shared his idea of what a perfect two weeks in Torino would look like. “For me,” he said, “the ideal Olympics would be to go in with all that pressure, all that attention and have performances that are literally tear-jerking, that make people put their heads down because they’re embarrassed at how emotional they’re getting, that make people want to try sports, talk to their kids, call their f---ing ex-wives—and come away with no medals. I think that would be epic. That would be the perfect thing.”
In one respect, at least, Miller might get his wish. He’ll very likely come away from these Olympics with no medals. He has one event remaining, Saturday’s slalom, and fortunately for his dream of going home medal-free, it’s the alpine discipline that has vexed him the most of late. He has finished a slalom race only twice in seven World Cup tries this season. As for the rest of Bode’s Olympic dream, his performance here, both on and off the mountain, has often been tear-jerking and occasionally embarrassing, but not for the reasons Miller had hoped.
[...]
Nevertheless, he decided to come to Torino. And before he got on the plane, he told anyone who would listen that he was going to show us something about sports and sportsmanship. Instead, we saw a perfect embodiment of the tarnished Olympics that he claims to despise. Most people who have watched these Olympics will come away from them thinking much as they always have about sports, and thinking much less of Bode Miller. Which means that, by Bode’s own standard, he blew it.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
My take on Bode Miller when he began to emerge as a name in the media ... hyping this guy along the story line of the movie Downhill Racer (vintage 1990)which featured Robert Redford. Redford (much younger then) played the role of a free spirit, women chasing, party hardy, bad boy on the U.S. ski team competing internationally in Europe. Well, in a perfect world, the bad boy skier recognizes his partying is going to effect his performance on the slopes, straightens up and goes on to win gold. Bode Miller, as I anticipated, would be a disappointment at Torino for the U.S., and he garnered no medals whatsoever ... what a putz.
Raised in Oregon, Johnson was a troubled youth who began competitive skiing as a means of harnessing his energy. In 1984, at age 23, Johnson challenged the long-established European domination of downhill ski racing.
His victory on January 15, 1984 on the storied Lauberhorn course at Wengen, Switzerland was the first for an American male in World Cup downhill competition.
A month later at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, the brash young American predicted victory, evoking comparisons to Joe Namath and Muhammad Ali and irking his European competitors.
His scary yet inspired gold-medal run down the Bjelesnica course in a time of 1:45.59 defeated legend Peter Müller of Switzerland by 0.27 seconds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Johnson_%28skier%29
That too !
Warts and all, I'll still take him over Weir, the commie-loving figure skater.
Isn't Portland Tonya Harding's stomping grounds as well?
Miller can go home to his parents' log cabin without electricity or indoor plumbing...
Bode should have the same nickname the Europeans gave Johnson: "Nasenbohrer"
(Nosepicker)
"Portland Tonya Harding's stomping grounds as well?"
I believe, yes. They should get together.
This team of Americans thoroughly turned off the viewers. from that clown wearing the tiara to this spoiled idiot, it's been a disaster. The winder olympics need to just go away. Nobody cares. And the care we can muster for these automotronic dancing skaters is contrived. It was fresh and spontaneous back in the day. Now it's forced. This youngest generation of Americans who compete in winter sports are obnoxious little rich chits.
You see some people who are about as hip as a bag of oats sporting these tatoos. Pathetic.
She got Gold today.
Not sure if he stole the trailer.
But he did steal at least one car and then got caught.
I second that...
"Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time.
I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.
That’s why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war.
Because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans."
I think all the author meant by 'fat' was 'poorly conditioned to compete at that level.'
Since when has the Olympics been about competing for one's country? 1936 perhaps?
It's all about the endorsements.
The teams should be from Pepsi, Coke, Walmart, and Nike!
Don't be so hard on Johnson.
"During Bill’s attempted Olympic comeback at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Whitefish, Montana in 2001, Bill suffered a traumatic brain injury while traveling 70 MPH. He was in a coma for three weeks and lost six years of memories. Bill has experienced many negative challenges as a result of his injuries. He has suffered immense pain, lost most of his memory for a six year period. The surgery on his severed tongue has affected his speech. Bill gets frustrated and angry from time to time. These challenges even included public embarrassment as he was pulled over and suspected for drunk driving. Bill became frustrated and was arrested and jailed for assault. The police thought he was drunk because of his brain injury, speech and behavior. Bill Johnson alcohol level test results were”00.0”.
The story of the arrest and Bill’s actions were grossly misreported and caused damage to Bill and his family according to a spokesperson for the Johnson family"
He was an Olympic Hero at Sarajevo. I think that you do him a great diservice. He did a face plant at 70 MPH.
Well, maybe all isn't lost. I'm thinking the "simply too fat to win" ski clothing line would market with no competition.
NBC will probably make us wait till after midnight to be able to see the final Bode bust.
I don't think I've ever seen an athlete....or even a politician for that matter, so full of crapolla! He won't even be embarrassed, just watch.
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