[Darkwolf377]

I haven't watched these, but when I mentioned the attitude of that skier, two friends told me the US Olympics folks and the commentators were wrong to jump all over them, that they were using Nazi tactics and this was a collectivist event, etc, and he was just doing his own thing and having fun.

My response was that if he voluntarily signed on to represent his nation in this collectivist event, he has signed on to do just that. No one forced him to; no one surprised him with the rules later. He knew that there is a certain image the committee wants to put across.

Don't like it? Fine--don't sign on to represent your country. Turn pro, and see how much money and respect you get when you don't win anything but have a good time partying.

I don't get the attitude that this guy who joined this team voluntarily is some kind of a rebel just because he parties and doesn't listen to The Authorities or whatever. Don't you enter a sporting event to win?

[TomGuy]

My response was that if he voluntarily signed on to represent his nation in this collectivist event, he has signed on to do just that. No one forced him to; no one surprised him with the rules later. He knew that there is a certain image the committee wants to put across.

I didn't follow the controversy closely, but ....

Olympic teams aren't chosen up on the airplane ride over there. They are chosen months in advance. So, if the Black athlete was 'chosen' and agreed to represent, he should have fulfilled his obligation. Otherwise, he occupied a position that some other aspiring athlete may have been glad to take -- and he bailed at the last moment, putting the team in a bind for a replacement.

[mystery-ak]

+does not=

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Don't you enter a sporting event to win?

Evidently not.

Of course, the Old Gray Lady had to chime in with words of support for our typically selfish athlete.

No surprise there.

[Hot Tabasco]

Turn pro, and see how much money and respect you get when you don't win anything but have a good time partying. I don't get the attitude that this guy who joined this team voluntarily is some kind of a rebel just because he parties and doesn't listen to The Authorities or whatever. Don't you enter a sporting event to win?

Alpine skiers have been pros now for many years. I would say a conservative estimate would put the top 20 contenders in the millionaire $$$ status now.

Miller didn't "join the team", he merely was included due to his onslope performances while at the same time being sponsored by who knows how many companies. He and the rest of the alpine ski team have no one to report to other than their sponsors. There is no loyalty to their assigned coaches, no loyalty to the USA, no loyalty to the thousands of teenage kids who idolize them.

Miller and this ski team epitomize the ultimate degradation of olympic alpine sports in the United States due to the uncontrolled but necessary inpact of corporate sponsorship required to keep it going.

The European countries are no different in that regard. Fortunately for them, the skiers being sponsored are hungry and from a very early age are taught that if you want to be a winner, you gotta work for it............