Getting underway. I think Bode Miller is a doll. The other US Skiers are hot too. The ladies haven't fared so well so far. Is Moses in this year?

Bode finished 5th in mens downhill today. Skier from France was upset winner.

Bode is definitely Bode-licious!! He has that thing going on that is hard to explain. I think he is great.

He is skiing somewhat injured, so the downhill was going to be tough. It seems like a very fast and technical course. Usually the kind of course US skiers love. If he were 100% that might have been the case.

He is also very good at the other disciplines (thus his World Cup title last year), so he has some more opportunities.

For someone who is taken to task by some people for his comments Bode Miller was a total class act when he was interviewed right after finishing 5th. No excuses or whining -- even though NBC was trying to make a big deal about the ski change -- just praise for the winner.

The guy went out boozing the night before and was late getting to the pre-race inspection. Draw your own conclusions. His whole "I don't care about medals" attitude just seems so ridiculous to me. But it is his talent to waste if that's what he chooses to do.

I'm sorry but some of these downhill athletes who seem to want to blow off the focus on medals after posting mediocre results. Steve Nyman who finished 19th, was quoted saying "Medals...screw medals. I don't really care about medals. Sorry to be vulgar. A lot of people in America couldn't relate to it, but it's not about medals. It's about hard work."

Not about medals? Why in the hell did you go over there if you weren't focused on winning a medal? If it's really about hard work then medals (which means you finished in the top 3) is what it's all about. The men's downhill team is really turning into a big disappointment, both in results and in public comment.

I concur. On a newspaper's web site today--I think it was the Sun-Times but I can't remember--they stated that Bode was out drinking all night and got back quite late, then left for his event only an hour before he was to ski.

Now, I'm not a skier, but isn't that rather stupid?

Does anyone recall the ole Aesop's fable of the fox and the grapes?

Thought so.

Just one reason why I find this guy utterly unappealing. For some reason though, Americans love him. I don't get it. He is free to waste his talent though. I would just prefer to not hear so much about him.

Anthony

This isn't exactly a description of "out all night." The report was he was in a pub until midnight.

Earth to RBBear....Steve Nyman didn't have a chance in hell of getting a medal. The vast majority of athletes don't have a chance in hell of getting a medal. If the only people competing were the ones who did have a realistic shot, there would have been maybe 10 people skiing, and less in other events. For most athletes, it really is about hard work and doing their best. It would be stupid for them to focus on medals and use that as a barometer for whether they did well or not.

Finishing 19th in the world is hardly mediocre. Are you the 19th best in the world at your job? Get back to me when you are and then you can bitch about this guy. This attitude that the only thing that counts is top 3 is BS.

“On a newspaper's web site today--I think it was the Sun-Times but I can't remember--they stated that Bode was out drinking all night and got back quite late, then left for his event only an hour before he was to ski.”


The newspapers will run with any story and say almost anything when it comes to high-profile athletes and the Olympics. To quote Mark Twain, "You can run over the printed results with a divining rod, and never find yourself."

I don't know Bode, but two beers and an evening talking to friends when you're too wound up to sleep can turn into the newspapers' all-night drunken orgy. The truth usually lies somewhere in between.

It's also remembering the Mehre twins, who said much the same thing that Bode did about medals. The press, and people who write angry letters to the editor were all over them - "Why did they bother to go?" "I'll never send my dollar to the Ski Team again." When they both won medals, the press was eating its words, and the "why did they bother" crowd were all out waving the flag.

Saying the medals don't matter that much is a helluva good way to concentrate on performing, and a very good way to drain off some of the pressure built up by the "nothing but medals counts" point of view.

Go buy a whole bag of salt, and take a handful every time you read a story.

Nat

Bode disqualified, loses shot at gold

Who cares about the medals, right?

[ February 14, 2006, 11:00 AM: Message edited by: MIB ]

Wow, so what sports do you compete in? I compete in Volleyball and my teams thoughts are "if we win, we win, if we lose, we lose." "If we played a great match and still lose but had fun, that's the best part of the day."

Thanks for the common sense amidst this rage fest, Nat. I don't think any beer is a wise decision the night before your event, but people sure love to throw stones here. I'm not even a Miller fan but I'll take "nonchalant" over someone who is a sore loser.

Do your and your teammates represent the United States in the Olympics? No.

Have you signed a big moneymaking deal with Nike based on the (now false) premise that you're an Olympic athlete who's expected to win some medals? No.

I do not dislike Miller per se, but if he's going to treat these Olympics like it's no big deal, then he shouldn't have come, and should have given the chance to win some medals to someone who really did care.

What you're saying is that they don't focus on being the best but just making the team. If I had the talent these guys had in their sport I wouldn't have this attitude. This is an arrogant attitude and you know it.

Personally I value the attitude and motto of another Olympian (who is damn cute BTW), Jeremy Bloom: " Compete like you are number one, train like you are number two."

If only the American alpine team had that attitude. At least Ted Ligety had the right attitude. Maybe a new crew on the alpine team is what we need.

Bloom will be on the schedule tomorrow. Now that will be fun to watch.

Well seeing that we travel for tournaments in the US and Canada, we do represent the town we're from. We may not be paid or have paid endorsements, but we still contribute to the whole environment of a tournament. As for Olympic athletes, it is a big deal that they were selected to go represent the US. But they also realize with 2600 athletes competing, not everyone will go home with a medal. Something the home crowd seems to forget.

But of course it is only about the medal count, not the sport involved. God forbid someone not be 100% gungho about coming home with that coveted medal. frown

"As for Olympic athletes, it is a big deal that they were selected to go represent the US. But they also realize with 2600 athletes competing, not everyone will go home with a medal. Something the home crowd seems to forget."


Okay, so speaking as a three-time Olympic coach with one World Championship Silver and one WC Bronze...

Yes, the top guys go to win. But like the Mahre brothers, sometimes the way to win is not to care so much about medals, but about performance. The only performance you can control is your own. If some other guy has a better one, it's not your responsibility.

I've also seen the unbelieveable pressure put on those favored to win. Virtually any mechanism you can use to defuse that is good - even a beer or two! - and will lead to better performance.

I've also seen favored-to-win athletes blow up. One in particular handled it with grace and aplomb; you can give 100% to win, but losing with grace is the mark of a real athlete and a fine person, and in my opinion goes closer to the meaning of sports than temper tantrums - or "bad winning."

It's also wise policy to take athletes along who certainly won't win: I've seen several taken along and either given a race, or not raced at all, to gain experience (knowing what the pressures will be is a valuable lesson) - and then seen them become world beaters a few years later.

I've also seen older athletes taken along, to provide advice, steadyness, experience.

One thing I think the US lacks is sports maturity, by which I mean taking a long view at development and growth.

So no, they're not all there to win. But most are there to do their best in their own way, and I hate seeing too many journalists and fans second-guessing top athletes.

Nat

No, that's not what I'm saying at all. What I'm saying is that most of them don't have a real shot at a medal, so rather than take the attitude that they've failed if they're not top 3, they go out and do the best they can and compete as hard as they're capable of doing. As long as they do that, they can walk away feeling good. That doesn't mean they don't give a damn, doesn't mean they don't give it everything they have, it just means they don't take the common attitude of most fans that anything other than a medal is a failure.

Funny you should mention Bloom. They showed an interview with him today where he said his attitude towards medalling has changed from previous years. In the past, he wanted nothing more than a gold medal. Now, he's focused on doing his best, and as he put it, he competes with himself to see how well he can do against his own standards. That's the attitude I'm talking about.

In his own words

"For me, there's really no bigger honor than to represent our country in the Olympics and walk in the Opening Ceremony," Bloom said Thursday. "A lot of that gets lost in our celebrity-crazed culture, the constant desire to win and get gold medals. It's truly not about who finishes first, but the experience and the camaraderie."

"I think his modus operandi has evolved into, you can just try to do the best you can every single day," Larry Bloom said. "Then you go out and perform and let the chips fall where they may."

I don't know, Two-hander. If it was only 2 beers, it might actually be a wise decision. I would guess the most important thing before a major event is to get a good night's sleep, and a little alcohol might help relax you enough to sleep. I know I would be bouncing off the walls if I were competing in the Olympics the following day.

Competing drunk or even hungover is insanely reckless in a sport like skiing, however. As far as the post-mortem, I don't buy it. If he really cared that little, I just don't believe he would have gotten where he is. I remember someone (Pam Shriver?) being asked what she thought of Kim Clijsters' seemingly placid acceptance of losing a fourth grand slam final in Australia in 2004. Her response: "I'm sure she's dying inside."

[ February 14, 2006, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: JC ]

Bode's a great athlete, and a talented skier. His comments about other athletes cheating and using performance enhancers made him lose a lot of points in my book. Trying to take it back later didn't impress me at all. Skiing after a few brews and talking about it (almost bragging about it?) impresses me even less. I hope sports karma is "even" now since Bode won't medal in his first two events.

Nice to watch Ligety come out of almost nowhere to win the gold. Even during his second run you were not really aware of his performance until you saw his splits getting better and better.

He was interviewed and seemed quite charming. I would like to think that has nothing to do with the fact that he is awful cute as well. Nice to see a relatively unexpected winner surface for a big win.

Plus, that Benny Raich is one hot Austrian man. I love Austrian men, in general. But he is a prime example. Plus a great skier.

I think what a lot of us are ticked about is Bode's attitude before and during the Olympics. I agree that not everyone can make the top three slots. Heck, a lot might not even get in the top 10. That's the beauty of the Olympics in seeing everyone from around the world competing. But when you do have the potential of making one of those top three slots (something 99.9999% of us can never see) don't blow your opportunity with a careless attitude. If you want the glory (and Bode wants it) then give your all to achieve it.

Bloom's comments just prove that kid is more than just great looks and great talent. He's turning out to be a pretty good role model. I just wish Bode and a few others on the alpine team took some lessons.

'Nuff said on Bode. His spot was taken by another American, Ted Ligety. It was great to see him win yesterday. His best is yet to come. Can't wait to see him in the slalom.

I enjoyed looking that the front page of my paper this morning. With the headline of Slopes Shocker - New Golden Boy? It contained a picture of Ligety and between two teammates on the ground in the snow.

The caption for the picture says:

"In a joyous tangle of bodies, U.S. skier Ted Ligety was mobbed by two teamates Tuesday after winning the gold medal in the men's combined event."

"joyous tangle of bodies" - Makes you wonder about the caption writer. Though it's better then my first take of "Ligety sandwich"

I was hoping Bloom would medal but he seems to be in good spirits and has a good head on his shoulders. I don't feel sorry for him, he's got a bright future. Good luck to him!

Bode Miller not concerned about not winning, says fans put pressure on athletes.

Hey, Bode: Take a Hike and Keep on Going

Comparing Bode's attitude to that of Lindsey Kildow, who had that harrowing crash during a training run and still is suffering from back injuries from that crash, but keeps on competing in her events...
Ski like a girl, Bode

Is there any way Nike can retract their support of this loser? I'd love to see them drop him like a hot potato using the reason that he amounted to a fraud.

Yeah I feel real bad for Nike. They got into bed with him. They deserve what they get. Any taxpayer money that went to support him via the US Olympic Comittee should be refunded immediately however. The one race he has left is the one most experts felt he had the least chance of succeeding in so I think it's safe to classify Bode as a bust. Lucky for him he doesn't care about medals, cuz it doesn't look like he'll have to lug any home.

Maybe he can become a spokesperson for Miller Lite

Yes, Bode is a bust. When I posted about him early in this thread, I hadn't encountered the Nike hype. "Poor" Nike has no reason to cry -- Miller is surely delivering on his medals-don't-matter philosophy.

While I take back the "class act" comment about him, to me, he isn't even close to being the frontrunner for most annoying US athlete this Olympics. To name just one, gold-medal winner Chad Hedrick has far outpaced him in that category.

Bode's Olympics ended as they began.....off course and disqualified in Slalom. He might as well have stayed home and let someone who cared take his place.

Regarding Bode Miller's "medals don't matter. I'm not in it for money or fame" comments, I wonder if he believed differently before Nike gave him massive amount of exposure (fame) and money.

~Adam

Another collapse by Bode today as he straddled the gates and skiied right off the course, then raised his arms up to simulate a winning cheer. Said Bode about his time in the Olympics: "It's been an awesome two weeks here. I got to party and socialize at an Olympic level."

This guy is such an idiot.

Arrivederci, Bode! Enjoy your long, slow slide into obscurity.

Indeed. Let's hope we don't have to hear about him after these Olympics.

Bode who? :confused:

From the Associated Press:

Skier Daron Rahlves says he wasn't surprised by any of the comments or behavior of Olympic teammate Bode Miller, who he says spends much of his time partying and "trying to look for girls."

"For him to go out and party, that's nothing new. He does that all the time," said Rahlves, who finished third Sunday at the Jeep King of the Mountain Professional Skiing and Snowboarding World Championships at Squaw Valley, California.

"He doesn't just do that at the Olympics, he does that all year," he told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Rahlves said he wasn't bothered by criticism from Miller, who poked fun at his fellow U.S. Ski Team member for taking the Olympics too seriously.

"Look at what happened to Rahlves," Miller said. "He was holed up in his RV; he's probably the fittest guy out here, and he made a point of talking about how important the Olympics are to him. He's got nothing to show for the whole thing."

Rahlves was the favorite in the downhill but finished 10th and also failed to win a medal in his other two events.

"You live the way you want to live your life," Rahlves said Sunday, "and I don't want to go out late and stay out late all night. I've got a wife I want to hang out with. I have way more than Bode has as far as a life, I think. He just goes around looking for girls all the time. That's all he's really interested in."

~Adam

Bode: the epitome of immaturity.

Oh, poooooor Nike! I'm so disturbed by Bode's lack of maturity that I can almost overlook Nike's criminally unethical labor practices.

Oh, who am I kidding? Nike is a punk-ass, evil, corporate demon. If they went bankrupt tomorrow, and all of their suits committed suicide, I'd probably smile, dance a li'l jig, and praise the Baby Jesus for actually getting involved.

Nike is Satan; Bode is merely a young dude having fun, uncognizant of the responsibilities that come with fat contracts and national expectations.

If I had to choose one of those to be sorry for, it'd be Bode, not Nike. Nike can go f**k itself! Bode just needs to grow up a tad. Bode hasn't kept little kids locked into a cycle of child labor abuse. And Nike wouldn't know the first f**kin thing about actual athetics - they just make clothing and generally crummy running shoes.

I understand if some of you want to get pissed about Bode failing to live up to your own jingoistic, 'Merican, flag-wrapping, Lee Greenwood-singing, redneck, nationalistic exercise that the Olympics represents. Fine. I may not agree with it, but I understand your position. But please spare me the Nike angle. 'Cuz there are some 7 year old kids in Asia who shouldn't be sewing swooshes, and you know it.

The season continues, with a three-way tie for first place. Nice pic of Lindsey in the article. She seems to have shaken off the wreck.

Lindsey Kildow shares super G win with Dorfmeister, Styger in Hafjell

Incredible. And the fourth place finisher was only one hundreth of a second behind. It was THAT close to a four-way tie.

There's more.

Ted Ligety Shocks Field, Self to Win World Cup GS in Yong Pyong

Four skiers, four one-hundredths of a second.

Thomas Grandi of Canada in action during the FIS Skiing World Cup Men's Giant Slalom on March 5, 2006

Ted Ligety of USA in action during the FIS Skiing World Cup Men's Giant Slalom on March 4, 2006

Ted Ligety savors his first career podium in the Beaver Creek slalom, December 2005

[ March 06, 2006, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: twin58 ]

A Bode article