In an interview to be aired on "Sixty Minutes" this coming Sunday, Olympian Bode Miller says he has skiied in competitions while drunk and continues: "Talk about a hard challenge right there. If you've ever tried to si when you're wasted, it's not easy. Try to ski a slalom when you hit a gate less than every one second, so it's risky....It's like driving drunk, only there are no rules about it in ski racing." Asked whether he would never again ski drunk, Miller replied: "No, I'm not saying that."

I have a hard enough time staying upright on skiis while stone cold sober but cannot imagine the USOC allows competitors to participate--in any sport--while drunk.

~Adam

Wow. Talk about holding a lit match next to a can of gasoline. Thats pretty damn scary. eek!

I've seen people flop onto the ground while attempting to get into a lift chair at the bottom of the hill because they had been drinking. This was on a New Year's Eve when the ski area was open until midnight. Then you think "uh, do I want to be anywhere near them as they're headed downhill?" That's why I haven't been back on NYE.

As has already been said, I'm klutzy enough while not under the influence of anything.

anyone see Bode Miller on 20/20 last night? Damn he is hot!

Bode Miller has apologized for his skiing-while-drunk comments.

Now Bode Miller is the coverboy for both Time and Newsweek. His ill-timed (and really stupid)comments are proving to be a boon for the Olympics, giving the Torino games a bit of "buzz." Sort of like the kneewhack heard 'round the world that led into the '94 Games.

~Adam

What gets me is that people are acting as if his comments are funny and charming when they are anything but. More proof that you can be cute and talented but an total idiot.

Anthony

Just like all drunk-drivers, Miller talks about having put his life at risk but fails to acknowledge that he also could have killed or seriously injured an innocent bystander.

I stopped supporting the USOC and various sports federations long ago when I realized that my donations didn't just help the struggling amateur athlete but also ended up as pocket change and beer money for the well-paid elite athletes.

Matt Lauer interviewed Miller and mentioned the millions he will make from his high profile during the Olympics and he said he didn't even care about the money. Anyone else believe that one?

I'm a three-time Olympic coach. I was not shocked by Miller's comments, and thought that some other things he said (I read the Newsweek interview/article) were right on target.

I don't know very many top athletes who haven't performed with a hangover once or twice. It's not admirable or even a good idea - but it happens. What upsets me is a) when coaches seem unable to do anything about it, or unable to educate the athletes better, and when an athlete takes performance so lightly that he will jeopardize it (and compromise himself and everyone who has supported him) by being that stupid. But it happens. Big surprise, given the enormous pressures Olympic medal-level athletes are under.

But the rest of what Miller said was on target. The governing bodies are sometimes run by some people with huge incomes and little understanding the sport or the athletes. Of course there are some very honorable exceptions, but I remember a time when our CEO's salary was higher than the team's budget, so that I was paying part of our material expenses out of my own pocket.

And with the American attitude that gold is gold and second place is losing - can anytone wonder when a top contender starts drinking to dull some of the pressure?

It seems to me that when someone who is as good as Bode Miller speaks out, and has proven that he has what it takes, it might actually be a good idea to listen...

Nat

[ January 20, 2006, 08:26 AM: Message edited by: Nat ]

I have to second Nat's comments about Bode's mentioning skiing drunk. It sounds bad when discussed on 60 Minutes and in the context of him being a role model and representative of US Skiing, but the truth is that it's not that unusual nor is it as reckless as it was portrayed. The culture that surrounds skiing, from the college level up, encourages you not only to win the race, but also to win the party. And maybe it's not so unhealthy to kick back after long stretches of tough training and high-pressure competitions.

In any case, don't expect Miller to show up at the Olympic downhill or any other important race drunk or hungover. He might be awkwardly outspoken and rebellious, but he--like all of these guys--is competitive and wants to put himself in the best shape to win. The drinking at important races doesn't start until they get to the bottom of the run!

The two of you are painting it as "skiing with a hangover" and "winning the party after the race." However, his comments talked about skiing while drunk -- that is a far cry from what you describe. If he said he's been hung over a lot during events or partied hard after a race there'd have been little or no attention paid to what he said.

In another interview, this time with 'Rolling Stone,' Bode Miller addresses other athletes:

"Right now, if you want to cheat, you can: Barry Bonds and those guys are just knowingly cheating, but there's all sorts of loopholes. If you say it has to be 'knowingly,' you do what Lance Armstrong and all those guys do, where every morning their doctor gives them a box of pills and they don't ask anything, they just take the pills."

If GQ crafted their most hated athletes list now, Bode Miller would be high on the list.

~Adam