12/22/24
February 14, 2006
DOWNHILL SPIRAL: The case behind Bode Miller's fifth-place finish. : Look at Miller's season in downhill: Seven races, one podium. His average finish is ninth. Throw out his outlying 22nd in Lake Louise on Thanksgiving and his average finish is still no better than sixth. All season long he has linked occasionally sick turns, won splits and hinted at greatness past while falling short. Blame it on the beers if you like. Blame it on the belly. Or blame it on the brain. Truth is: Miller's Olympic downhill was precisely what his entire season has been. Nothing more and nothing less.
posted by the red terror to other at 04:18 PM - 34 comments
Hey dont leave me out pass me a beer too
posted by sirtt22 at 05:23 PM on February 14, 2006
Well he came in first in the downhill portion of the combined today but was disqualified for the slalom because he missed a gate.
posted by skydivemom at 05:45 PM on February 14, 2006
i'm enjoying the olympics so far, but i am tired of hearing about bode miller. i don't know skiing, but it sounds to me that the guy is super-talented but runs his mouth too much. it seems like he goes about his profession in a half-ass manner and makes more headlines with his mouth than his results on the slopes. let's turn the page on bode miller. if he wins gold later on in the olympics, good for him. if not, let's stop talking about the guy and giving him undeserved attention
posted by erkno11 at 06:09 PM on February 14, 2006
"Undeserved attention" indeed. A man once said, "You show me a person that doesn't care about winning, I'll show you a loser." Talent or not, its not like he will have any other chance to make good. Do you really think he will be back in 2010 to try again? Who needs a cold one? I'm up.
posted by wassup at 06:16 PM on February 14, 2006
I understand Bode Miller came out with fantastic promo contracts just before the Games. This is another case of throwing a lot of money on damaged goods. I would never buy any product endorsed by an athlete. Just look at the so called "heroes" or "role models" in the leagues. Between the felons, thieves and worst, where is the moral value? Or am I too old?
posted by Mr C at 06:18 PM on February 14, 2006
O-K Mr C , The moral value? at least he admits what he does on and off the slopes. Whens the last time you heard a "PRO" athlete admit to things unless caught?
posted by what the? at 06:30 PM on February 14, 2006
As an American I am disappointed with Bode Miller. I am sure he is a likeable guy, can hold his booze, and his dinner. But he is representing me, the USA, my country. The word is watching and he is blowing this opportunity to shine. It seems Bode's heart is not in it. Issues with conditioning and extra pounds should have been resolved way, way before the starting gate.(makes me wonder is he's got Drew Rosenhouse on speed-dial) Could be the pressure, but then again this is not his first rodeo. But when I start to feel ashamed that this is the best America has to offer to the world, then he needs shrink into obscurity.
posted by kosmicdebris at 07:15 PM on February 14, 2006
I would never buy any product endorsed by an athlete. Are you sure? Because I bet you own at least two products endorsed by an athlete. I know you have a George Foreman grill, dude.
posted by Samsonov14 at 07:17 PM on February 14, 2006
I saw an interview with Picabo Street today, and she's of the opinion that Bode's cruising for a bruising. She actually said, "No one has ever smacked him down, and I think he needs someone to do that, and quick, before it's too late." There may be a history there, but frankly, I'd be willing to trust her opinion.
posted by chicobangs at 08:00 PM on February 14, 2006
Ah, I agree with the article -- he'll still come away from this with a medal, or two. He's very, very talented, and he showed it in the combined today. I also agree with the article -- he probably doesn't take the whole thing seriously enough to be really great. There is a lot of random chance at play in alpine skiing, and to win consistently you have to be truly dominant.
posted by Amateur at 08:18 PM on February 14, 2006
Bode won a silver already and almost won the combined . . .just clipped one pole. I know the press had built him up like he was "supposed" to win gold in everything but thats not his fault. Most athletes are delighted with a medal, any medal against the best the world has to offer. Give him a break!
posted by maggimae at 10:05 PM on February 14, 2006
I just watched Bode's first run when he got DQ'd, and it was a totally normal slalom thing. It was disappointing, and even more so (even for this Canadian) because Bode Miller is probably one of the 10 best men alpine racers in history - he is and has been a wonderful talent. If not for Hermann Maier you'd say he was the best of his generation. Anyhow he will have more chances, because he's a 5-event skier. So he has the slalom, the GS and the Super-G left this time around. And he's only 29, so it's very possible for him to be around in Vancouver as well.
posted by mikelbyl at 10:18 PM on February 14, 2006
I am disappointed in Miller. The guy has a chance few people ever get and he sleeps in and fails to show up for valuable inspection of the course? What kind of Olympian is that? Since he is representing all of us Americans and people who enjoy skiing around the world one would think he would give it his best and not sleep in. Hanging out at a diner of sorts and having some beers before the race for a meddle is embarassing. What kind of shit is that? The guy may be fun to hang out with and such, but he could put off drinking and the bullsh(&& with Nike until after the race one would think. I didn't care if the guy wins or not, just that he make every attempt to do his best and make everyone proud that America sent him. He clearly failed to live up to his end of the bargain in my opinion.
posted by T$PORT4lawschool at 11:24 PM on February 14, 2006
Duuuuude.
posted by sfts2 at 08:52 AM on February 15, 2006
I did feel a bit bad for Bode when he missed that gate, but was it just me, or did Bob Costas almost look like he was suppressing glee when Miller DQed? However, I didn't feel so bad for Bode when his young teammate Ted Ligety shocks the field and wins gold, and his teammates are there to celebrate with him, throw him in the air, put him on their shoulders -- but where was Bode...? Oh, that's right, he was back at his RV commisserating. Might have been nice if he'd stuck around with the team. But I guess that's just Bode being Bode.
posted by the red terror at 08:56 AM on February 15, 2006
i don't really follow skiing but i've heard so much about this guy on tv. Is he really that good that everyone is on his nuts? I mean its the fucken olympics man you can put off hanging out late and driking for a couple weeks. So many other athletes would give anything to be in his position.
posted by chuy at 08:57 AM on February 15, 2006
Those George Foreman grills are awesome!! (Bit difficult to clean sometimes, but thumbs-up from the apartment dweller.)
posted by the red terror at 08:57 AM on February 15, 2006
Everyone needs to give this guy a break. Let him enjoy the Olympic scene how he wants to. These guys he is going up against are no chumps, so it is almost impossible to win gold in everything. They also had that issue with changing skis right before the race, and then straddling the gate (which happens a lot). This is what we do, set unacheivable goals for somebody, and then bitch when they don't get them. This guy is good, he will win a gold.
posted by jmbraun773 at 09:20 AM on February 15, 2006
There are also three events left for him to do well in. He was overhyped, yes - but he had a bad downhill and would have been on the podium for the combined if it wasn't for a barely straddled gate. I vote for criticizing the hell out of him after he's done competing. Doing it right in the middle of his games is so half-assed.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:26 AM on February 15, 2006
Bode just being Bode is a good way to for Bode to be out of Bode's endorsement contracts. RT, are you cleaning your grill while it's hot? If you let it cool down, it's a pain, but if you plug it in, let it heat up and then wipe it down, it's a snap! Next up on Martha ... how to make a prison dildo out of a mop head and Scotch tape!
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:26 AM on February 15, 2006
"This is what we do, set unacheivable goals for somebody, and then bitch when they don't get them. This guy is good, he will win a gold." Uhh...? Who are you calling "we"? And what exactly is the so-called "unacheivable goal"...? Last Olympics Bode won a silver medal. Last year he won the World Cup. This year people are expecting Bode to win an Olympic Gold Medal. Is the expectation -- or the gold medal iteself -- what you are calling an "unacheivable goal"? Then whose goal is it? The goal is the aim of all athletes -- to win! And if this expectaion and perhaps realization is "unacheivable," then why do you think, as you say, "this guy is good, he will win a gold." Aren't you putting just a little bit too much unrealistic and unacheivable pressure of the skier?
posted by the red terror at 10:05 AM on February 15, 2006
"Doing it right in the middle of his games is so half-assed." Possibly. But it's the middle of the Leafs season too, and I don't feel guilty tearing a new hole in them when they're suckingarse, I don't have to wait until they bow out of the playoffs. If we had to wait for the end of all things to pass comment, then talking about sports would get pretty dull.
posted by the red terror at 10:08 AM on February 15, 2006
I'm just saying that people were expecting him to come back with 5 olympic gold medals...that's crazy. It is hard enough to win one. And by "we" I mean the fans, media, etc...
posted by jmbraun773 at 10:27 AM on February 15, 2006
Who was predicting Miller would bring back a haul of 5 gold medals? Seriously... who? It was hyped far-and-wide that Miller was entered into 5 events, but I've not read or heard one person predicting he was bring back an Eric Heiden-esque medal haul. Not a-one. But if you have a name, it wouldn't rise to the level of "we," but it'd be a start...
posted by the red terror at 11:20 AM on February 15, 2006
If we had to wait for the end of all things to pass comment, then talking about sports would get pretty dull. Not pass comment, but pass judgement. People are suggesting - as is the article - that Bode's games are a bust. Well, he conceivably could make three podiums. Should he, I would expect some hearty retractions by a few of you. Though, I would admit that Bode has done little to refute the charge that he is an unconscionable blowhard. And no one has to wait until the playoffs to criticize the Leafs. It's a national pasttime as well as a wonderful stress-reliever.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:19 PM on February 15, 2006
I'm Boded out. The guy is way too much into himself. He has far too much arrogance for what he has actually accomplished. He put his money where his mouth is, and he lost.
posted by irunfromclones at 02:37 PM on February 15, 2006
I think Bode is in it for Bode. As stated above he wasn't there after he was DQ'd to congratulate his teammate for his gold. I think a little team commrodery would be in order but that is just me. I am not saying it isn't possible for him to be on 3 podiums cause he could. I just have been disappointed in his performance up till this point. If he starts getting medals than great for him. I hope he doesn't expect everyone to be waiting at the bottom of the hill to place him on their shoulders. If they are, they are bigger and better people than I would be in the same situation.
posted by skydivemom at 03:38 PM on February 15, 2006
Oh no, don't count the guy out. I agree, you do a post-mortem once the body is dead. Obviously, based on yesterdays showing, he's still there physically. I think he's just terribly frustrating to a lot of athletes that have to give every drop of sweat out of their proverbial 110% and then do all the other mental preparatory stuff (like course inspections, y'know, dotting the i's and crossing the t's), and to them the sport is precious and they read his body language and behavior as him believing their rituals are frivolous. And of course, those people are then going to believe Bode is wasting his talent and opportunity. But he could definitely still win a couple Gold medals, I wouldn't put that past him, he's a freak.
posted by the red terror at 04:00 PM on February 15, 2006
Is it true that Bode said "this is what happens when they don't let me drink" or something to that effect in a post-race interview? Somebody at lunch told me that, but I can't find anything to back it up.
posted by garfield at 04:04 PM on February 15, 2006
Skydive... I was disappointed that Bode wasn't there for Ligety, I was the one that made the comment. But under the circumstances as they happened, selfish-or-not, I can understand what Miller was thinking: Get inside, get warm, pull yourself together. With clean runs there's no guarantee he would have won gold, but he was on that podium, and it was probably a lot more devastating to him than he was letting on. That was the event he silvered in Salt Lake after all. I've known people over my lifetime that have exhibited some of the same behaviors Miller has displayed over the years -- of course, they're not champion athletes, they're everyday people -- and people who knew them only artificially called them selfish. But get to know them for real, and you'll find most aren't arseholes at all. They actually do motivate themselves for results, but they do it in ways that are different and often entertaining, and at the end of the day, that's not such a terrible eulogy. I think he's a nutter and want to see him win one gold medal in his lifetime. I just hope he wants it as badly as most other athletes do, and secretly, I think he does. He just doesn't want you or me or his opponents to know that, 'cos he's the guy with the bullseye on his back. (Besides, he's still young and his brain operates differently than the rest of us...)
posted by the red terror at 04:17 PM on February 15, 2006
Cut the guy some slack. He's young, talented, having fun, and making a living at what he loves to do which is skiing. How many of us never was, wanna be, arm chair quarterbacks are competing at the world's highests level? Bode is at the Olympics, center stage and performing well. The biggest problem people have with Bode is the media hype for which he is not responsible. He just wants to live his life, ski and have fun. It seems the public makes more out of his life and deeds than he does. I guess that is what happens when he has a life and so many others who talk trash don't.
posted by Atheist at 04:51 PM on February 15, 2006
(Besides, he's still young and his brain operates differently than the rest of us...) posted by the red terror at 4:17 PM CST on February 15 I may be jumping to conclusions about him being selfish but you are jumping to them about how old I am. Just having fun with ya! I don't know what is in Bode's heart, I was just saying what I see. The other guys on the hill when Ligety won the gold were not in medal contention and they were still there. Besides I don't really think Bode cares about what I (armchair quarterback) think but if he is reading this and I have hurt his feelings in anyway - I apologize. Sometimes people (myself included) make judgement calls on people based on the only things they make public. Isn't that what we do with everyone though. You can only make judgements on what everyday people show you. You never truely know a persons heart so if we waited till we did this would be an extremely boring site.
posted by skydivemom at 08:46 PM on February 15, 2006
You never truely know a persons heart No, but you can take an educated guess, sometimes.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:16 AM on February 17, 2006
AMEN, BROTHER!!!! Pass me a beer.