The Winter Olympics

[Mike McDaniel]

Don't be surprised if the support jackets get banned. There's been a lot of debate about the clothing rules in the last year.

[Pat McCoy]

The suit shown is being used by a biathlon shooter. ISSF smallbore and air rifle rules already preclude the system shown in the separate rules for jackets and underwear. There is however a new substance which gets hard at impact (being used in some helmets), and I'd bet they will tweek it to get hard at certain positions rather than impact. This may well be the demise of shooting jackets and pants (by a new rule requiring only "soft" materials or some such).

[Fred Mannis]

After reading Bodie Miller's interview, I vote to do away with skiing and replace it with one of the shooting sports where athletes really care about doing well and train for it.

http://www.comcast.net/sports/index.jsp ... 33832.html

[Sparks]

There is however a new substance which gets hard at impact (being used in some helmets), and I'd bet they will tweek it to get hard at certain positions rather than impact. This may well be the demise of shooting jackets and pants (by a new rule requiring only "soft" materials or some such).

No such new rule would be required Pat. From the current rules:

7.4.7.2 All shooting jackets, shooting trousers and shooting gloves must be made of flexible material that does not materially change its physical characteristics, that is, become stiffer, thicker or harder, under commonly accepted shooting conditions. All lining, padding and reinforcements must meet the same specifications.

(Interesting note; canvas violates this rule as it gets stiffer in cold conditions.)

[aurorapolice02_11]

Are you implying that Miller does not care about doing well nor training hard? A hardly think that is the case...

Mike Douglass

[Richard H]

Are you implying that Miller does not care about doing well nor training hard? A hardly think that is the case...

Mike Douglass

Have you gone to his web site or listened to any of his interviews? I highly doubt he doesn't care either, but that's how he is coming off. He really could use someone with some PR knowledge because he really sort of sounds like an idiot (unless of course that what he is going for).

[aurorapolice02_11]

he did well in the season leading up to these games and is already a medalist...plus i don't tend to read or believe a media outlet as far as quotes or editing an interview...

I am sick of the media making some athletes out to be something they may not be...AND people who makes assumptions based on the media information...

My $.02

Mike Douglass

[Richard H]

he did well in the season leading up to these games and is already a medalist...plus i don't tend to read or believe a media outlet as far as quotes or editing an interview...

I am sick of the media making some athletes out to be something they may not be...AND people who makes assumptions based on the media information...

My $.02

Mike Douglass

No arguement from me he has done well, and the the media for the most part are a bunch of ignorant fools and have no clue what they are talking about.

The web site is his own and the interviews were long interviews not statements taken out of context. But then again I think he enjoys being controversial, so the vast majority of it is him trying to play up his bad boy image (but I think he maybe carrying it a little too far).

[CraigE]

Interesting speculation about his motives/persona however, his sport doesn't take place on a range....indoor or out. Different stroke. $.02-CE

[aurorapolice02_11]

The original statement I argued against was the speculation that Miller did not care about performance and training and I want to stick with that. So, he may say stupid things, once again I think the media adds their own little flair to it as well.

Also, I read the link that the person posted to back up their statement that skiing should be removed if this is how athletes are going to be. There was no mention of his personal sight or long interviews in that post.

The point I was trying to make earlier was I think it is absurd to think an OLYMPIC ATHLETE does not care about performance or training...whatever.

Mike Douglass

[Fred Mannis]

The original statement I argued against was the speculation that Miller did not care about performance and training and I want to stick with that. So, he may say stupid things, once again I think the media adds their own little flair to it as well.

By his own admission, Miller says he was less ready (did not prepare as thoroughly?) for these Games than for 2002. I watched him after he completed the giant slalom and he didn't appear to be in good physical shape.

You may well be right about his caring about performance and training. I have never walked in those shoes, so I have to judge him by what he says and does. And what he said was that this Olympic experience was awesome because he got to party and socialize. Quite a way to summarize his Olympic experience.

[HBP]

Lucky man to have his country pay his airfare, accommodation, food, transport and entertainment so that he can go and "party and socialise".

Excuse me while I go and draft a proposal to my Olympic governing body, there's a couple of parties in Europe I'd like to go to . . .

[aurorapolice02_11]

You forget there was a team trial that he PERFORMED at and made the team by working his ass off...you guys have no clue...

[Guest]

You forget there was a team trial that he PERFORMED at and made the team by working his ass off...you guys have no clue...

Actually some of us do have a clue . . . I've made it to my country's shooting team, I know about working my ass off. I also know I didn't "shoot" my mouth off, at least not until I had secured the gold medal.

[Richard H]

You forget there was a team trial that he PERFORMED at and made the team by working his ass off...you guys have no clue...

Performance in the past is not necessarily a guarentee of performance in the future. Like I suggested earlier much of the hype is probably him furthering his bad boy image( or don't you beleive he has that). He may also be doing the "I lost so I don't care, it's not important to me" coping mechanism which is very common with ego driven atheletes.

Do you have some sort of personal interest in this, you seem to take the comments of others regarding a third party very personally. Meanwhile if you actually looked into any of this the comments that have been made they have really been made by Bodie himself. You can choose whether to beleive them or not, but I hate to tell you many of the posters seem to "have a clue" and its you who seem not too informed.

[aurorapolice02_11]

When did he (Miller) start shooting his mouth off? I never read anywhere where he bragged about how he was going to win...if you are going to imply that he did, then it is your task to find that and post it here.

The point I am making is that accusations are being made of Miller to the point that he did not deserve to be on the team. Of course he is controversial and says stupid things, but that has nothing to do with how competant he is as an athlete.

Assumptions are being made by what he says and what the media writes/films. Put yourself in his shoes. He didn't medal in a single event and now he is being asked how his experience was. So he says he had fun. BIG DEAL. He was partying and socializing long before the Olympics. If you do your homework, a lot of what the media reported was in the past year and was just brought to light at the Olympics, I assume when it would be jucier by media standards. So he does all this partying, socializing and has a geat year on the World Cup circuit and manages to make the team. The implication I am getting from previous posts was he just used the Olympics as a way to party and have fun. Keep in mind he is a past medalist and probably wants to win more. Therefore, I will make an assumption now, that he did work hard and did what he needed to prepare. Is there anything wrong with going out to socialize during the Olympics? You can't just stay in your room all day...

As far as the statement about him not being as prepared for these games as in Salt Lake...that does not mean he did not work hard. You can ask a lot of athletes who did not win a medal and many may say they could have prepared themsleves a little better. Yes, you will get athletes who did not win, say they would not change a thing.

Unless I see proof or an admission from him that he was "boozing it up and partying" as it has been implied here, I am going to consider those allegations baseless.

Mike Douglass

[aurorapolice02_11]

We are talking about Olympic athletes, not stocks. How else are you to select an athlete to compete other than by past performance.

I just read your post after writing mine. If you are still confused read my most recent post.

As far as me not "having a clue", please enlighten me with your infinite wisdom...I have not seen him brag, boast or even state that he was using the Olympics to socialize and cat around, as previous posters here have implied. I am not the one making accusations, so I feel no obligation to look further into it. Whereas if you are being accusatory then it's on your shoulders to show proof for your point. An assumption is NOT proof.

I am sticking up for him and have provided my reasoning.

[davidgoerndt]

I think the expectations of certain athletes are imposed from the outside, by the media to bolster ratings. From what I've heard of Miller he is more interested in his individual performance than winning, he didn't win any medals, so he is perceived as letting his country down. please!. However, when it comes to a high profile event like the Olympics, the hype starts and it puts enormous pressure on the athlete to live up to the press. The unknown althletes who step up and perform get only footnotes compared to the stars. Lindsey Jacobellis got raked over the coals for blowing a gold medal with a little hot dog move, like the press had money on the outcome. Controversy sells papers/airtime, so if there is a lack of it, the media will stir some up. Let's get some of the commentators up on skis and toss them down a steep, icy slope at 70mph and see what they do!

[HBP]

Individual athletes, quotes, etc aside . . .

I do believe that when one is chosen to represent one's country, at the most prestigious sporting event in the world, that it carries with it a very high level of responsibility.

There is a responsibility to one's country (you are after all "their" representative). There is a responsibility to the team, the coaching staff, support staff, sponsors, etc. (they are "enabling" you to give of your best). And these days, there is a responsibility to the media (whether we like them or not) because they have become the world's eye on big sporting events. I would also argue that one has a responsibility to those athletes left behind in the selection process. You need to show them that you were indeed the best choice for the team and country. There are other responsibilities (such as to oneself, family, etc) but these are more personal, and not necessarily visible.

I accept that some athletes have a more casual approach to their training, preparation and competition. That's fine as long as they are footing the bill and representing themselves, but when one is chosen for one's country that attitude has to change.

[F. Paul in Denver]

Taking HBP's sage perspective a bit further, Bodie failed his country, his sport and himself. Not because he didnt win any medals - most athletes come home without them and still compete honorably.

Bodie simply refused to understand that the media image he chose would ultimately result in a focus on his shortfalls rather than his accomplishments - both of which were significant.

I'm sure there are those of you that believe he is a victim of the media and that Bodie didnt get to choose his own media image. That simply isnt the case - just look around at the positive media personna other athletes seemed very able to promote.

I dont for one minute doubt that he is a gifted and a hard working athlete. He couldnt possibly have made it to that level of competition without immense skill and drive. But, Bodie also should have realized that in order to bring honor to his country, sport and himself, he needed to deal with the media in a positive way.

To those whom much is given, much is expected.



F. Paul in Denver