One came as a virtual no name.
The other came in as Nike's poster boy.
One walked away with a gold and a silver and the respect and admiration of the world.
The other walked away with three DQs and a fifth and sixth place finish.
One earned our admiration by donating his USOC bonus of $25,000 to refugee children in Africa.
The other acts like a complete moron to a fan seeking a picture with him, and then pouts after his final DQ of the games.
One responds to his honor at carrying the flag in the closing ceremonies with "I feel like I'm not really worthy".
The other responds to his Olympic performance with "My quality of life is the priority. I wanted to have fun here, to enjoy the Olympic experience ... I just did it my way. I'm not a martyr, and I'm not a do-gooder. I just want to go out and rock. And man, I rocked here".
Yeah, right. You really rocked.
What really rocks is Greensboro's Joey Cheek, his work ethic, his attitude and his unselfishness. What really rocks is that his charity, Right To Play, has received $300,000 in corporate donations as a result of Joey Cheek's generous gesture and publicity.
What really rocks is what Cheek plans to do in the near future.
Cheek said Tuesday that he looks forward to entering college later this year, but first he wants to visit Africa.
"It's something I've always wanted to do," he said. "Now, with an opportunity to do something to help, I think it's important that I go and see for myself the plight of thousands of people who need a lot of help from a lot of people. I really hoped, regardless of my outcome, that I'd be able to inspire other people to contribute."
Anyone else feel like Bode personifies what is wrong with our "I did it my way" culture? And Nike poured their money behind him? What is wrong with this picture?
Greensboro, hold your head high. Dudley high school's Joey Cheek will receive a well deserved heroes welcome on March 6th in Greensboro. Maybe Joe Guarino and Micky McClean some of the other blogsboro crowd will be there to welcome him. Heck, maybe I'll join them and take my children to see a real American hero.
Rock on Joey!
A lot of folks in Greensboro, myself included, are very proud of this young man because of the way he has conducted himself. (And I think it is astonishing that a young man who grew up in a southern climate would win Olympic medals for skating!)
Posted by: Joe Guarino | February 25, 2006 at 18:52
You should be proud. We should all be proud.
Posted by: Mr. Dawntreader | February 26, 2006 at 09:28
Having grown up in NH, I don't quite see Bode as "what is wrong with our "I did it my way" culture?" He's a young, outspoken version of NH stubborness (though being outspoken detracts from the NH character).
I'd never heard of him before the Olympics, to be honest, and I think he simply reaped what he sowed. And I doubt that it will slow him down, even after the spotlight is gone.
Posted by: carlaviii | February 26, 2006 at 13:34
"He's a young, outspoken version of NH stubborness (though being outspoken detracts from the NH character)."
The issue I have with your comment is that is seems to miss the content of Bode's message ... which seems to be, "It is all about meeeeee.....". He signs a contract with Nike and then gets mad at people who treat him like a celebrity? Read the account of how he treated the fan who asked if she could have a picture with him.
Bode is just another self-absorbed, narcissistic prima donna. His kind come and go. The more disturbing thing to me personally, is that Nike thinks this is an image that sells in our culture.
I hope Joey Cheek rakes in the endorsement deals. That would offer some encouragement that our culture still has a moral compass buried somewhere in its psyche.
Posted by: Mr. Dawn Treader | February 26, 2006 at 17:43
Going into the Olympics Bode was a Olympic hopeful. I liked him. (And no, not because he was "hot") I had seen him in the qualifying runs and he did them beautifully. His first DQ seemed to be a Ego check for him, since I watched his press statement on it. He calmly took responsibility and even said perhaps he had spent too much time off the slopes instead of Practicing.
I hadn't heard of his little temper tantrum (Woe to he who snubs a blogger. ;P) and I must admit, after hearing those two things I am very ashamed of the guy I was rooting for. :( It certainly sounds like two differant guys, huh?
This doesn’t mean I wasn't watching Cheek and his runs... Well, Bode wasn't running so well once he hit the Olympic runs, and the fact that Cheek is from my town of 11 years helped. ;) Yes, I agree, Cheek is an Amazing young man. *waves a Cheek flag*
In light of all this, it isn't just Bode Miller that is not showing Olympic spirit. Certainly when a lot of athletes aren’t even marching in the opening or ending ceremonies and aren’t staying with their teammates in Olympic village, or dropping out to focus on their own runs and causing their team to lose... *cough* Ahem... :| It isn't just Bode with the "all about me" attitude that is sweeping the Athletes today. I think a lot of them are losing the Olympic Spirit too.
I still blame it on commercialism though.
-Doyle
Posted by: Doyle | February 26, 2006 at 22:07
Good point about the Olympic spirit. I have not heard that story covered much -- but I confess, this Olympics kind of came and went with a *yawn* for me.
I mean, what is the take away moment from these games?
As I sit here and ponder it, I don't know what I will remember from these games other than a humble guy from Greensboro won a gold medal in speedskating ... and, that the opening ceremonies were waaaaay too long.
Posted by: Mr. Dawn Treader | February 27, 2006 at 07:55
I mean, what is the take away moment from these games?
For me, it was the Women's Giant Slalom: Fog, snow, poor visibility, a treacherous course, and an unexpected Gold for Mancuso who was not, as far as I can tell, one of the U.S. skiers fawned over by the press prior to the games.
I didn't see Cheek's races, but I prefer the alpine skiing events to the skating.
Posted by: Nick | February 27, 2006 at 09:51
Miller's behavior with the fan who wanted a picture was embarrassing. What a prima donna! I would barely acknowledge his existence if I saw him at my local watering hole. If he wants privacy so badly, let's give him all he wants.
Some people aren't cut out to be celebrities.
Posted by: Rob Ryan | February 27, 2006 at 11:28
(shrugs) What little I saw of Bode didn't include any hissy fits or anything like that... I don't know the guy, he just gave me the impression of the basic "leave me alone, I'm doing my own thing" New Englander.
I do think Ohno hit the nail right on the head when he said there's too much emphasis on the color of the medal. I thought the best moments of the games were the Turkish skater who was the first to represent her country and the Italian skater who gave a fabulous, personal best performance even though she had no shot at a medal. There are hundreds of atheletes who go to the games for no other reason than loving their sport and wanting to do their best, and I think they're the real Olympians.
Posted by: carlaviii | February 27, 2006 at 12:33
Thanks for pointing out some good take away moments from the games. I wish had seen the Turkish skater and the Italian skater ... as well as Mancuso's performance. My loss.
Posted by: Mr. Dawn Treader | February 27, 2006 at 21:09
I think you're right -- Bode showed his true stripes -- selfish and immature. Even worse was that snowboardcross racer who pulled the stunt on the last jump and lost the gold, then lied about what she was doing. Actually the whole snowboarcross event seemed kind of un-Olympian. Maybe I'm just getting older, but the whole show seemed to lack that granduer it had years ago. Really, who cares who the fastest short track skater in the world is, other than a few bored, frozen people in northern Minnesota? Now soon, the stuff that really matters will begin -- big unshaven guys spitting and scratching while they whip a stitched up piece of cowhide around a dirt diamond. And not soon enough! Spring, baseball, Yankee Stadium, where are you???!
Posted by: dopderbeck | February 28, 2006 at 10:09
"Actually the whole snowboarcross event seemed kind of un-Olympian."
Agreed. It was strange -- exciting -- but strange. Didn't seem to fit in the Olympics.
Incidentally, I heard that curling was the suprise winner in the ratings games. (I can't back that up, btw).
I found myself enjoying the curling competition -- I was inspired to grab a broom and get out there and start yelling. And how about how vocal those curlers were?
Posted by: Mr. Dawn Treader | February 28, 2006 at 12:53