Unlike most of America, I have never really been much of a Michelle Kwan fan.
I am now.
She made the right call by withdrawing and giving up her spot to Emily Hughes. It time for others to have their chance in the glamour sport of women's figure skating. I realize NBC lost their big story of the Olympics. So what. Space is precious on these teams, and the young bucks deserve their shot at a rare Olympic medal. Kwan has had her shot.
Kwan would have shown incredible class if she would have stayed in Italy to cheer on the U.S. skaters instead of high tailing it home on the first plane.
USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth said "Michelle Kwan means more to the United States Olympic Committee than maybe any athlete that's ever performed for the United States Olympic Committee". She could have proved him right by staying and lending her fame and encouragement to the team.
Still, hats off and kudos to Kwan for making the right call in giving up her spot.
In other Olympic news, what is the big deal about Bode Miller? I never heard of this guy until two days ago. The coverage seems fixated on him and I have yet to see why there is so much fascination. My wife and I could not stop laughing at Jimmy Roberts' comment about Bode Miller being home schooled till the third grade (as if to say, "can you believe that?"). The perception of homeschooling out there in "mainstream" America is absolutely hilarious.
Other highlights from the games. Definitely has to be Shaun White's hair. I used to have hair kinda like that. Seeing White is giving me the itch to grow it out again. Do 42 year old guys with greying hair look good with the Shaun White doo?
My wife and I watched the half pipe competition a little bit. It confirmed my conviction about why I dislike subjective stylistic sports. Other than the wipe outs, the runs look just the same to me ... and one guys scores great and the next guy scores mediocre. The viewer is completely dependent on cues from the commentator as to whether or not to get excited about the performance. If the commentator is excited, then it must have been awesome.
I have never liked sports with judges. Give me a stop watch. Fastest guy wins. Clean. Simple. No subjectivity.
Nothing like a groin injury to sideline you. If you haven't experienced that, Jeff, believe me, not something you wish upon yourself.
Posted by: Brian | February 13, 2006 at 11:19
Nice piece. I am not an Olympic fan in any way, shape, or form. The athletes are incredible, but it doesn't sustain my interest as does the March Madness or the NFL Playoffs!
I never enjoyed figure skating as it all looked the same to me...same with the diving in the summer, and the "winter X-sports."
It was indeed classy for Kwan to step down, and I couldn't agree more, that it would have been ultra-classy for her to stick around and cheer. On a side note, I enjoyed reading Eric Heiden on Yahoo sports discussing speed skating. He was the MAN in 1980 and I remember my sister and I pretending to be Eric and Beth Heiden (she was also a speed skater)!
Later.
Posted by: BWB | February 13, 2006 at 13:34
Oh, a quick PS for Jeff. Keep the hair short!
My motto, high and tight. Hoo-yah!
Posted by: BWB | February 13, 2006 at 13:35
Nice acknowledgement. However, Michelle decided not to stick around because she didn't want to serve as a distraction. Don't you think NBC would pan over to her every chance they could if they knew she was there in the stands? Same reason why she turned NBC down to do commentary.
She DID the ultra-classy thing by leaving. Only in doing so could the Games continue without her.
Posted by: Jeff | February 13, 2006 at 13:51
Good point Jeff.
BWB, I agree that the Heiden piece was an interesting read. And I don't think my wifey is anxious for me grow the hair out just yet.
Posted by: Mr. Dawntreader | February 13, 2006 at 18:40
Yea Jeff,
thanks for the note. after i posted that note, i read a piece that NBC gave her a shot at the booth, but she didn't want to have the spotlight on her. def a classy move.
that being said, i still wouldn't watch figure skating!
:)
Later.
Posted by: BWB | February 13, 2006 at 20:41
Bode Miller was a Gold Medel favoirte going into the Olympics, and the media was all hyped up on him and he signed at least two dozen endorsment deals going into the Olympics... however this all crashed when he didn't even win bronze, and ended up in Fifth place.
... how sad. :(
-Doyle
Posted by: Molly | February 13, 2006 at 21:30
His lackluster performance has not slowed down the Nike commercials featuring Bode-ism.
What is the appeal Molly?!
Please esplain to me why Nike management thinks that their customers want to be Bode. Is it that they find home schooling extremely cool? :-)
Posted by: Mr. Dawntreader | February 14, 2006 at 09:01
BWB,
I am giving Kwan the benefit of the doubt. I think she is classy. I am just wondering if there is a way she could have stayed on to support the team ... to be the lead cheerleader ... to talk with grace about her teammates and her country ... to continually point to them instead of talk about her injury or her shattered dreams. Alas, I may be asking too much.
Figure skating is such a narcissistic sport. It hardly seems team oriented at all. Contrast that with the women's snowboard team -- where they are all pulling for each other. What a contrast.
Posted by: Mr. Dawntreader | February 14, 2006 at 09:03
Bode Miller's appeal? Well for me, mine started with the way he handled his disqualifacation in the last run was rather Classy. He didn't blame anyone or was he short and brash. He was calm, and took responsiblity for not getting up and practicing as often as he should. For me, that was really responible and mature. Definate appeal.
And Well, From conversations around School it seems that Bode is rather... how do you say it?... "Hot"? At least to the girl half of the public. (Wink)
-Doyle
Posted by: Molly | February 16, 2006 at 08:41
LOL. Now that makes sense! I was overanalyzing things ... again :-)
Posted by: Mr. Dawntreader | February 16, 2006 at 10:10
"His lackluster performance has not slowed down the Nike commercials featuring Bode-ism."
I think you may be a little unfair to Miller here. The reason he hooked a gate was that he was making a terrific run, blowing away the standing times (I'm trusting NPR here, not having witnessed the run in question). Mediocrity is less fraught with risk than excellence, but also less exciting. Miller fell short because he aimed high. I admire his spirit.
Posted by: Rob Ryan | February 17, 2006 at 13:14