Following Team USA’s loss in the quarterfinals of Olympic men’s hockey, forward Mike Modano had some choice words for the top s of USA hockey. Although Modano has since apologized for the “tone” of his diatribe, the fact is, he came across as a sore loser—to a global audience, no less. In general, a culture of entitlement and self-absorption surrounded US Olympic athletes over the course of the games in Torino, and I, for one, am annoyed.
Was it entirely necessary for speed skaters Chad Hedrick and Shani Davis to expose their hostilities toward one another at a press conference celebrating the accomplishments of the top three placeholders in the 1,500-metre race? Here’s a brief recount of what transpired: Davis stormed off the media stage after insinuating that Hedrick was a “phony” and guilty of shaking Davis’ hand only because Davis finished the race in second position. Had he won, contended Davis, Hedrick wouldn’t have congratulated him at all.
To make matters worse, Davis’ mom compounded the feud by saying that she alone was responsible for her son competing in the Olympics and not “in the street selling drugs.” Are you kidding me? Selling crack cocaine and speed skating are on opposite ends of the reality spectrum, lady. I’m sure he would have found a happy medium—like maybe working at Bed, Bath & Beyond or becoming a featured astronaut in the US Space Program.
These “athletes” completely disrespected themselves, their competition, their sport and their country. Rather than chastising each other, they should have been embracing the friendly competition that comes with chasing the Olympic dream.
Another example of a lack of integrity came from Jeret “Speedy” Peterson, who partied a little too hard after a disappointing finish. After ending his aerials skiing event by failing to land his patented “Hurricane,” Speedy decided to go out with some friends and teammates to a nightclub and consume copious amounts of alcohol. The bender ended the following morning at 9 a.m. when he and his buddy had to be physically separated from one another at a public transit drop-off point by Italian police.
Now it’s been approximately two years since I had my last alcoholic beverage, but since when does a night out with the boys digress into an aggressive slap-fest while waiting for the Numero 32 bus? Needless to say, Peterson was sent packing by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), and banned from participating in any more US ski team activities before the closing ceremonies.
Another athlete, Lindsay Jacobellis of snowboard cross fame, had practically secured the gold medal in her event before going off the final jump and attempting to land a “board grab” or “reverse fakie,” or “Ollie”—or some combination of the three—with the undeniable sole purpose of showing up her fellow competitors. This plan backfired big-time, as she scrambled to salvage the silver medal after catching an edge and falling off course. I must it that witnessing this turn of events was the highlight of an otherwise uneventful day for me—it barely topped sharing $4.65 worth of penny candy with my housemate while we engaged in a friendly game of “Name That Rotting Fruit in the Refrigerator.”
From this point forward, I will forever hold out hope that every time a sportsman or sportswoman endeavours to “give a shout-out to their peeps back home,” while, in the process, aiming to embarrass the rest of the field, he or she will fall flat on his or her face in a cloud of white, powdery snow.
Lastly, there was skier Bode Miller: the face of the US ski program, and self-proclaimed bad-boy. Miller decided to sleep in rather than participate in the optional, but recommended, course inspection before his downhill race. As it turns out, he organized a soiree the night before featuring his friends and agent, and apparently couldn’t be bothered to set his alarm upon returning to his RV.
If he had any pride or dedication, he would have retired early for the evening and been the first one on the course the following morning, handing out espressos and biscotti to those who arrived after him. He should realize that as the poster child for the American skiing contingent, he is expected to lead and represent his team in some positive capacity. This isn’t beer-league softball or weekly pick-up basketball for the 50-and-over crowd at the local Y, it’s the Olympics.
Miller’s laissez-faire attitude netted him a fifth-place finish even though he was considered one of the favourites in the race. This result was followed by a disqualification and a “did not finish” in subsequent events. His performance should serve as a reminder to all competitors that the pursuit of Olympic accolades requires an unwavering commitment to a disciplined regimen. Miller’s assumption that he was capable of winning his race regardless of the level of effort he chose to devote to it is disgraceful.
The USOC should take no comfort in the legacy that these athletes have left on these Winter Games. The prevailing impression—true or not—that the rest of the world will take away from the performances of these athletes is that overall, the United States is a country bent on ignoring the tenets of fair play, sportsmanship and honour which define the Olympic experience.
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