I agree with you mostly, in that I'm not a fan of celebrity driven or excessively nationalistic coverage. On the other hand:
I think...hm. I think the ability to compete at the Olympic level is an honor. For many, many athletes, it takes a staggering amount of sacrifice on their part and the part of the people in their families and communities to be able to get to the Olympics, a lifetime of effort. If you're from a poor country, or a country that isn't naturally amenable to the sport you compete in, or if you're overcomig some handicap (asthma or maybe a body that isn't actually classically suited to your sport), it's even worse. And many, many athletes, no matter how hard they try, won't make it, ever, and their tiny window of opportunity will close, they'll be "too old" or whatever by 25 or some equally heatbreakingly young age.
So enter Bode, who has this rare opportunity, and:
"Also 1) Bode has always been erratic, 2) Bode has always been a loose cannon who skips inspections and doesn't do what the coaches say, 3) Bode has been out of shape after taking a break, and 4) Bode has an alcohol problem."
And part of me thinks, "What a jackass. What a waste. How insulting to all the people out there who are really disciplining themselves and trying their absolute best, or would like to be able to, if they had the chance, but can't, because people like Bode got to go instead, how insulting to the other competitors."
I don't care if Miller wins of loses per se. But I think that if you go to the Olympics, you should be able to walk away saying "I really tried my best. I did everything (within the rules and the boundaries of health and safety obviously) to live up to my potential, and the support I've gotten from teammates, coaches, my family, etc over the years."
I don't really think Bode can say that, and I think that's a legitimate thing to criticise him for.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2006-02-26 05:02 pm (UTC)I think...hm. I think the ability to compete at the Olympic level is an honor. For many, many athletes, it takes a staggering amount of sacrifice on their part and the part of the people in their families and communities to be able to get to the Olympics, a lifetime of effort. If you're from a poor country, or a country that isn't naturally amenable to the sport you compete in, or if you're overcomig some handicap (asthma or maybe a body that isn't actually classically suited to your sport), it's even worse. And many, many athletes, no matter how hard they try, won't make it, ever, and their tiny window of opportunity will close, they'll be "too old" or whatever by 25 or some equally heatbreakingly young age.
So enter Bode, who has this rare opportunity, and:
"Also 1) Bode has always been erratic, 2) Bode has always been a loose cannon who skips inspections and doesn't do what the coaches say, 3) Bode has been out of shape after taking a break, and 4) Bode has an alcohol problem."
And part of me thinks, "What a jackass. What a waste. How insulting to all the people out there who are really disciplining themselves and trying their absolute best, or would like to be able to, if they had the chance, but can't, because people like Bode got to go instead, how insulting to the other competitors."
I don't care if Miller wins of loses per se. But I think that if you go to the Olympics, you should be able to walk away saying "I really tried my best. I did everything (within the rules and the boundaries of health and safety obviously) to live up to my potential, and the support I've gotten from teammates, coaches, my family, etc over the years."
I don't really think Bode can say that, and I think that's a legitimate thing to criticise him for.