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Slamming Bode.
Completely uncalled for.
I just watched the NBC coverage kicking Bode Miller when he was down.
You don't do that. You don't slam an athelete because he's not winning, you don't say in your wrap-up that he didn't try, and suggest he's a hypocrite.
This isn't done.
So NBC's pissed because Bode blew off the post-ski "How do you feel about losing so badly?" interviews.
So NBC's pissed that they built him up as the story, and hung their ratings on him (and Michelle Kwan). They even had Bode Miller vs. the Herminator cartoons -- assuming that Bodie Miller and Herman Maier would be the big story.
NBC had their heads up their collective asses and were stuck in 2002: Bode's been performing badly all year. 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.
Only one thing has changed from 2002: Bode isn't winning.
They didn't do their homework, and now they're mad at him, lashing out inappropriately because their ratings have tanked. But NBC's ratings mostly stink because the Olympics are happening in Italy and there are 10 gazillion ways to hear the results of the games before NBC has a chance to broadcast them. There's no reason to watch when you already know your favorite didn't win, or you're just watching the performance where you know they did.
They'll be fine come 2010 when the games are in Vancouver, Canada, and they can broadcast them live. They're screwed for the summer games.
In the meantime, Bode's obviously miserable. Have some dignity and honor and leave him alone.
ETA: I note that Nike, the biggest advertiser for the Olympics, built their ad campaign around Bode and then had to pull all but one of their spots. NBC lost money because of this.
That's Nike's dumb move, and NBC had to pay. There's no call to take it out on Bode. It's not his responsibility to ask "what happens to your ad campaign if I don't win?"
I just watched the NBC coverage kicking Bode Miller when he was down.
You don't do that. You don't slam an athelete because he's not winning, you don't say in your wrap-up that he didn't try, and suggest he's a hypocrite.
This isn't done.
So NBC's pissed because Bode blew off the post-ski "How do you feel about losing so badly?" interviews.
So NBC's pissed that they built him up as the story, and hung their ratings on him (and Michelle Kwan). They even had Bode Miller vs. the Herminator cartoons -- assuming that Bodie Miller and Herman Maier would be the big story.
NBC had their heads up their collective asses and were stuck in 2002: Bode's been performing badly all year. 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.
Only one thing has changed from 2002: Bode isn't winning.
They didn't do their homework, and now they're mad at him, lashing out inappropriately because their ratings have tanked. But NBC's ratings mostly stink because the Olympics are happening in Italy and there are 10 gazillion ways to hear the results of the games before NBC has a chance to broadcast them. There's no reason to watch when you already know your favorite didn't win, or you're just watching the performance where you know they did.
They'll be fine come 2010 when the games are in Vancouver, Canada, and they can broadcast them live. They're screwed for the summer games.
In the meantime, Bode's obviously miserable. Have some dignity and honor and leave him alone.
ETA: I note that Nike, the biggest advertiser for the Olympics, built their ad campaign around Bode and then had to pull all but one of their spots. NBC lost money because of this.
That's Nike's dumb move, and NBC had to pay. There's no call to take it out on Bode. It's not his responsibility to ask "what happens to your ad campaign if I don't win?"
no subject
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.
no subject
But after that he started pushing it, hard, cutting gates close. He had the one standard Bode Miller wipe-out -- he would have to re-learn how to ski to not have those, because the way he skis is not Skiing Association approved. He wins with that style, he's skied like that his whole life, but he's barely holding onto the slopes with his fingernails. That makes him erratic more than anything else.
Then in his third race he cut a gate too hard, too close, and was disqualified. That's not someone who isn't trying.
*shakes head* After that his mental game was gone. He was rattled, he was avoiding the press, you could see he was no longer racing the clock and the other skiiers -- he was racing those mistakes.
I don't think he didn't try. He was exactly the same in 2002 and blew the snow off the slopes.
What we just saw was a man crumble under the pressure and the hype.
Icarus
(frozen comment) no subject