2008 Woodie Awards
Olympic games an event of highs and lows
Olympic Insight
By Jared Ursta
Rocket Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Sports
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I am usually a big fan of the Olympics, but this year I was disappointed. The motto for this year's 20th Winter Olympiad was, "Passion lives here," but I am guessing that in the Olympic training center the motto was, "Passion lives anywhere but here." So, I decided to take a page from the Oscars, and name my Olympic winners and losers.
The award for the most selfish person in a supporting role goes to the United States' Shani Davis. Don't get me wrong, he is a great athlete, but he showed who he really is during the Olympics. How much time do you really need to "prepare" for a race? This was supposed to be Chad Hedrick's Olympics and the big story was his drive for five. But after Davis decided not to skate in the team pursuit and the Americans were upset, it went from Hedrick's drive for five to feuding skaters. I think by doing this Davis showed that he is not a true Olympian.
An Olympian is supposed to represent their country and have pride for being one of the few that have a chance to compete. Davis isn't it.
The award for the athlete who displayed the Olympic spirit the most goes to speed skater Joey Cheek. Cheek won gold and silver during the games. He donated the $40,000 that he received for winning the two medals to "Right To Play," a group that was formed by former Norwegian speed skater Johann Olav Koss, which uses sports to promote a healthy lifestyle for kids in poor countries.
The award for the biggest disappointment of the Olympics goes to Bodie Miller. Going 0-for-5 in the Olympics is not only bad, but he showed he is all talk and cannot compete at the Olympic level. Even I could strap on a pair of skis and go down a hill and win a medal. The best part is that now he is saying that he didn't want any medals. Are you kidding me? Who doesn't go to the Olympics to win medals? What did Miller go to the Olympics for, knitting? Everyone wants to win a medal at the Olympics. Otherwise, no one would compete.
As for the Nike commercials, they were worse than Miller's performance. Are you a Bodist? I bet it didn't take Nike long to figure that one out. Now I am hearing that Nike is going to drop Miller and Dairy Queen is going to start making commercials with Miller in them. It works out great for Dairy Queen; "Just DQ" could be their new slogan. Hey, it gets their name out there and lets Miller remember what he did in the Olympics.
As for the comment he made, "It's been an awesome two weeks. I got to party and socialize at an Olympic level," yeah, go ahead and laugh it up, Miller, because you are a joke and should be banned from skiing ever again in the Olympics. Maybe you could knit me a hat?
The award for the biggest surprise of the Olympics goes to the United States men's curling team. Captained by a pizza shop owner, the United States found itself somewhere where they don't usually find themselves: on the podium with curling's elite. This is what the Olympics are all about, surprising performances that inspire people to go out and try the sport. Who would have ever thought that throwing pizzas in the air could lead someone to the Olympics?
The award for the dumbest thing that an athlete did during the Olympics goes to the United State's Lindsey Jacobellis, who on her last run in the snowboard cross, only needed to cross the finish line to bring home the gold medal. She decided to play cocky and perform a trick, which she didn't land, and ended up getting the silver medal for her efforts. That might qualify as the dumbest thing I have ever seen. You basically win a gold medal and don't do everything to make sure you hold onto the lead. A silver medal is good, but every time she looks at it, she will be reminded that being cocky doesn't pay off, and she paid the biggest price of all by losing the gold.
Now it is time for the biggest award of the night. Drum roll please... the award for the worst performance in an Olympic sport goes to the United States men's hockey team. Going 1-4-1 with the "best" the country has to offer is a joke. The team's first problem was that it could not score. Dick Cheney has more accuracy when it comes to taking a shot. This leads me to another point-the NHL should get out of the Olympics. This is the third Olympics in which NHL players have been used. The Americans have one medal to show for it. Mike Modano shot off his mouth about how USA Hockey is a joke. Take the blame for your poor performance and stop blaming everyone else.
I am calling out the USA Hockey Association to stop using NHL players and go back to amateurs. Maybe then we will have a chance to win a medal. "Do you believe in miracles?" Not while the NHL is involved.
All I can say is that I hope that Vancouver 2010 is a better Olympics.
