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Bode tried to position himself as the anti-hero, but I guess he forgot that hero part includes at least appearing to care about whether you win or lose. America is very embracing of bad-boy heros who go their own way to get it done - look at Kobe Bryant, John Daly, Dale Earnhardt. I was actually still in Bode's camp that he was just having a bad run of luck and form until the last race where he appeared to ski intentionally right off the course at the top. If he didn't want the noteriety, he shouldn't have taken Phil Knight's money.
Interesting that his signature moment on the hill was that one legged save he made with the other flapping around that would have snapped the knee of 99.5% of us. As if it's more important to show his true skills in the middle of a wipeout that only he can save, but still not finish the race.
I think that is his Olympic moment.
I heard that the NHL-playing Swedes were NOT allowed to return to Stockholm for even a day to celebrate their gold medal. I get they are being paid salaries by their NHL clubs, but just as a gesture of good faith (oh, wait we're talking about NHL owners here) they would have given them an extra day or two to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime acheivement. I watched much of the Olympic hockey, and would advocate only one change for Vancouver. Eliminate one more team in the group/prelim round and give the winner of each group a bye to the final four (medal round). Make the group round games mean more. Lastly, I thought Teemu Selanne of Finland was the player of the tournament, lost teeth and all, though he seemed to wear down a bit in the final from all those shifts. Miller could learn something by looking at the commitment of guys like Selanne to winning gold, not merely cashing checks.
