Missing golden chance to change a bad image

STEVE DeSHAZO: Ugly Americans squander some Olympic chances

Date published: 2/27/2006

IT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT to say that Americans' international popularity isn't exactly at an all-time high. And the Winter Olympics did absolutely nothing to change that impression.

OK, maybe Lindsey Kildow and Joey Cheek did. Anyone with the courage to get back on skis after the frightening fall she took deserves admiration, regardless of race, creed or nationality. The fact that she didn't win a medal matters not in the least.

And Cheek truly did show the Olympic spirit by donating his $40,000 speedskating gold medal prize money to African famine relief. If ever two athletes personified what the Olympics should be about, it's Kildow and Cheek.

Otherwise, the U.S. spent an eminently forgettable fortnight demonstrating that the Olympics have become as much about ego and greed as about competition and sportsmanship. And the image of the Ugly Americans only got reinforced.

The U.S. should have known it was in for a bumpy ride when Michelle Kwan--one of the classiest athletes this country has ever produced--couldn't skate because of a nagging groin injury. As Bode Miller can attest, it was almost all downhill from there (just not fast enough).

With all the melodrama, it's easy to forget that the U.S. finished second behind Germany in the medal standings.

Just a couple of days after Cheek's magnanimous gesture, American speedskaters Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick began their public catfight.

If you've forgotten (or tried to), Davis skipped the team pursuit to pursue individual gold in the 1,000 meters. He succeeded--but also succeeded in ticking off Hedrick, who had his sights on winning five golds. Both skaters came across looking selfish and petty, and neither shied away from sniping at the other. (No truth to the rumor that both had Jeff Gilooly on speed dial.)

Then there was Lindsey Jacobellis, whose hot-dog move cost her the women's snowboard cross gold--and didn't seem to bother her. It was another example of style over substance. In a twisted sense, Jacobellis may have gained more credibility with the younger demographic by trying something daring--even if meant squandering her shot at gold.

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Date published: 2/27/2006