DR RLP....that's not what I said. If they do their best and they don't win, that's okay. Not everyone can win, and being an Olympic athlete is a great accomplishment in itself.
But being in it for PERSONAL satisfaction is not the same thing.
I am all for the efforts they each make and what I think of them doesn't really matter much - but I can certainly have an opinion about their behavior. I hope some of them do 'fade away' - and as for Bode Miller don't tell me he doesn't love all the attention. He just didn't expect it to continue when he turned out to be a less than spectacular contender.
Unless you know Mr. Miller personally, I have to assume that everything you feel about him is based upon media coverage of him. Media colors how you feel about an athlete when they feature him, and vilify him...when they place pressure of winning gold upon him and make him a goat and criticize his parentage when he doesn't win.
They invade personal lives and discuss reputations with women and other athletes...they exaggerate the athletes' training regimens...and criticize them, too. And who are these people doing all this? Not coaches. Not athletes.
It's the media, and the audience members who buy into their spin. There are two sides to every story...and for every bad thing you hear about someone like Bode Miller, chances are that it's an exception rather than the rule.
I assure you that every athlete who wins a medal is aware of the pride the country feels in him or her, but I assure you the athlete did not dedicate his/her life to a sport to satisfy you or me or anyone else.
They all do it to succeed, as individuals, and to win over other individuals, regardless of national origins.
