My Ode to Bode..Apologies to Thinnmann

[ZYDECORICH]

The other day I kinda blew off Bode's Bronze in the downhill as...finally! To me he was kinda the METS in ski form, especially in Torino. I was never really a fan and always thought he was kind of a punk.In retrospect with the events this week, a Silver in the Super-G and a Gold in the Combined I have come to know a man who apparently has changed his life around and has become to know what is really important in life...Family,friends and a greater appreciation of what life has given you.You can totally see the change in this guy. I stand corrected and now am rooting... rock on bro.. go get those other 2 medals and prove me really wrong. My apologies also go out to the Thinnmann who called me out last week... you were right Bode is now king.

 

[RISkier]

Didn't see the prior posts and am not responding to them. Even before this Olympic performance Bode was far and away the most accomplished American male skier ever. He's won 2 overall World Cup titles and on the World stage he's been among the very best skiers over the past decade. Americans in general don't watch skiing except for the Olympics. I love to watch skiing but it's almost never broadcast. He was so hyped in 06 and didn't live up to expectations. Think about how NBC has absolutely hyped certain individuals this year. But so much out of your control can happen in ski racing. Course conditions change, other racers have career days, or maybe you're just off you're game a bit. But all most folks remember about Bode is that he was a "loser" in the 06 games. The reality is he's easily the best American male ski racer ever.

 

[dmc]

Bode is cool cause he really doesn't give a shti about what you(or me) feel...

Win - not win... Go out and drink - don't go out and drink..

 

[Warp Daddy]

seems fatherhood has done the Bodester a World of Good -----------------Poppa got his Gold n'silver , n' Bronze not a bad way to go out --On Top --------------------Now we'll see if he qualifies for the US OPEN

The Bodester is an american original -- love em or hate em the guy is unique

 

[campgottagopee]

Bode is cool cause he really doesn't give a shti about what you(or me) feel...

Win - not win... Go out and drink - don't go out and drink..

Totally :beer:

 

[marcski]

People are funny..This thread just goes to show how much influence the American Press has. Bode rocks. If Bode skied out of every race in the 2010 Olympics, he still would be the best American Male skier of all time. It's crazy. The guy has the 7th most world cup victories of all time...he is a true superstar in Europe, where they care about ski racing. And..while there is certainly something to be said about stepping up in the big races (aka Ms. Julia Mancuso), I think any true ski racing fan will agree that the overall world cup is a much much better barometer of a ski racer's ability than the Olympic races. In that regard, Phil Mahre does have 3 overall WC's to Bode's 2...but Bode is far and away a much better all around skier, as evidenced by his winning races across all alpine disciplines. (I don't think Phil even entered the speed events).

 

[dmc]

Bode could drink Phil under the table..
Hands down..

 

[Dr Skimeister]

The dude abides.

 

[billski]

I thought his post-SC comments were very introspective and thoughtful. About how he knows he's in the zone just before the start gate - that certain feeling, and then his comments about not even thinking when he went through the last 15 SL gates.
Interesting conditions yesterday, a lot like east coast skiing. The DH in the morning was uber icy, but by the afternoon things had softened for the SL. I was amazed at how he made the bottom look so easy, yet his strongest competitors blew it near the bottom. I think learning to ski at Cannon helps develop a comfort level to highly variable conditions - so he can focus.

But still he remains an enigma - explosive performance sometimes and other times a mixed bag. It almost seems as if he does better in the combined events, when he's behind in the first event, which puts even greater pressure on him to excel.

 

[campgottagopee]

People are funny..This thread just goes to show how much influence the American Press has. Bode rocks. If Bode skied out of every race in the 2010 Olympics, he still would be the best American Male skier of all time. It's crazy. The guy has the 7th most world cup victories of all time...he is a true superstar in Europe, where they care about ski racing. And..while there is certainly something to be said about stepping up in the big races (aka Ms. Julia Mancuso), I think any true ski racing fan will agree that the overall world cup is a much much better barometer of a ski racer's ability than the Olympic races. In that regard, Phil Mahre does have 3 overall WC's to Bode's 2...but Bode is far and away a much better all around skier, as evidenced by his winning races across all alpine disciplines. (I don't think Phil even entered the speed events).

OInly thing the press does is twist the truth----they suck

 

[campgottagopee]

Bode could drink Phil under the table..
Hands down..

The dude abides.

No contest

 

[billski]

I find the NBC producers to be quite clueless about the sport. What they really need is someone plugged into the WC events to help guide their coverage. they really become surprised. Their commentators I think are knowledgeable, but the producer ties their hands about what to talk about and what info to provide. The camera coverage was quite excellent for Alpine events; it's a shame they don't show more of it. I love the head-on shots showing just how much on ski edge these guys and gals are.

Did they show the DH part of the men's SC on TV last night? I showed up about 8:30 (after skating and jumping) and they were doing SL already.

 

[crank]

Yep, they had showed the DH earlier.

In 2006 it seemed like Bode had a bug up his but about the Olympics being just one race and over shadowing the WC. (especially since he had been dominating the WC) Although I was disappointed in his attitude I could see where he was coming from. Now he has jumped in, bought the hype and "redeemed" himself in the eyes of America. He's an amazing skier and competitor.

 

[Geoff]

I think learning to ski at Cannon helps develop a comfort level to highly variable conditions - so he can focus.

I don't think Cannon had anything to do with it. All racers ski on iced down courses their whole life. They ski every day. They see highly variable conditions.

 

[billski]

I don't think Cannon had anything to do with it. All racers ski on iced down courses their whole life. They ski every day. They see highly variable conditions.

So what explains all the wipeouts on the lower half of the SL?

 

[wa-loaf]

Bode is cool cause he really doesn't give a shti about what you(or me) feel...

Win - not win... Go out and drink - don't go out and drink..

This

So what explains all the wipeouts on the lower half of the SL?

They are going all out trying to win medals. Bode crashes out of more Slaloms than he completes, but when he actually finishes he usually kicks everyone's ass. He's all out all the time. Win or blow-up.

 

[Rambo]

Tom Brokow interviewed Bode before the Vancouver Olympics and NBCOlympics.com has the interview in 3 parts. Here is the 2nd part. Bode is well spoken and this is actually a great interview:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/as...6e3c8c0255.html#brokaw+interviews+bode+miller

 

[campgottagopee]

Tom Brokow interviewed Bode before the Vancouver Olympics and NBCOlympics.com has the interview in 3 parts. Here is the 2nd part. Bode is well spoken and this is actually a great interview:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/as...6e3c8c0255.html#brokaw+interviews+bode+miller

One of the Dr's at my DVM's office was a teacher of Bode's when he was in highschool----she speaks very highly of him and said he was a very good student, oh, and he could ski pretty good too.

 

[Mapnut]

Tough luck but kudos to Andrew Weibrecht - finished 11th despite falling through the last gate!

 

[SIKSKIER]

How many friggen times this week have I heard NBC and rest of the media talk about how he's a changed man now and that's why he's winning medals.Give me a break with the fluff pieces already.Bode's has always done it HIS way and that is exactly why he is THE best and most decorated alpine skier in US history,and only behind Tomba,Killy,and Sailor with the most alpine skiing medals in the history of the olympics.

And yes,he's that good because he grew up skiing on Cannon but more importantly,because he grew up in the shadow of Cannon in a very self supportive family lifestyle with very few amenities.He earned it.

Come see him at Cannon at Bodefest at on April 3rd