Bode wins the gold for getting bad press

Bode Miller didn't leave Torino empty handed as many believe. Hands down, he won the gold for bad press.

Examples:

Steve Dilbeck, Los Angeles Daily News: "But Bode Miller, U.S. megastar, is done. Bode Miller, the cover boy, finished. Bode Miller, the Olympian wonder boy, over . . . (In these Olympics) Bode is a remarkable failure."

Ann Killion, Knight Ridder Newspapers: "You misunderstand Bode Miller.

"He had a fantastic Olympics. Championship level. Because he apparently thought he was entered in the giant party, not the giant slalom and other ski races . . . Is it fair to call Miller the biggest bust in Olympic history? His apologists —a rapidly dwindling number — will complain. But it's an accurate assessment."

Phil Sheridan, Knight Ridder Newspapers: "The good news for Bode Miller is that he won't have to deal with any of those tacky Olympic medals he so despises.

"Mr. Nike may not have skied wasted at these Games, but he certainly wasted a lot of people's time with his uninspired skiing."

Jemele Hill, The Orlando Sentinel: "There is one piece of good news about the final weekend of competition at the Winter Olympics.

"Bode Miller can't ski in any more events."

And there were a lot more stories and columns carrying similar tones. In a few short weeks, Bode Miller went from American hero to America's embarrassment — a true Ugly American.

Now, add my name to the list of writers so disgusted with Miller's showing in the Torino Games. Not because he didn't medal. Not because he failed to turn in one good race. Ski racing is risky and it can happen to the best.

I disapprove of his I'm-here-to-party-not-ski attitude. Bode Miller: "I just want to go out and rock. And man, I rocked here." He could have done that back home, in some bar, watching the Olympics on TV.

A photo of Miller sitting in a Torino bar, drinking beer, then raising his middle finger to onlookers only reinforced with certainty that he was in Torino to party.