Simon says — Ohno is the man; he may be, too

KEARNS — The next Apolo Anton Ohno — or the first Jeff Simon, depending on perspective — was slightly bummed at the end of the first day of the Samsung ISU World Cup short track speedskating races, Friday.

"Not a good day for me," he said.

He had wiped out in a preliminary round of the 500 meters and failed to qualify in the 1,500 meters. He didn't compete in the 1,000 meters. Still, as part of the 5,000-meter relay, he advanced to the next round, along with teammates Charles Ryan Leveille, Jordan Malone and — who else? — Apolo Anton Ohno.

So his day wasn't a total loss.

On Saturday afternoon things were looking up as he qualified for the quarterfinals of the 500 and 1,500 meters.

"I just want to do well," said Simon.

Just how well?

Apolo well, naturally.

Isn't that how everyone wants to do?

"He's the man," said Simon. "This guy has done it all. He's still the main guy. I just want to be the first Jeff Simon."

Exactly how the first Jeff Simon and the made-for-TV Ohno comparisons came about were entirely my fault. I contacted U.S. Speedskating officials and told them I didn't want to do another AAO column; I'd been doing them since 2001. I wanted to do a column on the next Ohno, which, admittedly, is like asking to do a story on the next Aretha Franklin.

There may be only one.

Not only should he have the talent, I added, but I also wanted to see America's rock star speedskater-in-waiting.

Soon I was sitting across a table in the Utah Olympic Oval press room with Simon.

One of the first things I asked was whether he was tired of hearing about Ohno.

"No, not at all. He deserves it for all he's done for the sport," said Simon, "and he deserves all the things that go along with it. He's a man. He's done everything."

Truth is, though Simon is a promising 18-year-old, making the leap to the magazine covers and TV stardom is a ways off. Simon, a Las Vegas native, does have talent. In this year's World Cup competition he finished an impressive fourth once. He is ranked 26th in the world.