Bode Miller? Bah.
Cheer for a set of real competitors instead.
While the world watches the Winter Olympics in
Torino, Italy, many other Olympic athletes will be
gearing up to participate in another version of the
worldwide competition - the 2006 Winter Paralympics, to
be held in Torino March 10-19.
NBC has been blasting the airwaves with hype and news
about the regular, able-bodied Winter Olympics for
weeks. This is normal and appropriate, considering the
work and sacrifice a majority of able-bodied Olympians
have endured to become a part of history.
Some are rewarded more than others - not necessarily
for good reasons - such as skier Bode Miller. Here's a
guy who ignores the basics of Olympic competition - such
as showing up for practice and giving some semblance of
respect for where he is. Miller is the consummate bad
frat boy, and NBC commentators are making excuses for
his deplorable behavior instead of chastising him.
Miller has spit on the spirit of the Olympics, and I am
not saddened to see him lose or be disqualified.
If you put Miller up against any of the athletes
competing in this years Winter Paralympics, Miller
wouldn't have a prayer. The athletes at the Paralympics
are competing in the same bone-crushing events as the
able-bodied: alpine skiing, luge, bobsled, slalom, sled
ice hockey and more. They are taking their sports
seriously, training hard and being grateful to
participate.
Miller might talk as if he's grateful, but he doesn't
act like it. I'd give anything to see how Miller would
do against the French-born visually impaired Pascale
Casanova. Casanova won gold in downhill in the 2002
Paralympics Games in Salt Lake City, gold again in the
2004 World Championships and was the winner of the
overall World Cup 2004-2005. Casanova skis incredibly
well, using a guide who precedes her, yelling what turns
and jumps are coming.
I haven't found out if any of the national or cable
stations will be broadcasting the Paralympic games, but
they will be available on the Web. The International
Paralympics Committee will launch a global broadband
Webcast for the games - a state-of-the-art,
high-quality, 24/7 television channel broadcast over the
Internet, split or full screen. Viewers all over the
world will be able to watch live and delayed programming
or access coverage on demand at a later time.
Maybe one day the Paralympics will receive the same
coverage and respect that the able-bodied games have
enjoyed for so many years. Paralympic athletes have the
same drive, hopes and dreams as the able-bodied, with
one exception: The disabled athletes have already won
the biggest competition of their lives - living well
with disabilities.
Information on Winter Paralympics events and
schedules can be found on the Web at:
www.paralympicgames.torino2006.org. The Web site for the
broadcast is: www.paralympicsport.tv
McKee, a wheelchair user, is a freelance writer
and producer. You can e-mail her at chairgrrl@chairgrrl.com.
