Bad-luck Bode

Bode Miller is Oh-Fer-Donuts so far at the Olympics. I feel bad for the dude because he is a great skier, or at least he was, but he's definitely not on his game right now. Commentators say that he looks like he's out of shape. But being a chubby skier doesn't necessarily mean you can't kick ass. Alberto Tomba was a kick ass skier and he was almost always a little chub.

To win a gold medal in the men's alpine events you need so many things to line up, plus a little luck. There is so much more outside of your control. The course conditions play a big part in the luck you have. There are ruts all over the course and if you are unlucky you will hit a deep one on the wrong part of your skis at the wrong part of your turn and next thing you know you are looking up at plastic orange fence.

But strength and aggression are two things you can control. In yesterday's Giant Slalom finals, Austrian Hermann Maier went horizontal in his second run with both skis in the air but his strength not only saved the turn but got him the bronze medal. Conversely, Canada's Francois Bourque, the leader after the first run, choked on his second run. His lack of aggression pushed him off the podium.

Bode's a partier, so what. Tomba partied hard too. But Tomba knew when to bring his game. It doesn't look like Bode was ready for the Olympics, and he definitely doesn't have luck on his side. He even sprained an ankle playing basketball today. The dude can't buy luck right now.

As expected, there's some good humor out there at Bode's expense. The best one I've heard was in an interview with Bob Costas and a local Salt Lake City NBC affiliate so those of you who don't watch KSL in Salt Lake City may not have heard it.

KSL: The Budweiser hospitality house is right next to the U.S. hospitality house. Why do you think that is?
Costas: I don't know. So that Bode Miller has easy access?