A star-spangled embarrassment.

"GREAT MOMENTS AT THE GAMES....

So Bode Miller, how were the Olympic games?

"It's been an awesome two weeks. I got to party and socialize at an Olympic level"

And lets not forget...

"I had a great time. I had a lot of fun. I was out a lot, and despite what you guys think, I didn't get drunk very often, and never the night before a race."

Gee Bode, umm... thanks for at least not showing up drunk, I guess.
Absolutely the biggest flop in recent Olympic history. World Champion skills, 0-5. Not even a bronze. Bode makes the Canadian hockey team look like they were extremely sucessful in Turino.

Other notables....

Skiing analyst Todd Brooker on Miller - pretty much summed it all up.

"I'm not disappointed that he didn't win a medal. I am disappointed that he didn't seem to care."

Proving that Miller isn't the only skier who can go downhill in a hurry, U.S. aerials skier Jeret "Speedy" Peterson was sent home from the Olympics after a night of partying ended in a fight that police had to break up.

Bryant Gumbel. (this was amazing. How did this make it to the air?!?)

Count me among those who don't like them and won't watch them ... Because they're so trying, maybe over the next three weeks we should all try too. Like, try not to be incredulous when someone attempts to link these games to those of the ancient Greeks who never heard of skating or skiing. So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world's greatest athletes, despite a paucity of Blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention. Try not to point out that something's not really a sport if a pseudo-athlete waits in what's called a kiss-and-cry area, while some panel of subjective judges decides who won ... So if only to hasten the arrival of the day they're done, when we can move on to March Madness - for God's sake, let the Games begin."

Lindsey Jacobellis - right after showboating on the last jump, causing her to fall and lose the gold medal she easily would have won.

"I really don't care what people think," said. "I still won a silver medal, and no one can take that away from me."

Her fall while celebrating a snowboard race is clearly the "what in the heck was she thinking" moment that will be replayed endlessly. More than once I heard her referred to as the "Leon Lett" of the Olympics. If you aren't familiar what that means, trust me, it isn't flattering.
My favorite part was the Ashley Simpson-esque cover up immediately after. When she tried to convince us all that she wasn't showboating, but merely trying to keep her balance. Ummm... Yeah. O.K. And Ashley had acid reflux and her band played the wrong song. Right.


The other problem with these Olympics is, there was no defining moment. No one athlete whocaptured our hearts. It could have been Sasha Cohen, who was a gold medal favorite in figure skating. But in the long program she fell on her first two jumps. And while she won silver, she clearly lost gold. It could have been Chad Hedrick, who did win three medals, but only one was gold and he couldn't muster up an Eric Heiden-like performance. Sadly, the thing we will remember most about Hedrick is his feud with fellow speedskater Shani Davis. Davis, by the way, could have taken his gold medal in the 1,000 meters to the bank after becoming the first African-American to win gold, but his selfish decision to quit on his team in the team pursuit cost them a chance for gold and him a chance to be a winner in the eyes of those that matter - the purchasing public. Hedrick won the 5,000 meters but airing his dirty laundry about Davis and failing to congratulate him after the 1,000 meters will be his legacy.

And then there's good old Johnny Weir... (after blaming the bus schedules)

"I never felt comfortable in this building. I didn't feel my inner peace, I didn't feel my aura. Inside I was black" (after finishing a disappointing fifth in men's figure skating).

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At least there was Apolo Ohno to put things back in perspective.
Someone finally "gets it". Someone who isNOT out for himself.

"There's too much emphasis put on the color of the medals, and not enough on the spirit of the Games, the passion."

Also, how can you NOT like and cheer for Shawn White, the "Flying Tomato"! What a character! The one single athlete in Turino who seemed to have the most fun and appreciate the experience the most. When asked about his gold medal, I actually think he said he was "stoked"!

Any guesses on what this guy might endorse? Tomatoes, obviously, but will he be able to branch out into the other food groups? Actually, a Wheaties box is the same color as his hair, isn't it? Hmmmm......

Shawn White and Ohno. Great job representing your country. Sorry your spirit couldn't rub off on the rest of the US contingent. If we can get more athletes to Vancouver with your attitude, then the Olympics might just get higher ratings than "American Idol" next time.