The 2006 Winter Olympics is one Bode Miller wants to forget.
Coming in as the Poster Child of the American delegation, Miller exits the game, frustrated, ego-bruised, and empty-handed.

Some Miller would be great for Bode right about now… (Source: Newsweek Magazine)
This is not a slam on Bode, he is still a great athlete. But looking back, it would have been great had he exercised a little shrewd discretion, a little more caution.
So, what happened really?

All eyes were set on the ‘High Noon Showdown’ betwen Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick. It is no secret that the two are not exactly bosom buddies, on or off the ice.
But the earth-shattering, continent-shifting battle between the two titans were not to be. Quietly, a ‘David-like’ Enrico Fabris of the host country snuck past the two to take Gold at the 1,500m Speedskating event.

In graceful defeat, Davis congratulating Fabris (Source: NBC)

Ohno…journalists/writers/bloggers everywhere cannot resist using the convenient cliche that is Apolo’s last name whenever he chokes on the Short Track event.
And Apolo gave them an opportunity again tonight when he failed to clinch Gold at the Men’s 1,000m event.

1 minute 17.92 seconds – Ohno, in second place, poised to attack Anh of South Korea (Source: NBC)

The American’s woe at the Alpine Skiing event continues…

No ‘Miller Time‘ for Bode just yet… (Source: Newsweek Magazine)
Bode, Bode, Bode…what can we say? Miller came into the Winter Olympics as the World Champion, with 5 Gold Medals within reach. But until today, he doesn’t even have a podium finish, much less a Gold.
In his first event on Sunday (Feb. 12), Bode finished 5th (Downhill). On Tuesday (Feb. 14), he straddled a gate (i.e. the pole in the snow went between his legs) on the Downhill portion of the Combined event and was disqualified.

Alexandre Bilodeau could have made it to the highest step of the podium in Men’s mogul competition, yet finished 11th.
“It’s disapointing because I know I could have won a medal, maybe even the Gold”, said he, drying up his tears.
After making it to 11th place in qualifications, Bilodeau tried to amend these mistakes by attempting a triple off-axis twister (translation?) but failing to do so by posing his right hand on the ground upon landing.
“I made a huge mistake, as I did in the qualifications. Unfortunatly, these kind of mistakes are not forgiving.”, explained Bilodeau.

“I was inside my comfort zone. …read more

All hopes of an American Alpine Skiing Gold was pinned on the controversial Bode Miller, but it was the 21 year old Ted Ligety from Park City, Utah who snatched the Gold at the Combined event.

Ligety hoisting the American Flag (Source: NBC)