New meaning for the term "Ski Bum", or how many bad Bode jokes can YOU come up with?

Now that the Olympics are over and everyone has taken his shot at Bode Miller...

It's my turn.

Who would have thought that anyone could possibly make the snowboard crew look like serious athletes and zealous patriots? Just when we all thought that Lindsey Jacobellis' fall on the attempted Method Air near the finish of snowboardcross was the height of foolishness, we have the collective stupidity and crappy attitude of Bode Miller to contend with. Wonder if Nike is still so enamored of his "What the f---" attitude now? And if they were going to come out with a shoe named for him, it would be: The Bode - it fits you when it damn well wants to.

Now I'm all for living the moment, especially in a situation that might never recur such as the Olympics. However, that's also the very reason to make the most out of the opportunity - you may have only the one shot at the event, so why not try to excel? I'm not even saying that you have to have an unwavering focus on winning the gold medal - though one would think that's why the athletes are there, for the most part. There are MANY athletes that have no shot at the gold yet are thrilled - and rightly so - to represent their countries and compete amongst the best in the world. For them, the experience might be key. But for a Bode Miller, who clearly has the talent to win and has placed the expectations on himself (his protestations about being over marketed and not caring about winning ring a bit hollow - if so, then why be endorsed at all?), simply being there should not be enough.

I'm a "regional class" athlete - I compete often, I train very hard, and I love doing so. I totally cannot understand Miller's laissez-faire attitude, his seeming nonchalance about winning or even competing well. To say that he made the most out of his Olympic experience by going to a lot of parties? That's ridiculous. Stay home next time. We don't need you and neither does your team. Maybe if Miller was even a little bit disappointed in his performances, a BIT distraught that as a one time World Cup champion, he was probably not even fit enough to compete with the best even if he didn't straddle several gates, he would have come off better. But someone with his apparent talent and record should either go to the Games to compete and win - or stay home. Watching Bode Miller simply not care is infuriating to me.