Back from a business trip and what do I find? The Winter Olympics. Not the first subject I was planning on discussing, I only occasionally watch the luge or bobsled events, everything else is rather boring to me. I don’t know of any friends that watch the winter Olympics (excepting the same events) either, for the same reason. Be that as it may, this year has had one skater, Ms. Michelle Kwan drop out and the U.S. hockey team took the bronze. Still not worth talking about in my book. This in no way is meant to reflect the abilities and dedication of these athletes. They are part of the best in the world, and win or lose they deserve both recognition and respect. I just like the gymnastics events a little more. I do mean a little.
So why am I prattling on with all of this. Something did happen that is worth speaking about. Sadly its not a positive thing. The Olympics is about national pride and personal achievement. It is about respect for your competitors and sportsmanship. It is an opportunity to be recognized and give your nation bragging rights. It should never be about petty bickering, unsportsmanlike conduct and the projection of national in-fighting.
I am referring to the Davis-Hedrick back and forth. For those like me who don’t follow this, both men are speed skaters. Mr. Shani Davis has trained at this since the age of 6 as I understand. Mr. Davis is from Chicago, and recently became the 1st Black African American to win an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympics. Mr. Chad Hedrick is a former in-line skater that started to do speed skating in 2002, and is from Texas. Mr. Hedrick won the gold for the 5000 meters. It is apparent that neither likes the other.
After Mr. Hedrick won the 5000 he was congratulated by Mr. Davis. When Mr. Davis won for the 1000 meters the reciprocal was not true. Many, I would imagine, would find this to be rude. Even moreso because this is another comrade of your nation, and the nation prospers when an individual does. But because there is a team event, that apparently is not a requirement to be in and had not previously been discussed, Mr. Hedrick was highly offended when Mr. Davis declined to enter, as was his right. Due to that, and the American team of that event winning a silver medal, the snub for the 1000 meters occurred.
Are we all caught up? Ok, while the Olympics are supposed to be about the individual athletes primarily and nations in the secondary it is not the fact. Nations use the Olympics as a tool for obscure machinations in geo-political one-upmanship. In the U.S. the national gold medal count is more important than any of the athletes, or why were so many people upset that Ms. Michelle Kwan pulled out due to a groin injury? The fact that a high gold count and international bragging rights for a nation for 4 years get a lot of media attention has not escaped business. While Olympic athletes can’t get paid beforehand, after winning a few medals in a good national showing they can rake in the sponsor cash. So much for purity of the game. This too was not lost on Mr. Hedrick, or so one would assume from his statement about the future, “to get into some acting in Hollywood pretty soon.” It may also explain his statement that, “Once Shani beat me, I didn't care if I got a bronze. I'm here to win. It's all or nothing," even though national pride, and general sportsmanship, would suggest that providing your best without regard for reward should be the only motivation needed.
For me, anyone who is in any form of entertainment for personal wealth, fame and other gain diminishes my respect for them and removes any enjoyment I get from that entertainment whether it be sports, music acting or anything else. Mr. Muhammad Ali is the greatest NOT because of his desire for money. Mr. Michael Jordan is renown because of his love of the game and NOT his business acumen. Mr. Tiger Woods is respected due to his motivation to be the best, Not his ability to be paid well for what he does. These and other entertainers that are fondly remembered by not only the United States but the world are so due to their commitment to be the best at what they do. Mr. Hedrick’s statements do little to impress me.
The actions of snubbing a fellow athlete in accomplishing the immensely difficult task of winning a gold medal is inexcusable to me. The fact that an athlete picked to represent the nation would do anything but their best is insulting. It defeats the reason for being in a competition of such high honor, to me. The implication that money is the ultimate goal and motivation for an athlete on this level is disturbing to me. Perhaps this is not the intent of Mr. Hedrick’s words but they are how I interpret them. His actions are directly understood in only one way, and deserve reproach if I were to judge them. The example Mr. Hedrick sets for children watching his lead is NOT what the Olympics is mean to showcase, nor what they symbolize.
Lest we forget, the Olympics are meant to commemorate the SELFLESS DEDICATION a Greek runner displayed in racing from Marathon to Athens to alert the Greeks of an impending attack. The speed he achieved and importance of his message was matched by the cost which was his life, as he died after delivering the message. That is the Olympics to me. Dedication to do the best, for the individual and nation. Some might call that romantic delusion, I say it’s the least we should expect.
I hope the corporations and Hollywood execs think of that when Mr. Hedrick shows up looking to get fame and wealth, as he has implied he might. And a hearty cheer to Mr. Davis for standing up and reminding those that have forgotten what national spirit and sportsmanship represent.
This is what I think, what do you think.
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