Catfight at the Olympics!
According to the t.v. ratings my family and two other people are watching the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. So, none of you probably saw what happened between Chad Hedrick (my homeboy from Texas!) and Shani Davis of Chicago.
They are both speed skaters. Chad already won gold in a Long Track event on the first night of the Olympics. Then there was a team event for the speed skaters and Shani Davis refused to participate. He wanted to save his energy for his single event in Speedskating. This didn't go over real big with the rest of the U.S. speed skaters. It kind of came out as ....selfish. Chad was skating in the same event the following day with Shani and he did it for the team.
Read this article Alone at the Top because it says it better than I can here. Let me just say - I don't like Shani Davis. Is he a great skater? Yes. Does he possess the Olympic spirit? Absolutely not.
The Olympics are all about pride in one's country and one's team. Shani Davis is NOT a team player. He is there for selfish reasons. He even gets a little nasty look when reporters ask him about being the first Black American to win a gold at the winter Olympics. Why does he get resentful? Because he isn't even a team player for his own race.
I would not want people making a big deal out of the color of my skin either but I still wouldn't get ugly about it. I would recognize it for what it is. A news story, but also there are young and old Black African Americans out there cheering for Shani because he was black and he was supposed to be representin'. Shani only represents Shani.
Well, I hope Shani enjoys his gold medal. He'll be the only one since he doesn't want to share anything with anybody.
They are both speed skaters. Chad already won gold in a Long Track event on the first night of the Olympics. Then there was a team event for the speed skaters and Shani Davis refused to participate. He wanted to save his energy for his single event in Speedskating. This didn't go over real big with the rest of the U.S. speed skaters. It kind of came out as ....selfish. Chad was skating in the same event the following day with Shani and he did it for the team.
Read this article Alone at the Top because it says it better than I can here. Let me just say - I don't like Shani Davis. Is he a great skater? Yes. Does he possess the Olympic spirit? Absolutely not.
The Olympics are all about pride in one's country and one's team. Shani Davis is NOT a team player. He is there for selfish reasons. He even gets a little nasty look when reporters ask him about being the first Black American to win a gold at the winter Olympics. Why does he get resentful? Because he isn't even a team player for his own race.
I would not want people making a big deal out of the color of my skin either but I still wouldn't get ugly about it. I would recognize it for what it is. A news story, but also there are young and old Black African Americans out there cheering for Shani because he was black and he was supposed to be representin'. Shani only represents Shani.
Well, I hope Shani enjoys his gold medal. He'll be the only one since he doesn't want to share anything with anybody.
posted by DebbieDoesLife at
7:18 AM
15 Comments:
Interesting. I didn't see the speed skating event. But they just now talked about it on the "Today" show. I watched the ice dancing last night - all those couples falling down! I felt so badly for them.
By
Anonymous, at 2/20/2006 7:44 AM
I haven't watched any of the Olympics *blush*. But I HAVE heard about Shani. What a disappointment. I hope he's lonely at the top alone.
By
Tink, at 2/20/2006 8:52 AM
Chad Hedrick...the name makes me think of Cedric. For all you non-Potter fans out there, Cedric was a tournament contestant in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Was. Let's hope Chad has a happier outcome!
By
The Gradual Gardener, at 2/20/2006 10:15 AM
Wow, I guess just being a good enough athlete to compete in the Olympics doesn't necessarily ensure that a person will do the right thing or that they are a good person. I guess Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan are evidence of that too. It's too bad.
By
Anonymous, at 2/20/2006 12:53 PM
TB - interesting point. What is the right thing to do? Shani doesn't have a responsibility to "do" anything I suppose. But, I think when you are given a lot (money, gold medal, fame) then there is responsibility that goes along with that honor. He could at least just be gracious. Or apologize for not participating in the team event.
By
DebbieDoesLife, at 2/20/2006 1:01 PM
Sometimes I wonder why people do this stuff. For some, it's "fame and glory" kind of thing, and then there is "to be the best" which can be "yay!" or "I AM BETTER THAN YOU" and so I'd like the first one. I DID see what you're talking about. I was watching Ice Dancing (I like Figure Skating better!) and then bobsleds, and then that. I think I was watching a recap, but same diff in my opinion. You are correct- that man is a big, fat, selfish jerk who doesn't take pride in his country or himself. BLEH.
By
Anonymous, at 2/20/2006 1:26 PM
Once they get a taste of success, some people forget what they're doing it for.
By
Anonymous, at 2/20/2006 2:58 PM
I know I'm on record as saying the Olympics have sucked so far but that's becasue it seemed all ther was in the first week was snowboarding. I loved the speedskating and have been pulling for our man Chad.
I can see the guy resting up for his big event (not necessarily agreeing with it) - but I can definitely see it - but unfortunately he has not handled it well - I don't even think anybody would be questioning it except for the fact that he seems to rub everyone the wrong way - and doesn't say much - as shown in his post-gold medal interview. They were really ripping him in the national radio sports news this morning about not seizing his fairly historic opportunity as the first black man to win gold in the Winter Olympics. He sort of just shut up about it.
That must be some chip.
By
Rock, at 2/20/2006 3:05 PM
I thought Shani was a bit of a dick when the NBC chick was trying to interview him directly after he has WON the race (I don't think I have EVER seen an interviewer ask a gold medalist "Are you mad or something?" before!). I don't expect him to be a role model, just a man with good manners.
By
Brooke, at 2/20/2006 6:12 PM
I dunno he trained all his life to win the gold. To some degree, if might hamper his chances to win the next race, then maybe he has that right. I have not seen him in action, I have only read about what happened.
I think the question to him is, is a team gold less of an achievement that an individual gold? Or, what if he (and the team) managed to win both events?
I would hate to see what happened to the men's basketball team, take over the rest of the Olympics. Arrogance and a certainty they will win, it is so unappealing.
By
Ditsy Chick, at 2/20/2006 11:15 PM
First of all - Chad Hedrick = total hottie.
Secondly - I've not watched very much of the Olympics, but I DID see that race that Shani won. Did you SEE his "interview" immediately afterward with the NBC chick? He was very terse - almost angry - and she flat out asked him, "Shani, are you angry?" & he was all, "No. Really. I'm ecstatic."
The look on her face when he walked off said what we were all thinking - "What an ass!"
Ya kinda wished she had tripped him right there in front of God & everybody.
By
Melodious, at 2/22/2006 1:23 PM
Very well said and I couldn't agree more. I've been wanting to blog about this myself. I don't know if you saw the Today show a few days later, but they showed Shani's 180 degree turn following his post-gold interview with NBC. He was apparently next interviewed by a Japanese TV crew and he was smiling and jubliant and actually seemed to be answering questions in a friendly manner without the terse one word responses and chip on his shoulder attitude that he gave the gal from NBC. I've lost the little respect I had for him; quite frankly I lost all respect for him following that atrocious and extremely rude interview with NBC. Hey Shani, did your mama ever teach you that you get more flies with honey?? You'll never get endorsement deals if that is how you choose to portray yourself.
Chad's a hottie and I also wish that the NBC interviewer had tripped Shani. LOL!
By
jeanne_bean, at 2/22/2006 11:28 PM
Chad already won gold for the US, Shani didnt yet. Shani wanted to win a gold for the US, in an event he's been practicing for and knew he could win. Shani's not a god and has human strength. Shani was wise to save his energy for an event he was sure he would win, for the US. Chad wanted Shani on the team because Chad wanted to get the personal record of 5 gold medals, and he didnt seem to care if Shani would have enough energy to win gold in an event the very next day. Chad even said he wanted to get the 5-gold record. I say this is a selfish and greedy of Chad.
By
Anonymous, at 8/09/2006 1:36 AM
also, it was rude for the NBC person to ask if he was angry. Win a race and you expect to be asked how it felt. You expect people to focus on the positives, and about your experience while you did it. You dont expect interviewers to put words in your mouth.
By
Anonymous, at 8/09/2006 1:42 AM
what more can you say to a dull question of "Were you angry?" Its a yes or no question. Im amazed that Shani even replied with a civil answer and had the presence of mind to walk away. It seemed like the interviewer wanted to stir up trouble.
By
Anonymous, at 8/09/2006 1:50 AM
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