B-O-D-E is a B-U-S-T
Posted February 20, 2006, 11:25 AM ET

Leading into the Winter Olympics, all we heard was Bode Miller was going to be the next big thing.

There is Bode on "60 Minutes", bragging about being "wasted". There is Bode on another endless Nike commercial promoting the "Bode-way".

There is nothing wrong in wanting to be a maverick or some type of anti-establishment guy...but it only works if you win and it's even better if you win big. If you fail on a consistent basis on the ultimate stage, you come across looking like a self-centered, arrogant jerk.

Congratulations, Bode...you've been quite impressive so far. Not only have you underachieved on the mountain, but your attitude off the slope is even more deplorable. There have been countless reports of his over-the-top partying in Italy...he lives in the comfort of his private motorhome as opposed to the Olympic Village...he seldom speaks to the media following his latest blunders in the Games...the list goes on and on.

The latest Bode-move took place on Monday when Bode-meister finished a distant 6th in the men's giant slalom. What makes it even sadder are the remarks made by the world's #1 alpine skier after the event...

Bode said, "If things went well, I could be sitting on four medals...maybe all of them gold."

Hilarious.

Jon Saraceno in Monday's USA Today declared Bode Miller a "loser". Many people agree with Saraceno's opinion...One thing that is not up for discussion is Bode's poor performance in Italy while the entire world is watching.

Nike should feel great about all the cash they have "wasted" on this guy...I can't remember an athlete that has failed as much as Bode has during these Olympic Games. I remember Dan Jansen's failures before he came through at the last possible second to win gold; but even in his case, you got the sense that he cared.

You don't get the same vibe from Bode.

Bode was quoted in an Italian publication that he lived a better life when he was a nobody....if that is true, then Bode might be headed to Utopia. Because at this pace, he is about to disappear off the face of the sports landscape.

And at this rate, that might be the best thing for Bode, Nike and the American sports fan.