Bummed about Bode

Posted Feb 20, 2006 by Bill Ward

Updated Feb 20, 2006 at 10:25 PM

4 p.m., Sestriere

Well, the men’s giant slalom is over and no American, including Bode Miller, made it to the podium. He had a good second run but his first one put him in too much of a hole to have a chance against the Austrians.

Afterward, I met a really friendly couple, Andrea Russo and Joy Magtoto from London. Actually, she is an American and he’s Italian. But they both work and live in London as bankers. Joy had an American flag and Andrea carried an Italian one. And they both had little to cheer about since neither team lived up to their pre-Games hype. Joy said she felt pretty bummed about Bode’s performances here so far, especially since she says she bragged about how many medals Bode was going to win to a Japanese TV station. Andrea was discouraged with the Italians’ results on their home turf.

But hey, they were in Sestriere watching the Olympics, who could complain. As they headed off to find a bite to eat, I envied them. Here they were having a great time together and not working. That banking thing must pay pretty good, huh?