The real explanation for Miller’s meltdown might be this: Bode just plain doesn’t like the Olympics. The parties? Sure. The Games? Not a bit. When we spoke, Miller made it clear that he felt cornered into going and would stay home “if it wasn’t such a clusterf— for me to pull out.” He’s long believed that the Olympics are too medal-obsessed (arguably true), inconsequential compared with skiing’s World Cup (certainly true) and beneath his contempt (now we have a problem). The truth is, Bode didn’t have to win. Sasha Cohen didn’t. Michelle Kwan never did. Tons of U.S. athletes have fallen short but held our affection. Miller’s sin was making people feel stupid for liking him in the first place.
Now he’s paying the price. After Torino, the powers behind U.S. skiing Bode-proofed the team, forbidding athletes to drink with coaches and live out of private RVs. Miller is known as a go-it-alone guy, so maybe this is the ultimate punishment: the company of others.
