Olympic Dreams

I won’t be in Vancouver this February for the Winter Olympics. Too bad, because I’ve been a great fan of the games since I worked at Lake Placid in 1980. Like every games since, I’m sure I’ll be glued to the TV for the full two weeks of competition (even though, I confess, Ice Dancing is snack time for me).

A major reason I like the games so much is the chance to see athletes in sports that get little attention most of the time get their day in the sun. Take Steve Holcomb for instance.

Steve looks to me like the perfect guy to have over for a backyard barbeque. At 5’10”, 235 pounds, he looks like he’d be right at home, flipping brats and burgers and turning the chicken while watching the games on the big screen. You just know he’ll be back for seconds when the cooking’s done.

But unfortunately Steve won’t be available to watch the tube at my house. He’ll be on the tube instead.

This 29 year old from Park City UT is the reigning world champion in the four man bobsled and one of the favorites to medal at the games. He is certainly a fan favorite in Lake Placid where last year, after becoming the first American to win a bobsled world championship since 1949, he went back up on the hill with no fanfare and gave rides to some of the spectators.

Think there are many other world class athletes who would do that?

Holcomb was his usual good spirited self recently when he won the World Cup four man bobsled race at Lake Placid and took the silver medal in the two man event. I don’t know about you, but I am more impressed with a successful athlete who remains friendly with the fans than someone who looks great in spandex but indifferent to the public.

He is he kind of guy I want to see do well in the Olympics. And the grill at my house will always be open if Steve wants to stop by.

 

–Phil Johnson