nbcrusader said:
Participating in the Olympics is an incredible achievement.
I agree, but that's not the mentality in the world today-especially in the US. It's a shame.
US bosses vow crackdown on wayward athletes
By Nelson Graves
TURIN (Reuters) - U.S. Olympic bosses promised to crack down on wayward athletes after a freestyle skier got into a fight at the Winter Olympics, an Alpine champion was seen out late in a bar the night before a big race and two speedskaters openly feuded.
"This team has a taken a hit in terms of its comportment here in Italy because of a couple of incidents involving some high-profile athletes," Jim Scherr, chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), said.
Scherr cited freestyle skier Jeret Peterson, who was ordered to return home early after getting into a fight.
He also pointed to speed skaters Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick, whose public spat made headlines throughout the Games.
Privately U.S. officials noted that Bode Miller, one of Alpine skiing's most high-profile figures but without a medal at the Turin Games, had been twice spotted socializing late, once on the night before the prestige downhill race.
"It's unfortunate that a few colored the rest of the delegation," Scherr told a news conference. "We will be making some significant adjustments going into Beijing and Vancouver."
Pressed to elaborate, he said the USOC would make sure athletes understand they must prepare themselves physically and understand that at the Olympics, they represent not only themselves but also their countries.
"Coming out of these Games we will do a better job as an Olympic Committee to monitor those situations and make sure that both of those edicts are followed to a higher degree," he said.
Peterson, who finished seventh in the freestyle skiing aerials on Thursday despite completing one of the most difficult jumps, was sent home early after "an altercation with an acquaintance from the United States," the USOC said.
Scherr and USOC chef de mission Jim McCarthy attributed the bickering between Davis and Hedrick in part to the individual nature of speed skating.
"They are both very competitive individuals and it's hard in an individual sport," McCarthy said.
