What's the Deal with this Bode Miller Guy?

You know, sportsmanship is great, and not treating the Olympics like your life depended on them is great too, but I can't understand how somebody could work so hard to get in position to win a medal, and then not give a damn when he doesn't. That's why I can't figure Bode Miller out. He's nonchalanted his way through two events where he ended up without medals. Miller was "really happy" with a downhill performance that left him out of the hardware, and then was completely indifferent to being disqualified in his next event --even though he was practically guaranteed a Gold medal if he didn't DQ.

Nike's spent a ton of money hyping this guy, and NBC's done its share for him too, but unless he figures out a way to grab a Gold medal, he's going to be marketing poison. Americans love brash, outspoken guys who say outrageous things-- if they win. Americans do not like people who lose, and really don't like people who lose and don't mind it. Vinny's hero, General Patton, said it best: "Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed."

Bode Miller flies down mountains at 80 mph, so he's nobody's idea of a coward, but if Miller thinks his slacker act is playing well at home, he's going to learn an expensive lesson when he returns.