Going into the 2006 Olympic Games, I was consumed by the overwhelming story, which was the question that many fans seem to be asking: What’s the deal with Bode Miller? Is he a nut or just want to be left alone? It’s come to my attention that the answer is both and there’s nothing wrong with either answer.

Miller did an interview with Time Magazine and CBS’ 60 minutes program that he has skied (not competitively) while wasted (he now says he told the reporter it was with a mild hangover) and doesn’t feel remorseful about it. The contradiction was that he kept going on several media outlets to say he didn’t want any more media coverage because it makes him feel uncomfortable.

It would be a lie to say that this reporter didn’t want the reigning downhill world champion to fall (whether it be off the mountain, off an Italian bar stool in the middle of the night or off his high horse for that matter). Then he did an interview with NBC’s Jimmy Roberts, you know, the kind of feature piece of ‘you’ve never paid attention to this person for two years and now we are going to tell you why you should care’ in only five minutes.

Roberts asked, seemingly while a bit irritated at the lack of interest Miller had during the interview, “This (meaning answering media questions) is hell for you isn’t it?” Without missing a beat, Miller shocked me with his answer. “No, it’s not hell but the thing people don’t understand is I do what I want and don’t do what I don’t want.”

Why don’t more athletes answer questions honestly like that? Because they are worried about the public relations fallout, but Miller could care less and this is what bothers people. Bode Miller is a different duck and marches or skis to the beat of a different drummer. Unlike drinking and getting behind the wheel of a car, if Miller wishes to train hung over, he’s only going to hurt or kill himself. While I don’t agree with the behavior, it’s not immoral. In the public eye, he would much rather ski in a vacuum (he skies because HE enjoys it, so the fans are a lesser priority), stand on a podium, get a big trophy and go home. The media response is usually, well, if he sticks with that attitude, he’ll be very poor very soon. Got news for the people using that argument, Miller’s answer would be been there done that. His childhood house in New Hampshire had no electricity, no running water and very little social interaction. It’s what created the mystery known as Bode.

During the morning of his downhill finals run, it was reported that he was seen at local bar the night before, rolled out of his RV about a half hour before his race, strapped on his new skis (that apparently became a big deal) and flew down the mountain. The color commentator said “that’s just Bode being Bode” similar to Red Sox fans’ “Manny being Manny” argument. He ended up finishing fifth (disappointing to everyone except Miller) took his skis and went home. A medal wasn’t going to validate how Miller felt about himself and fans suddenly realized that it was only important to what we would expect out of an American athlete.

Personally, with my lack of tact, unwillingness to conform to people’s expectations and an occasionally prickly attitude toward people asking stupid questions or doing stupid things, I would like to join the Bode Miller fan club. We do what we want, don’t do what we don’t and if you, Joe Smoo, don’t like it, don’t be surprised if you hear something incredibly sarcastic or mildly insulting and feel free to kiss our butt as we walk away.

We in the public or media should not condemn an athlete because he fails to conform to the public relations/marketing standards of the society.

The idea of being put on a Wheaties box or hosting Saturday Night Live isn’t appealing to him. Bode Miller doesn’t care, he’s essentially doing every public appearance to deal with it and WE are the ones who can’t.