News Flash: American Lindsey Jacobellis settles for a silver medal in the Women’s Snowboard Cross after falling near the end of the race. The 20-year old Vermont native had an insurmountable lead but decided to showboat a bit on the 2nd to last jump, causing her to fall and get passed by Switzerland’s Tanja Freiden.
Teddy’s Take: There is a sports God! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve prayed that a hot-dogging athlete would lose as a direct result of showing off. Usually, it’s someone in one of the major team sports doing something stupid to draw attention to himself and how “great‿ he is, even though it took the efforts of numerous teammates to help score the touchdown, the goal, or whatever.
In a way, I’m sad for Jacobellis. By all accounts, she was in shock and even crying on the medal stand. When I first heard about it, I wondered if she was smart enough to understand what a rare opportunity she blew. I guess she was. An Olympic gold medal is probably the most prized possession in all of sports (even if some of these ridiculous events have cheapened the honor a bit) and the opportunity to win it comes along only once every four years, or in most cases, once in a lifetime. For Jacobellis’ sake, I hope she gets another chance in 2010. For the rest of the “Me-Me-Me‿ generation, I hope it’s a lesson learned!
That’s my take……what’s yours?
Comments (12)
I'm afraid the hot dog sentiments are shared by sports fans across the globe, but especially "sweet" to anti-Americans abroad. Way to represent dumb ass.
Posted by Grey Goose Sucks! | February 17, 2006 11:59 PM
Posted on February 17, 2006 23:59
I agree on all accounts. Showboats belong on the water with people betting their lives away, not in any sporting event. She got what she deserved.
Posted by JesusSavesTorntonScores | February 18, 2006 7:47 AM
Posted on February 18, 2006 07:47
You have all lost your minds a little. Before you can comment, you should understand the history of the sport. This isn't a team sport kids. This sport is all about style and showboating. They've been showboating ever since they got on top of a board. This is what they know. This is what they do. It's nothing like skiing. When you mention the technical aspects to a snowboarder, you better be talking about how high they can fly off the pipe or how much air they'll get off a jump and what they'll be doing when their in the air.
I think this snowboardcross is a little deemeaning in it's nature to the sport anyway. I mean, c'mon, they're actually trying to keep their boards out of the air. If given the opportunity to showboat, you better believe they'll at least take it. And that, my friends, is what snowboarding is all about and so isn't she.
By the way, this is all because I think she's cute. So don't be coming down on our Lindsey.
Posted by Louis Cypher | February 18, 2006 12:40 PM
Posted on February 18, 2006 12:40
It's too bad for Jacobellis and Vermont. They could both use a gold medal to change the embarrassment of having Howard Dean as the state's most famous citizen. Maybe if Lindsey had let out a Dean-like yell, she would have scared the hell out of the judges and gotten the score she needed. Anyway, I feel badly for Lindsey. Her silver medal isn't going to get her any product endorsements, unless it's for Avis!
Posted by Shroud of Turin | February 18, 2006 4:20 PM
Posted on February 18, 2006 16:20
I can't believe i'm agrreing with Mr. Cypher but I am. The very Essence of the Snowboarding revolution was just some kids screwing around on a mountain and having fun. Yes it bit her in the ass. But they are what they are....Probably in it more for the fun than the Glory
Posted by Legend Killer | February 18, 2006 5:00 PM
Posted on February 18, 2006 17:00
L Cypher couldn't be further off base. Which where he is most of the time anyway. This particular event isn't about creativity/style. It's a friggin RACE. I can't believe you aren't asking why skiers don't do helicopters during the Super-G or why Jeff Gordon doesn't do spin-outs at Daytona ....GOOF!
Posted by JesusSavesThorntonScores | February 19, 2006 9:31 AM
Posted on February 19, 2006 09:31
Concentrate on Jesus and Thornton. It's relly more the people then the sport. These guys are all about showboating and that's what this sport is about. Get it. Gordon was taught to race a car. Not spin out. Skiiers are taught to race in the super g, not showcase. Snowboarders are taught to fly. That's it. Get it, got it, good.
Posted by Louis Cypher | February 19, 2006 12:24 PM
Posted on February 19, 2006 12:24
They weren't "taught" to fly. They learned. However, not all snowbaorders compete. So if some particular rider decides that he or she wants to be competitive and leave the freedom of their favorite runs behind, then that's what they should do.
Get it?
Posted by JesusSavesThorntonScores | February 20, 2006 8:51 AM
Posted on February 20, 2006 08:51
I have read previous blogs where I thought Louis Cypher really had intelligent comments, but his contribution to this blog has to be by far the dumbest commentary in the history of the Lowell Sun Sports Blogs! Right on JesusSavesThortonScores...you said it all! It was a race, not a "bust a move" competition. As a result she took a bath, which is where she should have been in the first place...in one of the tubs showboating her tricks! Louis: As for '...she's cute...', you've let your testosterone go to your brain!
Posted by KrickMick | February 20, 2006 4:23 PM
Posted on February 20, 2006 16:23
I got your back Louis.
1. These snowboarders consider themseleves artist more than anything. They just want to screw around on a mountain, pull off some tricks and have fun. God forbid if winning a gold medal for their country is not their priority. Who cares, I'm not taking it personally that Jacobellis fell while attempting an unnecessary trick. I'm over it.
2. How did Jeff Gordon get into this conversation? We're supposed to be talking about ATHLETES.
Posted by Legend Killer | February 20, 2006 8:01 PM
Posted on February 20, 2006 20:01
KrickMick is obviously an idiot. Louis Cypher nailed this one. Anyone commenting against him know nothing about the sport or the people in it.
Posted by BoardsonBoards | February 20, 2006 9:48 PM
Posted on February 20, 2006 21:48
Do any of you know how much it takes to get a sport into the schedule of events at the Olympics?
There is no room in this discussion for leniency for Jacobellis, just as there is no room to dismiss her actions due to the free spirited nature of snowboarding. She was representing her country at the Olympics, for crying out loud!
If she wanted to impress onlookers with her fancy, showoff moves, she should have stayed in Vermont.
Posted by The Viking | January 26, 2007 6:36 PM
Posted on January 26, 2007 18:36