Bode Marriage Boo Boo
Bode Miller has been on the backfoot in his role as an NBC commentator at the Pyeongchang games.
The six-time medal winner, in his first stint as a commentator linked Austria’s Anna Veith’s struggles on the slope to her marriage in 2016.
Veith, plagued by knee injuries since 2015 that sidelined her for almost two World Cup seasons since 2015, married her boyfriend, retired snowboarder Manuel Veith, in 2016.
She has had just two top-three finishes in World Cup events since then, and was 15th-fastest in Thursday’s GS first run.
NBC announcer Dan Hicks commented that she had “not been the same” since her injuries. “The knee is certainly an issue,” Miller replied. “I want to point out she also got married.
“And it’s historically very challenging to race on the World Cup with a family or after being married,” Miller, 40, continued, digging a deeper hole.
“Not to blame the spouses, but I just want to toss that out there, that it could be her husband’s fault.”
Predictably some viewers were less than impressed with Bode;s views on competitive skiing and nuptials.
Co commntator Hicks said Miller “meant well.” Miller attempted to stop digging and said his comment was an “ill-advised attempt at a joke” and that he was sorry.
“I was an athlete that competed after marriage, and I know how beneficial it is. I know the support team you need,” Miller said. “On Valentine’s Day, I did not mean to throw spouses under the bus, and I’m going to be hearing it from my wife, I know.”
He subsequently returned to his shovel and sent a rather mixed message on Twitter:
“To be clear I was not seriously blaming Anna Veith’s lack of results on her husband. It’s a changing of priorities that is historically hard, male or female.”
Three minutes later, after, it's tempting to assume a stern message from Mrs Bode, Miller added: “I had the love and support of my wife while I was racing and I know it can be a huge asset. #happyvalentinesday”
SIN suspects that the spare room might already be being readied for Bode on his return from Korea...
