BODE MILLER APOLOGIZES FOR 60 MINUTES COMMENTS; BILL MAROLT PLEASED

By Published On: January 12th, 2006Comments Off on BODE MILLER APOLOGIZES FOR 60 MINUTES COMMENTS; BILL MAROLT PLEASED

BODE MILLER APOLOGIZES FOR “60 MINUTES” COMMENTS; BILL MAROLT PLEASED{mosimage}Bode Miller formally apologized on Thursday for comments he made on the CBS News program ’60 Minutes’ on Sunday night. He spoke for two and a half minutes at the Wengen Elementary School and did not take any questions.

‘I want to come straight out and apologize to my family and friends and also the people who have supported me along the way’ said Miller. ‘Because of the way I made those comments in the 60 Minutes interview, it caused a lot of confusion and pain.’

After the crowded meeting, Miller left to play ice hockey with teammates and coaches while European reporters listened to a recording of the speech over and over again, trying to decipher Miller’s quick English.

Bill Marolt, the president and CEO of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association, said he thought the move was positive.

“I’m delighted with what he’s done,” said Marolt. “It’s important for his career that Bode take responsibility and understand the impact that he has on the sport and on kids in particular.”

Miller also apologized to people that he had no interaction with, who knew him only through the media. ‘Fans and parents who are trying to put all the athletes up on a pedestal and show their kids what they’re supposed to be like’ Miller called them.

Finally, Miller apologized to the media for not speaking to them for the last few days. ‘I think you understand why’ he said with a chuckle.

Roughly 50 people were in the room, along with television cameras from the major central-European national broadcasters.

Sitting on each side of Miller were Lowell Taub (his agent), and Marc Habermann of the U.S. Ski Team’s public relations department. Miller’s uncle Mike Kenney stood to the edge of the table.

Miller had to climb three flights of stairs to get to the schoolroom where he was to deliver his statement. It is the same room where team captains’ meetings and race-winners’ news conferences are held.

Asked if he thought there were a chance that Miller would race independently from the team in the future, Marolt said “that conversation never even came up.”

Share This Article

About the Author: Pete Rugh