McKee's McThoughts: This winning thing, it's big

By Published On: December 23rd, 2006Comments Off on McKee's McThoughts: This winning thing, it's big

How big does it get?
    Do you realize how big this is, this winning thing?  
    Bode at Beaver Creek, Kildow at Lake Louise, Bode at Val Gardena, Nyman at Val Gardena, Mancuso at Val d'Isere, Kildow at Val d'Isere, and Bode again at Hinterstoder.
    Wins make everybody happy. Remember the old "I'm going to Disney World" thing? A whole lot of happy, smiling athlete faces.
    It makes crunching the numbers more fun, too. Before this season, the U.S. had never won more than five races before the end of December. With seven we (now it's we, back in '88 it was they) are kicking butt and taking names. The guy at the front door is holding the velvet rope wide-open, waving us on in


HOW BIG DOES IT GET?

    Do you realize how big this is, this winning thing?  
    Bode at Beaver Creek, Kildow at Lake Louise, Bode at Val Gardena, Nyman at Val Gardena, Mancuso at Val d'Isere, Kildow at Val d'Isere, and Bode again at Hinterstoder.
    Wins make everybody happy. Remember the old "I'm going to Disney World" thing? A whole lot of happy, smiling athlete faces.
    It makes crunching the numbers more fun, too. Before this season, the U.S. had never won more than five races before the end of December. With seven we (now it's we, back in '88 it was they) are kicking butt and taking names. The guy at the front door is holding the velvet rope wide-open, waving us on in.
    Most enjoyable from this vantage point is the U.S. attitude. Sure, it's easy when you're on a high, on a wild ride of success to say the right things, but when you hear first-time winners saying it was nice, and I'm excited, but adding there's a whole lot more left to do, oh, that is a very good thing. It hasn't always been like this.
    Back in the late 1980's — when some of the current team was hampered by Pampers — Ski Racing the magazine wrote about the U.S. Ski Team uniform being the end-all of the chase. Getting the uniform seemed to mean a young American had made it, had reached the pinnacle of the sport. That was bull, of course, which was the point of the article. A uniform meant only that they had gotten out of the Pampers in terms of World Cup prowess. These days, there seems to be a much better grasp of reality. Maybe it was the time … maybe not. 
    Instead of looking to go to Disney World, this current group is looking at the next World Cup stop, searching not for a chance to relax, but for the chance to get better and outski someone else; anyone and everyone else.     
    Wow, they get it.
    This is important. Because, frankly, while the celebrity, the headlines, the autographs are all nice, when we get by the guy at the door we've still got to find a table. Most of those are reserved for Austrians. Even if limiting Nations Cup scoring to the top three, Austria still leads the pack – by 600 points. The actual figures, which count everybody who scores points, are ridiculous: 4,472 to 2,181 for Austria over the United States. Sometimes the numbers can deflate a high. That is, however, USA in second place there, and — as of Dec. 21 — just one behind the Austrian victory total at seven (but well behind in podiums).
    Obviously there's still work to do. This American team seems to understand that, which is pretty refreshing for a guy who's been charting this stuff for a few decades now.
    Bode Miller is likely to top Phil Mahre's victory record before the end of his career. Lindsey Kildow just moved past Christin Cooper and Kiki Cutter on the U.S. win list. Those are U.S. skiing icons we're talking about moving on past.
    Since the Olympics last season, three new skiers have added their names to a U.S. win list that numbers only 34, including the new guys. It's usually one every three years, not the other way around.
    The old guard is gone — well, not literally. In fact Phil plans to gear up for a piece of Miller and Ligety at nationals and most of the rest on that winner's list are still around and enjoying the sport. They did exceptional work in laying the groundwork, showing how the game can be won. It's a lot to live up to, even more to eclipse.
    This team — the 2007 version — knows there are challenges ahead and it has buckled in for the ride. Take a bow kids. Know you are appreciated. Know you build on a solid foundation. Trust in it and stretch for the freakin' sky. History is yours. Take it.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh