Recovering downhiller Friedman takes a shot at a new line of work, journalist

Recovering downhiller Friedman takes a shot at a new line of work – journalist{mosimage}Bryon Friedman will be at the Olympic Winter Games, doing online analysis pieces for Yahoo Sports. Go to Yahoo.com, click on 'sports' click on 'Olympics' and you'll find the grinning mug of the U.S. Ski Team's most missed downhiller.

'It's been tough' said Friedman, when Ski Racing called him earlier this week for an update on his injury. 'I'd say the first six months were really bad, but since then it's been getting easier and easier.'

Friedman broke his leg in a crash at a World Cup downhill in Chamonix in January of 2004-05. As he tumbled, the broken bones mangled the tissue of his lower leg, causing extensive nerve damage and requiring numerous complicated surgeries.

'I hope to get on snow within a month' said Friedman, who has been working with physical therapist Kevin Brown in Santa Barbara, and surfing a lot. 'I'd like to get back on snow just to feel what's possible. But it takes clearance from the U.S. Ski Team. I would need to pass medical tests with the team.'

'Freedog' was in the middle of a promising season when the leg break occurred. Since then he has been hanging out watching the world discover Bode Miller. 'He's more popular than he ever has been in the U.S.' he says. 'All these guys in Santa Barbara are coming up and asking me about him. They all want to know what Bode's deal is. His marketing strategy is brilliant.'

An early installment at Yahoo sports has Friedman talking to an interviewer about Miller's chances of finishing the Olympic slalom, and what kind of a teammate he is. Friedman also talks about Miller's outrageous statements, disputing the notion that they were a publicity stunt.

'I don't think it was necessarily scripted, but he's not a stupid guy' said Friedman, a Dartmouth College graduate. 'If anything he's a little hypocritical. He complains about all the fame he has and the fans and the stress that puts on him, but he goes out and says outrageous things and talks about his party habits. It's the Bode way I guess.'