McThoughts; Bode are you out there?

Oh, Bode, say it ain’t so.

Come back to us. You know you aren’t done.

We need that unparalleled magic you generate, that ability to make skis do things no one else can. We want to see the body angles, the recoveries, the forces applied to the ski and the ice. We need to see the uncanny ability to over-power your equipment, ripping out bindings and bending steel, busting up buckles and plastic that was good enough for the space shuttle.

Come on Bode, don’t give up on us. We’re starting to understand.

And you should understand, as well, that you have, uhh, matured. The regime you have put your body through is unprecedented. The longest streak without missing a race was a nice goal, but linking those streaks, dude, does not come without cost. Stuff starts to break down. And it takes longer for recovery.

We’re sure you’ve noticed.Oh, Bode, say it ain’t so.

Come back to us. You know you aren’t done.

We need that unparalleled magic you generate, that ability to make skis do things no one else can. We want to see the body angles, the recoveries, the forces applied to the ski and the ice. We need to see the uncanny ability to over-power your equipment, ripping out bindings and bending steel, busting up buckles and plastic that was good enough for the space shuttle.

Come on Bode, don’t give up on us. We’re starting to understand.

And you should understand, as well, that you have, uhh, matured. The regime you have put your body through is unprecedented. The longest streak without missing a race was a nice goal, but linking those streaks, dude, does not come without cost. Stuff starts to break down. And it takes longer for recovery.

We’re sure you’ve noticed.

So by all means take a break. You don’t owe anybody anything (well maybe there’s some contractual obligations we don’t know about), the public has gotten its money’s worth.

Certainly you’ve won enough. Seven World Cup downhill wins including Wengen and Beaver Creek twice; five slalom wins including Schladming; nine GS wins including Alta Badia and Kranjska Gora twice; five super G wins and five combined wins; Two World Cup overall titles (3 years apart mind you) and three discipline crowns; two Olympic medals and five World Championship medals (double gold in both ’03 and ’05); and don’t forget nine national championships split rather evenly between the disciplines.

But it’s not about wins and titles and medals, is it? It’s about excellence, and recently those many long, long seasons have not allowed the best of Bode Miller to come through.

You’ve beat yourself up my friend, hammered on the ole bone bag, pounded on it day after winter day. But look at Didier Cuche and try to tell us your best days are behind you. We’re not buying that. Lord knows you’ve got more Cup experience than anyone racing today. Apply it once in a while.

No race is over until Bode Miller comes down the hill, and everyone – racers, techs, officials, the dreaded media, fans, and cameras – is compelled to watch. No one else carries that kind of muscled magnetism.

So rest up. Clean the armor, feed the horse and come out only when it makes sense, when the challenge is great enough.

Come out when the air is clear and the sun sparkles off the ice. Come out when there is something to conquer. Come back to us Bode. Come back and dazzle us. We’d appreciate it.

Arc on.