The Davis/Hedrick Feud

I've been watching the Olympics for the past week, and I'm surprised by the bad and very unsportsman-like attitudes the U.S. speed skaters, Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick. I read a guest editorial in this morning's Chicago Tribune that says that Shani Davis, as a black man, has the right to be sullen, moody and rude after winning a gold medal. My question to the professor who wrote that opinion is this -- where in the world did you ever come up with that absurd notion?! Lady, this is not about race. This is about nationalism, and some people's lack of it.

True, Chad Hedrick has been very vocal in his opinion that Shani Davis isn't a team player. But when the time came, after the 1500 meter race where they won silver and bronze, to put aside the animosity and behave in a civilized manner, it was Shani Davis who fired the first divisive remark. Of course Chad Hedrick is going to respond. Wouldn't you, if someone were so rude as to insult you and then walk away before you could say anything? I would.

I am also appalled by the fact that Shani's mother has enlisted the aid of a bunch of also-ran Dutch athletes, who have no business getting involved in this. For someone who wants to be considered a private person, she sure is out there in the middle of the press stirring up a storm.

My final opinion on this is that, while Chad Hedrick made some brash comments earlier in the week, this whole thing has been blown out of proportion by Shani Davis and his mother. I'm glad that Davis is finished with his races. Maybe he and Mom will finally drop it. If not, then they will only prove just how un-American and unsportsman-like Shani Davis really is.