Olympic idealism still burning bright

American Joey Cheek defined the best of amateur athletics in winning a gold medal Monday in the 500-meter speed skating event in Turin, Italy.
He also showed that the Olympic ideal still means something, by dedicating the $25,000 bonus he won for his gold medal to Right to Play, a program that provides recreation to underprivileged kids in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He earmarked the money for children in war-ravaged Darfur.
“I can take the time to sit up here and gush, or I can do something worthwhile,” Cheek said after he received the gold.
It’s good to know in this cynical time that not all athletes are spoiled brats or angling for a lucrative endorsement deal. Athletes such as Cheek can still inspire others to make a real difference in the world.
Posted by Randy Scholfield

4 Comments

  1. CrusaderX
    Posted February 18, 2006 at 12:17 am | Permalink

    Sounds like this Cheek is a nice guy. It’s still not gonna make me want to watch the Winter Olympics though.

  2. Damoon
    Posted February 18, 2006 at 8:58 am | Permalink

    It would be great if more athletes could be a true role model and inspiration like him. There aren’t that many kids can look up to today.

  3. NoJoCo
    Posted February 18, 2006 at 1:59 pm | Permalink

    The Olympics are happening?

  4. Joe Williams
    Posted February 18, 2006 at 2:14 pm | Permalink

    Yeah but that egotistical Bodi (hey I drink and smoke pot because I’m so xtreme) Miller is a failure. Didn’t live up to his hype and the way he is an his attitude, I could care less.

    But Olympics is cool.