Shani Davis yesterday faced a backlash from his teammates after complaining about losing a coin toss to choose the US’ flag-bearer for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
The 35-year-old stayed away from the ceremony after losing the coin flip to US luger Erin Hamlin for the prestigious honor. The coin was used after representatives from the US’ eight winter sports federations deadlocked 4-4 in voting.
Davis is the most decorated US Olympian at Pyeongchang with 1,000m golds and 1,500m silvers in 2006 and 2010.
After losing the coin toss, Davis took to Twitter to show his unhappiness.
“I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event. @TeamUSA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer,” he said.
Davis yesterday made his Twitter page private, blocking new followers.
PROVING THE COIN RIGHT
His comments prompted a Twitter reply from US Olympic bobsledder Nick Cunningham, who said the flag-bearer role has often not been tied to Olympic success.
“I bet you wouldn’t be talking if it went in your favor,” Cunningham said. “Carrying the flag goes beyond wins and losses and it’s an honor to even be considered.”
“You’re only proving the coin flipped to the correct side,” he added.
Davis had not intended to attend the opening ceremony, but would have changed his plans had he been chosen to carry the flag. Instead, he stayed away to better prepare for competition in the 500m, 1,000m and the 1,500m, his opening race on Tuesday.
Freestyle ski half-piper David Wise joined the backlash against Davis.
“He or She who bears the flag for @Team USA should conduct themselves with both honor and HUMILITY,” Wise said on Twitter. “A true Champion would walk by their teammate proudly. Seems to me the dishonorable coin made the right choice.”
“As far as 2022 is concerned... you won’t receive my vote,” he added.
FLAWED SYSTEM?
Davis found support from the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who called upon the US Olympic Committee to change the flag-bearer selection process.
“The choice to represent our country as #flagbearer in the @Olympics should never be determined by the flip of a coin,” Jackson said on Twitter. “The Committee should immediately institute a more appropriate system to make such a significant determination.”
Committee spokesman Mark Jones said the selection procedures, including the coin toss tiebreaker, are known well in advance, adding: “The Team USA flag-bearer is selected using a detailed selection procedure that is fully driven by athletes.”
Harry Kane opened the scoring ahead of lifting his first career silverware as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0, with veteran Thomas Mueller playing his last home game for the club. Bayern officially won the title on May 4 when defending champions Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 2-2 draw at Freiburg, but were presented with the Bundesliga shield in front of their home fans at full-time. Dripping wet after being showered with beer by teammates, Kane said the title win was “an incredible feeling,” and hoped it would be “the first of many.” “It’s been lot of hard work, a lot of
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
Taiwanese e-sports veteran Lin “ET” Chia-hung yesterday successfully defended his King of Fighters XV title at this year’s Evolution Championship Series: Japan (EVO Japan), securing his second consecutive championship. Lin claimed victory with a 3-1 win over Japanese pro gamer “mok” in the grand final, repeating his earlier 3-1 win against the same opponent in the winners’ final. The 40-year-old earned a ￥1 million (US$6,897) cash prize at the two-day tournament, which drew 294 competitors. Mok, Lin’s toughest rival in the bracket, took home ￥400,000 as runner-up. Lin remains undefeated in match sets against mok in King of Fighters XV, holding a 10-0 record,
RSS