5 Minute World Wide Fire Works
// August 6th, 2008 // Sup
Well, well, well, this is certainly not how I anticipated starting off my Olympic experience.
I can’t say much at this point simply because everything is scrutinized severely. It’s hard for me to not attach emotion to this, those of you who know me, know what I’m talking about, but what I will say is this,
“I am only doing what I perceive as best for my health and upcoming competition. I, nor any of the other athletes involved were attempting to make a political statement of any sort. We meant no offense to the great host the Chinese have been and all appreciate the hard work and devotion they’ve displayed to provide this venue. We are honored to be here, and this has been a long time dream. The bottom line is that we are here to compete faster, higher, and stronger while doing so clean, brave, reverent, and courteous trying to represent our country in the best possible way.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I will continue to wear my mask where I deem fit. It’s my life and health in the long run, and I would never do something that would purposefully or intently harm the best interest or the public view of either my Country or other Countries in attendance.
I understand that the moment chosen to wear the masks directly off the plane may have been poor timing on our behalf. We are aware now of the image it portrayed, but as I stated in the NYTimes, If this had been a city in the US with any significant pollution level that might interfere with athletic performance, I would have done the same thing. Also, keep in mind that it’s not just “pollution” we are worried about, but also getting sick. All the the athletes here are in peak form, and everyone is susceptible to getting easily sick. It’s just a precautionary measure for the best performance come game day.”
110 Responses to “5 Minute World Wide Fire Works”
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Meetter
- mikefriedman2: The nacho isn't feeling so hot after 6 hard hours in the saddle. The low back too, now that I'm thinking about. Also @TheDPate is a nacho. March 14, 2010
- mikefriedman2: stonecup in Lyons is awesome, esp at 830 am when u rolled out at 7. ugh, back home, gotta get ready for the fun part of the day. March 7, 2010
- mikefriedman2: taking my bro david motoing for his 21st Birthday. he lands at 1130 riding by 1. March 7, 2010
- mikefriedman2: is tired of Fake people, why cant people truly just be themselves? hmm maybe being fake is being themselves. March 3, 2010
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- pinkster said: Mike- If you ever drop out of cycling you would do...
- jim said: my penis is 22 inches soft so the therapist is alw...
- Pledger said: Thank you and your site for your advice....
- Aron said: ...
Mike, we support you and want you to ride your ass-off like we know you can. Come hell or high water, you are one of the hardest working guys I have ever met.
Push pull on those pedals my friend, push pull.
PLo
Mike – as you said – its only about the team and the Olympics, which is how this all started. It is kind of fun, though, to give all the idiots of the world a forum to vent their venom on the team. Enjoy the games!!
Well, well, well- imagine my surprise when i turned on my computer, and the aol news page popped up to show the glowing face (i’ll beit haif covered
) of my old friend mike! I can’t believe the way people carried on about all of that- I would have been wearing the mask too– crazy people! You’ve trained for YEARS to get where you are today- go LIVE it!!
so you deleted all the posts critising your choice to insult your hosts. lmao
put your head back in the mask mince meat.
you do realise most people root for 2 teams: their own and who ever is playing the usa.
interesting you left this racist crud..
Go For The Gold! Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
The Chinese have stolen American jobs. We don’t want their Made in China crap.
Typical pathetic yank, didn’t like copping a bit of deserved criticism, from the rest of the world, so he removes the bad posts from his site. Well, the crqiticism still stands, no one likes you and no one likes your country. Stop being so arrogant and rude and go home. When you get there you can spend the next four years focusing on being decent global citizens.
Just keep pushin the pedals… we are cheering for you, as always. superman suit was funny, but true. super proud.
This is really funny.
Mike,
Best of luck to you and don’t let the incident or criticism get you down. Just keep on hammering the pedal and enjoy the the Olympics!
We’ll be cheering from here in the U.S. for and the rest of the team!! Go Team USA
Hey, I’m from QLD, Australia… We sure as hell aren’t all slamming you for wearing them!
Ok… so maybe from a Chinese perspective it possibly wasn’t the best idea for the USOC to give out the masks but really they’re just trying to do what’s best for you too… People are always going to get feisty regardless of what anyone does.
Just focus on yourself, do your thing and have some fun kicking ass over there! We’ll be cheering.
So, Mike. You and Bobby sound like you are good from what I can read. I have the computer set to wake me up at 4:00 am for the race. This really meaans I don’t get to sleep that night. The Madison is for Madison Square Garden in my NYC, right? I am going to rub the building for you for luck. Bring it on!
Mr.Friedman, I just found out that you won a Scratch championship in Beijing back in 2007. Did you wear a mask back then?
Since the air quality is so bad in Beijing and you had the advantage of wearing the mask, the gold metal must belong to you then. Good luck, you know the joke is gonna be on you if you fail, right?
These hypocrites were deliberately to insult the host country and make USA embarrassed too.
You are a bunches of morons.
I guess if these guys “Mike Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed” do not win any gold medals, people will laugh on them saying “oh, they did not win because they did not wear a mask during the competition”
Your true fans will not desert you, tell nothing to defend, just put your best effort in and pray for the WIN!! For YOU all the way, CHEERING YOU ON TO A GOOOOD SHOWING!!
Michael Phelps is a wonderful example. He has won several golds so far. He did not wear a mask when he anded at Beijing.
Michael, don’t let this BS bother you. I am a friend of your dads. Talked to him the last couple days, was actualy out in Long Island but he was so busy getting ready to fly out there. I know he is excited to come to China to watch you kick some butt. Go USA.
Aunt Jan: It’s the old Madison Sq Gardens… that was built for cycling at turn o century, from what I understand.
OK Mike. Read some crazy quotes from you today…. hope they were a bit more show and emotion from the moment… but the whole “not sure how I would take it if I did not make it” thing kinda makes me want to type this note to you. I think you are more level headed and grounded than that stuff I read.
Olympics is icing on the cake for your cycling. The journey to get here… all the wild places you’ve gone… all the SUPER GREAT people (and you met them where their true colors showed) you’ve met and who think you are GREAT too…. the journey doing all this stuff is THE reward. These are riches that people cannot buy, no matter how much money & power they have!! You are one of the richest people I know.
Grass is greener for those who’ve finished college, have the house in the burbs with a wife and 2.5 kids…. but those normal people think your ‘grass is greener’ traveling the world and living a romantic life out of a suitcase…. just know the normal people of the world WAY outnumber the minority of people who even risk trying to make the olympics let alone make it.
be selfish — see how GREAT a cyclist you can be… as it will let you see how you can do the same process elsewhere in your life….
just remember all the GREAT people who are cheering you & Team USA on… as they think you are GREAT.
keep pushin the pedals!
Michael Michael motor-cycle my spherical friend!! Can’t even believe the craptacular comments that this has ellicited! Stay strong, stay healthy, and do what you need to do in order to kick some serious ASS!! We love you and are thinkin’ of ya! You definitely deserve a beer on the deck when you get home!
To our friend the glorious ball of processed beef. You have our hopes and best wishes with you. I am sure that you can direct all the years of training, emotions and desires into your race. I will cross my fingers for good, safe exchanges, finding the right wheels and your ability to reach deep when you ask yourself to go harder. Go Meatball!!!
As Ron Spencer would say…wind it up Mike wind it up!! good luck have fun
America is the best country.
Mike, I think Bilko is one of the smartest guys y’all know. He knows just what to say, and how to say it! “Icing on the cake”…perfect!
And you know that we all love you dearly!
after the Olympics, you need to stay out of politics, to rest up for the Tour of MO!!
Thank you.
Thank you for your commitment to honesty, integrity and excellence.
Thank you for how you push others to excel.
Thank you for your ability to laugh and make others laugh.
Thank you for your being a meatball… little bits all rolled up into one great thing… especially if it gets cooked right.
Celebrate on what you’ve done and how you’ve done it.
Again, thank you.
I 2nd T on Bilko’s comments Mike and agree with his Thank yous 100%!!! You rock babe and what a great year this has been! Enjoy your moments and be YOU!!! You rock and you’re awesome so keep that smile shining!
I am saddened to read some of the negative posts people have left for you. I think you were sacrificed by the IOC and it doesn’t surprise me at all. Look at how they handled the controversy with the gold medal in women’s gymnastics. Hang in there and know that there are more people who support you and admire you than there are jerks who will be critical of your choices.
Shout out to little mikey! THis is kim cauhgey who was an official in Pittsburgh. Great to see you in the olympics *and* in today’s NY Times. Way to go!!!!!
Hold your head high. You made a practical decision for health reasons, acting on the best advice available. Everyone in Peters Twp. is very proud of your accomplishments. We outnumber the naysayers.
Hi Mike,
Sure you don’t remember me but I am Sam and Adam Baer’s mom back in Peters township. Just wanted you to know that we support you all the way! We think the way the USOC threw you under the bus stinks among other things to numerous and nasty to say here. We saw the article in today’s PG and hope it gets picked up by the line services. Anyway…we thank you for representing our country and know what a great guy you are. All our best to you.
The entire Baer gang
just read about the USOC hanging you out to dry in the Post Gazette. That sucks. Hope your Olympics got better and that the hate mail has stopped.
To hell with the USOC and screw the Chinese.
You guys were right with what you did.
Give ‘em hell brothers. I’m glad you didn’t bow to the enemy like the others did !!!!!
I’m sorry that you took such flack. When I first heard about it, without knowing anything much about the situation, I just thought, well, who can blame them? There is no secret that the pollution is awful there, and you are an athlete going to compete. And after learning more, the source of the masks, etc., just made me more sympathetic. I hope that your entire experience was not clouded by this. Such an accomplishment to be there.
Just read about the nasty mail you’ve received. What a shame. You are young & healthy & anyone with insight can see that you guys were not being malacious or making a statement. Enjoy life & don’t read negative mail. What you’ve already read speakd more about the writer than about you. Good luck!
I’m sorry you had to experience this whole situation just because you took steps to preserve your health. The most important thing is that you made it to the Olympics, which is so much more than so many could ever do in a lifetime. As for China’s image as host country, what was truly embarrassing was the computer generated fireworks and lip-syncing at the opening ceremonies, not to mention the obviously underage gymnasts, all of which they did to themselves. Congratulations on your achievements and good luck in the future!
I was in bejing, the air fucking sucked. Meatball rules, the air dosent. Go meatwad!!
hey mike, i am a black guy from ghana and met your parents on the subway in Beijing, they are wonderful people, if you read this tell them i said hi, your mum is such a wonderful woman.
Good luck man
Glad you called Fraysse. Resourcefulness is a good quality to have…. just know that your situation will be more of the same now that you’re pro… out of “their” control. While it sould be good to know that going in… you now have an idea what to do in the future, in London. Yes, that is a challenge from me to you.;-)
Welcome Back Mike!! and thank you Bilko!!
Mike,
Those of us who know you in Peters Twp. are proud of you and your achievement. To cycle in the Olympics is quite an accomplishment. Read about the USOC making you a scapegoat in the Pgh. Post Gazette-the article was very supportive of you and your teammates . Can’t believe there was a flap over wearing a mask–must have been a slow news day. Congratulations and best wishes for continued success!
Hope you get to sleep for a week straight and you eat whatcha want a couple of times. Now your name will be up at Pikes peak… you can ride up there with Pate & Creed sometime and check that out… haha makes me think of fudge. Amazing. Hope you realize it too.
Mike,
We went to high school together before you reached celebrity status. -Congratulations- on such a great achievement. I am sure that you are proud of your accomplishments. What a thrill, what an honor. I hope you ate something unusual while you were there, that would’ve been my priority numero uno. Let me know if you’re back in Pittsburgh – I’m here for a while, I’d love to hear about your experience.
Congrats!!!
- Matt Sherwin, PTHS ‘01
p.s. How cool that you were on the cover of all these international newspapers. Any coverage is good coverage, I say. Silly Westerners don’t know anything about Asia and criticize the white kid who wears the exact same mask that millions upon millions of Asians wear every day.
Hi,Dude, How’s going on with your olympic experience? How’s Beijing air quality? please tell us the truth
Mike:
I have been following your situation for a while and I hope that the games are over now and you will find some peace within your own world.
What happenned was unfortunate wheather you meant offense or not. Offense was taken by the host and your action further damaged the world’s view of Americans. If you were a tourist going to China alone, nobody would pay you any heed. But you were there as the face of America.
Of all the comments that are trying to encourage you, they meant well. However, they are really just contributing to the problem of what you have started. What you need to do is stand up and admit that you’ve made a mistake. Stop making excauses of your actions. You may not have meant any ill intents. Maybe you were just having some fun with teammates and pulling a prank. But you know deep down in your heart that you would not have done this if you know beforehand what would have brought on to you.
So, it is a mistake and a misjudement. Admitting it is the first step towards learning from it and never have it affact you again.
How would your Olympics experience have been if you had not down the mask? I guess you will never find out which is a crying shame. For all of us would have loved to be in your place to have the chance to represent our country in a positive light.
Be a man and own up to it!
Hi,dear Mike,
I am Chinese, I was astoneshed actually when I saw your video on TV on 6th Aug. We know that there are pollutions in Beijing and we are all victims too, but we do see that Chinese people and Chinese government have been doing their best effort to make the air clean and healthy.
We hope every athlete will enjoy his stay and performance in Beijing, and I did really feel sorry when I saw your pic broadcasted through internet and TV broadcast.
I read your blog today, it seems that USOC issued the mask to you and instruct you wear it, but then they deny it. you also experienced bad time in beijing.
actually I wanna say that the Olympic Game is over, I wish you enjoy your trip, although it might be not so cheery good in the first beginning, but I hope that you didnot get ill when you staying in beijing. and you did well in your cycling.
Ok, buddy, take it easy. I hope you can see Beijing’s polution will be no more when you visit Beijing next time. and wish you perform better and win a medal next tiem in Beijing , and have a lot of fun here.
all the best and good luck.
Jerry
I have never responded to anything like this before but I was so confused by something I just read in an article on Yahoo.com about you saying this incident affected your performance.
You have got to be kidding me, I will try and keep it clean but you are such a baby and this complaining just makes the US look even worse. Did Michael Jordon complain that Gary Payton trash talking him lessened his performance. You are supposed to be an athlete, just suck it up and act like one.
You guys are such assholes! Such panzies! Very typical of you caucasians (remember, your forefather are immigrants from oversees…you guys are still visitors in this land. So stop you fucking whining. The white americans are very much part in blame for the pollution there. You guys are the ones who source out the jobs because you guys are very cheap. You guys are to blame first. what the hell do you expect. There is a reason a lot of people hate the majority of you caucasions. becuase you guys are too pampered. Thinking that you’re above everyone else. You guys think you are strong and and you guys bully others around. You know what happens to bullies. They always have a bad ending. Michael, stop your fucking whining. And what you did over in China, well you came out of the plane looking like a fucking dick. You looked very stupid. As well as the other bikers. By the way, you ride a bike. It’s not exactly a tough olympian sport. Try running dipshit!
What a whiner. How did other athletes break the world records? I have yet to see a report that they carried their own air to the Olympic.
Be a MAN!!!
“I think you’ll see more and more people wearing masks now,” Friedman said. “How do you control that? You just can’t.” NY Times
I just returned from Beijing and didn’t see a single other athlete wearing a mask. I appreciate that you are doing your best to represent our country, and in some way the IOC has hung you out to dry. However, ultimately it’s your best judgement and common sense that prevails, and in that aspect you are a disappointment especially in how you have handled this issue initially and most recently by blaming your results on not being allowed to wear your mask. Whether you are insensitive or ignorant in your need for a mask is debatable. It didn’t seem to bother the many athletes who broke records (indoor and outdoor)in events. What’s more disturbing is how you’ve behaved in the wake of all of this by passing the buck to anyone else besides yourself and demanding an apology for your own actions. Athletes are more often admired for their ability to deal with adversity with a brave face, even if they don’t always win. If you’re going to wear the colors of our country when you’re out there competing, please win and lose with dignity.
hey meatball, heard you were getting thrown under the bus, and wanted to chime in and say—me, lath, rube & bruno are in your corner. I am and will always be in awe that anyone has the stamina to make it through the US Olympic selection process. You got to race at the Olympic Games, dude! I’m proud of you for having made the choices you made going back there. We all know what the air quality was like in December. Not easy. Takes a lot of guts. You have guts and even more talent. I’m sorry this has become part of your Olympic experience. Don’t let it become all of it. Find the good. Don’t let this get you down.
Ok, now I’m getting mad. Lets not forget you WON the Scratch race at the Beijing World Cup last December, after having worn a mask and protected your lungs . . . like so many of the Chinese nationals we saw on the street.