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Maier misunderstood The Hermanator criticized after show of sportsmanship
It's not often that a competitor finds himself in hot water for appearing too sporting these days, but that's exactly what happened to Austrian super-skier, Hermann Maier, at the World Championships in Austria.
For those who missed the story, Maier was roundly criticized by his countryman after the men's Super-G, in which he finished third, for having the temerity to smile when the gold medal was won by Daren Rahlves of the United States. Rahlves' upset victory, which relegated Maier's countryman, Stefan Eberharter, to the silver medal position, having drawn a reaction from the Hermanator which some people took as a sign of pleasure that Eberharter had missed out on the gold.
Maier of course, denied that accusation, saying that his enigmatic smile was merely a wry comment on the fact that an American who trains with the Austrians had upstaged them. Adding, that anyone who read anything negative into his expression should see a psychiatrist.
I for one found Maier's sportsmanship refreshing in these days of tight-lipped losers, or worse still, foot-stomping cry babies who find every reason under the sun to excuse the fact they were beaten.
The Austrian's wry "well done mate" gesture probably said as much about him as any of the clutch of medals he's won, in so much as it seemed to show a more human side which acknowledged that sport is life, and sometimes life is ironic. And even if you find it a stretch to credit a smile with so much meaning, isn't it nice when a professional athlete surprises everyone by showing some humanity?
For example, when West Ham United's Italian striker, Paulo di Canio, refused to take advantage of Everton's Paul Gerrard by scoring on the keeper last December as Gerrard lay injured, he drew worldwide headlines and a commendation from FIFA President, Sepp Blatter. The revelation that the "me first" attitude in today's game is not all pervasive having warmed the cockles of our hearts.
And I had a similar feeling this week, when I read a story about British boxer, Prince Naseem Hamed, who showed his seldom seen sensitive side by visiting the stricken British featherweight, Paul Ingle, who was rendered comatose after a title fight with South Africa's Mbulelo Botile last December. Hamed having promised to challenge Botile on Ingle's behalf and dedicate the fight to him.
The gesture is remarkable because previously there'd been no love lost between Hamed and Ingle. In fact ahead of their title match-up back in April 1999 Ingle told me he wanted to beat the trash-talking Prince to a pulp, on behalf of all the fighters who hate his cocky brashness. That didn't happen of course. But while he didn't come away with Naseem's title, he did emerge with his respect, a fact Hamed had enough class to acknowledge with his sporting gesture this week.
So happily it seems despite all the pressures sportsmanship and compassion are not dead. And to the journalist on the Austrian newspaper, Die Presse, who wrote of Hermann Maier, that, "The Herminator lost sympathy" for his Super-G gesture," I say shame on you.
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