A great story came out of the Olympics yesterday. Unfortunately it hasn't gotten nearly the amount of play that Michelle Kwan's withdrawl or Bode Miller's failure to medal have.
U.S. speedskater Joey Cheek won gold in the 500m event. While the win was impressive, it wasn't the biggest story. At the post-race press conference, Cheek announced he would be donating the entire $25,000 bonus he would receive from the U.S. Olympic Committee to Right to Play, a non-profit organization founded by former speedskating champion Johan Olav Koss that seeks to help children throughout the world through sports. Cheek specifically requested that the money go to sponsor work in the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan and called on corporate sponsors to match the gift.
Cheek explained, "If I retired yesterday, I'd have gotten everything in the world from speedskating and from competing in the Olympics. So for me, to walk away today with the gold medal is just amazing. And the best way I can say thanks that I can think of is to try and help somebody else."
And with that Cheek personified what the Olympics are supposed to be about.
hey dc_domer, i'm starting up a sports website and i want you to be a writer. please either e-mail me at fp-show@hotmail.com or just post here or on my blog your e-mail address. thanks and keep up the good writing.
Last edited by featurepresentation on February 16th at 12:25 AM.
I am a chick who lives for sports -- football, hockey, college basketball, lacrosse, you name it.
As a girl from Baltimore married to a guy from Pittsburgh, my football loyalties and love for my husband are put to the test every weekend. Fortunately, he's an understanding guy.
As is our dog, who loves his football, and my beloved Irish.