Online Message Board: What Do You Think of the 2002 Olympics? So what's on your mind with the 2002 Winter Olympics? Is the traffic as bad as you thought? Do you agree with the judges that gave the Canadian skaters the silver? How's the coverage? We want to hear what you have to say. Please keep it clean. Note that all messages are reviewed before going live! Here's what others have to say:

Woody finally did it -- Bob of Denver, CO

He stepped so far over the line that he went from just ticking a few people off to offending an entire state and group of religious people. I am from Denver and I can assure you that 99% of people from Colorado know Utah is a great state and the olympics are being hosted in a superb manner. Good job and realize that Woody is employed to sell papers and has come close to being fired before (Summer 2001, Invesco threatened to sue the Denver Post). Makes me wonder why the Post didn't tell him to rewrite the column in the first place instead of publishing it! We are sorry Woody is a tool, hope the rest of the games go as well as they have already.  

Go Home Woody! -- Suzy of SLC, UT

I saw Woody on T.V. tonight trying to apologize. All I can say is, go home Woody before you choke on some green jello! We don't want you here. It's too bad that the exact reason people want to be in a good place with good people who are for the most part honest and hard working, is the exact place people like you have to slam! If you think downtown Denver is so great (I've been there and believe me it isn't), then perhaps you should set up a tent downtown and write your articles from there. I'm sure you would like it better! Fly away now!  

Mr. Paige is misinformed -- Jo Ann of Bountiful, UT

If Mr. Paige knew anything about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), he would know that the literature being handed out on the street corners is anti-m-Mormon literature. We have been asked not to do any proselyting during these games by our dear President. We have also been asked to be tolerant of the people who pass this literature out and others who are of different faiths. We are all children of our Heavenly Father despite our different beliefs.   

Woody -- Kathy of Salt Lake City, UT

Why not send him to Utah and have him write a realistic article? An apology and a retraction won't undo what he has done.   

Understanding -- Aletta of Washington, UT

I guess I have a hard time understanding why it is so hard for people to just enjoy the talents that so many people have worked on perfecting their entire lives. Why some feel they need to step on someone else just to feel bigger & higher than the next person. Don't people understand that by working together things get done better, last longer & mean more? One person alone did not write the Constitution. One person alone does not make a child. God made it so that in order to accomplish something, it would take more than just you. Regardless of religion, race, gender or background. We learn from others, make mistakes & then become a better person. That is what makes up the Olympics. That is what should make up a country. Everyone working together for understanding & bringing the best out in each other. Just once I would like to pick up the paper, or listen to the radio or T.V. & hear about how good the world is. I will never give up hope for a better, understanding, patient world.   

woody-wood head -- John of Tremonton, UT

The fact that the post pulled thier web site is proof they are ashamed of his remarks. Someone else on the message board almost labeled him a terrorist then stopped. While not a terrorist his inflamitory remarks are the type that fuel terrorist acts. He would have been great at wipping up a mob in Carthage.  

Denver had its' chance -- JJ of Salt Lake City, UT

After finishing my shift as a volunteer driver for SLOC, I walked through the new Gateway Complex. There I happened upon a camera man and news reporter from Channel 9 in Denver. They could only speak in superlative tones of what an awesome, inspiring and impressive experience the 2002 Winter Games were becoming. On the eve of Mr. Paige's article, they both simply summed up Denver's missed opportunity, "We blew a great chance...." My fascinating "inside the ropes" exposure to the international community, particularly IOC members, strongly contradict the outrageous assertions in the now retracted article of Mr. Paige. So far the grade is holding strong in the A- area, but it is still early.... I am confident we will look even better, stronger and more organized as the Games progress!! I am proud and privileged to be involved!!   

Woody has been tried, he's been measured, and been found wanting -- Greg of Layton, UT

If Woody Paige is the best in Sports Journalism that Denver has to offer, they had better start looking for someone new in another city. Since this is not the first article that "Mr. Rage" has written that is way over the edge, the Denver Post should not only apologize but fire him immediately. His final piece should be a REAL apology from him, but I think that is definitely beyond his capactiy. He should never be allowed to report on anything more than a LOCAL little league game, but I'm afraid that even then he would insult whichever team his little boy is not on. By the way, does Woody even know where Salt Lake City is?  

The Uncle Nobody Wants To Mention -- Joanie of Salt Lake City, UT

Imagine having a really great party that you've been planning for a long time. You have spared nothing to make sure that everyone attending your party would have the time of their lives; the best caterer, awesome entertainment, great party favors and so on. Then... In stumbles the uncle nobody wanted to invite, drunk off his butt and babbling incoherently to himself about how important he is and how awful he thinks your party is. Paige--you are the uncle nobody wanted to invite. How sad that you gain your self-importance by slamming everyone. People, the hosts as well as the athletes, have worked very hard to get here and make this something that the world would remember, not just remember SLC, Utah or Mormons, but remember the USA as being gracious hosts in a time of unrest and pain. Shame on you! Maybe you should get off your la-z-boy and write something constructive for once. Your half-baked apology in the paper tomorrow is just going to be your mom dragging you by the ear to the neighbor's house to mumble "I'm sorry for kicking your dog!" under your breath. Your apology would be to change the behavior. It's not just Utah that you are slamming. You are slamming the whole USA and everyone in it. No wonder outsiders think that everyone in the USA loves the Jerry Springer Show. Unfortunately, the loudest and the most obnoxious are the ones who get heard.  

Send an e-mail / The Address -- Kelly of Ogden, UT

Only one comment let Mr. Woddy's boss know how you feel. Send your comments to sportsletters@denverpost.com lets bombard em!  

Woody. your insane! -- Willy of North Salt Lake, UT

Who let this clown of of they Loony Bin? Must have got his start at the SUB-STANDARD EXAMINER!!OH SHAME on me for that one!! Woody come over for dinner and Bill Cosby and I will cook you some green jello and for desert will read the book of mormon... what are you smoking anyhow.. better let you go so you can go trash some other state like Idaho just think of the spud jokes he will write about..   

To The Denver Post Editors: -- Steve of Draper, UT

Responsible journalism requires editorial control to ensure fairness and accuracy in reporting. While contraversy sells newspapers, I assumed your literary standards would have prevented the publication of inflamatory and irresponsible journalism. The recent Olympic article by some dope named Woody, has firmly placed your publication in the same class as the National Enquirer and other supermarket rags. I do not fault Woody for his ignorance, I fault you for employing a low class, prejudiced human being to represent what must be your "standard in journalism". This employee has offended a state, a religion and an insitution aspired to by atheletes all around the world. It is clear now to me why Denver's citizenry voted not to hold the Olympics there. You couldn't pull it off!  

Woody...whatever -- Kristen of Provo, UT

There will always be jerks.  

Does he watch television? -- Lindsay of Syracuse, UT

Has this ignorant man turned on his TV? The opening ceremony for the Olympics were gorgeous. I was a person who did not want the Olympics so close to home, but after seeing the way SLOC has presented them I am proud to have them here. If he would have researched his article he would have found that Mormons have not practiced polymogy for about 100 years. (I don't know exactly how long.) As a state I guess we cannot consume a large amount of a certain kind of food without being critized. It was Jell-O the company and the media that made such a big deal about our Jell-O consumption. This man is a sad sorry excuse for a person. I'm sorry that he is in a position where he can express his pathetic, closed, little mind. If this is the material that the Denver Post wants to be known for I feel sorry for the people of Denver. Maybe we should start shipping them the Deseret News.   

The Denver Post... -- Brad of Lehi, UT

Reflecting upon the writing style of a certain Denver Post sports writer we only can laugh. What a joke. The man has the right to express his views. The Denver Post has the responsibility to print what it deems worthwhile. Apparently the post does not care about printing poorly written articles. The solution...don’t buy the Denver Post...Let it go and hope the Post can recover from the gigantic blunder.   

Insensitive Woody -- Libby of Tampa, FL

I am a non-LDS, frequent visitor to Utah and have NEVER experienced anything that Mr. Paige wrote. I am as offended as if I were a native Utahn by his article. I wrote: You are a loser for slamming Utah, which is nothing like you described, and I am saying this as someone who visits Utah frequently. To be honest, it sounds like you were never in Utah at all. This kind of hateful spew only fuels bigotry in other tiny minded people such as yourself. I am sure Denver is a wonderful place, in spite of the fact you live there.  

RE: My e-mail to Mr. Dale & Mr. Page -- Jacosta of Salt Lake City, UT

Mr. Dale and Mr. Paige, Excuse me? "a massive Mormon marketing scheme", and Mormons on every corner going after and targeting visitors? And Salt Lake has screwed up the Olympics? I didn't know that The Denver Post hires reporters from The National Enquirer! I would fault not only Mr. Paige for this blatantly false column, but also The Denver Post itself! Doesn't he have someone above him to go over his columns BEFORE they're printed? I have friends visiting from other states, some of whom have never been here to Salt Lake; and I am in a position to meet many other people from not only other states, but other countries as well. EVERYONE I meet, including those comments of my friends, all say that these Olympics are very well run, and in a first-class city! My freinds say that they won't be purchasing a Denver Post ever, nor logging on to your Website if this is the kind of work you do. As far as the greatly exaggerated comments made about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - they, Latter-day Saints, have been more than generous by telling their missionaries and members to NOT approach visitors in the atmosphere of proselytizing. In fact, where did Mr Paige find ANY Mormon handing out literature or going after visitors? We can't find them anywhere! In fact, it's "other" Christian groups who have moved into Salt Lake temporarily during the Olympics to target visitors, as well as anti-Mormon groups, who are handing out literature. NOT the Mormons! The "Mormon Olympics" is a made-up media term to sell more papers and gain media coverage just for the bottom line and to create controversy! If I were Mr. Paige's supervisor, or the owner of The Denver Post, I would give him his walking papers, and tell him that there is a position open at The National Enquirer or The Star! And, if Mr Paige desires to truly apologize, let him come to Salt Lake and do it live on KSL-TV! He owes it to the citizens of Salt Lake City, and the Latter-day Saints! Thanks, Jacosta   

God Bless America -- Floyd of West Valley City, UT

And that is the same God worshiped by the beautiful people of Utah (including the Mormons). The miracle here is that anyone in the Beautiful City of denver would employ the likes of a Woody Paige. A wise man once said - it is better to remain silent and let those around you think you an idiot than to speak and prove it. Woody, you have spoken - the proof is in front of the world. As Mormons we believe there is one God and we are all his children. Gosh Woody,looks like we are relatives !! Now - next time you are in Utah - you will feel welcome because you will know - you are with family. Doesn't that just make you all tingely? You are an embarassment to all of the good people of the world and most certainly to the World Trade Center families. You deserve pity - not acclaim. P.S. I was in Denver 1999-2000. I read the Denver Post. You are a lousy Sports Writer also.   

Mr. Page's column -- Ray of Salt Lake City, UT

I have listened all day to comments and newscasts covering Mr. Page's remarks. Let me say that I have lived in Salt Lake City for over 60 years. As far as I can determine, Mr. Page was mostly accurate in his assessment of our city and it's peculiarities. Why does it offend our citizens so greatly when someone from the outside points out our differences? Come on Doug Wright and the rest of Utah...Just admit that we are a strange lot and will always appear that way to visitors. Don't get your knickers in an uproar just because someone makes you take a hard look at yourselves...I commend Mr. Page for his honesty...  

Who won the GOLD? -- Jim of Orem, UT

I’m sure of who won the silver medal in the Olympic Pairs Skating but remind me as to won the GOLD. Since the night of the competition I have seen many interviews with Jamie Sale and David Pelletier the Canadian ice skating team. All the major news programs in Utah focused on the Canadians’ loss of the gold to the Russian team and just how disappointed everyone was feeling. There were updates as to where Jamie Sale’s family stayed while in Utah, how relatives of the family felt, the opinions of the visitors in the Canadian Hospitality house, interviews of upset Utahans, Olympic reporters and commentators expressing their disbelief and of course Jay Leno. But as of yet I have not seen any coverage of the Russian team who were the gold medal winners. Yes, I also feel that the judges were off the mark when it came to awarding the gold and silver. But since the skating event coverage I feel that the media has been off the mark of having the true Olympic spirit. I feel deep sorrow for the awful blow that has been dealt to Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze. They were not the ones who decided who the winners of the pairs skating event should be. Yelena’s reaction to winning the Olympic gold was shown painfully on her face as the camera came in for a close-up; she was crying, and they weren't tears of joy. She felt the disappointed grown of the crowd as the marks of the Canadian team were posted and the sting of the crowd’s boos when the scoreboard showed that she and her partner had won the gold. What should have been a crowning moment in their lives, became instead a moment of rejection and I believe a lifetime of disappointment and frustration. Yelena suffered a major blow to her head several years ago resulting in a 2 inch laceration that required emergency brain surgery. She lost control over several motor centers. Walking and talking were difficult let alone skating on ice. She fought back and conditioned herself to once again skate, and unbelievabliy to skate at an Olympic level. The Gold medal in the Winter Olympics would be the pinnacle of her recovery. But as I saw Yelena and Anton standing behind the curtains waiting cue to come forward to claim the gold, they looked hesitant, perhaps afraid that as they came out into the arena that they may be booed in front of the millions of people watching. One commentator remarked that it would all be forgotten in two weeks but I believe what the Olympic champion Scott Hamilton said, “...it would be debated forever.” And certainly for the Canadian and Russian skaters it will be burned indelibly in their memories.   

Take a look in the mirror ! -- Ruth and Marie of Orem, UT

The last time I was in Denver I observed more children than you could imagine, smoking and drinking at a "Youth Parade". Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the legal age for those things the same everywhere? They were using language that make a sailor would blush. (No offense to sailors, my husband was one) It seems apparent that if Mr. Paige or many of the kids around there had some kind of religious background life would be better for all concerned. Mr. Paige , we are members of the LDS church and take it personally when you slam us for our "faults" of which you have no idea what they are, or make determinations without facts. We suggest that before you right another article you actually see the place you are talking about, research it, or simply read a non-fiction publication about it so that you don't sound COMPLETELY IGNORANT. By the way, we have never eaten Green Jello with or without carrots,( I do believe they sell it everywhere in the country) we each have only one spouse (not related), we wear fashionable clothing, and by the way, those "Funny Underwear" are comfortable. You have stereotyped everything about the state of Utah and hopefully you will learn that we are a nice people, but if you start to dowse our "Fire within" you will soon learn that we are not as "Stereotypical" as you think. Happy Valentines Day Mr. Paige. We hope someone sends you a Seagull or Salamander.   

woody paige, real loser of games -- Anonymous of Salt lake City, UT

Mr. Paige, you make me all the more glad to be a former resident of Denver and a current resident of Salt Lake City. You should hold yourself lucky to live in a land of free speech and freedom of the press, because if there had been a law requiring truth or merit, your article would never have hit the press. You speak of LDS pamphlets on every corner. Had you been interested in truth, you would have realized that the overwhelming majority of the pamphlets being handed out were from Anti-Mormon groups. Perhaps if you had *read* a Mormon pamphlet, or any other type or religious literature for that matter, you might have realized the importance of qualities such as truth. While you abuse the freedoms of the press and of free speech, and neglect your responsibility to report truth, I have used my freedom of religion to convert from Atheism to Mormonism, without the use pamphlets altogether. You can type all the filth you want, but you seem to be the real loser of these Olympic Games.  

What ought to be done... -- Jaynee of Centerville, UT

Well, it seems that most everyone agrees that Woody Paige is monumetally incompetent, Bob Costas is astonishinly rude - I mean, would it kill the guy if he said something nice or even smiled once in a while? Consdering that both Bob Costas and Katie Curic were criticized for talking too much during parts of the opening ceremony, I find it supremely ironic that both Bob and Katie didn't have one nice thing to say when the opening ceremony was over. Not a word! Katie just sat there quietly smiling like a dip, while Bob signed off with a stone face. Sheesh! You'd think they were jealous or something! By all means, don't say anything positive! Now, for what ought to be done: The Denver Post fires Woody Paige after he issues his apology, then the Denver Post apologizes for even letting the article be printed in the first place; NBC sacks Bob "Caustic" and tells Katie to stop acting like a lump. And as for Toni of Magna - it's sad that your experience of living in Utah has been so warped. It's a wonder you still live here given your long list of gripes. Maybe you ought to take a hike.  

Bob Costas, unacceptible representative -- Andrew of Salt Lake City, UT

Upon seeing a revamping of the Open Ceremony at the first medals award, Bob Costas of NBC said (and I paraphrase) 'oh no, if they don't stop this I will have to switch off until they start the medals'. Later, a KSL anchor responded 'Bob Costas, please be nice to us, people are calling'. My point being - the Olympics and nation are represented by a jerk. Why does NBC allow this to continue? Fire Mr. Costas already!  

Totally Missed the boat -- Thomas of San Diego, CA

After reading the comments from the Denver Post Sports writer Mr. Paige, it's confirmed my fears about the whole of the media today. Biased,uniformed and pushing their own agenda. I'm a Californian visiting the Salt Lake Olympics and have found these games are being hosted by an outstanding community. The games will go own as one of the best ever presented to the world. Mr. Paige may sell newspapers in Denver but he has totally missed the boat on this one! Its sad that the Denver Post would allow such an idiot to represent them and their community.  

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