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 Who? -- Annette of Salt Lake City, UT

Woody, you've been hanging out with the wrong person. You and Toni from Magna need to get out more . . . see the sights . . . meet some people. Caves are for hibernating bears. It's obvious you've been getting all your information second hand. Get out and mingle a little . . . get your facts straight. Woody Paige is it? Sounds like a phoney name to me, but then who could blame you for not wanting to use your REAL name? Only REAL people have REAL names. Actually, the truth is we went all out to make your Olympic experience as miserable as possible just to make sure you would NEVER come back to Utah. As for the religious brochures . . . that's just anti-Mormon literature being handed out by bigots like yourself. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints doesn't need to force its literature on people . . . there are too many asking for it. I do hope you're planning to leave Salt Lake City soon; and if you don't have a job when you get home, I'm sure you could find one far, far away from any civilized people--perhaps on an animal preserve in Africa (poor lions). On second thought, that may not be such a good idea. The lions would probably protest the trash-like quality of the new food source.  

Re: Colorado Columnist -- Alesha of Salt Lake City, UT

To whom it may concern: I recently read this article that appeared in your publication. I was very offended by the contents, not only as a Utahn, but as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The things that were said in the article, were unfounded, and were uneduated opinnions. I know for a fact that there has been no proselyting on behalf of the LDS Church outside the walls of its property. I also am not aware of an overwhelming LDS overtone to the games either...its not that way at all. I have yet to see any news publication, activity downtown, or any such program having the LDS church relate to the Olympics at all, with the exception of Church President Gordon B. Hinkley and other local Church Officials carrying the torch. Why shouldn't they...they're respected members of the local community? I pose one question to you, the editor, would you allow an article such as this to go to print if it were refering to Muslims, or Jews, or even people of different ethnic backrounds? All of these religions have been attacked in the past, and been vhemently protected on all sides once the slander took place. Was that done here? For him to refer to people in Utah as biased in any way toward race, religion, sex, creed, or sexual preference is completely unfounded. I may not agree with the way people choose to live, but it is their choice, and I'm not here to live their lives for them. Did you stop to think about what was being said, or was it something used to fill word count on a page? What kind of challenge or childish game was the author trying to pose here? Does he have something against every Utahn? I am proud to stand and say, that I have lived in Utah all of my life, I plan on raising my children here. So, what if it's a little harder to get booze? You can still get it if you really want it. The author is entitled to his first amendment rights of free speech, but when free speech infringes upon an innocent people trying to host the world, he doesn't deserve that right in a publicly distributed publication. I am outraged at your lack of integrity in this situation, and ask...no DEMAND a retraction for the slanderous lies that were printed, and termination of employment for it's originator.   

Do the right thing -- Jim of Salt Lake City, UT

I hope that the Denver Post has the discipline to do the right thing and either fire Mr. Paige or print a sincere apology to the people of Utah and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I work in downtown Salt Lake City and have had NO transportation problems. I have been to 3 events and have had NO transportation problems. I have not seen one shred of LDS proselyting being done outside of the ordinary in Salt Lake. I have however seen extensive activity by other faiths and special interest groups which I beleive Mr. Paige has mistaken for Mormon missionaries. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir did sing at opening ceremonies but if you cannot allow that then the call for diversity in America is a complete sham. I think the SLOC has gone out of their way to deemphasize the Mormon heritage of Utah. Utah has great skiing, a convenient airport to mountain resorts, liquor laws that are easily within the bounds experienced by visitors to other states in the country…. For these reasons and many more, it has become a very favorable ski and vacation destination. I just cannot believe what a shamefully bigoted article you allowed to be printed. Dear Editor(of the Denver Post)---I dare you to do the right thing. PS I hear the green jello Olympic pin is one of the most sought after collectibles....go figure   

Poor Paige -- Shawna of Provo, UT

I won’t list the inaccuracies in Woody Paige’s article (Light the flame within?). That would take me longer than riding a “school bus” to Snow Basin. (But not quite as long as getting to the front of the lift lines at Aspen.) Either he didn’t really visit Salt Lake City this past week, or he came with the intention of attacking the city, the state of Utah, its people, the Olympics and the “Latter-day Whatevers”, regardless of what he experienced here. Had he so viciously assaulted Jews or Muslims, he would certainly have lost all credibility, done himself irreparable professional damage, and I would expect he would be fired – Posthaste. The paper should be embarrassed by this bigoted, uniformed piece of journalism. (If you can call it that.) I hope that Mr. Paige’s attitude is not representative of the Denver Post or the people of Denver. I would expect more from our Rocky Mountain neighbors. Actually, I think Mr. Paige may have done us a favor: I personally would prefer to have the hordes swarm to Denver, so that Utah can continue to keep its lift lines short and its resorts pristine.   

Denver Post Message Board -- Woody of Denver, CO

Check the Denver Post Message Board... http://www.denverpost.com/cda/DPO/Discussion/0,1373,76%257E%257E36%257E195%257E%257E%257ETrue%257E1,00.html  

Colorado is the Winner? -- Paul of Salt Lake City, UT

If its true as Mr. Paige proports, "Colorado will be the winner of the Winter Olympics", I'm sure they will turn it down. More troubling to me, even more than the content of Mr. Paiges column, is his horrilbe writing. I guess the Denver Post gets what it pays for, and in this case they get a hack. Utahns have a bad habit of being to thin skinned to outsiders misconceptions. During the NBA finals a few years ago, we came off as having a major inferiority complex. We don't have to defend ourselve against anyone, especially a minor league hack from a second rate paper in Denver. The world will judge our efforts after the games have concluded. I for one am certain we shine as we never have before.   

Mr. Paige's column -- Jonathan of Orem, UT

As I read Mr. Paige's column entitled "Colorado real winner of games" I was shocked and astounded at the inaccuracy, spite, and utter incompetence of the article. I am embarrassed to be a member of the same profession as Mr. Paige. You see, when I write, I try to be as accurate as possible. The whole time I have lived in this very beautiful state, I have never been asked to take a religious brochure, eat lime Jell-O, join a private club to get alcohol (the grocery store has it), worship anything, much less a salamander or seagull, marry anybody, much less multiple relatives, nor have found that anyone I have met is sexist, or racist, unlike Mr.. Paige, who obviously is very prejudice against those members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. None of whom, to my knowledge, have ever worshiped a salamander or a seagull. And one can only wonder about Mr. Paige's fascination with 'funny underwear'. I am a recent move-in to Utah. I have lived in many places, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, California, Idaho, and yes, even Colorado. I can honestly say as a whole, I have never met better people than I have found right here in Utah. They are a very happy, polite, kind people for the most part. Yes, a few exceptions to the rule can be found on the interstate, but most of those are either poisoning themselves with nicotine and alcohol or wound up because of a caffeine overdose. I can only assume Mr. Paige can be found among the ranks of those whose outlook on reality is skewed by 17 cups of coffee. How could it be other wise when I counted no less than 15 accuracy errors in his article. Utah is doing an excellent job of hosting the Winter Games. If Mr. Paige feels otherwise, then perhaps he should visit his doctor and ask for a Prozac prescription to improve his outlook.   

Moody Woody -- Brenda of American Fork, UT

Okay, this guy must be a tiny toon man! At 5ft. nothing minus a head, he acts like he didn't make the olympic cut for the curling team? Chip on your shoulder maybe? You should have called ahead, had we known YOU were coming to town, we would've had a pack of sled dogs ready to pull your carcass around the mountains to the venues. We would have planned it into the Olympic budget to sled your uptight rearend and later light the fire within, because you sure are full of something! Next year, in your Ramsey's get-to-together, easy on the christmas egg nog, that way you'll normalize by February, weenie boy!!  

Woody Paig -- Journalist? -- Kevin of SLC, UT

Joseph Goebbels (Hitler’s propaganda minster) would be proud of Mr. Paige’s religiously racist piece of rubbish mascarading as objective journalism.  

Mr. Paige ignorance -- russ of lehi, UT

It would be nice if Mr. Paige were to actually come to Salt Lake and find out who the real people who are passing out religious tracts on street corners. Its not the LDS church or its members but the vast majority are part of the evangelical churches. I was watching the 700 club just before the start of the games and talked about evangelicals preparing to pass out stuff. I bet that some of these people are the same losers that would pass out negative material at LDS general conferences. I thought journalists were supposed to be neutral and check their sources before writing their stories. Perhaps the paper he works is allowing high school drop outs as journalists  

Awww is someone jealous? -- Michael of Dallas, TX

Colorado has long been a rival to Utah when it comes to skiing. It is my belief that Mr. Paige is more than a little jealous of the attention that Salt Lake is getting. Here in Dallas, we are seeing many positive commentaries of Salt Lake hosting the games. Salt Lake must have done a very good job to make this Denver resident throw mud the way he has.  

Woody Paige -- brett of sandy, UT

I have been to the Olympic Sports Park numerous times to see events and never did anyone that did not want to walk the golden mile. There were plenty of buses for the amount of people that were wanting to ride. I was there when the crowds were in excess of 20,000. I have been downtown every day and have never been offered jello or a walk in temple square. It is too bad that Woody or the wood man did not do any research whatsoever for his article. It's no wonder he looks like an ignorant person with all of the trash he has talked. Maybe the Denver Post should try to hire reporters that are actually qualified and not ignorant like Woody the wood man.  

Woody Paige article -- Greg of Kaysville, UT

There are several things you need to know about Woody Paige. He is neither a reporter nor a journalist, but a commentator, specializing in sports issues. He doesn't report the facts, but his opinions. Evidently, he has been given a free hand from the Post editors to write whatever stray thought comes into his head. He has written scathing articles recently about the Broncos quarterback Brian Griese that make you wonder what city he covers. The other thing to know is Mr. Paige is the commentator who disrespected the Utah Jazz when they played the Denver Nuggets in the NBA playoffs many years ago. Jazz fans will remember him saying the Jazz had no heart. The Jazz then beat the Nuggets in the final game and took the series. From the perspective of the Denver Post, the more outrageous he writes, the better because it increases readership. I suggest we consider the source - like Ann Landers once said, "Just because dogs howl at the moon, doesn't mean we have to join the chorus".  

Comments by Toni of Magna Utah -- Kiley of Salt Lake City, UT

Wow Toni! Yet another Mormon hater. Got some frustrations huh? How sad for you to be so angry with Mormons. Grow up.  

Re: Woody Paige -- Sheri of Holladay, UT

I am one of the Utahns who did not want the Olympics in Salt Lake. I didn't want the construction, traffic or pollution in our beautiful canyons. I wanted Utah's beauty to remain a well kept secret, but mostly I wanted to spare Utah from the scathing criticism of bitter morons like Mr. Paige. I've always loved the Winter Olympics and knew Salt Lake could "pull it off" in grand style, but it is hard to have the world look at your home under a microscope. Thankfully, I have never been prouder of Salt Lake and America than during the Opening Ceremony. Greatfully, I spent all day Tuesday at Olympic Park viewing the ski jumping and the women's luge and had a marvelous experience. I AM SO GLAD THE OLYMPICS ARE HERE SO I CAN BE A PART OF IT!! We drove to the venue--no problems with traffic or parking. No problem getting through security in under 20 minutes. No problem with getting a shuttle to the top of the hill, which, ironically was on one of about 20 buses from DENVER, COLORADO (mass transit, not school buses). THANK YOU DENVER! All volunteers were polite, courteous, numerous and helpful. The crowds were controlled, friendly and positive (20,000 at the ski jumping; 13,000 at the luge). After the Women's Luge was over, we went from the top of the mountain to our home in Holladay in under 1 hour. I was amazed at how smoothly everything ran. UTAH CAN BE VERY PROUD (ignore Paige) AND I AM VERY HAPPY WE ARE THE HOSTS. WELCOME WORLD!!   

Treatment of the Troops -- Stephanie of Lehi, UT

My brother was activated as a member of the Utah National Guard to help secure the Salt Lake Olympics. He was and is proud to serve our country in this manner. I am also proud of his decision to help maintain the freedoms we all enjoy as citizens of the United States. What I am not proud of is the way the troops have been treated during the Winter Games. One of the situations that gets to me the most is the eating arrangements. Tents have been set up for the troops and the SLOC volunteers to use to warm up and to eat. The SLOC volunteers have been supplied with catered meals and plenty of Coca-Cola. The troops have been supplied with MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and water. These MREs are the same meals they are given if they are fighting on front lines. Not only are they not offered the catered meals, but they can't even use their own money to purchase them. My brother is a non-commissioned officer, therefore he is in charge of other soldiers. He has had many of them complain about the food, so he approached one of the SLOC leaders asking if they could at least purchase some of the better food and drinks. He was told they couldn't because they weren't set up to accept cash. My brother asked if there was a way to get them set up to accept cash. He was told again that it can't be done. What is wrong with this picture? These men have put their lives on hold and in danger in order to create a safe place for the Olympics to be held. Can't we at least help THEM have a pleasant experience while the rest of us enjoy the Olympics??  

MR. PAGES COMMENTS -- RICK of WHISTLER, BC., UT

I Read Some of the Comments and the Reaction Sparked by the Article Written in the Denver Post. Mr. Paige Is Welcome to Publish His View Point and Feelings Just as Much as We Are. Being a Canadian...Living in Whistler...And Hoping to Have Us Secure the Bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics for Us Here in Vancouver, I Watch with Great Interest in How Slc and its People Deal with Problems That Come up During an Event of this Magnitude! And I Have to Say That Slc Should Be Proud of the Job They Have Done to Date and I'm Sure Will End on Just a Positive Note as it Started out On! The Opening Ceremonies Were Outstanding! But If We Here in Canada Can Deal Diplomatically with Losing a Gold Medal to a Lesser Opponent than You in Slc Should Be Able to Deal with Such a Vented Article Written by a Lesser Individual! He Is Welcome to His Opinion ...The Same as We Are...We Just Don't Have to Agree to It...that What Freedom Is All About, and at Times like this We Lose Sight of That! Great Show.....Great Job....Be Proud of What Is! How about Some Ski Tickets? Me in Utah and You in Whistler...Think about It..we Will Have the down Hill in 2010!!!! See Ya Their!!!!!  

woody paige -- Jay of Salt Lake, UT

Maybe Paige was refering to Mitt Romney's gloating during the opening ceremonies. Like everyone I loved the opening ceremonies, but it seems like in other states people are able to things well without blowing their own horn so much. You probably won't post this on your site, but what the heck.  

Woody Paige Olympic comments -- Jes of Seattle, WA

Does this guy get paid to complain? I'm in the wrong business! I'm embarrassed that foreigners may read this individual's remarks! Lets be more supportive about the Olympics. Considering the state of alert our country is in, I feel the Olympic staff and volunteers are doing a wonderful job making the venues accessible to all of us. Enough with the Utah and the mormon slams. If the Olympics were held in Colorado I would expect to see Colorado and it's local culture as it is all year every year. Here's some news Little Paige, when you take a trip or vacation somewhere, you normally go there to experience something new and different, otherwise, stay home! And this time, keep your negative remarks in Colorado!  

Mr. Paige & the "Lost-us Costas" -- Brian of Tremonton, UT

Unfortunately the naysayers of the world have reared their ugly heads. The Olympics, by their very nature, must take on a bit of the culture of the local host city or country. That is what makes each Olympics so memorable! If we are ashamed of great American values such as honesty, hard work, or religious freedom and devotion, then perhaps we can ignore the traditions of Utah or how it came to be settled by persecuted yet determined individuals (i.e. the Mormon pioneers). Likewise, the native American tribes of the West had much to do with our proud heritage. So we're being accosted by these brainless individuals for our culture and traditions. As I recall, Denver actually turned down the games. If Mr. Paige could speak for the entirety of his state, perhaps we would have something to be concerned about. It is my feeling that he is an Enquirer reporter wanna-be who lacked the grammatical or syntax or writing skills to even be a good tabloid journalist.These are they who thrive purely on licentious and fictitious garbage. We shouldn't allow him to get under our skin. He represents a purely bigoted and perhaps constipated minority. As for Bob Costas, money talks. If his employer, (NBC) gets enough public pressure because of the unabashed arrogance he displayed in his comments about the opening ceremony, etc., perhaps, he will find that he is a liability rather than an asset to his employer. TV lives or dies on ratings, folks! (Remember Bryant Gumbel?) Turn the channel, at least or turn down the sound, whenever Costas tries to display his supposed broadcast savvy.   

Warm ???? -- Pedro of Salt Lake City, UT

I find the comment about the beer highly amuzing. If I am correct, isn't Budweiser the official beer of the Olympics? Isn't Budweiser brewed and bottled in Colorado? Well, there you have it if the beer tastes like warm ???? then thank Budweiser, born and brewed in Colorado. Maybe we should have our local breweries take over the beer dispensing duties, I am sure there would be a better variety and I know it would taste better.   

Judge Paige -- Dave of Orem, UT

Lighten up! I nominate Mr. Paige as an ice skating judge for the 2006 Olympics. Perhaps with his great vision he could do it from under the ice sheet.  

Mr. Paige -- Roy of Reno, NV

Your take on the games is from a person who has never opened his eyes. I live in one of the worst city to leave in and have lived in Salt lake for a most two years. I am very proud of the way Utah is putting on these games. Salt Lake my have its problems with traffic, (what city doesn't) Yes the church is a precence in the games, but if it wasn't for the peolpe of Utah these games would have never been put together. Could Colordo get has many people involed in the games as Utah? If it wasn't for the kind, giving nature of most of the Utah populations these game would be a bust. Just read the story about how the spectators conducted them selves after the Pair skating. Anywhere else they would have been bood and force to leave the stage. It is a regret that people with tis small mindedness get to have their words printed. I will continue to watch these game every night all the way to closing, and not let this small minded slug effect my feelings as should all members of society.  

Arrogance vs. Stupidity -- Dennis of Grantsville, UT

Mr. Costas and Mr. Paige have given us an unfortunate and unpleasant look at unprofessionalism in the media. I am embarrassed for them. The Games have been fantastic! Television coverage has been superb! I will admit that I was cynical about the games until I saw the torch relay and read the stories of the torch bearers. Since then I have become a huge fan of the games, the athletes, and all who have worked so hard to bring this stupendous experience to us! Bravo!  

reply to Denver Post Article -- Marie of Provo, UT

I have no problem with Mr. Paige's apparent distain for Mormon/Utah culture. He is not the first in my experience to exhibit such distain, and will certainly not be the last. In fact, I rather admire that he so boldly wears his jealousy on his sleeve: most people would be too cowardly to make such personal faults known to vast audiences of newspaper subscribers. My problem is twofold: a) he has clearly not done his homework on Utah and the Mormons and b) he has mocked sacred aspects of my religion -- an effrontery that would cost him his job if I were Jewish or Buddhist. I suspect that he only voices his distain so openly because he believes it's still media open season on the Mormons. Not so. The winds be a-changin', Mista Paige. The day is coming to set aside your more obvious Mormon prejudices or be derided by the masses. So if your dislike lies in any specific, concrete, accurately researched facet of Mormonism, you will have to stand strong against the turning tide of media approval. You will have to be brave; you will have to be a rock. On the other hand, if you are (as I suspect) more of the standup comedian type of journalist, you might want to get a new schtick: your audience is leaving the building. P.S. As I understand, Denver was awarded the Winter Olympics in 1976, but was unable to pull it off. You don't get to play sour grapes when the grapes were laid before you on a silver platter and you refused to partake. Have a little pride -- you do your community wrong.  

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