[protected-iframe id=”6ec7692bcd991466b20c67bcb7a912b2-29290497-36744130″ info=”http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=MDYzZmYzZjIwNTA0YjI4Y2YyM2JmNTgw&ec=s1dThwazolkw9xsTn1n9OwhWcNxD1nDF” width=”630px” height=”354px”]
SOCHI, Russia — Bode Miller won the bronze medal in the men’s super-G competition at the Winter Olympics in Sochi over the weekend, but his accomplishments weren’t all that had social media buzzing during NBC’s primetime coverage of the event.
Many felt the post-race interview that NBC reporter Christin Cooper conducted with Miller crossed the line, especially a line of persistent questioning about Miller’s brother, Chelone Miller, who passed away earlier this year. After being presented with a third question about his Chelone, also known as Chilly, Miller put his head down and sobbed.
Below is a transcript of the interview:
Cooper: Bode, you’re showing so much emotion down here. What’s going through your mind?
Miller: (Long pause) A lot, obviously. A long struggle coming in here. And, uh, just a tough year.
Cooper: I know you wanted to be here with Chilly experiencing these games, how much does it mean to you to come up with a great performance for him? And was it for him?
Miller: I mean, I don’t know if it’s really for him. But I wanted to come here and uh — I don’t know, I guess make myself proud. (Pauses, then wipes away tears.)
Cooper: When you’re looking up in the sky at the start, we see you there and it just looks like you’re talking to somebody. What’s going on there?
Miller: (Puts head down, sobs.)
Some of Cooper’s colleagues thought the interview was in particularly poor taste because the NBC veteran is also a former Olympic racer herself. Many surmised on social media that Cooper should have known better than to push a racer to confront the extreme emotions after a heated competition.
A former Olympic racer, NBC's Christin Cooper persisted asking @MillerBode about losing his brother until he broke down and simply left.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) February 17, 2014
Even worse about the Bode Miller attack was that NBC had the footage all day to change their minds about it. They didn't. #NBCFail
— Ty Unglebower (@TyUnglebower) February 17, 2014
https://twitter.com/Jason_Buck/statuses/435247385925521408
However, others, including Miller himself, rushed to Cooper’s aid, calling the interview fair and saying Cooper did a nice job of capturing the raw emotions of the Olympic Games.
Saw Bode Miller’s interview where he broke down about his brother. Touching, emotional stuff. Thought the reporter toed the line properly
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 17, 2014
I appreciate everyone sticking up for me. Please be gentle w christin cooper, it was crazy emotional and not all her fault. #heatofthemoment
— Bode Miller (@MillerBode) February 17, 2014
My emotions were very raw, she asked the questions that every interviewer would have, pushing is part of it, she wasnt trying to cause pain.
— Bode Miller (@MillerBode) February 17, 2014
Did you think Cooper crossed the line? Click here to let us know on Facebook.