Source: San Francisco Chronicle Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Pubdate: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 Author: C.W. Nevius SNOWBOARDERS ON THE LOOSE -- OLYMPICS ASKED FOR IT OLYMPIC OFFICIALS were shocked, shocked to learn yesterday that another of those happy-go-lucky snowboarders has gotten himself into trouble. First it was Ross Rebagliati, from Canada, who won the men's giant slalom but then tested positive for marijuana and has been asked to return the medal -- if he can just remember where he put the darn thing. Now it is Austrian Martin Freinademetz, another giant slalom competitor, who has been kicked out of his hotel for holding, like, a major party, and, like, trashing the place. This was apparently a complete shock to everyone. Freinademetz had never given any indication that he might be some kind of party animal. Except, I guess, for the fact that his bio says his nickname is ``The Terminator'' and that he describes himself as ``an aggressive person, both mentally and physically.'' Certainly this is no laughing matter. Out-and-out snickering is more like it. Olympic officials invite Bill and Ted to the Olympics for an excellent adventure and are stunned to hear that they are not attending the Olympic Village-sponsored floral-arranging classes. This is more than a case of a couple of kids going off the wall --so to speak. The minute the shredders were added to the Olympic roster they've been treated -- let's go ahead and say it, encouraged -- to be the wackiest jocks in the village. The official precompetition press conference by the American athletes was a complete yuk-fest. Everyone, from the media to Olympic officials, were fawning over those zany board guys. At one point, Ross Powers, an 18-year-old American boarder, lost his train of thought while attempting to say the word ``rivalry.'' He made two attempts at it, then pushed the microphone away with the snappy one liner, ``Oh, f--.'' Remember, this is not only in front of international media, but being broadcast live on the Olympic television network to every venue in the complex, not to mention sending feeds to international television networks. The reaction? The place broke up. It was minutes before people stopped wiping their eyes and screeching with laughter. One USOC official called it the most entertaining press conference he'd ever been to. So what's the message there? That the more outrageous you are, the better we like. In the dull days before actual competition started, the boarders, with their Gen-X jargon, were the life of the party. The more they said, the better we liked it. The wilder the better. Asked what he thought of the Opening Ceremony, one boarder said, ``It was sick (meaning great) man. Those people were applauding and it sounded like macaroni crackling in a pan.'' Thank you, Edward R. Murrow. There will probably be much hue and cry about the way the snowboarders have trashed the Olympic ideal after this. Hopefully, no one gets caught lighting up a reefer on the Olympic flame. But c'mon. Olympic officials knew what they wanted when they invited these guys in, and they got it -- good and proper. Worse, once snowboarding was put on the fast track and jammed into the Olympic schedule, we squealed at them like rock stars and hung on their every insipid phrase. The Olympics didn't create the snowboard problem, the Olympics just stood aside and cheered while it was growing. And now that the hotel furniture has hit the fan, well it is a little late to do a ``fakey'' and say that you want to see a little more decorum from these stoner dudes. ``I am not going to kid you,'' said American Todd Richards before the Games began. ``A lot of these guys are party animals. And the Europeans are worse.'' By the way, it is not going to hurt any of the boarders' feelings if Olympic officials wag a finger in their faces. A lot of them think competitions are very uncool anyhow. The greatest boarder in the world, Tjehe Haakonen of Norway, couldn't even be convinced to show up for the Olympics. He didn't like the way they were treating him, he said. Over at someplace like curling, they can't believe the attitude. Curling -- for good reason -- couldn't make it into the Olympics for years. They begged and pleaded and served as a ``demonstration'' sport five times. It has taken them 30 years to get into the Games. It didn't take snowboarding 30 minutes. And for good reason. Television loves the board-guys. They fit the demographic perfectly. Let's be honest, do you think the Olympics are adding sports to give committed young athletes a chance to compete against the best in the world? Or is it to get killer ratings on TV? Exactly. What is going to happen? Nothing. The Olympic Committee created this monster and now all it can hope is that none of the boarders are staying at their hotels. Let the Games continue. And hey, how about that hashpipe -- I mean halfpipe - -- competition? )1998 San Francisco Chronicle Page A1