Gold and silver medalist speedskater Joey Cheek:
By on Feb 20th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
Gold and silver medalist speedskater Joey Cheek:
“He announced he was donating his $25,000 United States Olympic Committee bonus to Right to Play, a humanitarian organization based in Toronto that is focused on helping disadvantaged children through sports. … Since Cheek spoke up, Gap, the United States clothier, has pledged $25,000, joining others in a money chain that has surpassed $300,000.”
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Cheek has done a great thing. I, for one, would love to see Nike do an ad campaign where, instead of giving Kobe millions, they say they could have given him $50 million, but are giving it to charity instead, and this is why one should buy their shoes. That athletes or entertainers are paid outrageous amounts to hawk products is obscene.
February 20th, 2006 at 2:24 pmThe amazing thing is that Cheek could use the money since he is going back to college. He dropped out of college to become a speeskater, and recently retook the SATs so he can go back to college.
And as any college student can tell you, that $25K would be pretty useful. That’ll buy you a book or two.
February 20th, 2006 at 2:33 pm#1 the outrageous amounts that some athletes are paid simply corresponds to the outrageous profits that these company’s make which is due the fact that cosumers pay the outrageous prices for their products and these same companies pay 3rd work workers outrageously low wages.
That’s why it takes kind hearted people to give generously and that’s why they should be admired.
February 20th, 2006 at 2:34 pmOh yeah, and he originally donatd $25k after the gold medal, and donated the $15K from his silver to the organization.
Meanwhile Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick continue to bitch at eachother…
February 20th, 2006 at 2:35 pm#2 – “The amazing thing is that Cheek could use the money since he is going back to college.” – - Or, he could get one of those Pell Grants that are so popular and useful. Oh, wait….
February 20th, 2006 at 2:41 pmThe only meaningful action was made by Cheek. The companies can afford it – it’s part of their PR/advertising budget.
As for Cheek, he may find that his generosity pays off in the end. Who knows, Gap/Nike/whoever else might sign him for an ad campaign. Something to do with ‘a company and a man aligned in a common interest – bettering the world’. Seriously, the Olympics is a good place to get sponsorships.
Hey, I’d like it if he gets signed. He’d recoup the 25k + 15k.
February 20th, 2006 at 2:46 pmI suppose the sort of sick thing is that the reason the companies take no interest in disadvantaged youths – here in sports – is that they won’t be buying their goods in any meaningful amount. middle class kids do that – hence the MASSIVE sponsorships they dole out to their tournaments. I remember my free Adidas uniforms and cleats, balls, etc. In swimming I remember the shirt giveaways (brand you) the branded timers which helped out and the free goggles and the ‘body suits’ that became the craze. This was national level mens swimming and I definately wasn’t a star. The entire audience was basically white or asian and middle class or rich at all the events.
Hey, good for them for sponsoring earlier rather than later. Usually they just wait for one of the poor kids to go pro and then sign him/her to tell their story in the company’s ads.
February 20th, 2006 at 2:51 pmthats more like the America that I grew up in.
Kudos to mr Cheek
February 20th, 2006 at 3:01 pmand to Hell with The GAP
February 20th, 2006 at 3:03 pmMr bush can you follow this line of thought…
Stop the bleeding of American Families and reinstate and enlarge the Pell Grants and loans so that all of Aamerica;s children has a “shot” at an education instead of joining the Military for education.
February 20th, 2006 at 3:18 pmNow that’s the good will of America that I grew up admiring.
February 20th, 2006 at 3:49 pmThese sorts of stories show that individuals can have an effect both at the local level and in the right circumstances, a broader one. It’s nice to see an athlete who’s in it for the sport,a bit larger a stage but much like the people who play sports at Division III schools.
Want more kids to have a chance to go to college,write your governor and state legislator and ask them to stop the increases in in-state tuition. More chance to get action on a state level.
February 20th, 2006 at 3:54 pmThe federal goverment is not the savior.
Kudos to Joey Cheek. He sets the example that shames the corporate heads to donate something. The money Cheek donates is far more valuable to him than the money donated by the coprporations, which makes his contribution ever so admirable.
February 20th, 2006 at 4:35 pmIf he gets anything back later in some form of endorsements — I hope he multiplies his donations tenfold.
Didn’t someone also donate their winnings to Darfur? Or did I hear wrong?
Nice to hear
Although I thought the story of Shani Davis was a lot more impressive; $25k is a drop in the bucket, percentage-wise, the millions Joey could make in endorcements.
I mean no disrespect to Joey, but Shani is the first black American to win a gold in a winter Olympic sport!!! He grew up on the south side of Chicago, single mother, avoided the gangs… Wow! Middle and upper America, take it for granted, but this kid worked his butt off through tremendous odds and made it. He is like Tiger Woods or Venus and Serena Williams.
I suspect it is really hard for a black athlete to compete in the winter Olympics, and from how some speed skaters, if you have been watching you know, are acting and treating him it, provides evidence.
February 20th, 2006 at 5:18 pmIsn’t Shani getting the treatment he is from fellow skaters because he refused to participate in the pursuit event as originally expected? The Olympics are about teamwork. Had Shani skated in the pursuit event as originally expected the US team would likely have won the gold.
Shani’s accomplishments as a young black man, considering the odds against him growing up, are wonderful and he should be congratulated for them. But the Olympics are not about the individual, they are about the team. He doesn’t seem to be a part of the team, by his own choosing and actions.
February 20th, 2006 at 5:51 pmJim
Via Hardball:
Paul Hackett accuses the D.C. Democrat establishment of making up claims that Hackett committed war crimes.
In the 1970s, the liberal Democrats spit on veterans.
30 years later, that hasn’t changed one bit.
February 20th, 2006 at 6:16 pmIf it’s Hardball, it’s spin.
February 20th, 2006 at 6:56 pm#16- Why don’t you be a good boy, and run along now and go play outside. The grown-ups’ want to have a conversation. Scoot!
February 20th, 2006 at 7:08 pmI saw the Hardball interview with Hackett. When the story broke last week, I was initially furious, but when I thought further about it, Hackett is very outspoken (a trait I admire) but it might not carry off an election, and that is the fear of the Dems in Ohio. Hackett is a maverick (I like him) but I think I understand the party pols’ decision to stand behind his opponent, who already is winning in the polls and has $$ to do more. Hackett would spend his money defending himself against the Rethugs’ machine.
February 20th, 2006 at 7:49 pmI regret that the matter was handled as poorly as it was; I totally regret that Hackett is giving up on politics — we will all lose on that decision — but politics is a rotten business.
I’d like to see a third party and we may get one in my lifetime, but our system isn’t set up like that, and a 3rd party may be able to sway Congress one way or other, but it won’t have real power – at least not for a long time after it is established.
So, GR and his ilk may think the Dems are spitting on Vets — like Rethugs didn’t (?) after Viet Nam. Who is he kidding?
This is not a matter of spitting on a vet — this is a matter of dirty politics, wanting to win, and nothing more — something the ‘thugs should be very familiar with.
Chad Hedrick is pissed at Shani Davis for not doing the team pursuit. Davis is the only elite skater from any country not to do so.
That said, his main event happened the day after the team pursuit finals, so I can see Davis’ POV. But if I were Davis, I would have done the pursuit.
February 20th, 2006 at 11:35 pmI don’t follow speed skating, so I was suprised and pleased to see an Afican American skater at the starting line. I cheered for him through-out his race and applauded his victory and his gold medal. It was satisfying to see a black athlete enter the sport and do well–then I saw his post race interview. What an ass! he definitely has some issues. It’s hard to be happy for him when he doesn’t seem happy about his own victory. Joey Cheek in contrast, is truly an olympic champion.
February 21st, 2006 at 8:33 amIn response to comment #2, Joey Cheek DID NOT drop out of college to be a speedskater! He has not yet enrolled in any college..so i’m not sure where that previous info came from. It is indeed refreshing to see a young man to help the disadvantage. I hope all of us, no matter what we can afford will pay it forward. Also Mr. Cheek did not grow up in the ‘upper class’…what he’s earned he and his family sacrificed for it…
February 23rd, 2006 at 4:48 pmWhat happened to Joey Cheeks application review with the Dean of Admissions at Harvard University— I am sure the world is just dying to find out…, especially my wife and I he edge of our seats wondering !!!
March 1st, 2006 at 8:44 pmok iam proud of shanti too but when he and chad got into it THAT drove me nuts iam an african amercian female , why do people assume that one person didn’t work hard to get to where they are, yes iam proud of them all. but joey cheek made me proud becuse #1 HE never got envolved in the drama he handled hemself with class, grace and just made me damed proud, it showes that he’s NOT SELFFISH at all REMEMBER HE WON A GOLD AND SILVER AND GAVE ALL the money to this charity . nomatter what joey WILL sudcede
March 1st, 2006 at 9:28 pmyou are awesome
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