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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > August > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTragedy of Olympic proportions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Beijing — In another month, in another part of the world, it’s still a tragedy. Dead father. Critical mother. Grieving daughter. And the scum who did it takes the cowardly exit and leaps from a building.
The difference is that in another month, in another part of then world, these senseless acts otherwise blend into the scenery. In the Olympics, everybody notices. We would like to believe when nations come together for 17 days for reasons of medals and anthems every four years that everything else can be put on hold. But shouldn’t we know better by now?
The bomb in Centennial Park.
The stabbings at the Drum Tower in central Beijing.
No difference, except that this senseless act touched Olympic athletes closer to home. The wife of the U.S. men’s volleyball coach was touring this historic city with her parents Saturday. They were attacked. Now Todd Bachman is dead, Barbara Bachman is critical, their daughter Elisabeth is grieving and a group of young athletes and coaches — who only came here to compete for an Olympic medal — is trying to move forward.
The U.S. men’s volleyball team, which is ranked third in the world, won its first match against Venezuela Sunday. It wasn’t easy but they managed in five sets. Head coach Hugh McCutcheon skipped the game and certainly could be excused for missing the rest. He is with his wife, Elisabeth, a former Olympian who remains close to the program.
“He’s sorely missed by the players and coaches and myself,” said assistant Ron Larsen, who has taken over. “I’d much rather be sitting on the bench, telling him what I think he should be doing, and having him saying, ‘I don’t think so,’ rather than where I am right now.”
Some things you can’t prepare for. But the players did what they could. They wanted to put some sort of patch on their jerseys but there wasn’t enough time. So they wrote the Bachman’s initials, T.B. and B.B., on the back of their shoes. They also locked arms for a prayer just before the game, “taking a moment to let him know that we’re thinking about him,” said Ryan Millar.
Thomas Hoff, the team captain, said, “They were not going to start without us. We wanted to have a moment of silence where we could gather our thoughts before we started this journey.”
The team was 20 minutes into practice Saturday when the attack occurred. McCutcheon left to take a phone call and his players haven’t seen him since. They initially didn’t think much of his departure. But when they arrived for a team meeting two hours later and several USOC and federation officials were there, they knew something had happened. That’s when they were told the news.
McCutcheon held a conference call with his players later in the evening.
“He talked about trying to move on,” Hoff said. “He just told us, ‘It will be difficult, but together we’re going to be much stronger.’”
The U.S. women’s players actually knew the Bachmans better than the men’s team. Many were teammates of Elizabeth, whom most know as ‘Wiz.”
But Lloy Ball summarized the feelings of the men’s team, saying: “We were given horrific news about someone we love and care about whose family was attacked. Our knee-jerk reactions were like any other human being’s would be. We were angry. As a male [team], we tend to hide our feelings a lot. But there was definitely a moment when guys let off how they felt about the [things].”
Beijing is blanketed with 80,000 police, soldiers and security officials. Still, this happened.
Ball spoke to his wife by phone about the possibility of his family not making the trip from Indiana.
“Of course, she got on the plane,” he said. “You can’t live in fear or anger. All you can do is send your prayers and sympathies to the family and try to continue what Hugh would want us to do: Win a gold medal.”
Riley Salmon said, “My mom and dad will be here. They’re concerned for the Bachmans. They’re concerned about their own safety. But they’re coming here to support us.”
It’s what this stage is suppose to be about. But life still swirls around it.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Beijing Olympics
Comments
By Joe
August 10, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
Everybody knows the risks. Personally I wouldn’t go to China for no amount of money. Sorry, thats reality. Reality sux, but reality it is.
But then again I prolly stand a better chance of walking around in China safely that downtown Atlanta so disregard my previous comments.
JJ
By hjo
August 10, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
by hajo,
dont, make a big deal off it. just because it happened in china during the olympics. how may iraquies got killed by amerikan troops. they did not invide the amerikans in.
hjo
By sadaam
August 10, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
You Fool!
By brian
August 10, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Fasinating that some one refers to Iraq. Yes, tragedy may occur anywhere. Too bad, ignorance also can occur anywhere. Not sure what Iraq has to do with with China, the olympics or American “athletes” and their families.
By Cody
August 10, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
Hajo,
Nobody is blaming China. I think the journalist is saying bad things happen everywhere.
By Ted Striker
August 10, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
It’s a shame some individuals are so callous that tragedy means nothing to them — unless it strikes them personally.
It’s also a blessing that most people aren’t that way.
From the description of support expressed by the teams in China, it sounds as if we have some of the best representing the U.S. in Beijing. And that’s not merely on an athletic level.
By phrip
August 10, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
Bejing is no more and no less safe than many American cities - and some Canadian ones, for that matter.
To drag Iraq into the question is the mark of a moron.
Perhaps the Iceberg and the Hindenberg really were one and the same…
By HIDEFGunner
August 10, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this
It was likely to happen and there is a high chance it will happen again before the end of the games.
My Sympathies to the family
By Cody
August 10, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
I think it’s justified to comment on Iraq. Hajo is making a point that everyone is horrified a few lives are lost over in Beijing, when hundreds of thousands of lives were lost elsewhere and you’d be unlikely to see it on the news.
By duff
August 10, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
While it is truly tragic that this happened, this was most definitely in my opinion an isolated event by a deranged person. I am an American living in China and know for a fact that crimes against foreigners particularly Americans is extremely low. The penalties are harsher for crimes against foreigners than Chinese against Chinese. The biggest worry for us crime wise has always been theft or burglary. My heart goes out to the family and all affected.
By JJ
August 10, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
Sad and unfortunate. But nontheless could have happened anywhere. A random event. Yes there is always more death and destruction that is not front page and even when it is, so often it is too quickly forgotten. The earthquake in China is already fading in the light of the Olympics. The war in Iraq rages on…
By chris
August 10, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
the media only lets us see what they want us to see. there is a lot going on that the average american, or anyone, does not know about.
but about the article, i am very sorry that this has happened to them and my prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.
By stewart
August 10, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
Thousands and more die each hour around the globe for many reasons and many ways…and someone is stabbed in Bjieng….this is news? You guys are all jacked up about one incident that happened in Bjieng that happens in every major international city in the world. It’s news beacause of the connection to our athletes. This is NOT a statement on Chinese society…yikes…get a grip
By Shu
August 10, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Hajo, your comments are completely unjustified. We do hear about the deaths in Iraq. The difference is that becasue it happens every day, many of us have come desensitized to it. That does not mean that we should ignore the murder of Coach Bachman. Instead, we should show respect for the Coach and send a message that American citizens are good people who care about each other and will indeed make a big deal when one of our own is killed. Regardless of whether or not this was a random criminal act, no murder should ever be considered insignificant.
By GK
August 10, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
I’m finding the word ‘scum’ does not accurately delineate all the aspects of mental illness; it’s not a very useful modifier to describe humanity in all it’s fragility.
By mkp
August 10, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Hajo - get your facts straight before you speak. YOU ARE AN IDIOT. This situation has nothing to do with Iraq - and if you had any cojones…(look that one up) - you would be in Iraq or another part of the world defending freedom, other individuals’ rights to that and/or much more. This is a tragic incident that could have happened anywhere at any time - but it happened in China - and it is no more or less tragic than if it had happened on any other street in the world. Don’t compare it to anything else. Pray for the grieving who have lost much and the evil that lurks in every city, state, country.
Iraq is a war zone - has been for ages and ages. The Americans came in to protect many of the rights of a people that had no other way to do so themselves.
When and if you speak against something that is wrong - are you sent an invitation?? Doubtful.
Wear a uniform or shut up!!!
By RAD
August 10, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Is Channel 2’s weekend anchor John Bachman related to this family?
By Ragiki
August 10, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
My thoughts and prayer will be with those that have lost a loved one(s) not only in China, but around the world.
It does amaze me though that during an event meant to bring the world together since ancient Greek times Still has violence that goes against all tradition. Don’t we as mankind want to influence our families with postive influences, rather then negative? Doesn’t everyone realize in Ancient Greece that during the time of the Olympic Games PEACE was declared by everyone until the games had ended? What it seems like to me is that we as a whole are going backwards instead of forward. And it all boils down to the question we ask our children…Why can we not get along? Why can we not just work together to make something better out of this world, instead of destroying it. And it starts with each and every person… PASS IT FORWARD - An act of kindness to one gets passed to the next person, to the next person, to the next person…etc
By Ben in Athens
August 10, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this
First of all, from what I’ve read Beijing is one of the safer citiies in the world. Random acts of violence like this are extremely rare, especially against foreigners. You’d be a fool to judge the safety of an entire country or city based upon one incident.
As for the debate about the media blowing this out of proportion and not reporting on the other random acts of violence that occur in the world every day and letting the Iraq war fade into the background and on and on and on: The media’s coverage is motivated by the stories that will get the most attention. Hate to break it to you, but we, as humans, get tired of hearing the same stories over and over again. Therefore, we are the ones responsible for ignoring the other random acts of violence and letting our interest in the Iraq war fade. Is that necessarily wrong? I don’t know.
By Mary
August 10, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
I think MKP is right on! Amen, brother!
By Kevin
August 10, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
Beijing might be safe, but China as a whole is not. Foreigners get scammed and harassed all the time by the locals.
By brian
August 10, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
Ragiki, MKP and Ben in Athens seem to (combined) sum it all up. I would assume given “Kevin’s” statement regarding Foreigners being scammed and harassed all the time that he has been to China? Actually, there are no shortage of scammers (trying to get the “tourist” dollar) in any country. While I doubt I will ever travel to China, I can say that there are a number of nations I would be more concerned about traveling to as an American…
By Calibre
August 10, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
The American Troops in Iraq killing Iraqi’s is the same??? Look here you liberal piece of nonswimming carcas…lucky for you, you can say what you want in America (Which you obviously can’t spell) but as far as that war goes, it has no comparison. People like you should be sent over there to see what my brothers do every day to make sure your sorrty rear is still alive today. I bet your voting for Obama because you want change! Here is your change Mr. American…Higher taxes…Higher fuel prices…Your a jixx bag
By Ted Striker
August 10, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
MKP: I disagree with Hajo’s choice of forums…but hey, that’s just Hajo talking.
Which brings me to…your choice to respond with a dripped-in-testosterone, wrapped-in-manly-man blather about how people can either 1)suit up as soldiers and go to Iraq or — 2) ‘Shut the hell up!!!’
Dude. Are you for real?
Simple advice here, MKP, not that a someone with such a high degree of American-ness and obvious Patriot-ablity is looking for advice from ole Ted Striker. But just in case you’re curious…
“Lose your fixation on other people’s ‘cajones’ and you’re more likely to be invited to toss the football with your classmates. You’ll find you’re less irritable and you’ll maybe even feel better about the world too”
By Debbie
August 10, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this
There alot of things being said here but very few times do you see “My Sympathies to the family”Lets not make this sad event about our own BS it’s about how we need to take what happened and try to learn from it
NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT IRAQ!!!!!!
My Sympathies to the family
By sam
August 11, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
But Ted,
MKP has to defend everyone’s freedoms and save the world so we can all live in security and comfort, like we do now from the handguns and drug dealers and prostitutes. The psychos? - well they’re a wild card, literally.
The best thing is, MKP is gonna pay for it all with diluted monopoly money. So what if prices skyrocket and wages decline and living standards go to hell. MKP’s heirs will still be thankful.
And the world will be safe for democracy and there will never be another authoritarian police state again - except for China.
BTW, what about those kids shot in Michigan? Or that other tragedy and that other one and that other one….
By Dr. Warren
August 11, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
Actually, Brian, Kevin is right. I have lived in Shanghai for two years and have traveled all over China. While serious violence against foreigners in Shanghai and Beijing rarely happens (or is rarely reported), the locals will almost always charge foreigners considerably more than they charge locals. The sweetest little old lady will do it, too. Today, for instance, I went to buy eyeglasses at the place my Chinese friend and I had visited two days ago. The glasses I liked then and returned alone to purchase today suddenly became 100% more expensive than their listed price. When I got my Chinese friend on the phone to ask why, the sales clerk smiled and made some lame excuse and said, okay, the listed price would be okay. This sort of thing happens to me and other expats on a daily basis. Check Craigslist Shanghai—there are apartments advertised to the Western audience for $5000USD to $7000USD per month that actually go for $1000USD if you simply walk up with a local real estate agent.