ESPN.com - Teachers unhappy with Shea's comments on drinking

ESPN.com: Olympics

Friday, March 8, 2002
Teachers unhappy with Shea's comments on drinking

Associated Press

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Gold medal winner Jimmy Shea urged students at his alma mater to live life to the fullest Friday, but raised a few eyebrows with comments on underage drinking.

Shea, whose grandfather was killed Jan. 22 in a car accident that police have blamed on a drunken driver, made his comments to students at Conard High School, where he was welcomed after winning a gold medal in skeleton in Salt Lake City.

Marketing Mis-step?

Jimmy Shea's comments about underage drinking Friday could mean the loss of significant endorsement income. Sports marketing experts had projected the Olympic gold medalist to be in line to earn as much as $500,000 in appearances and endorsements over the next year.

"When you have a chance to represent corporate America, you have to pay close attention to every word," said David Carter, principal of the Sports Business Group, a sports marketing firm. "On the surface, it appears that he was clearly ill-prepared to realize the magnitude of his every word."

But Shea's manager, Kelly Peterson, who has been entertaining marketing proposals since Shea and his agent parted ways two weeks ago, said his statement was misunderstood.

"Jimmy told me that he does not condone or encourage underaged drinking," Peterson said. "But he also refuses to ignore the reality that teenagers drink in high school. He knows kids will continue to make their own choices, so if they choose to drink illegally, he just wants them to be responsible about it."

Peterson said her phone is "ringing off the hook" with offers for Shea and that his comments won't affect his endorsement potential.

Last week, Shea made an appearance at an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler's conference in New Orleans. Peterson said his appearance in New Orleans had nothing to do with what was said in the Conard High School speech.

-- Darren Rovell, ESPN.com

"I'm not saying not to drink; I drank a lot in this school," Shea said to thunderous applause from students. "What I'm saying is, don't die. Don't be crippled for the rest of your life, don't lose your arm, don't mangle your face."

Later Friday, Shea, sought to clarify his remarks.

"I want to make it very clear that I do not condone or encourage underage drinking. However, I refuse to ignore the issue of teenage drinking in high school," Shea said in a written statement. "My comments to students were open and honest, and were based on my own experiences as a high school student."

Shea, 33, graduated from Conard in 1987.

Shea's family is the first to produce three generations of Winter Olympians. Shea's grandfather, Jack, won two gold medals in speedskating at the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., and Jimmy's father, Jim Shea Sr., competed in Nordic skiing in 1964 in Innsbruck.

Shea also urged students to go to college and told them to put effort into all that they do.

"Anything can happen. I never thought I could win a gold medal," he said. "But it's not in the medal, it's in the journey."

Students said they enjoyed the speech, but some were surprised by Shea's message.

"It was definitely cool, more like he's got a connection with the students rather than the faculty. He seems like a down-to-earth guy," said student council president Todd Olmstead.

"At the same time, it's kind of a bad example. I know the administration is not entirely pleased with that. But kids probably drink no matter what."

He added that Shea's message about drinking and driving was "very powerful."

Shea performed 24 hours of community service and paid a $1,290 fine after pleading guilty to driving under the influence in November 1997 in Park City, Utah. According to court records, his guilty plea was dismissed once he completed six months of probation.

Some faculty members said they were disappointed in Shea's comments.

"Overall the tone was good, but it was surprising," said Barbara Sykes, who teaches special education classes and coaches the track team. "As a coach who is trying to be a role model, it's kind of discouraging."

"It kind of undercuts what we're trying to do with the students here," said Christopher Islaub, social studies teacher and field hockey coach. "Kids are gonna do what they're gonna do, but what kind of message does it send when a gold medalist says something like that?"

Principal Chuck Landroche said the energy of the speech was important, but could not condone the entire message.

"Mr. Shea is free to speak his mind, but our approach will continue to be that the use of alcohol and drugs (by those who are underage) is illegal," Landroche said.

Shea said he was concerned with the safety of the students.

"It's important to me that the kids survive. Kids are going to do things. I'm just telling them to be responsible, to survive and not get hurt," he said.