You describe life situations so well and this is another tearjerker. Such a tragic ending to an athlete who could have gone on and been a role model for young skiers had he not been so self-consumed with the sport and not life outside of it. Thank you for sharing another heartfelt message, John!
It feels to me that most people, who are successful in their career, certainly have some portion of their identity wrapped up in that career. The important part, is when that career is over, for what ever reason, you are able to find something that still gives you purpose. Studies on retirees life spans who have purpose and who don't substantiate this. It feels like highly successful athletes struggle with this more than other professions, although that is an opinion, not a data drive conclusion. I loved all of your coverage of Bill and fondly remember him as an athlete.
Couldn't wait to go buy a pair of those Atomic Red Sleds, that BJ made so famous. The Mt. Hood skier community so revered his aggressive attitude as a racer, and local man.
OMG, that was a tough story to read. I wasn't aware of the details and extent of Bill's disability post aborted comeback and subsequent injury. I was responsible for USST at Atomic Ski USA and worked with Bill on numerous promotional appearances and at the Ski Show in Las Vegas. At that time he was on top of the world and just enjoying his moment in the sun with a gold medal around his neck. Yes, he was self-absorbed, brash and overly confident. He behaved largely the way he skied and he people sensed it. They flocked to him as though he were a magnet. Atomic was a smaller brand at that time with momentum and Bill's victory brought us a flood of new dealers we called "Billy Dealers". Everyone wanted to Ride The Red Sled. It's tragic that Bill was not able to find an outlet for his talents in the world of coaching or area management. Kudos to you for being such a great friend to Bill in his last difficult years.
I met Billy in Lake Placid at the ‘80 Olympic Games. We stayed a few nights at a rented, rural farm house outside the village and Billy was a trip. He was an official forerunner for the Downhill and that didn’t stop his late night social life. He was a good time to hang with, to say the least. Our paths later crossed in Vail a few times and our friendship remained until the end. I think of him often. Continue resting in peace, my friend - Gary David
A very sad end to a very gifted athlete. I’ve always wondered what pushes some to go one mountain run more, one more touchdown, one more leap toward the parallel bars, climb just one more mountain. Those think they are invincible but why and what for? The thrill of it all I guess. I always think about their families, the ones left behind after the dust settles. The word selfish always comes to mind. No matter how good some of them are they seem to think of only themselves.; what gives them pleasure. No medal is worth that, no life-changing act is worth the memories.
Thank you for this! I did not know the end story for Johnson for the reasons you gave. Out of sight, out of mind. I was a big skiier in the 1970s and early 80s. I even tried club ski racing a bit (Hoodoo), but no where near the risk-taking of a Johnson so that didn't last long. As I recall, Johnson came out of nowhere (at least for average citizens). They called him a SoCal surfer boy, but I think he had long been in Oregon. No one knew who he was in the Olympics, unlike the Mahres who had a storied club skiing career (I think this was before the USOC had a training center in Colorado Springs and so everyone was on their own to get to the Olympics level). Since you mention them, Brady and Wilson probably run a similar risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). I mentioned recently that my son grew up with James Laurenitis. Marion Barber III was another of their buds, a couple years older (another tragic death). The boys played peewee sports together and I coached against Animal (Joe) in baseball (boy was he intense!). Joe recently died. I think James left football early (playing for St Louis after his college years at Ohio State) because he is worried about CTE. It bites a lot of middle LBs and linemen, but also QBs. It apparently bit Joe. It was never medically confirmed but Joe was party in a lawsuit against the WWE in 2015. James for sure knew about it by then https://www.the-sun.com/sport/1520282/road-warrior-animal-dead-wwe-pro-wrestling/
For a good cry, listen on YouTube to Janis Ian's "Stars," released in 1974, about the inevitable loss of fame for singers, athletes, dancers, models, et al: "Stars...go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze, and all you see is glory." All of us, if we live long enough, lose our former identities.
I know you’ve written about Bill before but his story never seems to get stale. Well done, John!
You describe life situations so well and this is another tearjerker. Such a tragic ending to an athlete who could have gone on and been a role model for young skiers had he not been so self-consumed with the sport and not life outside of it. Thank you for sharing another heartfelt message, John!
It feels to me that most people, who are successful in their career, certainly have some portion of their identity wrapped up in that career. The important part, is when that career is over, for what ever reason, you are able to find something that still gives you purpose. Studies on retirees life spans who have purpose and who don't substantiate this. It feels like highly successful athletes struggle with this more than other professions, although that is an opinion, not a data drive conclusion. I loved all of your coverage of Bill and fondly remember him as an athlete.
Couldn't wait to go buy a pair of those Atomic Red Sleds, that BJ made so famous. The Mt. Hood skier community so revered his aggressive attitude as a racer, and local man.
OMG, that was a tough story to read. I wasn't aware of the details and extent of Bill's disability post aborted comeback and subsequent injury. I was responsible for USST at Atomic Ski USA and worked with Bill on numerous promotional appearances and at the Ski Show in Las Vegas. At that time he was on top of the world and just enjoying his moment in the sun with a gold medal around his neck. Yes, he was self-absorbed, brash and overly confident. He behaved largely the way he skied and he people sensed it. They flocked to him as though he were a magnet. Atomic was a smaller brand at that time with momentum and Bill's victory brought us a flood of new dealers we called "Billy Dealers". Everyone wanted to Ride The Red Sled. It's tragic that Bill was not able to find an outlet for his talents in the world of coaching or area management. Kudos to you for being such a great friend to Bill in his last difficult years.
Touching column John and some good food for thought ...
Once again, the reason to subscribe to the 'Bald Faced Truth" Great and sad story about Bill Johnson!
I met Billy in Lake Placid at the ‘80 Olympic Games. We stayed a few nights at a rented, rural farm house outside the village and Billy was a trip. He was an official forerunner for the Downhill and that didn’t stop his late night social life. He was a good time to hang with, to say the least. Our paths later crossed in Vail a few times and our friendship remained until the end. I think of him often. Continue resting in peace, my friend - Gary David
Nice work John. Thank you for including the information that his relationship with his sons improved — that’s the nicest part of the story.
A very sad end to a very gifted athlete. I’ve always wondered what pushes some to go one mountain run more, one more touchdown, one more leap toward the parallel bars, climb just one more mountain. Those think they are invincible but why and what for? The thrill of it all I guess. I always think about their families, the ones left behind after the dust settles. The word selfish always comes to mind. No matter how good some of them are they seem to think of only themselves.; what gives them pleasure. No medal is worth that, no life-changing act is worth the memories.
Thank you for this! I did not know the end story for Johnson for the reasons you gave. Out of sight, out of mind. I was a big skiier in the 1970s and early 80s. I even tried club ski racing a bit (Hoodoo), but no where near the risk-taking of a Johnson so that didn't last long. As I recall, Johnson came out of nowhere (at least for average citizens). They called him a SoCal surfer boy, but I think he had long been in Oregon. No one knew who he was in the Olympics, unlike the Mahres who had a storied club skiing career (I think this was before the USOC had a training center in Colorado Springs and so everyone was on their own to get to the Olympics level). Since you mention them, Brady and Wilson probably run a similar risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). I mentioned recently that my son grew up with James Laurenitis. Marion Barber III was another of their buds, a couple years older (another tragic death). The boys played peewee sports together and I coached against Animal (Joe) in baseball (boy was he intense!). Joe recently died. I think James left football early (playing for St Louis after his college years at Ohio State) because he is worried about CTE. It bites a lot of middle LBs and linemen, but also QBs. It apparently bit Joe. It was never medically confirmed but Joe was party in a lawsuit against the WWE in 2015. James for sure knew about it by then https://www.the-sun.com/sport/1520282/road-warrior-animal-dead-wwe-pro-wrestling/
For a good cry, listen on YouTube to Janis Ian's "Stars," released in 1974, about the inevitable loss of fame for singers, athletes, dancers, models, et al: "Stars...go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze, and all you see is glory." All of us, if we live long enough, lose our former identities.
Without an eternal focus, life can become rudderless and out of control when the music ends
I remember being a Johnson fan with his NW roots and warrior mentality
A lot to learned, positive and negative, in Bill’s story
GO DAWGS
I am 63 and I coach offensive line in high school . It is grueling and fun and I still get to feel the power and the pain of playing
NEVER SAY DIE!!!
My son’s high school baseball coach said it all the time. I love that Bill never ever gave up!
Thanks for the memories