The culmination of a quest that began as a 5-year-old at Mad River Mountain, young Louie hopes to make tonight’s televised final (10:50 p.m., NBC). He’s used to public attention. He’s been on “Dancing With the Stars,” he blogs for People magazine and is writing an online diary for Sports Illustrated.
With a medal-worthy performance, Lou said Louie may be in line for book, TV and/or movie deals — perhaps something with Jessica Simpson. Even so, Lou said his son sees the event as “just another contest.”
“He told me at one point that ‘Dancing With the Stars’ was much harder (than snowboarding) because you’re in front of 22 million people and they put that red spotlight on you,” Lou Sr. said Tuesday by phone from Vancouver.
“If they call your name, you have to go out in front of all these people dressed in clothes that, in his words, he would not even wear during Halloween — and do something you’re not even good at.
“He says, ‘So this is a piece of cake ... you’re doing something you’re really good at.’ ”
Lou has been texting his son positive messages: “This next (one) is going to be, ‘Louie, you’ve already hit the home run. Whatever you do, have fun. Put on a show.’ He’s hit the home run. Once an Olympian, always an Olympian. They can never take that away. And this has been a dream and goal of his.”
Lou’s dream was just to see the Opening Ceremony. Armed with four tickets worth $4,800, the elder Vito was turned away.
“You go to a couple different gates and all of a sudden you go to the ticket police and they say these aren’t legitimate tickets,” he said.
But after 45 minutes, Lou got in. “This was my dream since my kid was a little kid and I thought he had a shot at the Olympics.”
Does Lou have tickets for today? “Yeah, I do, but will I get in?” he said, laughing. “I don’t know. Hopefully.”
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