NBC: "David Wise's Alternative Lifestyle Leads To Olympic Gold"

NBC reports that American gold medal skier David Wise is "at the top of his sport. He is always smiling among his friends and his competitors, however, he is not like the rest of the field" of Olympic athletes.

But why would NBC define Wise's lifestyle as "alternative" in their headline?

Wise told NBC, "I think my lifestyle...really takes the pressure off my skiing..."

It is interesting, revealing and profoundly disappointing that NBC would consider Wise's lifestyle "alternative."


NBC says Wise's lifestyle is "not exactly the picture you had in mind while watching him nail two double corks wearing baggy pants."

Why the confusion on the part of NBC?

David Wise, NBC says, wears a Baby Bjorn carrier around the house. The network says, "He attends church regularly and says he could see himself becoming a pastor a little later down the road."

Wise says, "I think my lifestyle---the fact that I have a little girl to take care of and a wife---really takes the pressure off my skiing, because first and foremost I have to be a good husband and father."

He says, "When you're out there skiing for something bigger than just yourself, it takes a lot of pressure off me. I'm happy and content, fulfilled. I have an amazing life outside of skiing."

NBC says, "That is what sets his mental game apart from his competitors. He likely has the most stable life of them all."

Most of the world had probably never heard of David Wise until these Olympic games. Here's what the world now knows about him as a result of NBC's reporting and his success on the slopes.

• He is married to a woman. She is his wife.

• He and she together have given birth to a child---a daughter whom they love.

• Both he and his wife are deeply committed Christians.

• He is so committed to his Christian faith he could see himself becoming a pastor in the future.

• Because of his Christian biblical beliefs, he considers himself "responsible" for his wife and daughter.

• He won the Olympic Gold Medal.

• He won the first gold for his sport.

He is indeed an outstanding young man. He stands out among his peers. Perhaps Skyler Wilder, reporting for NBC, was merely trying to capture the essence of this outstanding young man. I don't know his motives.

But why would an NBC reporter choose to define this young man's lifestyle as "alternative?" And why would NBC approve the headline "David Wise's Alternative Lifestyle Leads to Olympic Gold?"

Is NBC suggesting that because Wise lives a moral life, believes in biblical morality, has a female wife and a child whom he loves, he is somehow outside normalcy? Is he really living an "alternative" lifestyle?

News Busters says, "NBC can't seem to keep its left leaning slant out of its coverage of the Winter Olympics. One day after playing up Stalin's 'Palace for the people' in Moscow's metro system, the Big Three network spotlighted how an American freestyle skier is living an 'alternative lifestyle'---for being married at 23 and having a young daughter."

Mollie Hemingway at The Federalist also called out NBC for the way they characterized Wise's lifestyle as "alternative."

She wrote, "Before we check out the exact nature of his 'alternative' lifestyle, let’s get on the same page about what that term means. Wikipedia should do."

Wikipedia says, "An alternative lifestyle is a lifestyle diverse in respect to mainstream ones, or generally perceived to be outside the cultural norm...not all minority lifestyles are held to be 'alternative'; the term tends to imply newer forms of lifestyle, often based upon enlarged freedoms."

Hemingway writes, "So what could it be? Is he pangendered? Is he a polygamous? Is he dwelling in a commune eating only raw foods? Is he living off the grid and existing on the barter system? What could it be?"

The message, intended or otherwise, from NBC is that because Wise is 23 and not living at home on his parent's insurance, sleeping around and partying every night, is responsible, married to a woman, has a child, is not "gay" and is a Christian, he is living an "alternative" lifestyle.

The reaction to Skyler Wilder's NBC story has been significant. Last night in what was evidently an attempt at responding to the reaction to his story about Wise and his "alternative" lifestyle, Wilder Tweeted, "Just in case any if [sic, think he meant of] you misunderstood haters are curious, @mrDavidWise & I are still cool."

John Nolte couldn't believe what he was reading, and wrote this for Breitbart News:

"A revealing reminder of the provincial, bubbled leftists that run our media can be found in a NBC News piece profiling Olympic gold medal winner David Wise."

Nolte says, "Freak-showing normalcy and normalizing abnormality is a well honed tactic used by the left to undermine the healthy traditions that civilize a society."

This attempt further underscores the ignorance of America's press--- or it simply highlights their undying commitment to redefine a culture. I suspect the latter.

I'm reminded of the words of the ancient prophet Isaiah (5:20), "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."

Be Vigilant. Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Pro-Active. Be Bold. Be Blessed.