Sport Today

> What we all need to keep in mind is that B&S did not have the impact
> many would like to accuse them of. Yes, they are Russian. Yes, they
> won. Yes, they were the 11th Russian pair in a row to do so. But the
> problems are NOT about B&S. They can't do anything about the judging.
> Four people went onto that ice, skated their hearts out, and left
> their fate in the hands of nine men and women. No one should be
> blaming them, and I believe that they have, under the circumstances,
> handled themselves quite well. They are in a very awkward position.
> They *do* deserve our congratulations, not for winning the gold medal
> but for being one of the best of two pairs out there. Why should we
> yank away praise for such a great performance (I did not say the best
> of the night) because we disagree with the people assigned to make the
> official decisions?

> I feel for Sale and Pelletier. I debate at the national collegiate
> level and I've lost rounds I knew I should have won-- because the
> judges were idiots. It happens. But I have not allowed myself to
> unfairly place that decision on the shoulders of the other team. Like
> it or not, after you've finished your program, it's out of your hands.
> If you don't like it, go try speed skating or luge. Sale and Pelletier
> are right to be disappointed and would be appropriate in directing
> frustration toward the ISU, but I do hope the sphere of their
> frustrations does not expand to the other two people with no control
> over ordinals.

> Let's all be the good sports our third grade teachers taught us to be.
> Isn't that what the Olympics are about? Why don't we give B&S both a
> break and a hand while we are at it.

> Colleen

> They bear some factor of blame.

> Jc.

> > Re: 2/11/02
> > I watched last night's LP for pairs live last night and am still not
> > sure what to think. I've been following pairs skating since I was
> > twelve and had a hard time making up my mind. I can make an argument
> > for either pair. My more serious concern is the effect this will have
> > on the pro (and any additional ISU level) lives of B&S. Will this
> > haunt them for years, in terms of touring and shows? I am afraid that
> > it will, which I find the greatest tragedy. Winning this medal might
> > end up being the worst result for them.

> > What we all need to keep in mind is that B&S did not have the impact
> > many would like to accuse them of. Yes, they are Russian. Yes, they
> > won. Yes, they were the 11th Russian pair in a row to do so. But the
> > problems are NOT about B&S. They can't do anything about the judging.
> > Four people went onto that ice, skated their hearts out, and left
> > their fate in the hands of nine men and women. No one should be
> > blaming them, and I believe that they have, under the circumstances,
> > handled themselves quite well. They are in a very awkward position.
> > They *do* deserve our congratulations, not for winning the gold medal
> > but for being one of the best of two pairs out there. Why should we
> > yank away praise for such a great performance (I did not say the best
> > of the night) because we disagree with the people assigned to make the
> > official decisions?

> > I feel for Sale and Pelletier. I debate at the national collegiate
> > level and I've lost rounds I knew I should have won-- because the
> > judges were idiots. It happens. But I have not allowed myself to
> > unfairly place that decision on the shoulders of the other team. Like
> > it or not, after you've finished your program, it's out of your hands.
> > If you don't like it, go try speed skating or luge. Sale and Pelletier
> > are right to be disappointed and would be appropriate in directing
> > frustration toward the ISU, but I do hope the sphere of their
> > frustrations does not expand to the other two people with no control
> > over ordinals.

> > Let's all be the good sports our third grade teachers taught us to be.
> > Isn't that what the Olympics are about? Why don't we give B&S both a
> > break and a hand while we are at it.

> > Colleen

> What we all need to keep in mind is that B&S did not have the impact
> many would like to accuse them of. Yes, they are Russian. Yes, they
> won. Yes, they were the 11th Russian pair in a row to do so. But the
> problems are NOT about B&S. They can't do anything about the judging.
> Four people went onto that ice, skated their hearts out, and left
> their fate in the hands of nine men and women. No one should be
> blaming them, and I believe that they have, under the circumstances,
> handled themselves quite well. They are in a very awkward position.
> They *do* deserve our congratulations, not for winning the gold medal
> but for being one of the best of two pairs out there. Why should we
> yank away praise for such a great performance (I did not say the best
> of the night) because we disagree with the people assigned to make the
> official decisions?

> I feel for Sale and Pelletier. I debate at the national collegiate
> level and I've lost rounds I knew I should have won-- because the
> judges were idiots. It happens. But I have not allowed myself to
> unfairly place that decision on the shoulders of the other team. Like
> it or not, after you've finished your program, it's out of your hands.
> If you don't like it, go try speed skating or luge. Sale and Pelletier
> are right to be disappointed and would be appropriate in directing
> frustration toward the ISU, but I do hope the sphere of their
> frustrations does not expand to the other two people with no control
> over ordinals.

> Let's all be the good sports our third grade teachers taught us to be.
> Isn't that what the Olympics are about? Why don't we give B&S both a
> break and a hand while we are at it.

> Colleen

> It's not like B&S skated poorly...they didn't.  Four minutes before Love
> Story concluded, the commentators were raving about Meditation.

> I am so sick of this already, and feel horrible for Anton and Elena, who are
> glorious skaters and well deserving of the Olympic Title.

> And I'm Canadian and still say that.

> --

> Caroline

> --


> > I disagree, B&S accepted an award they KNEW they didn't achieve.

> > They bear some factor of blame.

> > Jc.

> > > Re: 2/11/02
> > > I watched last night's LP for pairs live last night and am still not
> > > sure what to think. I've been following pairs skating since I was
> > > twelve and had a hard time making up my mind. I can make an argument
> > > for either pair. My more serious concern is the effect this will have
> > > on the pro (and any additional ISU level) lives of B&S. Will this
> > > haunt them for years, in terms of touring and shows? I am afraid that
> > > it will, which I find the greatest tragedy. Winning this medal might
> > > end up being the worst result for them.

> > > What we all need to keep in mind is that B&S did not have the impact
> > > many would like to accuse them of. Yes, they are Russian. Yes, they
> > > won. Yes, they were the 11th Russian pair in a row to do so. But the
> > > problems are NOT about B&S. They can't do anything about the judging.
> > > Four people went onto that ice, skated their hearts out, and left
> > > their fate in the hands of nine men and women. No one should be
> > > blaming them, and I believe that they have, under the circumstances,
> > > handled themselves quite well. They are in a very awkward position.
> > > They *do* deserve our congratulations, not for winning the gold medal
> > > but for being one of the best of two pairs out there. Why should we
> > > yank away praise for such a great performance (I did not say the best
> > > of the night) because we disagree with the people assigned to make the
> > > official decisions?

> > > I feel for Sale and Pelletier. I debate at the national collegiate
> > > level and I've lost rounds I knew I should have won-- because the
> > > judges were idiots. It happens. But I have not allowed myself to
> > > unfairly place that decision on the shoulders of the other team. Like
> > > it or not, after you've finished your program, it's out of your hands.
> > > If you don't like it, go try speed skating or luge. Sale and Pelletier
> > > are right to be disappointed and would be appropriate in directing
> > > frustration toward the ISU, but I do hope the sphere of their
> > > frustrations does not expand to the other two people with no control
> > > over ordinals.

> > > Let's all be the good sports our third grade teachers taught us to be.
> > > Isn't that what the Olympics are about? Why don't we give B&S both a
> > > break and a hand while we are at it.

> > > Colleen

> It's not like B&S skated poorly...they didn't.  Four minutes before Love
> Story concluded, the commentators were raving about Meditation.

> I am so sick of this already, and feel horrible for Anton and Elena, who are
> glorious skaters and well deserving of the Olympic Title.

> And I'm Canadian and still say that.

> --

> Caroline

> --


> > I disagree, B&S accepted an award they KNEW they didn't achieve.

> > They bear some factor of blame.

> > Jc.

> > > Re: 2/11/02
> > > I watched last night's LP for pairs live last night and am still not
> > > sure what to think. I've been following pairs skating since I was
> > > twelve and had a hard time making up my mind. I can make an argument
> > > for either pair. My more serious concern is the effect this will have
> > > on the pro (and any additional ISU level) lives of B&S. Will this
> > > haunt them for years, in terms of touring and shows? I am afraid that
> > > it will, which I find the greatest tragedy. Winning this medal might
> > > end up being the worst result for them.

> > > What we all need to keep in mind is that B&S did not have the impact
> > > many would like to accuse them of. Yes, they are Russian. Yes, they
> > > won. Yes, they were the 11th Russian pair in a row to do so. But the
> > > problems are NOT about B&S. They can't do anything about the judging.
> > > Four people went onto that ice, skated their hearts out, and left
> > > their fate in the hands of nine men and women. No one should be
> > > blaming them, and I believe that they have, under the circumstances,
> > > handled themselves quite well. They are in a very awkward position.
> > > They *do* deserve our congratulations, not for winning the gold medal
> > > but for being one of the best of two pairs out there. Why should we
> > > yank away praise for such a great performance (I did not say the best
> > > of the night) because we disagree with the people assigned to make the
> > > official decisions?

> > > I feel for Sale and Pelletier. I debate at the national collegiate
> > > level and I've lost rounds I knew I should have won-- because the
> > > judges were idiots. It happens. But I have not allowed myself to
> > > unfairly place that decision on the shoulders of the other team. Like
> > > it or not, after you've finished your program, it's out of your hands.
> > > If you don't like it, go try speed skating or luge. Sale and Pelletier
> > > are right to be disappointed and would be appropriate in directing
> > > frustration toward the ISU, but I do hope the sphere of their
> > > frustrations does not expand to the other two people with no control
> > > over ordinals.

> > > Let's all be the good sports our third grade teachers taught us to be.
> > > Isn't that what the Olympics are about? Why don't we give B&S both a
> > > break and a hand while we are at it.

> > > Colleen