Your "sore losers" tirade is losing steam, pastepotpete. Might be time to pick a new phrase to express your frustration. Would you have preferred stony-cold faces with absolutely no emotion whatsoever? Standing up on a second-tier podium when you skated a performance that was first-tier quality -- and everyone in the audience agreed with you -- takes some guts. It's disappointing as hell. When's the last time you tried your damndest to do something that had taken you two years to perfect and you were told it was decent, but not the best? How would you react? Would you try to be as composed as possible? Would a few tears not squeak out? They're not robots, for god's sake. And unless you saw a different version of the medal ceremony than I did, I saw both members of the team congratulate the Russian team right before they climbed onto the highest tier. I have never heard them blame the Russian team for the controversy nor hold them accountable in any way. All that aside, I've no idea how the rest of the skaters can even hope for an impartially-judged event at this point. We'll see how things pan out tonight in the men's free skate.
Oh, boo hoo. Do you feel the same pity for the Chinese? How about the 8th place team? What a depressing thing the Olympics must seem to you, all these poor disappointed losers. Two posts is not a tirade, btw (well maybe it is at Sportsfilter, but we're just warming up) and when I see a post that begins "sore losers?" I just can't help but respond in the affirmative. Try reading the whole thread next time. Yeah, you're right they shook hands. Meanwhile, they're showing up in front of every camera they can find talking about how it felt like a "punch in the stomach" Meanwhile, they want a gold medal and the Canadian Olympic Association and their lawyers are busy trying to make that happen. Follow my links, read what these prima donnas are saying, read about their appeal based on second-hand evidence, then give me one good reason why I shouldn't think they are sore losers. Evixir, you can let Sale and Pelletier, the COA, SkateCanada, and Scott Hamilton spin you from here until Tuesday if you like, but I'm not going to fall all over myself just because she squirted out a few tears on the podium.
Oh, boo hoo. Do you feel the same pity for the Chinese? How about the 8th place team? What a depressing thing the Olympics must seem to you, all these poor disappointed losers. The Chinese and the 8th place team did not skate gold-medal quality programs. Meanwhile, they're showing up in front of every camera they can find talking about how it felt like a "punch in the stomach" Meanwhile, they want a gold medal and the Canadian Olympic Association and their lawyers are busy trying to make that happen. First, S&P are the hottest story right now. It's only natural every program wants them on. Second, they are thinking about their future after the Olympics, and publicity does nothing but help with their future career. Third, on Larry King, they specifically stated that a medal is just something "you put in a box" but their experiences is what's truly important. It seems your rage it a bit misplaced and unwarranted.
the chinese and the 8th place team did not skate gold-medal quality programs. You are absolutely correct. The Russian pair was the only team to skate a gold-medal quality program. That's why they were awarded a gold medal. No one has grounds to say otherwise. first, s&p are the hottest story right now. it's natural every program wants them second, they are thinking about their future after the olympics, and publicity does nothing but help with their future career. third, larry king, they specifically stated that a medal is just something you put in a box but their experiences is what's truly important. it seems your rage it a bit misplaced and unwarranted. Your first two points are absolute conjecture. Your third only undercuts any grounds for the Canadian appeal. My "rage" stems from the inability of, seemingly, the rest of North America to accept the decision of the judges as controversial but final and quit trying to conjure up some justification for giving the Canadians a gold medal. I'm sorry my tone seems to bother you.
You are absolutely correct. The Russian pair was the only team to skate a gold-medal quality program. That's why they were awarded a gold medal. No one has grounds to say otherwise. As more and more people step forward, it seems likely that the Canadians were the ones to skate a gold-medal quality program. Let's see if there is any truth to those allegations of pressure and vote-swapping.
I don't think they should give them a gold medal just to appease them, but I also don't think their reaction to the whole situation was unreasonable or "sore loser" quality. They practiced a routine for two years and it all comes down to one moment, and a judging debacle messes up their chances to stand atop the podium. That sucks. If it's being a "sore loser" to say so, well, damn. I say bring all the publicity you can to the spectacle of corruption that judging has become, and hopefully some changes might finally be made. They seem to accept that the decision made by the judges, albeit potentially corrupted, is final, and it's not them leading the light brigade against the whole ISU, it's their lawyers and coaches and the Canadian Olympic Association and all the others who stand to make money off of them would they have won the gold instead of the silver. So yes, it's getting a bit messy now, but let's put the blame for the appeals and recounts and yadda on the muckety-mucks and higher-ups who have more power and sway than the individual skaters do. Sale and Pelletier aren't the ones standing in front of Cinquanta interrogating him on his judges' ethics; they're just the poster children for the larger groups that are fighting to correct a problem that's gone on way too long. I just think labeling them as sore losers is a little too harsh when you consider what it took to get them -- and all Olympians, for that matter -- to the Olympics in the first place. For every winner, there's a loser. Just because their disappointment is more public doesn't mean it's unsportsmanlike of them to feel it.
