[CondoleezzaProtege]

Goodness! I just read through some of the comments on this thread and some sound downright COMMUNIST. Since when are American team members entitled to medals? We've earned them in the past, because the talent level of our skaters happened to be better in the past! It just wasn't our year.

I've already explained how the judging score system has been changed to be much fairer and objective: focusing more on athletic difficulty, precision, and skill, over style. And while I've been hearing Bronze medalist Joannie Rochette might have gotten sympathy points in light of her mother's death--the two best skaters in the world earned the Gold and Silver. THEY DESERVED IT. THEY *WORKED HARD* and *COMPETED* to get it. It was capitalism at work.

I honestly don't understand all this "no fair." It sounds socialist in spirit.

[Loud Mime]

I've worked with olympians for over thirty years...they all work hard. As Lisa Leslie said after winning GOLD in Atlanta, "You have to understand the meaning of the word 'focus.'" These kids devote their lives to their performances and are crushed when they lose.

Obviously, Mao Asada was very unhappy with her score. She hardly smiled during the medal ceremony. But, all the athletes go into their respective arts or sports knowing the power of judges. They accept it, so should the spectators and armchair commentators.

[cherry]

no one is complaining about the gold....

but the bronze medal is a medal afterall....and it really should have gone to Nagasu..

I followed on a blog with Yamaguchi and others describing what they saw and they definately gave the most attributes to the American and not Rochette....

well, that's the way it is...

what do you expect when you have a billion dollar "own the podium" campaign...you expect a few favors..