Like it or not she is a superstar in the figure skating world. I interpreted the thumbs down as Michelle being more disappointed in herself than in the judges. It was almost like she was embarrassed for herself and that was her nervous way of reacting to those feelings. To get that far in sport (or arts) you need to be a perfectionist and to say "it doesn't matter what colour the medal is" is crap. It matters alot to her don't you think?
Do you think the Russian judges might have taken the self-critcism the wrong way?
This is why a coach earns his money, to keep this from happening.
It mattered a great deal to Michelle Kwan last night, and you could see that as soon as she stepped on the ice and started her long program. She kept saying that not winning a gold medal wouldn't ruin her life, and I don't think it will. I think it mattered to her a lot more than she was letting on though. Which is only human.
That's like saying "man, that Susan Lucci, what a gift to our generation." In reality, she's an actress in a seamy, inconsequential genre.
So it goes for "athletes" like figure skaters.
Yes, they're talented, but the scoring is a subjective joke, rife with "feelings" and prurient emotions.
Don't get me wrong, it's fun to watch them skate. But that deal last night was as comprehensible as watching someone win a beauty contest.
Give me a REAL sport: How far, how fast, how high, how many pucks in the net, how many times they crossed the goal line.
This business about "artistic interpretation"...what a joke.