FR LIVE EVENT-Olympic Scandal Press Conference..

MSNBC.com ^ | February 13, 2002 | Kelly O' Donnell

[codebreaker]

Sandra Bezic with the commentary..

[dennisw]

Outcome based figure skating Olympic figure skating competition!

[discostu]

But none of those allegations have been proven. The big "proof" came from Costas who was discussing hypotheticals (why I'm glad the ISU guy lit into the press for asking hypothetical questions, what really happened is complex enough without dealing with what ifs). We've got another press conference coming soon, though I doubt there will be anything new. No way any of these guys are going to admit to fixing it one way or the other. Most ofthe people on this thread are coming from a position that the results prove the fix, I'm trying to show otherwise. There still could have been a fix, but there are possible legitimate reasons for the results.

[Wyatt's Torch]

Agree. All these "beauty pagent" sports like gymnastics, figure skating, etc. are worth watching for the beauty but when it comes to "winning", it's just a joke. They do get the rating though...

So if the Canadians had skated to Pearl Jam would you have voted them 1st? ;-)

Speaking of, did you like the Vedder/Neil Young song after Sept 11th? "Long Road" I think it was. Good stuff!

[discostu]

Unfortunately other than the L word what you wrote isn't very different from the other stuff I've been facing on this thread. Everybody's got their assumptions and anybody that disagrees is apparently stupid (just ask them).

My apologies.

[discostu]

Had the Canadians had costumes that weren't sanitarium ugly I probably would have given it to them. Having a routine based on something other than Love Story would have done it too. Both and I definitely would have given it to them inspite of the relative ease of the routine and it's retread nature. Art is subjective, we can only go with how we feel.

Well folks gotta go. Had fun. Probably won't be back until tomorrow. Wonder what the controversy will be then.

[LenS]

Never argue with a Russian or a Slavophile. They're the ones who took Marx's stupid jargon and tried to run a country with it. Worse, they convinced themselves that it was wonderful as they suffered. So they will always manage to justify the stupidest actions or decisions if it benefits them or their allies. Heck, they're still trying to pass Milosevic as the second coming of Jesus.

This also applies to sports. Thus, you will never win an argument with them. If the Russians had gone out and stood still for their entire performance, there'd be posters here still stating that they deserved the gold medal.

[psycho-sis]

Okay thats reasonable. If there were a fix and I think we can safely say something has occured it negates the whole thing. After Nagano the dance judges admitted to the fix after phone calls were taped by the Canadian judge. I'm sure the right documentation will emerge. I think that with all the focus on cleaning up ice dance in the last four years they thought no one would notice if they tinkered with the pairs. This afternoon the CBC had the head of Skate Canada in interview and she said they have officially launched an appeal. We'll have to see how this unfolds but I just wanted you to consider that what the judges submitted in ordinals may not have been what they believed to be true.

[is_is]

Nice how you've now ignored 3 hours of discussion

I'm sure DJ can take up for herself....but...did it ever occur to you that maybe she HAS A LIFE that needs tending to besides debating you!!!??? Are your opinions SO IMPORTANT as to require us all to hang on your every word until you've convinced us your opinion is correct????

your an a$$...

[Osinski]

If the Russians had gone out and stood still for their entire performance, there'd be posters here still stating that they deserved the gold medal.

Liberal tactic: Never bother with debate. It's way too dfficult for those with lower intellect. Just make an outrageous accusation to belittle the opposing view. Maintain your position, you can be sure it's correct. Just ask yourself.

[is_is]

your an a$$...

That one of those subjective categories....no need to debate the point with me because you can't get in my head to determine how i came to that scoring of you....it's a done deal....you get to take the medal home....

[Osinski]

You spelled 'you're' incorrectly.

[is_is]

the speling police....just what this thred needs.....

[LenS]

Not outrageous, but just a comment that cuts to the heart of the defenses for a silly pre-determined judging. But satire is clearly beyond your ability to understand, even when grossly simplified.

[Admin Moderator]

Please cool the flaming on this thread.

[ItsDocGerbilsWorld]

If the Russians had gone out and stood still for their entire performance, there'd be posters here still stating that they deserved the gold medal.

Exactly. Well said. Yesterday they put a split screen with the Russians and Canadians side by side and showed them performing the same jumps - except the Russians blew it on both. The Canadians won that gold medal and it was simply stolen from them by corruptness.

[staytrue]

I expect Jesse Jackson to show up any minute and demand something be done about the under-representation of blacks in figure skating.

I am personally more afraid that the gays will demand that same sex couples be allowed into the pairs and ice dance competitions. Fortuneately, money still rules the olympic games and too many people would turn off the tv if that ever happened.

[bootless]

I don't think the integrity of the ballroom system is NEARLY as damaged as FS - the bucks are much, much lower, and the intimidation factor is much less - they're grownups, not kids just out of their teens. The ballroom pros are often small businesspeople -own their own studio, etc. - and not the often-intimidated skaters who have a short career lifespan and only a few shots at commercial success. In ballroom, the prize money pretty much enables them to keep competing and pay for costumes and coaching.

For the really good couples, the money is in coaching and income flow into their schools. The comps are for exposure, staying at the top of their game, the need to compete against the best in their profession, and to show students what can be accomplished. Strictly Ballroom aside, it's a lot more straightforward than FS, from what I knew.

Didn't see the Czech couple - were they exquisite?

[DJ88]

You're right...I do have a life. Figure skating is not all that important in it...however...when a shady deal is made, and it was, because anyone who watched the show with an UNBIASED opinion would *think* that the Canadians were far superior to the Russians.

Of course, that is a moot point now, and I really don't care what dicostu thinks about my debating skills, nor do I care to debate him anymore because it's useless. :-)

BTW...thanks. :-)

[alisasny]

The head referee it seems has to fill out a huge 4 page report such as see in this link

http://www.isu.org/forms/refreport.pdf

[is_is]

my pleasure :) I agree with you.....You out class him any way....so it is a mute point. LOL