Skaters you hated the first time around.... | Page 2 | Golden Skate

Skaters you hated the first time around....

76olympics

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 4, 2004
I never cared for Elvis' style --all of the martial arts themed programs etc. I never did warm up to his programs-- but I grew to have respect for him as a very gutsy skater. The discipline he showed in skating with that groin injury was incredible. It wasn't the wisest move-but you had to respect the classy way he conducted himself.

I grew to appreciate Pet-Tikhs more and more once B and S weren't around to distract me! They seem to be very nice people and I want to root for them after reading several of their interviews.
 

SingAlto

On the Ice
Joined
Jun 21, 2004
RealtorGal said:
You are absolutely correct, he not only pouted, he was very rude to the television interviewer, saying something along the lines of "I can't win all the time." (Those were not his exact words but it was something to that effect.) I remember being stunned by his poor sportsmanlike attitude because he was always so happy to have that microphone in his face when HE was the winner and because it did seem out of character for him to behave this way. :scowl: :confused:

You've written this before, and I'll call you on it once again. Brian has NEVER been rude to an interviewer, and I am 100% positive on that one. I have every major competition he's ever done as an amateur and every competition he's done as a pro on video tape, and I know for certain that he's never been less than a gentleman.

My being a fan of someone has a lot to do with their character, and I would have been very dissappointed in him had he acted that way toward anyone. I have never been embarrassed by how he acted toward a reporter or interviewer, ever. Your shaky memory of this event does Brian a lot of disservice because people are going to read this and believe what you've written, and it's really unfair to him.

I'm don't care whether anyone likes Brian as a person or a skater, but I won't sit by and let you or anyone else make false accusations about his character.
 
S

SkateFan4Life

Guest
In all honesty, I've never been a fan of Nancy Kerrigan. I've always felt that her skating was highly overrated. She habitually blew competitions, and her "gracefulness" was stilted, IMHO. Well, OK, I thought she skated very well in 1991, the year the US women swept the medals at Worlds, but that's the only year I thought she really skated like a champion. I admired her tenacity in quickly recovering from her knee bashing at the 1994 US Nationals, and Kerrigan skated two strong programs at Lillehammer, but, again, I just wasn't impressed with her skating. Perhaps I was just turned off at the crass commercialism of that time.
I remember that immediately before she skated her Olympic long program, one of her television advertisements was aired - for what product, I don't remember.
I thought, "Egads! This girl expects to win this competition, and she hasn't even skated yet." IMHO, of course.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
About Brian Boitano and Scott Hamilton, IIRC Scott mentions this competition in his book (Landing It). I don't have the book before me, but he said something like, this was the first and only time that he beat Brian in a pro competition, and Brian was disappointed that he hadn't skated his best. Scott said that it meant a lot to him to be victorious in this contest because Brian always won, so it was nice to be able to say that he (Scott) won at least once.
 

RealtorGal

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
SingAlto said:
You've written this before, and I'll call you on it once again. Brian has NEVER been rude to an interviewer, and I am 100% positive on that one. I have every major competition he's ever done as an amateur and every competition he's done as a pro on video tape, and I know for certain that he's never been less than a gentleman.
He was less than a gentleman... much less.
 

Jaana

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Country
Finland
RealtorGal said:
You are absolutely correct, he not only pouted, he was very rude to the television interviewer, saying something along the lines of "I can't win all the time." (Those were not his exact words but it was something to that effect.) I remember being stunned by his poor sportsmanlike attitude because he was always so happy to have that microphone in his face when HE was the winner and because it did seem out of character for him to behave this way. :scowl: :confused:

I really don´t understand how a sentence like "I cannot win all the time", would sound rude or show poor sportmanship. Besides, in my opinion it is natural for an athlete to be feel disappointed when losing a competiton.
 

EricAba

Rinkside
Joined
Aug 27, 2003
T&M... They always seemed a bit stiff and expressionless to me- until this year. Their Ave Maria SP was brilliant, although I was not as fond of Scheherazade. I think the more liquid they become with their movement, the better they will be, since their technique appears to be top-notch.

D&S (France)... Their Frida FD this year really won me over. To me, that was the complete package- technical difficulty combined with wonderful artistry. And the 'lack of expression' that the commentators tend to mention on his part seemed to work here, in the manner of 'abstract art'.

Hughes... Ironically, I was won over by Sarah in the season that most people considered her worst- the '03 season. I never really cared for her skating before that, but I think that, jumps notwithstanding, her movement on the ice that year was becoming much more refined and watchable.

Kostner... She really seems to be growing into her body, better I think than Ando. A couple of years ago, she seemed awkward on the ice, but I see an improvement in her recent programs, especially her last couple of SP's. And I think she's one of the few skaters whose speed really comes across on TV- Suguri is another.

Sokolova... She's perhaps one of those skaters who comes across better live. I never enjoyed watching her on TV, but when I saw her at Champions on Ice in 2004, I was impressed by her speed and flow across the ice- and I didn't even notice her 'choppy stroking'!
 

mememe

On the Ice
Joined
Nov 20, 2004
Went to my tape of 1994 Gold Championship. This is what was on it, interview-wise:

Order of skate in tech program: Petrenko, Boitano, Hamiilton (all got great response, BB and SH got standing Os).. No interviews after either of the first two programs (this was a live broadcast). Petrenko had a couple of problems in his program, though did a triple axel-triple toe (slight two-foot on the triple toe). Boitano did old standard Carousel Waltz with Tano triple lutz, triple axel-double toe, triple flip-triple toe, triple toe, triple salchow. Scott did old standard "In the Mood," with some music added at the front to put in triple lutz and triple flip. Also did triple toe, triple salchow, single axel-double axel-double axel sequence. After Scott finished (both he and Brian got a mixture of 5.8s, 5.9s and 6.0s), Scott was a tenth or two ahead. Interview with Scott in kiss-n-cry (he goes out for an encore bow during the interview):

Mary Ann Grabavoy (after some patter about Scott declaring himself a "beacon of light for short bald men everywhere:"):
SH: I can't even talk, I'm supposed to be a commentator and I can't even talk. ... I was really nervous and I've been skating so well. All I wanted to do was deliver the jumps cause against these guys you can't make any mistakes.
MAG: You threw down the gauntlet, four triple in a row, two double axels and the kitchen sink, you knew you had to go for it.
SH: I couldn’t miss anything if I wanted to stay close for the second number, the second number is one I’m really looking forward to. I mean, what can you say, seven 6s (artistic mark), thanks Sarah, Sarah Kawahara, that's your mark.
MAG: And you're switching gears for the artistic number, from Glenn Miller to Aerosmith.
SH: Yeah, it's one of my favorite numberss to do and I think that they'll like it (indicating the audience), I'm here for them, not here for anything else.
(Then some patter back and forth about Scott being one of her "favorite people" and wishing him luck).
Hannah Storm (she and Kurt Browning were commentators): Thanks Mary Ann, now let's throw it backstage to Paul Wylie.
PW (sitting with BB, who is dressed in sweats, in interview cubbyhole with TV monitor):
PW: Brian, what a great job tonight, you have to be thrilled with the way you came through solidly on those technical elements ... and what do you think about Scott, you watched him skate on the monitor.
BB: Well for one thing I felt really great about how I skated it was a full out clean program for me so with the pressure that we were under there was considerable ... Scott was great, I only got to see him from backstage on the monitor but he just keeps improving with age and it’s a real inspiration for me.
P: That's terrific. So what is your strategy for the second number
BB: I’ll be doing pretty much a signature piece of mine, Nessun Dorma by Pavorotti, it sort of emulates what my skating is all about.

Then on to women's competition with Kristi, Kat and Oksana. After they finish, there is a fairly longish feature/interview with Boitano on his return to the Olympics, why he did it, how he felt about it, with clips of him falling out of the axel in the short program. He said one reason he wanted to is he felt he didn't want to rest on his laurels and wanted to keep trying to "earn" his good luck. Said he wouldn't have gone back to the Olympics if he didn't think he could win or earn a medal. Said his knee was bad, but was afraid waiting four more years might mean he'd "miss his chance" to try again, said the knee injury didn't allow him to train the way he'd like, that he wasn't "really happy" with his skating, but felt it was more his body letting him down, and he felt he had enough "background and consistency" in his life that it would still work for him. Said the Olympics had been a very hard experience for him, felt very different about his skating, felt all the pressure had come down at once, felt like a failure and felt defeated. It took a toll on his pscyhe, his ego, everything. But, said he truly believed there was something to be learned that would make him a better person and better skater and he had learned to allow himself mistakes and that highs are so much higher when you have a low before it, it's more special to get to the top of a mountain from the bottom.

Another short interview with Scott:

PW: Scott, in the lead, no surprise to me, I've been against you with this number. What are you looking for in the second number?

SH: I'm just looking to stay vertical. Scott in the lead, no surprise to me I’ve been against you with this number, What are you looking for in the second number.

SH: Just stay vertical. ... I’m just so surprised you never beat Brian Boitano and Viktor Petrnko in a technical program, never, it just never happens.

PW: Well, you did ... back to you, Hannah.

Order of skate in artistic programs, same as tech. BB has added some music to the front of "Nessun Dorma" to include a tano lutz and a bit of footwork and edgework, then does the triple salchow, double axel-double toe, triple flip and triple toe, along with usual other choroegraphy and spins. Very happy after, gets mostly 5.9s and 6.0s (Browning does say, "Gee, I don't know about those 6.0s, but he certainly did put in a lot of jumps).

Scott does "Walk This Way: double axel, triple lutz, triple toe, backflip, usual great footwork and great crowd interaction in one of his signature pieces. Went around kissing audience members and such to a standing ovation, came off and got four 6.0s technically and more artistical and won. As scores are coming up, there's a quick shot of Boitano back stage hurrying to follow Mary Ann Grabavoy into the backstage interview room, then back to Scott getting his marks. Scott wins, PW interviews him standing by the edge of the rink with the crowd cheering:
PW: You've got to be thrilled...
SH: I can’t believe it it’s like the best I’ve skated in 10 years, it’s unbelievable –
PW: It's unbelievable for us to watch, too, Scott. Take your victory lap (Scott goes out, shakes hands with all the judges, , etc., then there's some extreme closeups of BB's face in the interview room backstage, looking serious, listening to something somebody is saying to him there.
Kurt Browning from the commentary booth: Nobody takes a loss harder than Brian Boitano.
Hannah Storm: And we'll talk to Brian Boitano when we come back. Scott Hamilton beat him tonight ... (etc. etc.)
Back to Scott waving to the audience, throwing a backflip, etc.

When they come back, there's a quick shot of Kristi congratulating Scott backstage, then they hurried right into the women's competition. They never talk to Brian then or at any time through the rest of the broadcast. They have quick interview with Kristi and Kat after ladies, then show Kurt bowing to the audience from the commentator's booth. Just manage to end on time.

So, I guess it's up to you to decide whether BB was a good sport or bad sport or acted like a gentleman or not. That's all that was from he and Scott in the broadcast.

Story in the Edmonton Journal after the competition, quoting from a press conference all the skaters attended at once: Quotes Scott as saying, "This feels better than the Olympics, better than at least three of (his four) world championships. Skating third after two great skaters, knowing that no one, never, ever, will beat Brian Boitano in the air, as long as I live -- he's the greatest jumper in history of skating -- and then winning this ... it was one of those fantasies that you dismiss because it can't happen, except it happened." Writer goes on to call Scott a great competitor and saying that all three slugged it out and "weren't holding back." said BB "did a couple more triples the night he beat Brian Orser in Calgary but he may never have put together two purer, more beautifully skated programs back-to-back. The man is so fluid it's unfair. And doing it all in one evening and then finishing second. 'It was just nice to feel like me again,' said Boitano, who has been hobbled by bad knees. Asked if he had ever skated better in his life and not won, Boitano said flatly, "No." "Yay," said Hamilton, sitting at Boitano's left at the post-skate media conference. " Goes on to quote Scott about how much he was concentrating on hitting everything and how thrilled he was to win when everyone else skated great. Goes on with, "The world championships are a different mix of emotionsl and politics and judging styles. Boitano prefers this kind. 'Those judges ... tonight knew what they were seeing,' Boitano said. ..."

So, again, it's just a matter of what you think is gentlemanly or not.

Scott's book:, Page 273: I didn't want the night to end, especially after a row of 6.0 scores lit up the board -- four in the technical and five in the artistic. I felt chills. That was when I knew I had finally beaten Brian Boitano, the greatest competitor I've ever seen. It was what I had been waiting for all those years as a pro -- beating Brian after he skated well -- and it as the best I'd skated in a decade. ...This moment was the affirmation of my entire career. ... Brian was classy in defeat. I saw that he was down so I walked up to him and said, "Don't be upset. This is the greatest night of my life. And it's only the greatest night of my life because we both skated really well and it never happens like this for me. Never. This happens for you all the time. So I hope you're as happy for me as I am." Brian laughed and then shook my hand. Once he understood how much it meant to me to win, I think he appreciated that he was a big part of it. ...
Scott then goes on to say that he bought a Porsch with vanity plates "EDMNTN"
 
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SingAlto

On the Ice
Joined
Jun 21, 2004
RealtorGal said:
He was less than a gentleman... much less.

Believe what you want. However, I think it's really mean-spirited of you to falsely claim something about a person just because you don't like him. You never hesitate to write something negative about Brian when given the chance. It's like you have an agenda.

Btw, mememe, thanks for providing the interview portions of that competition. It clearly shows that Brian did not behave poorly.
 

hockeyfan228

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
eyria said:
With Plushenko, it took a little longer. The turning point was actually his Sex Bomb program! That number was just so outrageous, yet he managed to pull it off and make you laugh. I had to admire a guy with the confidence and sense of humor to do a number like that.
Same for me.
 

Dee4707

Ice Is Slippery - Alexie Yagudin
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Country
United-States
Mememe, thanks for all the hard work you did on that interview. I felt like I was there. It's such a clear point you made.

Dee
 

Grgranny

Da' Spellin' Homegirl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I think I need to clarify a little. When I was talking about Boitano's pouting, it was long before Scott was "the best". Back then, if I remember correctly, neither of them were usually winners. It was kind of when they were starting to come on the scene. It was about then that Scott started winning. It wasn't that long before Brian started doing better. I don't remember him pouting that much as they were improving and winning. That was why I kind of was a little annoyed with Brian. It wasn't long after that I was really loving Brian's skating. He is one of the male skaters that I really love now. (and Kulik) I don't remember at all about the way he acted at the 94 Olympics.
There are lots of things I remember and don't remember but that is one I am sure of. It is my opinion and I guess you can hate me for it if you want.
 

mememe

On the Ice
Joined
Nov 20, 2004
Grgranny said:
I think I need to clarify a little. When I was talking about Boitano's pouting, it was long before Scott was "the best". Back then, if I remember correctly, neither of them were usually winners. It was kind of when they were starting to come on the scene. It was about then that Scott started winning. It wasn't that long before Brian started doing better. I don't remember him pouting that much as they were improving and winning. That was why I kind of was a little annoyed with Brian. It wasn't long after that I was really loving Brian's skating. He is one of the male skaters that I really love now. (and Kulik) I don't remember at all about the way he acted at the 94 Olympics.
There are lots of things I remember and don't remember but that is one I am sure of. It is my opinion and I guess you can hate me for it if you want.

Wouldn't dream of hating you -- why? Just sounds like we may be talking about different times -- the competition I took from was 1994 Gold Championship, a pro event after the 1994 Olympics. I think the mixup came when you said something about Brian pouting when Scott beat him, and RealtorGal adding something about a pro event when Scott beat Brian and SingAlto defended Brian about that one pro event when that did happen ... etc.That prompted my report of what happened (TV-wise) in that event. If you're talking about their amateur days, that's something completely different -- although I honestly can't remember too many times in their amateur days when there would have been much interaction between the two. Brian didn't even make the U.S. medal stand until 1983, and by then, Scott was three-time U.S. champion and two-time (soon to be three-time) world champion and the toast of the town. There wasn't a lot of coverage back then,and I can't remember too many times when Brian even got interviewed at the same time Scott did -- if he did, I can't imagine he'd "pout" much, since at that point he was just glad to get on the medal stand at all and nobody really figured he could compete with Scott. I don't think Brian ever beat Scott in amateur competition. Scott retired after 1984 Worlds, and Brian then won his first national championship the following year.

I DO remember one time feeling Brian was less than gracious, perhaps, in a competitive situation, but that was in a Sports Festival (I believe) in either 85 or 86, I think, when Chris Bowman went out and did a very nice performance -- not perfect, but very good, and Bowman the Showman certainly had the audience in the palm of his hand. He also got a 6.0 or two (and that was back when 6.0s were generally reserved for T&D or for Scott's 1984 nationals long program). Brian, the reigning national champion and world medalist, followed and did a good, but less-than-perfect performance, and also got, I think, one 6.0. When he was interviewed after about it, he seemed less concerned with getting his first 6.0 (I believe he said that it was) than he was about the fact that Bowman got some. I believe he said something along the lines of how surprised he was to see "some little kid," or something like that, get 6.0s when he had never gotten any. I felt that was less than gracious, but I could understand someone who has spent years putting out outstanding performances and his own country's judges had never seen fit to give him (or a lot of other very worthy skaters) a 6.0, then suddenly hand some out to a newcomer who wasn't doing the hardest stuff might get his nose out of joint a bit and say something a bit hastily. Brian quickly added that Chris was a great skater, etc., so I think he recognized that was not exactly the way to talk, and I never heard anything else like that from him again.

But, you could have seen or heard things I didn't, and I certainly wouldn't "hate" you for an opinion or recollection that differs from mine. I have some skaters I've not been fond of in the past because of things I've heard them say or seen them do. Some I've changed my opinion about, others I haven't, but it's my opinion, and I'm welcome to it, right?

And back on the subject of the thread title -- I can remember another skater I changed my mind about in a big, big way. Kristi Yamaguchi. I liked her from the first time I saw her, but I felt her rather boring -- well, not really boring, but a skater who was rather remote. She was lovely to watch, but I didn't FEEL anything when I saw her skate. And I definitely liked her better as a competitive skater than as an exhibition skater, because she was so precise and correct when she competed, and that worked for competition, but again, she just didn't grab emotionally, so exhibitions were less exciting.

BUT, that has changed big time. I remember absolutely falling in love with her Blue Danube short program for the 1992 season and I've watched that over and over. And since that time, I've absolutely loved just about everything that she's done -- that did even prompt me to go back and watch more of her competitive programs from her earlier days. I always liked her as a pair skater with Rudy, too, and have watched those programs over, too. I've made a point of trying to see her live as much as possible and there are few, if any, programs she's done that I haven't managed to see on tape or in person. And you better believe I have been missing her greatly the past few years, when she's done limited appearances, and I dread the day that she retires from performing entirely. Her grace, delicacy, joy and dedication to being good are unique. I can't believe I ever managed to not "feel" anything when she skated. What was I thinking?
 

anya_angie

Final Flight
Joined
Sep 20, 2003
It's been a VERY long time!

"Hate" is such a strong word. I may not like a certain skaters' style or technique or both, but I really don't "hate" anyone LOL.

Skaters I strongly disliked, however, from the first moment...

Sasha Cohen
Michael Weiss
Timothy Goebel (but he's growing on me, ever so gradually)
Nancy Kerrigan
Tara Lipinski (first time I saw her she butchered Anastasia, pun not intended ;) however I owe her my dream of becoming a choreographer someday; I vowed to come up with a program ten times better to it that captures the majesty, mystery, magic and power of this magnificent score, and I have come up with 10 programs to it since)

First time I saw Sarah I liked her, but over time I noticed her horrible technique, now I really can't stand her LOL.

That seems to be all I can think of LOL.
 
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S

SkateFan4Life

Guest
I've never had much respect for Nicole Bobek. Here's a skater who squandered a great amount of talent and her entire eligible career with terrible training habits, constant coach switching (something like nine coaches, all told), a bad attitude, and lack of focus. What a waste of time for her coaches, as well. I just have no respect for people in any line of work who cannot and will not apply themselves. :no:
 

Grgranny

Da' Spellin' Homegirl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I kind of had different thoughts on Nicole. I did get really disgusted with her but in the back of my head I always kind of blamed it on her mother. (Don't we always get the blame? :biggrin: ) She obviously was really spoiled. It's really too bad these things hinder someone's talent. Too bad we didn't have Dr. Phil back then! :rofl:
 

antmanb

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 5, 2004
SkateFan4Life said:
I've never had much respect for Nicole Bobek. Here's a skater who squandered a great amount of talent and her entire eligible career with terrible training habits, constant coach switching (something like nine coaches, all told), a bad attitude, and lack of focus. What a waste of time for her coaches, as well. I just have no respect for people in any line of work who cannot and will not apply themselves. :no:

I guess that i'm much more forgiving of young skaters given that they're usually either really young or in their teens, at the most early 20s. The level of commitment to succeed in skating is huge and i just can't blame a child for not always wanting to apply themselves fully to it. I'm in my mid 20s and i still have those days where i just can't get my work done!

Ant
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
I wouldn't say Nicole was spoiled. if anything (launching into Dr. Phil mode) I would say she suffered from low self esteem. She had a trying and unconventional upbringing, including brushes with the law. I was glad that she had such a long and successful pro career.
 

Frau Muller

Final Flight
Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Sasha Cohen - still far from my favorite but I respect and admire her stretched-out positions.
 
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