Maybe in USA, but are you sure that Witt even knew of that meaning for "rubber ball"? I have never heard it and to me a rubber ball is just a round ball that keeps bouncing.Originally Posted by let`s talk
Maybe in USA, but are you sure that Witt even knew of that meaning for "rubber ball"? I have never heard it and to me a rubber ball is just a round ball that keeps bouncing.
Why should she find it necessary to demean any competitor? Her skating should speak for itself. She's implying that no other competitor of hers is worth looking at.
Sounds to me like she may have been referencing Thomas's athleticism (rubber ball = jumping bean = athletic skater). Don't get me wrong, I was a HUGE Debi Thomas fan and cheered soundly for her at the Olympics because she was my hero in some respects - a young lady with athleticism who wasn't afraid of being smart and letting people know (Stanford and Northwestern educated versus local community college) and who worked very hard to be "perfect" (good grades in undergrad to get into a top notch med school, National figure skating champion, World/Olympic champion/medallist) and perhaps put too much pressure on herself to win at everything.
Whoa. I don't understand such judgement on a tremendously successful person with obvious admirable qualities and no real scandals in her rather public life, because of a comment she supposedly made decades ago at a very young age in a competitive mood and environment.
Every single one of us would be demned to Hell with such standard.
I think we expect better of our Olympians....OK, maybe we can overlook trash-talking and chalk it up to immaturity....but depriving one of our chief competitors of her precious practice times.....I don't think so!
How did she deprive Debi of practice time? Was she in charge of the rink time?
I don't have a link for this, but years ago I heard that KW's practice to Carmen was first. When it was Debi's turn and the music came on, KW stepped on the ice and began her program again. I don't know if Debi was in shock or humiliated, but she did not fight for her practice.
I might have read this in an article at the time. Since it was so long ago, I doubt if I could find a digitized version of it (most publishers started digitizing in the mid-90s).
If anyone knows anything more, please contribute.
Katarina and Debi didn't use identical music. Maybe they did play Witt's music again. I have no idea what happened but Debi and her team should have set things straight.
Last edited by SkateFiguring; 07-18-2011 at 03:07 PM.
If I recall it was just a little gamesmanship from Kati. Similar to the time Yuna complained she was being swarmed by skaters in her warmup.
Kati looked like Princess but was a fierce competitor. I don't recall her being reprimanded for her actions in Calgary.
She might have psyched out Debi but I don't think she broke any rules.
Last edited by janetfan; 07-18-2011 at 04:28 PM.
I don't have an exact memory of that competition, but I did watch it on TV (with heart in mouth most of the time, not only for Witt/Thomas but for the two Brians), and I'm fairly sure nothing as blatant as that happened. They'd have made a huge fuss about it on American TV, during those Cold War days. Dick Button was one of the commentators! He would have blown a gasket. So whatever tactics Witt used, they were within the rules. (They did make a rule afterwards, to clamp down on the use of provocative costumes, but that's another story!)
As for the rubber ball statement, I am a bit confused because the rubber ball I played with as a kid was what we used to call a Spaldeen (a widely available fist-sized ball used for bouncing games and catch, whose brand name was Spaulding), which was pink. So it wasn't inevitable to think of a black ball (those little handball balls) when one heard that phrase. As for using the phrase to refer to Debi in terms of physique, it seems unlikely. Debi and Kat were actually rather similar in general type, both being "non-sprites"--a bit taller, muscular, and with curves. Not that I'm defending Witt out of hand, but what was the context of her answer? Are we sure she was referring to Thomas or to rivals in general? Or just to female athletes in general?
Certainly she played hard, but I think as she matured (and as she gained more freedom because of the improved political situation), she changed for the better. Beyond that, I'm not knowledgeable enough about her actions or motivations to judge.
There was nothing that Witt did on ice that I liked. I couldn't stand her during the 84 Olympics. I was a true American fan and wanted no one else to skate better than the American girls. After watching her short program, I knew we were in trouble. That girl had so much pizzazz you couldn't help but, love her. During the long I was still rooting for Zayak, and the very cute Chin. Sumners always seemed like a ***** to me so I wasn't so devastated when she didn't win. Although the Olympics ended with Witt winning it wasn't until about 87 that I started to become a fan of hers. The one thing I learned to love about Witt was her determination. She wasn't necessarily the best skater but, she was like a boxer. She used the power of intimidation to psych her competitors out and it usually worked for her. In later years she was fortunate enough to make money when the market was hot(94 scandal).
Since Debi was mentioned in this thread I will add my two cents about her. At 86 Nationals(my first) I was in the first row watching history being made. I got the chance to meet her afterwards and I had the opportunity to hang with her for a little while. That girl was really smart. I get the sense that if she had come from money and only concentrated on skating she would have been even better. When people like Witt and Thomas come around I tell my friends that life is not fair. People like Witt and Thomas got on the line twice(this is a metaphor for when god is handing out gifts) Witt got on the line for looks and then got back on the line for skating. Thomas got on the line for smarts and then again for skating (and she wasn't a bad looking girl either). 10 years later I ran into her and she said to me "didn't I meet you at nationals in 86?"
I don't think we should hold against an athlete anything they say in preparation for a tournament or soon there after. There are too many emotions running rampant.
A lovely way to put it, MasterB.
And what a wonderful anecdote about Thomas! I'm so jealous (in the nicest possible way) that you got to watch her skate live, and then even to spend time with her. Indeed she did "get on the line" two or three times. I'm so glad she's gone on to lead a life of such accomplishment.
One of my coaches is still friends with Debi Thomas - they met when he went to Nationals as a Novice and she was making a name for herself (I think it was when he was a Novice) and he was pitching a fit on a practice session over something that was going right. She was rinkside and just started laughing at him loudly. Made him think twice about his actions and how he was conducting himself at NATIONALS.
Ouch... totally unpc comment and totally colourful (no puns intended.)
Unforgiveable? Not so sure, she was a women of her times, it was different then. She might have played up to the part of a media darling providing memorable sound bite (80s excess and hedonism) which she readily pleases. Weird thing is if she had been a man and the sport is Boxing, nobody would have thought twice about it. If she meant interms of racism, then it is plainly wrong, and I think she knows it.
Class is a state of mind and changeable throughout a life time of experience. When you are young, there are many stupid things you regret saying, and I doubt Katerina is too proud of her ill judged moment like this. I wouldn't hold a grudge, I doubt Debi does either.
Love your entire post. Debi sounds lovely and so bright (and really lucky to be born in America).
As a highly impressionable kid, I actually remember Katarina's Carmen at the 88 Olympics... her performance was just so engaging and bewitching. And yes she does look like Brook Shield who was super popular in Asia with her dark thick eye brows. And I totally agree with your last sentence.
Last edited by os168; 07-18-2011 at 10:14 PM.
A look back at the way it was:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...6927-1,00.html
"Everywhere the rival ice queens went, cameras snapped, reporters prodded, fans pursued. Some excess was inevitable, the inescapable glamour of a competition that features svelte young women in scanty costumes.
As Debi Thomas sardonically remarked, "It's definitely a Miss America sport."
How interesting to hear those words from a world champion and Olympic medalist.
Last edited by janetfan; 07-18-2011 at 08:47 PM.
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