I agree.
Christopher Bowman Died (1-10-08)
- Thread starter gsrossano
- Start date
I agree.
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2007
Could we maybe let the corpse get cold before we start mudslinging?
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2004
I always liked him though he was my polar opposite ! ( even though I didn't know about his drug problems back then.) He had so much talent and achieved a good bit almost in spite of himself. Two national championships and silver and bronze at Worlds are an accomplishment.
( I am like a female version of Paul Wylie- who always seemed a little bemused and amused by Bowman. They roomed together in Calgary until Wylie couldn't take the chaos anymore! The partying, the dancing on his bed at dawn, etc! ) You knew this could happen to him , but I am so sorry it did. There is a performance of Maria at the 1987 Nationals (exhibition) posted on You Tube that is just breathtaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMRW1HmNiVI
Rest in peace....
Chris Bowman at Albertville: : " I came, I saw, they kicked my butt."
( I am like a female version of Paul Wylie- who always seemed a little bemused and amused by Bowman. They roomed together in Calgary until Wylie couldn't take the chaos anymore! The partying, the dancing on his bed at dawn, etc! ) You knew this could happen to him , but I am so sorry it did. There is a performance of Maria at the 1987 Nationals (exhibition) posted on You Tube that is just breathtaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMRW1HmNiVI
Rest in peace....
Chris Bowman at Albertville: : " I came, I saw, they kicked my butt."
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2006
That camel spin couldn't have been more gorgeous.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2003
Just found out about this-sad! He was still young-he will be remembered.
Found out about this just as I was headed to bed last night. I'd really thought Chris had managed to tame his demons the last few years. Such sad, sad news.
My condolences to Bianca and the rest of Chris' family and all of his friends. He will be missed.
Rest in peace Christopher.
My condolences to Bianca and the rest of Chris' family and all of his friends. He will be missed.
Rest in peace Christopher.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2006
I came to this forum last night, and when I saw this news I was too shaken to compose a reply. I just read and read and just let it go until tonight. The first image that always came to my head over the years whenever I heard the name Christopher Bowman was the sight of him skating to "Woolly Boolly" or the Stones' "Honky-Tonk Woman" at Worlds Exhibitions, and the camera showing Katia Gordeeva or Jill Trenary laughing at the sight of his shenanigans. I still have those moments on tape, as well as many of his other performances.
I, too, have always believed that without his demons, he could have become the most medal-decorated, most popular male skater of all time. I also remember that he was doing commentary for ESPN during the middle-to-late 90's during such events as Tara Lipinski's early pro events before she did her first Stars on Ice show. His enthusiasm for the sport could be heard in his voice during those stints.
I believe that right now, he is already performing on that Big Ice Rink in the Sky up there, delighting and amusing the skating fans who are up there with him, as well as John Curry, Maribel Vinson Owen, her daughter Laurence and others in the '61 World Team, Sergei Grinkov, Anna Kondrashova, and other skaters who have made the journey to that heavenly ice palace.
Thank you, Christopher, for your gift for entertaining us all and making us laugh. I'm sure I speak for most of us here when I say that we will remember you with smiles on our faces.:yes::yes::yes:
I, too, have always believed that without his demons, he could have become the most medal-decorated, most popular male skater of all time. I also remember that he was doing commentary for ESPN during the middle-to-late 90's during such events as Tara Lipinski's early pro events before she did her first Stars on Ice show. His enthusiasm for the sport could be heard in his voice during those stints.
I believe that right now, he is already performing on that Big Ice Rink in the Sky up there, delighting and amusing the skating fans who are up there with him, as well as John Curry, Maribel Vinson Owen, her daughter Laurence and others in the '61 World Team, Sergei Grinkov, Anna Kondrashova, and other skaters who have made the journey to that heavenly ice palace.
Thank you, Christopher, for your gift for entertaining us all and making us laugh. I'm sure I speak for most of us here when I say that we will remember you with smiles on our faces.:yes::yes::yes:
Anna Kondrashova (Levandi) isn't dead, she coaches in Estonia. Maybe you mean Kira Ivanova?
RIP Christopher. I Watched his skating and wow, I didn't remember how great skater he was. Those jumps and speed and joy!
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2006
OMG!! Kati, you are absolutely right, I did mean Kira Ivanova! If Anna had seen this thread, she would probably have quickly sent a message quoting the old Mark Twain saying "Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated".
Also, I don't know how I double posted that reply above. Sorry. And thanks, Kati.
Also, I don't know how I double posted that reply above. Sorry. And thanks, Kati.
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2004
Two articles with more information:
L A Times: A lot of commentary from John Baldwin, Jr who helped him out recently:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/print...2,0,6249226.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-sports
Time- Frank Carroll speaks. This is beyond sad. Bowman was still sending him e-mails up to 6 months ago. I think Frank remains upset that he could not salvage Chris, but I really think he did all he could. Addiction is extremely hard to deal with and only the addict himself can do the work. Evidently, Bowman was diagnosed as bi-polar and the addiction issues were tied up with the emotional instability ( self-medication and then more issues from the addiction.) Just a sad story all the way around for those of us that used to root for him.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1703048,00.html
L A Times: A lot of commentary from John Baldwin, Jr who helped him out recently:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/print...2,0,6249226.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-sports
Time- Frank Carroll speaks. This is beyond sad. Bowman was still sending him e-mails up to 6 months ago. I think Frank remains upset that he could not salvage Chris, but I really think he did all he could. Addiction is extremely hard to deal with and only the addict himself can do the work. Evidently, Bowman was diagnosed as bi-polar and the addiction issues were tied up with the emotional instability ( self-medication and then more issues from the addiction.) Just a sad story all the way around for those of us that used to root for him.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1703048,00.html
Thanks for the links.
Those articles just about break my heart. I feel so badly, not only for Christoper, but for those he left behind. The feeling of helplessness just rang from their words. I think we will be hearing more of them as the days move forward.
May you finally be at peace, Christopher, and may those who love you find the same as they deal with their loss.
Those articles just about break my heart. I feel so badly, not only for Christoper, but for those he left behind. The feeling of helplessness just rang from their words. I think we will be hearing more of them as the days move forward.
May you finally be at peace, Christopher, and may those who love you find the same as they deal with their loss.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
my friend is coached by Frank Carrol and she said that he was very sorrowed by his death.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
Frank's statements were very moving to me. It's apparent that he had a father type role in Chris's life and he tried to help him as much as he could.
Unfortunately, Chris wasn't able to battle his drug addictions. In many cases, drug abuse will trigger and/or excaberate bipolarism.
My friend's partner is bipolar. He was on a really low dosage of drugs and has been weaned off of them. Even that low dose made him feel like there was a distance between him and others. Given Chris' outgoing nature, this probably seemed intolerable, assuming that he did seek treatment for bipolarism.
Unfortunately, Chris wasn't able to battle his drug addictions. In many cases, drug abuse will trigger and/or excaberate bipolarism.
My friend's partner is bipolar. He was on a really low dosage of drugs and has been weaned off of them. Even that low dose made him feel like there was a distance between him and others. Given Chris' outgoing nature, this probably seemed intolerable, assuming that he did seek treatment for bipolarism.
Rest in Peace, Christopher Bowman
God bless you, Christopher.
"You were there in the turnstiles
With the wind at your heels
You stretched for the stars
And you know how it feels
To reach too high
Too far
Too soon
You saw the whole of the moon"
--The Waterboys, "The Whole of the Moon"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsNTmjlf1vI
God bless you, Christopher.
"You were there in the turnstiles
With the wind at your heels
You stretched for the stars
And you know how it feels
To reach too high
Too far
Too soon
You saw the whole of the moon"
--The Waterboys, "The Whole of the Moon"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsNTmjlf1vI
Christopher
These articles are sad beyond belief, but the situation is what it is. I hope Christopher is at peace and his family will be helped with their loss by the good memories they have of a tremendously talented and unforgettable man. I have new respect for John Baldwin for standing by him as long as he did and for not publicly discussing the identity theft situation. Frank Carroll is a wonderful man who has had some crushing blows to deal with throughout his career coaching skaters. He always maintains his dignity and compassion for people. My admiration for him is profound.
These articles are sad beyond belief, but the situation is what it is. I hope Christopher is at peace and his family will be helped with their loss by the good memories they have of a tremendously talented and unforgettable man. I have new respect for John Baldwin for standing by him as long as he did and for not publicly discussing the identity theft situation. Frank Carroll is a wonderful man who has had some crushing blows to deal with throughout his career coaching skaters. He always maintains his dignity and compassion for people. My admiration for him is profound.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2006
I am already planning to transfer all of Chris's performances that I have on tape to DVD for a compilation - the first and probably the only male skater I will have on that kind of disc. I have only made DVDs on female skaters up to now - Dorothy Hamill, Tara Lipinski, Jill Trenary, etc. - strictly for my own enjoyment.
Those of you who aren't old enough to have seen and/or taped Chris's performances should go to youtube and key in his name and watch and enjoy. You will be amazed, astounded, and entertained - I guarantee it!
Those of you who aren't old enough to have seen and/or taped Chris's performances should go to youtube and key in his name and watch and enjoy. You will be amazed, astounded, and entertained - I guarantee it!
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