- Joined
- Jun 18, 2011
This subject has probably been written about numerous times, and please excuse me for bringing it up again. I was viewing one of my videotapes and again watched the coverage from the 1980 Winter Olympics, held in Lake Placid, New York.
Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner came to the Olympics as the reigning US and World champions. They had won the World title in 1979 (after finished third in 1977 and 1978), in part due to the absence of Rodnina and Zeitzev, the longtime Soviet World pairs champions who did not compete in the 1979 season due to the birth of their first child.
Tai and Randy were the heavy sentimental favorites. I remember well watching the competition on LIVE television, which showed the short program warm-up. Dick Button and Jim McKay were commenting as they and several other pairs practiced some jumps, spins, and footwork. They attempted a throw double axel, and Tai hit the ice. It appeared that Randy did not lift her high enough to propel her into her rotations. They regrouped and again, had a disastrous through double axel attempt. Button and McKay expressed concern and wondered if anything was wrong - were they injured? They skated to the boards, conferred with their coach, John Nicks, and then Randy skated out alone and attempted a double lutz. He crashed on the ice, and everyone in the arena moaned. Clearly, something was terribly wrong. Button said, "My heart is in my throat", and McKay responded, "I can hear it." Shortly thereafter, the announcement was made that Tai and Randy had withdrawn. Button very eloquently said (sic), "I don't feel sorry because they're Americans. I feel sorry because they have trained so hard and so long for this moment, and now when they finally had the opportunity to show the world what they can do, this happens."
The reaction to the withdraw was immediate. President Jimmy Carter called Tai and Randy to express his sympathy and concern. Tai and Randy were flooded with telegrams of good wishes and concern. I called Western Union and sent Tai and Randy a telegram, and the operator told me she had sent "many" telegrams to them.
Tai and Randy were such a fabulous pairs team. They were about the same height, and Randy had the strength to lift Tai, throw her, all with ease.
I saw them at Ice Capades several times in the early 1980s. The first number they skated was the short program they would have skated at Lake Placid, had Randy not been injured. It was great! The audience responded with long, standing ovation.
Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner came to the Olympics as the reigning US and World champions. They had won the World title in 1979 (after finished third in 1977 and 1978), in part due to the absence of Rodnina and Zeitzev, the longtime Soviet World pairs champions who did not compete in the 1979 season due to the birth of their first child.
Tai and Randy were the heavy sentimental favorites. I remember well watching the competition on LIVE television, which showed the short program warm-up. Dick Button and Jim McKay were commenting as they and several other pairs practiced some jumps, spins, and footwork. They attempted a throw double axel, and Tai hit the ice. It appeared that Randy did not lift her high enough to propel her into her rotations. They regrouped and again, had a disastrous through double axel attempt. Button and McKay expressed concern and wondered if anything was wrong - were they injured? They skated to the boards, conferred with their coach, John Nicks, and then Randy skated out alone and attempted a double lutz. He crashed on the ice, and everyone in the arena moaned. Clearly, something was terribly wrong. Button said, "My heart is in my throat", and McKay responded, "I can hear it." Shortly thereafter, the announcement was made that Tai and Randy had withdrawn. Button very eloquently said (sic), "I don't feel sorry because they're Americans. I feel sorry because they have trained so hard and so long for this moment, and now when they finally had the opportunity to show the world what they can do, this happens."
The reaction to the withdraw was immediate. President Jimmy Carter called Tai and Randy to express his sympathy and concern. Tai and Randy were flooded with telegrams of good wishes and concern. I called Western Union and sent Tai and Randy a telegram, and the operator told me she had sent "many" telegrams to them.
Tai and Randy were such a fabulous pairs team. They were about the same height, and Randy had the strength to lift Tai, throw her, all with ease.
I saw them at Ice Capades several times in the early 1980s. The first number they skated was the short program they would have skated at Lake Placid, had Randy not been injured. It was great! The audience responded with long, standing ovation.