Irina Retiring... (?)

[Grgranny]

It may be double standard but it's human. No two people are alike. I know when my temper goes up that I really want to get revenge. It's just the thing of the moment and if you submit to it, you are really sorry for it later. I don't remember that I have done so, probably have. I guess there's something good about not having a remember.

 

[FreeKatie]

It may be double standard but it's human.

Well the next time an American skater has a temper tantrum I fully expect everyone defending Irina to be as understanding. Sadly instead they more likely will say "oh she or he is so phony in interviews but this is the real person..." but with Irina its "Oh, she's human and that was private, but in interviews she is gracious" Fair is fair. Kimmie gets criticized for not looking happy enough sitting in the stands, Sasha called snotty and phony.. but Irina is human... whatever!

 

[Mafke]

Well the next time an American skater has a temper tantrum I fully expect everyone defending Irina to be as understanding. Sadly instead they more likely will say "oh she or he is so phony in interviews but this is the real person..." but with Irina its "Oh, she's human and that was private, but in interviews she is gracious" Fair is fair. Kimmie gets criticized for not looking happy enough sitting in the stands, Sasha called snotty and phony.. but Irina is human... whatever!

To me this has nothing to do with nationality and everything to do with privacy. Slutskaya conducted herself completely appropriately in public (and I'm sure it wasn't easy). If she wants to vent and get some of the momentary frustration out of her system in private (which is what backstage in the locker area should be) then fine, I can't imagine any rational person objecting. This ridiculous non-event is not newsworthy and should never have been reported in the first place.

The Meissner example is also a ridiculous non-event and I think people who want to micro-manage skaters' reactions to anything and everything need to seriously find something else to do.

 

[antmanb]

Irina has been competing on the World senior level for over 10 years. In that time, I would have thought she would have learned how to handle the disappointment of losing. No one wins all the time; everyone needs to be prepared for the possibility of losing. Yet it seems like emotionally, Irina hadn't prepared herself for this at all. I could understand her crying in disappointment--that's happened to many skaters and athletes. But to go so far as to throw her Olympic medal in the trash? That's very immature.

Well i don't begrudge her anything. I'm 27 years old (i think around Irina's age) and am a fairly intelligent self aware person who can rationalise most things out. I'm also an extremely emotional person who wears his heart on his sleeve and there is nothing in my rational mind that can ever overrule my emotions, if i'm happy everyone knows it and if i'm sad about something there's no hiding it from anyone. Sometimes i say or do things i later regret because of the emotional state i was in and, try as i might, i can't see sense when i'm that emotional. I have no doubt that not skating up to her potential will have been a huge defeat for her and, like me, when you can only blame yourself for something that has caused you that much upset your emotions take over and there's nothing your rational mind can do to bring you back round, you have to sit tight til the hurt is gone putting in as much damage limitation as possible. What's almost certain during that emotional time is that you'll say or do things that aren't true or that you disagree with later. I'm sure if the story is true (and that's a big "if") Irina regrets it already and would now be focussin on the joy of having two olympic medals - something that is not easy task to achieve.

Ant

 

[Mathman]

One of my favorite Michelle quotes was one time they asked her if she watches the other skaters' performances backstage on the monitor.

She said, "no, because I don't want to get caught by the camera shouting, 'fall, fall!'"

 

[antmanb]

I miss the cold war. In the good old days we could send out our gallant Olympians to fight for Truth, Justice and the American Way. Now -- meh.

MM

 

[antmanb]

That is called a Double Standard.:disapp:

What's the double standard? Why does everything have to turn into some three way comparison between Irina, Michelle and Sasha?

No-one knows how anyone would react to Michelle or Sasha throwing a medal in the bin....why? Because it NEVER HAPPENED. Any speculative posts about what people might post about this hypothetical situation are just an absurd way to try to knock the fans of another skater.

I say this (as many people will know) as an ardent Kwan fan. I happen to also be an ardent Slutskaya fan, and totally indifferent to Cohen's skating.

Ultimately i can sympathise and empathise a little with them (not about not winning a gold medal but about not getting something i really wanted and worked really hard to get.).

My defence of Irina would apply equally to all three skaters beacuse that would be my opinion about anyone doing something like that in private. Now doing something like that in public might be a different matter (cough:suryabonaly:cough)!

Ant

 

[antmanb]

To me this has nothing to do with nationality and everything to do with privacy. Slutskaya conducted herself completely appropriately in public (and I'm sure it wasn't easy). If she wants to vent and get some of the momentary frustration out of her system in private (which is what backstage in the locker area should be) then fine, I can't imagine any rational person objecting. This ridiculous non-event is not newsworthy and should never have been reported in the first place.

The Meissner example is also a ridiculous non-event and I think people who want to micro-manage skaters' reactions to anything and everything need to seriously find something else to do.

Hear hear - i couldn't agree with you more - the posts about Kimmie's facial expression were just sooooooo stupid i can't believe anyone even thought to comment on it.

Ant

 

[antmanb]

Well the next time an American skater has a temper tantrum I fully expect everyone defending Irina to be as understanding. Sadly instead they more likely will say "oh she or he is so phony in interviews but this is the real person..." but with Irina its "Oh, she's human and that was private, but in interviews she is gracious" Fair is fair. Kimmie gets criticized for not looking happy enough sitting in the stands, Sasha called snotty and phony.. but Irina is human... whatever!

Yeah cos this message board is sooooooo well known for being pro Russian and anti American!!!!!!!



Ant

 

[Ptichka]

Well the next time an American skater has a temper tantrum I fully expect everyone defending Irina to be as understanding. Sadly instead they more likely will say "oh she or he is so phony in interviews but this is the real person..." but with Irina its "Oh, she's human and that was private, but in interviews she is gracious" Fair is fair. Kimmie gets criticized for not looking happy enough sitting in the stands, Sasha called snotty and phony.. but Irina is human... whatever!

I think anyone criticisin Kimmie for her facial expressions is being even more ridiculous than those criticizin Irina for her private reactions. Hey! Why don't we just put cameras in each skater's bedroom to see what they are really like when not on public display!

 

[Linny]

Making T/M look bad?

Slightly OT, but someone mentioned the media making T/M look bad... actually, methinks Tatiana made Tatiana look bad.
Linny

 

[#1Kerryfan]

She probably will sometime soon. I love her skating, but it's about to end.

 

[mzheng]

I haven't heard anyone condemn Irina (or anyone else) for crying on the podium. She is being criticized (by some) for throwing the medal away. IMO, she threw her "tantrum" when she thought she was in private -- skaters should feel free to handle disappointment in any (lawful) manner they see fit when they are alone. John Z had no business printing the story.

IMO, it's that simple, if you don't want ppl report it then don't do it. private or public.....Frankly I doubt she cared that much (like some of her fans) of what other ppl thought of her on this behaviours, otherwise she won't do it. Or maybe in her upbring this behaviour is nothing wrong about.

It is amused me to no end. Irina threw a "tantrum", John Z reported it, this became John Z's fault? He was doing his job reporting what he verified(by 2nd credible source) info.

And IMO, this is not "private" as some ppl made it like, locker room at side of Olympic rink is not pravte. I just couldn't believe she did it. If nothing else it was just so "childish" and "imature". I could comprehend if this "tantrum" was threw by a teenage or pre teen, or in her own home familyroom. But by a grownup 27 lady? The least you could say is lack of good manner.

 

[mzheng]

well, not everyone handles stress or disappointment the same way. We are not all machines.

That's true. That's why when we see a one who could handle stress and/or dissappointment with class and grace we admire the one. And the majority society praise the one.

But perhaps in her upbring or the society she comes from does not consider this was anything bad, given the stress she was under, maybe ppl could understand. But John Z. was from US, here we certainly hold a different standard of sportsmenship. IMO, he shouldn't be blamed for reporting it.

 

[mzheng]

To me this has nothing to do with nationality and everything to do with privacy. Slutskaya conducted herself completely appropriately in public (and I'm sure it wasn't easy).

Agree

If she wants to vent and get some of the momentary frustration out of her system in private (which is what backstage in the locker area should be) then fine, I can't imagine any rational person objecting. This ridiculous non-event is not newsworthy and should never have been reported in the first place.
.

Well, imo backstage in the locker area is not pravit, by competing in international scene over a decada, she should know better. Journalists could have official passes into lockers (I read in Christ Brenan's book, that she had visited the skaters lockers in countless competetions), and morever the lockers are shared among the skaters.....If this happened in her family room or kitchen, I think John Z. has not bussiness to report it. Not there in Olympics locker room.

 

[Excidra2001]

Well it sucks that Irina is retiring, I knew it was coming though. But what I don't understand is this thread. How did it go from Irina is retiring to the evil person Irina is?
I don't know why people can not resepct how other people handle disappointment. Its like as if the world should act like their X favorite skater. So she is fake, okay, move on.

 

[Piel]

A reporter's job is to report what happens, not just what is favorable. It's OK to report that someone acted grateful and charming, then it's OK to report if they throw a hissy fit. Everyone knows that what happens back stage and in locker rooms is still part of the "story" of a competition....at least in real sports. If you want FS considered a real sport then you have to be willing for it's participants to be treated like real athletes and not Miss Sally's School of Dance. This was the Olympics, not a grade school recital. I think these skaters are not as fragile as some of you guys make them out to be.

 

[cutiepatutie]

To me this has nothing to do with nationality and everything to do with privacy. Slutskaya conducted herself completely appropriately in public (and I'm sure it wasn't easy). If she wants to vent and get some of the momentary frustration out of her system in private (which is what backstage in the locker area should be) then fine, I can't imagine any rational person objecting. This ridiculous non-event is not newsworthy and should never have been reported in the first place.

The Meissner example is also a ridiculous non-event and I think people who want to micro-manage skaters' reactions to anything and everything need to seriously find something else to do.

Excuse me here you are saying for a team of 7-8 year old boys after not winning what they call a Supper Bowl game to go into the locker room and throw a fit that it is ok because it was done in private?? Come on where is the good sportmanship? That is what sports are all about. She is not a kid and she behaved very badly she always has...This is from a very rational older person.

 

[R.D.]

One of my favorite Michelle quotes was one time they asked her if she watches the other skaters' performances backstage on the monitor.

She said, "no, because I don't want to get caught by the camera shouting, 'fall, fall!'"

And where's the fallout from this comment? You see, I refuse to believe that figure skaters are all nice princesses. see those looks on their faces before a competition? If looks could kill...

If someone else said that, they'd be crucified. But Kwan? It's OK, we can laugh it off. She's not REALLY like that, anyway :sheesh: yeah, whatever...

No-one knows how anyone would react to Michelle or Sasha throwing a medal in the bin....why? Because it NEVER HAPPENED.

And just HOW do we know this? If Zimmerman hadn't said anything, we'd be saying that Irina never throws any medal in the trash, either.

Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, but I can't stand it when people are patronized. Usually it's MK, but I see this happening more and more with Sasha now. Everyone is human and has their bad days.

 

[Mafke]

Excuse me here you are saying for a team of 7-8 year old boys after not winning what they call a Supper Bowl game to go into the locker room and throw a fit that it is ok because it was done in private?? Come on where is the good sportmanship?

IMHO an athlete is required to be a good sport in public. Throwing a fit in private does not invalidate a competitors good sportsmanship. No human can control their feelings, just their behavior (for a while).
But, the nerves and disappointment after a major loss need to be let out of the system. Holding it in doesn't do anybody any favors and is a prescription for a heart attack down the line.
I'm sure that Slutskaya ranted a little yelled and threw things, I probably would in that case too. And, I bet once she got it out of her system, she got over it a lot more rapidly than she would have had she tried to stifle her emotions to the level expected by some posters here.