Patrick Chan feeling unappreciated in Canada

[Bluebonnet]

Yes, Reuters hates Chan. They like 6.0 skating If they wanted to sabotage him, why not sit on the comments until Worlds? That would have had much greater impact.

Do you think keeping an interview in the dark for over an half a year before releasing it would be marginally reasonable?!

I think to keep it for three months until GPF is the best this reporter could do in order to receive the maximum impact he wanted before exposing himself fully under the sunlight for scrutiny about his own integrity.

But to me, it's all the same.

ETA:

I don't think the reporter wanted to sabotage Chan or anyone. The reporter was caring only about the impact of his report. He's drilled out some juiciness in this interview from ever honest and unguarded Patrick. He wanted to get the maximum, if possible, explosive reaction on his report.

 

[veravina]

Why all the hate for Patrick Chan? The flip side of that question is why is he so important that people feel the need to be hyper critical? The only people who should be even remotely offended are Canadians - and hopefully most fs fans will take the comments in context. The suggestion that the lack of recognition in Canada is because of racism is just laughable - yes there are racist people here but they generally aren't FS fans Patrick is not my favourite skater yet, but I appreciate his genius and enjoy watching his progress; I recognize that he's very open when he talks but he's not outspoken. It isn't that Patrick isn't popular, it's that FS isn't! And blame that on judging scandals. IMO it will take a generation before it recovers here.

 

[let`s talk]

If not, what'd Chan bashers gonna bash? Right?

His way of landing jumps on the butt multiple times and get a gold medal for that. But let's talk about it on the skating thread. Here is more fun around.

 

[Bluebonnet]

Skate Canada CEO William Thompson's Statement on the Chan Coverage:

http://www.skatebuzz.com/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?id=1962aa56-b24f-480d-947b-04a57a481df4

After considerable research about the development and content of the material in the Globe, we discovered there were many inaccuracies in the piece, including quotes attributed to Patrick which he never said. It was formulated in such a way as to create controversy, where absolutely none existed.

To repeat, we are proud of Patrick. He represents our country well. We stand behind him and we hope all Canadians will do the same.

We have demanded a correction and an apology from the Globe and Mail.

 

[IndieBoi]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/artic...ded-a-canadian-for-life#.TuIRnwNuOn0.facebook

I really like this kid... he's just violantly honest! He does need to learn to massage his communications with the press though, given his public visibility, but I think his remarks came from a good place.

And it's not like he's walking around wearing the Chinese federation jacket to provoke things...

 

[brightphoton]

Awww, all's well that ends well.

Okay, so he has the education of a 5th grader. So what? He's skating all day so it's not like he has time to read or anything. He's still our loveable Patrick.

 

[Bluebonnet]

http://www.skatebuzz.com/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?id=4e55187d-4c2d-4b14-a75f-0eea0dd9a636

“I try not to (dwell on the negativity), because I get upset, I get sad. I’m the type of person who likes to please everybody and when I can’t, it’s a bit of a downer. But I can’t do anything about it – that’s opinions. I just hope I can gain their trust again.”

Poor Patrick!

Yes, the maple leaf. Chan’s flag.

And Chan hopes he isn’t done just yet.

“That’s what it is all about,” he said. “It’s why I am doing this, to lift that flag and be that excited again. “

Wish you to lift that maple leaf flag again this weekend!

 

[Buttercup]

http://www.skatebuzz.com/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?id=4e55187d-4c2d-4b14-a75f-0eea0dd9a636

Poor Patrick!

Some sense of perspective wouldn't go amiss, especially considering what has happened to one of the other GPF competitors.

 

[Bluebonnet]

^^^What did I say wrong?!!!!!! I've gone to Mao's thread and posted. I do feel very very very sad about her and her mother. Nothing could replace her for Mao. Do I have to post about it here in Patrick's thread so I could prove it to you that I'm truly, not unsincere?!:sheesh:

 

[Buttercup]

^^^What did I say wrong?!!!!!! I've gone to Mao's thread and posted. I do feel very very very sad about her and her mother. Nothing could replace her for Mao. Do I have to post about it here in Patrick's thread so I could prove it to you that I'm truly, not unsincere?!:sheesh:

I meant that maybe it's better to save the sympathy and the "poor (insert name here)" for someone with real problems. Some skaters have faced more hardship than getting called out for making comments.

 

[Violet Bliss]

It is such a contrast between Patrick Chan and the Reuters editor.

Chan is a guileless straight from the heart young man, speaking about his feelings at a particular emotional time, feelings that should be completely private, releasing to only a few closest to him. Carelessly he was caught at the moment and babbled to, of all people, a reporter, just because s/he asked.

The reporter, or the boss editor, is a professional agitator, always looking out for controversies or opportunities to create one, and had the good fortunate to be the recipient of an unguarded stream of consciousness spoken out loud. That was not good enough though for the calculating shark. S/he had the patience to wait for the most opportune time to release the "report" for optimal effect to stir up the maximum negative reactions against the fine young super achiever with an open heart.

Patrick has learned a lesson. Still, I hope not too much. The world could use more Patrick Chans and fewer, nah, without those who can't make a positve difference so they shoot at those who do.

 

[Violet Bliss]

I meant that maybe it's better to save the sympathy and the "poor (insert name here)" for someone with real problems. Some skaters have faced more hardship than getting called out for making comments.

Sympathy, like love, is not a limited commodity that needs to be rationed.

 

[Bluebonnet]

I meant that maybe it's better to save the sympathy and the "poor (insert name here)" for someone with real problems. Some skaters have faced more hardship than getting called out for making comments.

This is a bit ridiculous, don't you think?!:disapp: I mean to be forced to compare Mao and her family's loss to Patrick's misery at the time.

 

[Jaana]

I wonder why Chan spoke the way he did, to get more attention, perhaps? To me it seems very unlikely that he would change his country in this point, with only about two years until the Olympics.

 

[jettasian]

Lessons learnt these few days for Patrick Chan:

- during interview, tell lies, tell what people like to hear
- whatever you have in your mind, don't say it even though it's how you feel
- never tell the truth, don't be honest
- never be a politician cause that means you'll have to tell lies and fake stories

Yup, that's what our society has become. We all love fakeness.

 

[jettasian]

I wonder why Chan spoke the way he did, to get more attention, perhaps? To me it seems very unlikely that he would change his country in this point, with only about two years until the Olympics.

How about someone likes to speak what is in his mind, even though the outcome's not what people like to hear?

 

[Spun Silver]

Lessons learnt these few days for Patrick Chan:

- during interview, tell lies, tell what people like to hear
- whatever you have in your mind, don't say it even though it's how you feel
- never tell the truth, don't be honest
- never be a politician cause that means you'll have to tell lies and fake stories

Yup, that's what our society has become. We all love fakeness.

No need to be so melodramatic about it. Patrick is one person - the media are many and are everywhere. Whatever he says will be repeated, magnified, distorted, etc. to get attention. Therefore it's in his own best interest to improve his PR skills or speak through an agent, for his own self-protection. Lying is one way, but there are also more diplomatic ways to make his points if he gives it some thought instead of shooting from the hip. That casualness works in a private conversation - not in the public eye.

As for your remark on politicians... duh... but irrelevant.

 

[Mathman]

I think the Canadian Skating Federation is taking the wrong tack, issuing explanations, demanding apologies, etc.

All they had to say is, "Well, that's Patrick, gotta love the guy!" and go on with business as usual.

 

[Tonichelle]

I wonder why Chan spoke the way he did, to get more attention, perhaps? To me it seems very unlikely that he would change his country in this point, with only about two years until the Olympics.

he spoke it five months(?) ago. It's not like this was a new interview. It was less tactful and easily manipulated, but he didn't mean as much as what people are putting into it. He's just saying he felt connected to his Chinese roots... that being said, he was uneducated (or says as much) about what life would really be like. He has a Disney-esque world view... grass is always greener...

 

[Violet Bliss]

I think the Canadian Skating Federation is taking the wrong tack, issuing explanations, demanding apologies, etc.

All they had to say is, "Well, that's Patrick, gotta love the guy!" and go on with business as usual.

The Federation knows him well, as do most people in skating, so yes for them it's "Well, that's Patrick, gotta love the guy!" But they need to do damage control for the public as Patrick is still the poster boy for Canadian figure skating. The public always acts as a herd. They are on the lookout for any opportunity to bash someone, without regard to the credibility of the information and the media are too happy to oblige, without regard for accuracy either. It is therefore important to clarify misinformation as well as to show that Patrick does have support and influencial people who understand and love him.

I usually hate reading public comments online and only occassionally take in a small dose, which is always enough for me to despair at people's ignorance and proclivity to judge and hate, on any subject. I finally took in a very small dose on Chan's news last night, and the feelings were even worse when such ignorant bashing was spewed at someone I cared about. Ironically, they validate some of Patrick's laments about the public's cluelessness and dismissal of the sport.

Patrick shouldn't have read Youtube comments and certainly not the latest news comments about him. I'm glad he's taking the road of focusing on his on ice performance. May he wear the Canadian flag proudly in the victory lap.

eta. I think it's the right way that Patrick issued a simple sincere statement with integrity and went on with his business and left the damage control to the others.