For those who read russian, one of the only Russian journalists to say it like it is:
http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/bladerunner/577190.html?ext=slon
http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/bladerunner/577190.html?ext=slon
Reactions and criticism of judging by Network commentators - NBC, CBC, BBC, etc
- Thread starter sowcow
- Start date
With all due respect, drivingmissdaisy, I think you're wrong.
While there are people who believe Sotnikova's win was legitimate, most believe the point spread was fixed, big-time, in her favor.
And many, many more people think Sotnikova's win was no such thing, including me.
Now, had they given her the proper wrong-edge deduction on her triple Lutz and called the couple-three underrotations properly, _and_ had they given the skating skills edge to both Kostner and Kim by the margins they usually had, and with all that if Sotnikova had won by a hair, I'd not complain.
But they didn't do that. They said the Lutz was a legitimate jump on the right edge -- if I can tell that, a non-skater who watches skating every year as much as I can, shouldn't the judges be able to tell that? (Of course they should.) They didn't call the underrotations as they should. And they certainly didn't count the step-out and the clear two-foot landing on the second and third jump of the three-jump combo in the double jumps. (The triple looked fine to me, but both doubles were off.)
There also was a very slight two-foot landing earlier in the program that wasn't called.
Again, had all of these things been properly notated -- even if the slight two-foot wasn't called (as most people don't seem to have seen that), providing the other things were all notated properly (the wrong-edge deduction, the second and third jumps of the three-jump combo being off, etc.) -- I'd not be writing this message, not signed the petition, not be angry on Yuna Kim and Carolina Kostner's behalf.
While there are people who believe Sotnikova's win was legitimate, most believe the point spread was fixed, big-time, in her favor.
And many, many more people think Sotnikova's win was no such thing, including me.
Now, had they given her the proper wrong-edge deduction on her triple Lutz and called the couple-three underrotations properly, _and_ had they given the skating skills edge to both Kostner and Kim by the margins they usually had, and with all that if Sotnikova had won by a hair, I'd not complain.
But they didn't do that. They said the Lutz was a legitimate jump on the right edge -- if I can tell that, a non-skater who watches skating every year as much as I can, shouldn't the judges be able to tell that? (Of course they should.) They didn't call the underrotations as they should. And they certainly didn't count the step-out and the clear two-foot landing on the second and third jump of the three-jump combo in the double jumps. (The triple looked fine to me, but both doubles were off.)
There also was a very slight two-foot landing earlier in the program that wasn't called.
Again, had all of these things been properly notated -- even if the slight two-foot wasn't called (as most people don't seem to have seen that), providing the other things were all notated properly (the wrong-edge deduction, the second and third jumps of the three-jump combo being off, etc.) -- I'd not be writing this message, not signed the petition, not be angry on Yuna Kim and Carolina Kostner's behalf.
This amused me.
Kostner's never been about the jumps, so for her, it's kind of like with Alissa Csizny -- if they stay on their feet during the jumps, everything else is absolutely beautiful. So not falling often is the end in and of itself because both of these ladies do everything else so well.
I certainly agree with you, though, that Kostner's jumps, if that's all she had, would never an Olympic medalist make. (Fortunately, it's not all she has. She's the rare skater who's not only improved in her twenties, but has improved greatly.)
Edited to add: I agree with Sonia Bianchetti Garbato's assessment of Kostner's jumps. The jumps Ms. Kostner does always look beautiful and are well-performed.
I was still amused by what you said, though, because I do remember past competitions where Ms. Kostner seemed to wear the weight of the world on her shoulders (as in 2006, in her home country at Turin).
Johnny weir and I think Tara both said adelina "created the moment", I know where they got the phrase from! NBC has commercials during the olympics saying NBC "creates the moment" Too funny, two parrots.
I also have to say, Tara is so into herself. I compare her to Apolo Ohno's commentary. Terry Gannon will often talk about Tara's olympic win and Tara always giggles and it is so clear she thinks so much of herself. When Terry comments with Apolo, Terry has commented on how Apolo is the most decorated olympic short skater. Apolo doesn't giggle or really respond at all. Apolo is very humble. Tara could take lessons.
I also have to say, Tara is so into herself. I compare her to Apolo Ohno's commentary. Terry Gannon will often talk about Tara's olympic win and Tara always giggles and it is so clear she thinks so much of herself. When Terry comments with Apolo, Terry has commented on how Apolo is the most decorated olympic short skater. Apolo doesn't giggle or really respond at all. Apolo is very humble. Tara could take lessons.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2010
Apolo also knows Victor Ahn is better than him, even though both have 8 Olympic Golds. He never disagrees in the slightest when Terry repeatedly calls Ahn the greatest ever right beside him. I agree he is humble and a class act despite being one of the best ever in his sport (which Tara is not).
Tara is indeed full of herself. She needs to be reminded the U.S had nearly forgotten she existed before her commentary stint. In U.S legacy and recognition she is no Albright, Heiss, Hamill, Lynn, Fleming, Kwan. Even Cohen with no major titles is far more famous and many ways revered in the sport than her.
Tara is indeed full of herself. She needs to be reminded the U.S had nearly forgotten she existed before her commentary stint. In U.S legacy and recognition she is no Albright, Heiss, Hamill, Lynn, Fleming, Kwan. Even Cohen with no major titles is far more famous and many ways revered in the sport than her.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2010
Exactly. They did everything possible to all but scream out to everyone the event and result was obviously fixed beforehand. Including bringing Balkov and Shekhovtseva just for the event, adding a technical caller from Russia, and about 5 other ex Soviet satelite judges on the side. Nothing could be more obvious to that. People arent stupid as much as Putin, Mother Russia, and the ISU seem to have convinced themselves they are.
They both have 8 medals, Ahn has 6 golds, Apollo far less golds. Partly thanks to Ahn.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2007
They're such sell-outs! Btw Johnny Weir looks more and more like Schemer from Shining Town Station who won a lottery and a mascara at the same time.
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2009
Oh, yeah. That's another added item to fuel the Russia vs. Korea drama, and just another reason to believe that all of the Russian skaters are doomed to lose at Pyeonchang Olympics. Hopefully some of them will be strong enough to rise above federation politics and skate for themselves.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2007
That could very well be. They tend to retro-fit their commentary to the results, once they know the results. What did they say live?
I don't remember exactly.. but it seems like in the replay they were kinda underminding Yuna's performance especially Tara, like trying to make it seem like adelina definitely deserved to win. Where as during the live broadcast, it wasn't as bad. It just seemed weird to me.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2010
I dont know the whole story but he was in fact injured much of 2009 and 2010. He had been suspended for awhile in 2008 for treating a head coach poorly which was a big no no for any of the Asian teams. I did read he placed only 7th overall at his own Nationals in 2010 though, and that was after barely skating the 18 months prior due to injury. If that is really the case they were correct to leave him off the team. He is a legend but it seems he did nothing to warrant a spot on the team at that years Olympics.
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2012
There was talk about the Americans poaching him as a skater or a just a coach but the Russians got to him first.
I watched it live and watched the replay later with a friend and I couldn't tell any difference. I remember them saying straight away after Yuna's skate that she was wonderful, but a little stiff and cautious. We often react differently when we see or hear something again later, as we may in the meantime have been influenced by media, our emotions, etc.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2010
Wall Street Journal:
Ode to Yuna Kim
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014...yuna-kim-unceremonious-silver-olympic-poetry/
Ode to Yuna Kim
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014...yuna-kim-unceremonious-silver-olympic-poetry/
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2008
Fitting for Yuna. She has nothing more to prove and her legacy will be measure by more than not getting 2 OGM. (in my heart she is 2 x OGM.) Yuna will be remember for her grace on and off ice like Michelle.
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