A Medal for the Japanese
I was glad to see Shizuka Arakawa [Skating Summary] win the Figure Skating gold medal last night. Japan needed one.
See, several days ago a Japanese television crew focused their camera on me for some inexplicable reason. The interviewer immediately tried to establish if medals were important to me and my country.
Me? Medals, nah. My countrymen, however, seem inclined to treat the horde of medals the USA was supposed to accumulate as already-won-and-stored-in-the-vault sacred treasures, signs that a power greater than all of us had declared and rewarded our inherent superiority, at least as far as doing loops on a chunk of bent board gliding over the icy surfaces of something called a "half-pipe" is concerned.
"So, how many medals do you think Japan has won?"
Ok, I was stumped. I thought maybe three, but I said "seven" just to make her and her audience feel good.
Giddy laughter ensued, mouths covered discreetly.
"None," the interviewer informed me, "what do you think of that?"
I was speechless. What do you say? Can you make a joke? "Japan should practice more if it wants to be up there with the big boys like the USA and Germany..."
I'm glad Shizuka grabbed the gold. No more embarasing questions. Now Japan is as great a power in Winter Olympics as Britain.
Kidding aside, Sasha Cohen, after missing her first two jumps and putting on a great recovery to finish her program, said of winning the silver, "For me it is just a medal, the experience is the process and I'm enjoying it."
She hit the nail on the head: It's the process, the Olympic spectacle as a whole that is compelling. It's not just an athletic competition or Cohen's four minutes on the ice; it is the story of our potential, our passion, our infinite capacity to amaze and disappoint.
Comments
I would like to say (in my opinion) what a terrible job NBC did on the coverage of the 2006 Olympic games. I believe they deliberately milked the showing of the events for profit, by showing the most anticipated events and athlets last, and late into the night. I know the viewing here in the U.S. was shown from tape, and could have been coordinated a LOT better to show some of these events in a more reasonable hour. By doing so, I believe NBC deprived the most important viewers …. the kids, who are the future olympians from viewing.
While I’m glad Japan finally won a medal I thought Shizuka Arakawa looked rather like a duck among swans as far as her routine went. There was nothing particularly graceful or inventive about it. I’m disappointed that more points weren’t given to Yelena Sokolova who had a fantastically entertaining routine with lots of energy and uniquely exciting moves. She was the most fun to watch.
One more point: If anyone doubts the difficulty of biathlon they should try to crosscountry ski 7.5 km the last part of which is up a steep hill then try to steady your breathing enough to shoot a silver dollar sized target at 50 meters. We’ll see whose out of shape? Biathlon is by far the best test of physical conditioning in the Winter Olympics. I wish NBC would aire it at a time when most Americans are awake.
I’m glad for Suzuka, but it was terribly painful to see how Irina Slutskaya (who got the bronze) got unfairly judged by the judges. She was much better than Sasha and deserved at least silver.
I normally don’t contribute to blogs - but I feel compelled to say something about the absolutely horrible skating commentary done by the NBC trio. Scott Hamilton was the only helpful and enjoyable one. It seemed a Herculean effort for him not to be dragged down to the low level of the other two curmudgeons. Sandra and Dick were rude and downright mean at times. Hugely unnecessary comments about a skater’s lack of ability or even their personal appearance – were so useless that it was astounding really. It was like being trapped listening to two 6th grade class bullies. I can’t help but think of how discouraging it would be to a child watching with Olympic dreams. Poor form for NBC to allow it, and embarrassing that former champions behaved that way on national TV. Let’s not forget it’s the Olympics and each one is an Olympic athlete - metals or no. I kept wishing there was a way I could turn the comments off and just hear the music being skated to!
I wonder what Mr Martin thinks when he reads our posts…no matter what he writes about all we can say is “dick button sucks!!!”
lol
I am so disappointed in the negativity and critisim by Dick Buttons during the Womens figure skting. Commentators have a responsiblity to the skater as well s the public. Dick Buttons went over the top at times. I sensed a few times Scott Hamilton had to make a quick recovery about an unnecessary mean remark by Buttons. At times he sounded like an old queen.
OK, I admit it, I am guilty of the unforgivable sin of rooting for a Russian - Irina Slutskaya - over an American - Sasha Cohen - who I distain. In the end, the winner was, however, exactly who I predicted it would be, Shizuka Arakawa who turned in an magificently graceful and perfect performance over the so-called favorites. For the past four or five years I have barely been able to stomach the U.S. skating experts, most notably Dick Button and Peggy Flemming trying in vain to annoint Cohen as the second coming of the great Michelle Kwan. The simple fact is that Cohen, although beautifully graceful and talented, does not have the HEART to be a champion. (Does anyone expect that she loves the sport enough to hold onto the dream for another four years like Kwan did?) On and off the ice she has conducted herself like the stereotypical ugly American. Hopefully we can now put her to rest. The fact is that this year’s Olympic games did not have the magic of past games with the absence of Michelle Kwan - without question the greatest, most-talented, beloved, and classiest skater in the history of the sport. If a healthy Kwan had been able to compete, the outcome of these Olympics would have in all probability been different. Still, it was nice to see another “class act” win the gold.
Thank you Arakawa for a truly Golden Moment.
And thank you Michelle for a lifetime of memories packed into 10 or 12 all too brief years. There will never be another like you!
PS: Don’t forget that the BEST skater in Japan was not allowed to make the trip to Torin because she was too young!
Please keep Brian Williams out of the Olympic closing events. He is unable to stop the ranting and raving about the political landscape of the World at a time that should be devoted toward the competition and participants. Just for once NBC, leave your liberal slant off the air and don’t ruin the closing of the games.
I’m actually amazed that was the only medal of any kind Japan has won so far this Olympics, they usually do very well in things like ski jumping and some other events, so they must be ecstatic and disappointed at the same time.
I’m by no means a fan of the over-emphasis placed on the women’s skating, and by no means an expert, but, despite listening to the 2 idiots in the booth, from what I could see, Kimmie Meisner will be the one to beat in 4 years. She’s only 16, and she seemed to have the combination of grace and athleticism, just not enough experience or exposure, but, from what I saw last night, she’ll be the one who will mature and develop into a champion. Sasha Cohen will be in the booth with Red Buttons, ooops
I mean, everyone’s favorite whipping boy, Dick Button.
And T., unless NBC plans on whisking him back to Turin over the weekend, Brian Williams has been, thankfully, back at the office in NY all week.
Maybe we’ll get to enjoy the ultimate bubble head, Katie Couric, yuck it up all night Sunday with Costas. Oh Joy!
If you ask me, the reason they’re letting Dick Button be so absolutely merciless to the poor skaters is because they want to turn the competition into “American Idol.” They figured, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em — and they told Button to act like Simon Cowell.
Thank God for Scott Hamilton, who’s always been a joy to listen to — his enthusiasm for the competition is always infectious, because you know that psycologically, he’s *there* on the ice with the skaters.
I’m sick and tired of the lame complaining about the ice skating commentary. I thought it was the best Olympic coverage ever and those who disagree don’t know the first thing about ice skating. If you don’t like it, go watch Sportscenter.
I read Mr. Buttons snide reply. It doesn’t suprise me. It hs the same snarly tone s did his commentries.
No Mr. Buttons we cant turn the sttion off becuse i don’t have the event on any other station. We are entitled to watch and want to watch. While many of us would never be olypians, we as country watch with pride. That is until you open your mouth. Up until this year I looked forward for your comments. You were beyond what was needed. You were cruel, distracting and apparently not gracious.Why don’t you try pologising to the televion viewers who had to endure you. No, I won’t turn off my set, but I will write NBC.
Cohen should have won gold. The Japanese was so slow she put me to sleep and her performance lacked excitement. Irina Slutskaya and Sasha Cohen fell because they were do fast performances and took a risk. Shizuka Arakawa did not deserve gold.
I totally agree with the comments about Dick Button’s negativity. Years ago at ABC he was very negative at the skating events, and the behind-the-scenes word was that his wife was a top coach and he was negative about the skaters who were not her students. Now I think he’s just a nasty mean-spirited old man. Scott, whom I respect, could have handled the commentary alone. I’m glad the Japanese skater won. Sasha is a spoiled, pampered child off the ice and if she does badly then she starts running off to find a new coach. She can’t seem to admit that it’s her poor performance, not her coach’s fault.
No way that was Mr. BUTTON(S) above, I could never imagine someone of his gemeration using the word ‘lame’ in that context.
I ditto that. I am so happy that Shizuka Arakawa won. Nobody would have enjoyed that gold more than she did. She deserved it. Amidst all of the publicity, maybe staying out of the limelight prior to the event helped her stay focus. It was nice to see such a together performance.
Maybe it’s the sponsorship or whatever that made the others think they were entitled to it the medal.
And Sandra (?) was a HORRIBLE Sasha Cohen apologist. Sasha was a better sport about the silver than Sandra was. “EVERYBODY DANCES TO ROMEO AND JULIET, SASHA IS JULIET”. (hurl- seriously did that need to be said?)
Sure Dick Buttons is rude but the two of them together were rude!
During the National Anthem, the cameras rolled on Sasha ONLY. Then it rolled on Irina *crying* her eyes out. I wonder if I’m the only one who thought it was mean- (I have no bias here) the girl was probably embarrassed as it was.
The worst part is that they only aired footage of Shizuka Arakawa for half a second on that podium. I’ve actually heard remarks that NBC is racist.
I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but the NEGATIVITY is raunchy, if we wanted Simon we would’ve changed the channel to American Idol. These athletes worked long and hard, they did not sign up for ridicule.
I’m very sorry to the athletes. Your viewers do support you.
If the games were on at an earlier hour, I bet ya that there would be more posts like mine.
Katherine, the Japaneese were not slow.
Did you see the other Japaneese skater? (sorry I don’t have her name, she wore purple) It wasn’t as a very basic choreography but the speed was TOPS on the spins. Rather impressive if you ask me.
By your comment, I’m not sure if you even watched the event.
Congrats to Shizuka!!! She perform a lovely program. It was not as some might say passionate, but there was a gentleness to her performance. She is an very elegant skater. Loved her spiral and ina buer stretch. And love the way she do her jump so effortless.
The exhibition coverage was horrible - should have taped and shown in its entirety the following week-end. Sasha, you are no Michelle Kwan, never will be so face it - your personality is ugly and it shows on the outside as well. Fumie should have been on the podium instead of Cohen.
Did you notice how silent everyone got after on of Dick’s negative comments??They noticed, didn’t they?
I have a question. I missed the title of the song that Stéphane Lambiel skated to in the Gala. Does anyone have it? Something about “your so beautiful”??? Just like his skating was beautiful, as were all the others the few we saw anyway on NBC…The Gala is just the best…
what a douchebag!
I watched the Olympics for almost the entire time…until the women’s final and the next reading the each of Sasha’s falls cost her $10 million in endorsements because she got a lowly silver medal and not the gold. What does that tell our kids…the future olympians? Let’s face it - there is only one gold medal in each event. Does that mean that every other athlete is worthless? That’s what you are saying when you act like unless it’s gold it isn’t worth having. Get real.
Besides—check for yourself MOST of these athletes representing other countries (including the Japanese winner) train in the USA. They use our facilities, our coaches and our money and then compete under their countries flag. I will bet you everything I own that if the Russians and Japanese and Koreans and Germans had to train in their own countries, use their own facilities and coaches that you would see a major shift in who wins gold and who doesn’t.
You train here and use our resources…you compete for US(A).
And if you aren’t a citizen and are using that as an excuse that you can’t compete for the USA, then don’t take advantage of our facilities and resources until you are.
So, Connie, just what do all those comments about ‘get the hell out of our US’ are teaching our kids also.
Tell them that when they’re getting their legs blown off in Baghdad.
It’s attitudes like that that allow peabrain leaders to think they can do what they want and get away with it, so long as they wrap themselves in the flag…. Any flag!
Ciao
Connie, many athletes are trained in this country. However, at least for figure skating, foreign skaters or their skating federations pay for their coahing and lesson fees. Foreign athletes are contributing to the US economy!
I would not be surprised that some American athletes are trained in other countries. They are not allowed to represent the USA?
The problem of Dick Button was that he was not with his usual partner, Peggy Fleming. She finds great points from every skaters. So there is a good contrast between him and her. But this time, it did not go that way. Scott Hamilton was very positive, but also avoided to deny DB’s comments.