Friday, February 15, 2002
Pair of truly great Canadians
By MARTIN HUDSON -- Calgary Sun
Nobody could fault David Pelletier and Jamie Sale if they were screaming for justice at the top of their lungs.
Who could blame them if they were blue in the face with the frustration they must undoubtedly be feeling since they were so clearly shafted on Monday night?
But who isn't damned proud to be a Canadian with the way this talented and classy couple has represented themselves and our country on the world stage under the most difficult of circumstances?
We all wish we could show the grace under pressure Sale and Pelletier have demonstrated to the world this week after being forced to settle for the silver medal in pairs figure skating, despite a brilliant performance considered golden by everyone outside of Minsk and Murmansk.
These shining ambassadors for all that is right with our country have given us far more than a gold medal, for they have shown true sportsmanship above and beyond the call of duty.
Silently and privately, they may be screaming.
In front of the world, they are a shining example of why others hold Canadians in such high regard.
In fact, it's fair to say Jamie Sale and David Pelletier have elevated us all in the eyes of others.
Not a bad Olympic legacy, methinks.
Now, if you'll allow me some less than gracious thoughts on this whole mess:
* International Skating Union president Ottavio Cinquanta is a clown. All that was missing from his press conference was the red nose and big, floppy shoes. Nice reign of error, Ottavio. The international media gets a pat on the back for showing its disgust with his pathetic act.
* Kudos, too, to CBC's Ron MacLean for his interview/interrogation of Skate Canada president Marilyn Chidlow, who showed all the fury of a newborn mouse over this outrageous situation. When asked why she wasn't working on the case on Tuesday, Chidlow got all choked up and said she had lost a member of the Canadian skating family and she'd spent the day dealing with it. Turns out the lost member was Emanuel Sandhu, who had to drop out of the Games with a knee injury, but is alive and well. Talk about misplaced priorities. The vague Chidlow should have been the raging bull in a china shop getting this thing put right.
* If the judging was tainted, as all indications appear, giving both the Canadians and Russians gold medals is a brutal solution. If Sale and Pelletier won, they won. Don't make them share the gold with the true silver medallists.
* The salchow is obviously named after French judge Marie-Reine 'Let Them Eat Silver' Le Gougne.
* French Olympic team head Didier Gailhaguet, after admitting Le Gougne acted under pressure, says but later denies saying, "We cannot continue to let our judge be lambasted in this way." Oh, sorry, Dids, we didn't know we were out of line criticizing your pathetic excuse of an official.
* The same Gailhaguet on Le Gougne. "She is a fragile person and I think she has been somewhat manipulated." Wow, sounds like just the kind of person you'd want judging such an important event.
* And finally, sorting out the judging for future events is simply not good enough. Justice must be done. Like right now!
No matter what protocol, organizational charters and procedural steps must be broken, get your heads together, give them a shake and right this wrong.
BITS AND PIECES:
Wonder who the genius was who decided both NHL all-star teams would wear dark sweaters? ... Anyone else worried that none of Team Canada's goalies were at the all-star game? Or was there a French judge involved in picking the teams? ... Getting cut hurts but team players don't appeal the decision -- no matter how painful it may be. Nancy Drolet accomplished nothing with such a move ... Hands up if you wanted to see David Pelletier pull the puffy shirt over Anton Sikharulidze's head and feed the Russian figure skater a few stiff uppercuts after he collided with little Jamie Sale. Now that would be a classic moment in sports ... Prior to the whole judging debacle, I've never seen so many knuckle-dragging he-men in the newsroom drop everything to cheer on figure skaters. Words such as 'stunning,' `beautiful blouse,' `delightful axel' were even dripping from the tongue of one muscle-bound sports type who shall remain anonymous (we do, however, call him the Little Cowboy from Cremona) ... Quite simply, Slovakia got screwed by the NHL ... Highlight of the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies had to be short track speed skater Marc Gagnon, who interviewed himself when he was unable to hear the commentators' questions ... Dave Ritchie can have coach of the year, Wally Buono will be getting a Grey Cup ring instead ... The world doesn't need people like Mike Tyson and giving him millions for a few moments of entertainment only allows him to live in luxury with such little regard for others. Don't pay him and let him slide into oblivion where he belongs.
CLEARLY OFFSIDE:
Paul McCartney's Freedom has to be the worst piece of crap ever recorded. And why wouldn't organizers have an American icon, Bruce Springsteen, whip up the patriotism at the Super Bowl? ... No truth to the rumour Mariah Carey's piercing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner shattered the St. Louis Rams' confidence -- not to mention most of the lightbulbs in the Superdome ... Don't know about you but I prefer Yang Yang A over Yang Yang S ... The sweater vest faction at the Sun is up in sleeveless arms over a recent rip job in this space. Keep in mind, these are the same guys who used to wear their regular sweaters tied around their necks. Ta ta, fellows ... I just photo read my legal will kit and found out I can leave the Rink Rake to my beneficiary ... One sport that's less than enticing: The doubles luge. Unless it's mixed, your name is Igor and your partner's name is Anna, not Big Olga ... It's amazing we're through one week of the Olympics without a National Guardsman mistakenly gunning down a biathlete ... The best thing about Olympic curling has to be listening to the French women shouting "'Ard! 'Ard!" ... Canada is now No. 73 in the world soccer rankings. Oh yeah, who cares? ... Moulin Rouge update: Sorry, can't bring myself to push play yet ... And finally, no truth to reports out of Salt Lake that the ghost of Gary Gilmore has been spotted lurking right in front of the biathlon targets ... Go Canada!
2002 Games Figure Skating Coverage
