Monday, February 18, 2002
Medal justice golden viewing
By PERRY LEFKO -- Toronto Sun
Unlike the book and the television movie that followed, this was Love Story with a happy ending. When David Pelletier and Jamie Sale finally received their gold medals last night, it provided the perfection punctuation, proving that scripts can be rewritten to satisfy the audience if they don't like the conclusion.
Standing on the podium with their upgraded medals, along with the Russian pair of Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharuldize, the Canadians finally had a chance to savour success.
The big winners, beyond just the four skaters who embraced on the podium as honourable competitors caught in a scandal not of their own doing, were the millions who watched them celebrate as one.
Each couple sang its national anthem, providing viewers with amazing images: the Russian coach crying; Pelletier smiling; Berezhnaya's fingernails painted in the colours of her country.
Matching it were the words of the commentators.
"You only need to be here to know this was the right thing to do," NBC announcer Tom Hammond said.
"Finally, dare we suggest closure in one of the most remarkable stories in Olympic history?" CBC announcer Chris Cuthbert wondered aloud.
"Let's hope the judges and officials take (the athletes') lead in how to judge themselves," NBC analyst Sandra Bezic.
EMPHASIS ON THE ATHLETES
"This moment isn't about the (International Olympic Committee)," CBC analyst Barb Underhill said. "It puts the emphasis on the athletes."
And, from CBC host Brian Williams, the conscience of the Games for all of Canada, who said a judge was hung out to dry.
"The corruption goes much higher than this," he said.
CBC could not televise the ceremony live because it stayed with the Canadian men's hockey game. Apprised the Canadians beat the Germans 3-2, Pelletier said: "I have confidence in them. They don't come to me to show me how to do an axel. I won't show them how to score goals."
It was only the latest in a litany of comments that indicate the class of this man who might have a future some day in politics. Then again, maybe not.
"We're not movie stars, we're not politicians," he said. "We are figure skaters and we want to go back to that as quickly as possible."
NBC CARRIES CEREMONY LIVE
NBC carried the ceremony live, following its telecast of the second element of the ice dance segment. It tried to stoke the controversy from the pairs competition and how it might affect Canadian ice-dancing duo Victor Kraatz and Shae-Lynn Bourne. The infamous taped phone call that conspired to place Kraatz and Bourne in a specific place no matter how well they did in the free skate at Nagano in 1998 was played. And, the infamous judge who made the call, which Canadian judge Jean Senft taped, was shown as being an alternate judge for the latest element of the ice dancing.
Both Bourne and Kraatz were interviewed and the question was posed afterward to the audience whether the Canadians would get a "fair chance."
They placed fourth and the crowd didn't boo and both the CBC and NBC analysts didn't cry foul.
But, there's still the free skate left.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "She just didn't look quite spunky enough today."
-- Skiing analyst Kerrin Lee-Gartner on Melanie Turgeon's disappointing run in the women's Super G race.
2002 Games News Coverage
