Salon Wanderlust | Figure skating shocker, page 2

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T A B L E_T A L K
Riders share their experiences and thoughts on traveling by motorcycle in the Wanderlust area of Table Talk

R E C E N T L Y
Flying away
By Cintra Wilson
I sold my soul to the scalpers to watch mechanized super-teens Michelle and Tara kiss ass?
(02/20/98)
Flying away
By Gary Kamiya
Triumph on the slopes -- and parties all night long
(02/19/98)
Scalpers, skiers and cultural schizophrenia
By Cintra Wilson
Our woman in Nagano checks out deluxe slopeside port-o-lets, "child hornet" snacks and other Olympic oddities
(02/19/98)
Cold war
By Gary Kamiya
The Czechs battle the Russians on ice
(02/18/98)
The Christlike and redemptive powers of ice hockey
By Cintra Wilson
Our second Salon correspondent in Nagano reflects on Olympic evolution, personality cults and Russian mafiosi
(02/18/98)

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FIGURE SKATING SHOCKER _|_ page 2 of 2

Did Kwan make any mistakes?
No, she did not. As I said, the only mistake she might have made was in being tentative and cautious. She had a little trouble coming out of her landing on a triple flip, but Tara had a little trouble coming out of one of her triples. It was nothing that would have distinguished them. Again, we're talking about gray areas.
So were you surprised at the outcome?
Yes. Shocked. When I saw Tara skate, I still thought they would give it to Michelle and that Tara might be close behind. I did not think it would be the other way around. I love Michelle's skating; I like Tara's skating. I still think that Michelle, when she's on, is the better skater. Tonight, was Michelle the better skater? I don't know. It was that close. As a journalist judging the judges, I'm in shock. The judges have never done anything like this before.
Did you get a chance to talk to Kwan and Lipinski afterward? Did you get the sense that there is any personal animosity between them?
I did talk to them afterward, and not surprisingly, Tara is ecstatic. Michelle is just fine. She was a class act. She was surprisingly composed and together. I don't get the sense that Michelle feels any animosity toward Tara. Tara is not as deep as Michelle, she's not as inquisitive. Michelle is a gem. She's one of a kind. Tara is a fighter, she's a competitor, a feisty athlete out there. Michelle is a deep thinker. In reply to a question afterward, Tara said something like, "Michelle's skating is great," but Michelle looked right at Tara and said, "Tara, I like you." It brought down the house.
What does this 1-2 finish do for the sport of figure skating in the United States?
It shows that figure skating is a sport, just like any other, with upsets, surprises and disappointments. Anyone who said the result tonight was preordained is eating their words right now. Every sports writer who has blasted this sport has got to stop and say maybe this is a sport after all. At the moment that those marks went up for Tara Lipinski, the sport changed.
What happens now in the athletic rivalry between Kwan and Lipinski?
Michelle Kwan says she's coming back for the 2002 Olympics. This is going to be one hell of a rivalry if Tara stays in. We haven't seen the last of Michelle Kwan, and we certainly haven't seen the last of Tara Lipinski.
SALON | Feb. 20, 1998
Jonathan Broder is Salon's Washington correspondent.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE SQUIRE/ALLSPORT
Archived images are provided by Allsport Photography USA, Inc. all rights reserved, any redistribution, resale, re-print or other use is strictly prohibited without written consent from Allsport Photography USA, Inc. directly.


- - - - - - - - - - T A B L E_T A L K Riders share their experiences and thoughts on traveling by motorcycle in the Wanderlust area of Table Talk R E C E N T L Y Flying away By Cintra Wilson I sold my soul to the scalpers to watch mechanized super-teens Michelle and Tara kiss ass? (02/20/98) Flying away By Gary Kamiya Triumph on the slopes -- and parties all night long (02/19/98) Scalpers, skiers and cultural schizophrenia By Cintra Wilson Our woman in Nagano checks out deluxe slopeside port-o-lets, "child hornet" snacks and other Olympic oddities (02/19/98) Cold war By Gary Kamiya The Czechs battle the Russians on ice (02/18/98) The Christlike and redemptive powers of ice hockey By Cintra Wilson Our second Salon correspondent in Nagano reflects on Olympic evolution, personality cults and Russian mafiosi (02/18/98) Browse the Feature archives		FIGURE SKATING SHOCKER _\|_ page 2 of 2 Did Kwan make any mistakes? No, she did not. As I said, the only mistake she might have made was in being tentative and cautious. She had a little trouble coming out of her landing on a triple flip, but Tara had a little trouble coming out of one of her triples. It was nothing that would have distinguished them. Again, we're talking about gray areas. So were you surprised at the outcome? Yes. Shocked. When I saw Tara skate, I still thought they would give it to Michelle and that Tara might be close behind. I did not think it would be the other way around. I love Michelle's skating; I like Tara's skating. I still think that Michelle, when she's on, is the better skater. Tonight, was Michelle the better skater? I don't know. It was that close. As a journalist judging the judges, I'm in shock. The judges have never done anything like this before. Did you get a chance to talk to Kwan and Lipinski afterward? Did you get the sense that there is any personal animosity between them? I did talk to them afterward, and not surprisingly, Tara is ecstatic. Michelle is just fine. She was a class act. She was surprisingly composed and together. I don't get the sense that Michelle feels any animosity toward Tara. Tara is not as deep as Michelle, she's not as inquisitive. Michelle is a gem. She's one of a kind. Tara is a fighter, she's a competitor, a feisty athlete out there. Michelle is a deep thinker. In reply to a question afterward, Tara said something like, "Michelle's skating is great," but Michelle looked right at Tara and said, "Tara, I like you." It brought down the house. What does this 1-2 finish do for the sport of figure skating in the United States? It shows that figure skating is a sport, just like any other, with upsets, surprises and disappointments. Anyone who said the result tonight was preordained is eating their words right now. Every sports writer who has blasted this sport has got to stop and say maybe this is a sport after all. At the moment that those marks went up for Tara Lipinski, the sport changed. What happens now in the athletic rivalry between Kwan and Lipinski? Michelle Kwan says she's coming back for the 2002 Olympics. This is going to be one hell of a rivalry if Tara stays in. We haven't seen the last of Michelle Kwan, and we certainly haven't seen the last of Tara Lipinski. SALON \| Feb. 20, 1998 Jonathan Broder is Salon's Washington correspondent. PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMIE SQUIRE/ALLSPORT Archived images are provided by Allsport Photography USA, Inc. all rights reserved, any redistribution, resale, re-print or other use is strictly prohibited without written consent from Allsport Photography USA, Inc. directly.