ESPN article: skating judge drops appeal...will write book

[LadyNit]

http://msn.espn.go.com/oly/news/2002/0725/1409968.html

:evil: :x 8O :twisted:

[JDC1]

Hopefully they'll be an English translation and I'll buy it.

[gandalf]

I don't think she would have won her appeal.

The ISU's policy regarding having the person who is appealing pay for the ISU's fees should he/she lose the appeal is ridiculous and grossly unfair. Something needs to be done about that.

The book could be interesting but considering the number of times this woman has changed her story since SLC I would take it with a small mine full of salt.

[Orable]

I'd read her book with a Larousse in hand if it's not translated into English. I think the ISU's policy of having to pay for their lawyers if your case is lost is ridiculous and is in place precisely so they won't have to deal with judges (or former judges) suing them.

OTOH, I wonder about the French Fed...why aren't they fighting harder if they really believe in Le Gougne's innocence?

[Lee]

Uh...isn't it common in civil cases for the loser to pay court costs for both sides? If so, then the ISU policy doesn't differ much from standard practice.

I too, was also surprised to see the French federation unable (unwilling?) to support LaGougne in her appeal. However, considering this is an organization that was on the brink of bankruptcy a few years back, maybe it's not such a surprise.

You'd think if LaGougne (and the FFSG) was so adamant about her innocence they'd find a way to proceed with the appeal.

C'est la vie...

[olivia]

It's a matter of money, plain and simple (like most things in life). This way, Le Gougne gets to defend herself and make some money while she's at it. Pretty good deal, IMO.

I don't think the ISU proceeding would have changed anyone's mind or that the book will change anyone's minds. Anyone who has an opinion will most likely continue to have the same opinion regardless of what Le Gougne writes. You either believe her now (and then will believe anything she says or writes) or you don't (and the converse).

O-

[blue111moon]

Why should the French Federation fund her appeal? They're the ones (or among the many) she was accusing of pressuring her. In order to win her appeal, she'd have to prove that they were in on the deal, and that's not in their best interests. :)

Methinks Marie's judging career is over right now, never mind waiting until after the next Olympics. Should she actually write said book and gets it published - and translated, then she'll be lucky to get assignments judging pastry competitions. "Flaky" should be something she knows well.

[loveskating]

I suspect everyone wants to move on, and perhaps some of the underlying issues driving all this have been resolved?

I will certainly buy her book, LOL! I'm kind of glad she will get something out of all this, for I felt sorry for her as the "villain" of the show. I want to move on, but I have these nagging questions so I'd like to hear her side of it.

From the instant all this started, the important thing to me has been that neither B&S or S&P are hurt or humiliated in any way, so I just hope she doesn't say anything bad about either of them.

I mean, I understand that the bureaucrats and the industry supports the skaters; I understand that steelworkers even make the steel that makes the blades...but to me, the skaters are the nexus, so do not harm them.

[hydro]

hopefully her book will shed some light on the backroom judging "talks". what really goes on back there is still an unknown for most fans, officials, and organizations.

[Debbie S]

[quote:d830625d7e="olivia"]I don't think the ISU proceeding would have changed anyone's mind or that the book will change anyone's minds. Anyone who has an opinion will most likely continue to have the same opinion regardless of what Le Gougne writes. You either believe her now (and then will believe anything she says or writes) or you don't (and the converse).
[/quote:d830625d7e]

The question is - [i:d830625d7e]Can[/i:d830625d7e] you believe anything she says? Considering all of her story changes andher comments about "not being herself" and "pressured to vote a certain way", I'm not sure I'd think too much of any allegations/insider info she tells now. And the fact that she's become a laughingstock (is that too harsh, Adrian?) in the mainstream media probably won't help book sales or even obtaining a publishing contract.

[donnamarie]

I also would have a hard time believing anything she writes ... she has no credibility with me ... I would have to take her book with a big grain of salt.

[duane]

i'll take it with a big grain of salt, but i'll definitely read it (the [b:9990ea41d8]paperback[/b:9990ea41d8] version :wink: ).

[pilgrimsoul]

Deleted by poster due to second thoughts on appropriateness

[loveskating]

I'll read what she says like I read or listen to anything else...against my own views, logic and what I know of the facts, and with an open mind.

[Gaela]

Well, I for one look forward to her book!! A lot of stuff went on in this situation that I don't know about, and I don't think the whole SLC fiasco begins and ends with her. It may be that she is just a flake, or that her behaviour has a root cause and occured in a context of corruption/backroom deals etc.

I don't know what happened, but don't believe that Ms. Le Gougne just snapped for a few days, as she said. THere was way more going on. Something went wrong. Her book might offer some more insights into the inside track of figure skating politics.

Then again, maybe it is all a conspiracy to make money for the French Federation, or someone else. . .maybe SLC was a conspiracy too. . .maybe they are all in on it, having a laugh at us for taking them seriously. All of THEM, Russians and Canadians and Americans involed and Rogge too, taking a cut from the mighty media revenues..

I don't think so, but I'll believe anything. . .am truly looking forward to her book, with more than just a grain of salt.

[olivia]

Since everyone else is chiming in ... I don't have any interest in reading her book, and I don't believe it will be as scandalous as she's insinuating it will be. Le Gougne will have second thoughts about divulging potentially damaging information (assuming she has any to begin with and can back it up with more than "he said, she said") ... even if those second thoughts comes by way of "hush" money.

O-

[speedy]

I believe the Madame's 15 minutes are up...have been for a while actually.