Yags' 2002 Olympics LP question

[Lark]

At the end of Yags' LP, he fell to his knees and held up both hands, forming "V"'s with his fingers.
Scott Hamilton made some type of remark that, yes, Yags landed 2 clean quads. I thought that was some silly rambling on Scotts part.
I figured that Yags was stating that his LP was going to place 2nd, behind Plushy. (remember, both Plushy and Timmy messed up on 1 3axel, so they were only given credit for 1 each. Since Yags skated last, he only did 1 3axel, and I assumed he thought he placed behind Plushy as a result).
But, since Plushy was in 4th after the SP, Yags knew he had it in the bag.
Was it ever mentioned what the "V"'s were for exactly, perhaps just "Victory"?

[A.H.Black]

I still haven't watched the broadcast but I was in the building watching that night. It was clear to me (and my friends) that Yagudin had won the competition from the moment he ended his program and it was also clear that he knew he had won. I don't remember the V but I do remember the feeling. There was no question in my mind.

I have heard that Scott expressed some thoughts indicating that he wasn't sure if Yagudin had won (at least the long) but I think he must have been over-analyzing, because the feeling in the building and among skaters and officials was unanimous (with the possible exception of the Plushenko camp.)

It was probably the closest to concensus of all four disciplines.

[duane]

i suspect the V was for "victory". i am a huge plushenko fan, and even i felt that yagudin was the clear winner of both the long and the short program (tho plushenko's 3axel/half-loop/3flip was the most amazing jump combo of the competition! ;) ).

i totally agree that hamilton must have been over-analyzing when he made the comment that yagudin was conceding the LP to plushenko (and scott even wondered if yagudin had perhaps lost the LP to timothy!! scott was off his rocker that night).

[AxelAnnie22]

I'm with you Duane.......those were "V"s for VICTORY. Notwithstanding Scott, there was no doubt in my mind that Alexi had won that night. I am sure there was no doubt in his.

[Lark]

You know, Scott really was a loon that night.
I was so excited after Yags skated, I was rolling around in my bed just *KNOWING* that he won.
Then Scott comes on acting crazy, saying things about Yags conceding the LP to Plushy and maybe even Tim.
I was thinking "Okay, I could conceive, possibly, Plushy winning the LP by one judge, possibly, but Tim has *NEVER* defeated a clean program of Yags'!!! Yags could do 4-3's and 1 quad to Timmys 6-3's and 2 quads, and Yags would win on Presentation alone!".
So maybe I was fine until Scott opened his mouth. ;)

[somechick]

Keep in mind the men's competition was just coming off the pairs fiasco where Scott crowned S/P before S/P even skated, never mind it being before S/Z. Scott's little coronation speech is what got the whole thing going to begin with. You gotta bet that his comments on the men were more to save face and not look like an idiot again declaring the winner ahead of time moreso than his actual belief that anyone else deserved to win.

[LilRedRidingHood]

Maybe the VV was a sign that he's got the hots for Victoria Volckova?


Seriously, I read an article recently where he said he knew he had won after his combo in the long.

The V V probably did signify Victory.

[Nan]

Please add me to the list of "yes, the VV indicated victory," and "yes, Scott was a loon!"

I begged and pleaded until I talked someone into sending me a copy of the Canadian broadcast simply because I got sick and angry every time I had to listen to Scott.

Nan (who really does like Scott)

[loveskating]

I thought it was a triumphal statement...Yagudin won, IMHO, hands down, and also the only slam dunk of that Olympics IMHO (although I've enjoyed some of his other skates even more...Skate Canada 2000 for sure, but then, I even enjoyed it when he made mistakes when he had the foot injury...thought he was a "real" Gladiator out there and it just really touched my soul.

Maybe Scott was just trying to keep the casual fans around ... laboring under the idea that only a contest will keep them interested?

[dbell]

It's ironic that the NBC official skating video/DVD does NOT have Scott's commentary. He was widely criticized in the press and on the skating boards for the 'concession' comments (as he should have been!).

I also love Scott, but as a commentator for the Olympics, he was biased and blind! :roll: