Sarah Hughes article from NY Daily News [Archive]

JDC1

12-05-2002, 10:44 AM

It was nice to hear some news but it's typical Flip Bondy, get in unnecessary digs to other skaters. Michelle is living Michelle's life, Sarah is living hers and Tara is living hers, there's not just one way to live your life. And sorry, having boyfriends or atleast casually dating is a totally okay thing for someone 17 years old to do. If Sarah is able to go to Harvard or Columbia full time, and skate well enough to place at Nationals I want the human genome project to replicate her DNA because then she will be super woman. Paul Wylie was able to do it but he didn't really shine until Olys and the women's field in the US is SO competitive and only going to get more so as skaters like BeBe Liang and Ann Patrice get more experience and mature and don't forget Frank's new little protigy Danielle Kahle (?) and Sarah's own sister Emily who apparently is a better all around skater than Sarah and working hard on fixing her problems with her jumps. More power to her, I admire her and Michelle for making the committment to education no matter if they go part-time or full-time.

adrianchew

12-05-2002, 11:18 AM

Michelle Kwan enrolled at UCLA, never taking a full load.

How is this anything more than the writer simply reporting it as it is? The writer is simply providing information and leaving the rest to the reader! ;)

The interesting similarity I see as far as parallels go - both Mr. Kwan and Mr. Hughes seem to be the dominant parent in their daughters skating endeavours... most skaters have the mother figure as the dominant parent.

haribobo

12-05-2002, 11:40 AM

I am very proud of Sarah and glad she continues to achieve these things. My beef is with the writer of the article...
Nice post JDC and ITA! Well said...

Well you can all read it however you want I suppose, but to me that definitely looks like a slight/dig to MK and TL because of something Sarah plans to do that MK and TL didn't. I have written newspaper articles and have talked with several news reporters...I know what information is relevant to a story and what is simply support-building or bias showing info... It is entirely unnecessary to mention how Michelle is going thru college. Plenty of people don't take full loads due to other things that are going on in their life, that doesn't make it any less noble, as the author seems to imply. MK is doing what's best for her, using good judgement, and I don't think this garbage about her not going full time needs to be brought to the fore...

QUOTE: Filip Bondy
[No doors have been shut. The three previous Olympic champions - Kristi Yamaguchi, Oksana Baiul and TaraLipinski - immediately swapped their medals for ice shows and endorsements. Hughes continues to compete in Olympic-sanctioned events, as Katarina Witt last did. Witt didn't go to Columbia or Harvard. Michelle Kwan enrolled at UCLA, never taking a full load.]

Certainly sounds like digs at the other skaters to me. We all know Katarina hasn't gone to Columbia or Harvard. Neither has Sarah, yet....I say, wait till she actually does these things. Praise Sarah, fine.....no need to compare her to other names and put down their accomplishments at the same time. Simply saying "many Olympic level skaters do not attend college" or "Sarah is attempting to do something no other recent champion has" would suffice. :roll:

Yes, she's done well in high school and SAT's, toured the school, and mailed the applications. This is commendable, for sure. But until she takes the full load at a tough school and competes a full season, there is no need for all this pomp and circumstance about a feat she has not achieved yet, and the jabs at other skaters is just rude.

QUOTE: Bondy
[They aren't retiring, or disappearing into the tacky exhibitions of Lipinski-land.]

Come on now! :evil: NO NEED for this Tara-bashing in the article. I hope this writer is seriously reprimanded for his rude behavior towards champions who have given so much to the sport and community.

adrianchew

12-05-2002, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by haribobo

Plenty of people don't take full loads due to other things that are going on in their life, that doesn't make it any less noble, as the author seems to imply.

The author implies nothing... the perceptions of the reader (ie. you) actually makes the implications here. What if we've been taught that taking a full load is bad, and going to Ivy League schools are bad? Then it would seem to a reader that the writer is saying Sarah's choices are bad and Michelle's are good?

No doors have been shut. The three previous Olympic champions - Kristi Yamaguchi, Oksana Baiul and TaraLipinski - immediately swapped their medals for ice shows and endorsements. Hughes continues to compete in Olympic-sanctioned events, as Katarina Witt last did. Witt didn't go to Columbia or Harvard. Michelle Kwan enrolled at UCLA, never taking a full load.

Is that really a dig, or more a question about choices? These are Olympians and this are their life choices. How we read into is somehow reflects values we have learned (even if we don't agree to them). At the very most, all the author implies is that Hughes is doing something different (the better than the rest is colored by our perceptions and values, not the author's).

Based on what I read - Sarah wants to get an education, and she wants to continue skating. Skating will not rule her life. Now if we want to color it - someone who only cares about Sarah's skating might say - that's bad, she's splitting her efforts. Someone who believes in education for skaters will come back and say - yay, good for her, that skating isn't the be all and end all of her life. Someone who believes in profit might say - she's losing out on the endorsements, bad move.

The conclusions we derive are our own - the author is not taking a dig. The author is saying - A did this, B did that, C did something else, and now D wants to do this.

haribobo

12-05-2002, 12:14 PM

I understand your point. How a person reads this article depends on perspective. I believe most would say that this is a clever dig, though, more than anything else. This article is not saying anything positive about the others, it is only saying positive things about Sarah and how she's attempting to do something the others have not. If the author was really trying to be fair, he would mention some of the positive things Tara, MK, and Katarina have done besides what he implies about *cashing in* and *taking the easy route out*......

It is the "swapping medals" that indicates Tara and Oksana acted in a negative way. For both TL and OB: She won a medal, it opened up doors. She had an opportunity and she took it. She earned everything she got...she did NOT "swap" her medal. She still has it, no? It's this terminology that leaves no doubt in my mind that the author is making negative comments about the past Olympic medalists.

JDC1

12-05-2002, 01:08 PM

Sorry Adrian but Hairbobo and I aren't reading anything into or applying our personal beliefs. By making the comparions Flip was making a statement. Flip (IIRC) is the same person who wrote a not too flattering article on Tara and her life with SOI a couple of years ago. Flip is not simply stating facts he stating them in a way that EASILY slants the words and therefore the articles. I will admit as someone who has her BA in English it's virtually impossible for me to read anything at face value, I simply know all too well how much thought goes into word use and word placement. Could Flip have just been stating the facts, sure but they weren't necessary, he could have simply written about Sarah. He stated the facts in the way he did to get his opinion and his slant across, that's his right, he does write and opinion column but don't even start to suggest to me that there's no agenda here or there would simply be no purpose for the article. I have read far too much Flip Bondy to think that's in the least bit possible.

peachstatesk8er

12-05-2002, 02:20 PM

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No doors have been shut. The three previous Olympic champions - Kristi Yamaguchi, Oksana Baiul and TaraLipinski - immediately swapped their medals for ice shows and endorsements. Hughes continues to compete in Olympic-sanctioned events, as Katarina Witt last did. Witt didn't go to Columbia or Harvard. Michelle Kwan enrolled at UCLA, never taking a full load.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think it's meant as a dig considering that the Kristi, Oksana, Tara, and Kat are all Gold medalists as is Hughes. There was no need to mention Michelle at all in that paragraph about previous Olympic Champions. It makes about as much sense as bringing Debi into that part of the article. He's just getting it in where he can. But, the comment about Lipinski made me laugh even though it's really mean.
I think he was feeling snarky for sure.

Hannahclear

12-05-2002, 02:45 PM

I think its much more a dig at tara that at Michelle, compared to the comment about Tara, the Michelle thing is positively tame.

rack

12-05-2002, 02:49 PM

Debi Thomas took a full academic load while continuing to compete. For the Olympics semester, she left Stanford but took courses at the University of Colorado. So it can be done.

To write something like,"Many Olympic level skaters do not attend college" is bad journalism. Why don't these unnamed athletes go to college? Is it because they're too young or too old or too rich or too stupid? In non-fiction, you use specific names, not generalized statements.

As far as the Michelle Kwan "dig" goes, it has been her fate to grow up in front of the camera, and a fair amount of camera time was spent showing her in college. I was surprised when I learned that she hadn't completed two full years of college, and I know others were surprised as well. Since she didn't attend college last spring and isn't attending this fall, a real dig would have been to refer to her as a college dropout (that's what my parents would have called me, with a great deal of screaming and hairpulling and rending of garments).

Keep in mind the NY Daily News (and the Times and the Post and Newsday) are essentially hometown newspapers for Sarah Hughes. This is a local column about a local girl who made good. There is a natural bias in her favor. In addition, sports columnists like the idea of athletes continuing their education. I've read articles and columns about football, basketball, and baseball players completing their degrees. There's enough of a man bites dog element to make those degrees newsworthy (just as Sarah's intention to go to college and continue to compete is not the norm amongst recent Olympic gold medalists).

I still say great article and thanks for the link!

hydro

12-05-2002, 02:52 PM

from the article:
Hughes continues to compete in Olympic-sanctioned events, as Katarina Witt last did.

this sentence is a bit misleading. Sarah has only competed once since the Olympics, withdrawing from Worlds and the GP series this year. her only event thus far has been a fluff event in which she finished 3rd. Sasha, Irina, and Michelle have competed much more, and the comparison of Witt to Hughes has yet to be determined as correct. We have yet to see Sarah return to major international competition. her two competitions next week are also fluff competitions.

Michelle Kwan enrolled at UCLA, never taking a full load.

is that statement true? i seem to recall Michelle taking full course loads over the summer during the off season a in 2000, as well as taking a full coarse load her first two terms at UCLA. she cut-back later in her college career when she wanted to focus more on skating, but as i remember, she was taking a full course load in the beginning.

She appeared in about 30 ice shows after the Olympics. They were more than enough.

"I had a lot of choices," she says. "I chose to keep my life similar to what it was before, being with family."

again, are all those statements necessarily true? Michelle skated the full tour, Irina skated 80+ shows, and yet the 30 ice shows Sarah skated in are said to be "enough". Enough for whom? for Sarah? ok, that makes sense, but its not necessarily implicit in the article. Also, did Sarah keep her life the same? She showed up at Cambpell's unprepared, where as seasons prior she debuted programs at SA with great success (Cambpells was only two weeks prior to SA this year). She has had a lot of commitments and even cited that she hasn't had time to prepare.

the article was a good update on Sarah if a bit misleading at parts. i can't wait to see her and her new programs next weekend.

Mayra

12-05-2002, 03:10 PM

Originally posted by peachstatesk8er

I think it's meant as a dig considering that the Kristi, Oksana, Tara, and Kat are all Gold medalists as is Hughes. There was no need to mention Michelle at all in that paragraph about previous Olympic Champions. It makes about as much sense as bringing Debi into that part of the article. He's just getting it in where he can. .

I took it as a comparison to other Olympic Champions and not in a bad way. The fact that no other Olympic Champion has stayed on and tried the full load ivy league education, all the while training full out, is just a comment on how difficult it will be for Sarah. Michelle is much more high profile than Debi Thomas, and has talked very freely about her education, so it makes sense that she would be mentioned.

I don't think the comment on Michelle not taking a full load is a bash on her. Its fact, and there is nothing wrong with not taking a full load, which is why I don't understand why people are so touchy about this. Whats wrong with going to school part time?

I did think the "tacky exhibitions in Lipinski-land" was a bit harsh. Truth be told though, last year's SOI was a bit iffy. ;)

Great article w/nice quotes from Sarah and her father. Thanks for the link.

CMc

12-05-2002, 03:11 PM

The only thing I had a problem with is "The Rock, The Artist, and The Firebrand"--Why does Sarah have to be the Rock??:evil: Maybe he meant it in a complimentary way, but I certainly wouldn't call her a rock!

And JDC1, how do you come to the conclusion that Emily is "a better all-around skater than Sarah"??

duane

12-05-2002, 03:28 PM

LOL! the way this article is being dissected, one would think that it's the state of the union address rather than a fluff article!

CMc,
i think "the rock"--meaning sarah is "solid"--is a great description! :)

spiralsrfun

12-05-2002, 04:07 PM

duane, I agree about "the Rock" analogy.

I WILL say this about the article...lol
I enjoyed it! Good quotes and good info, etc. Thanks for the link!

That said, I took issue with two things in the article:

Kristi, Oksana, and Tara (to my knowledge) still have their Gold medals and never "swapped" them for anything. :roll: (my perception, maybe, but IMO that was dumb to say ;))

The comment about "tacky ice shows" and "Lipinskiland" WAS uncalled for, and goes beyond a reader's perception...that was a clear dig. :??

Someday, maybe we can read an article about a skater in which the "writer" doesn't have to throw digs at other skaters ....someday....someday.....

CMc

12-05-2002, 04:09 PM

Forgive my ranting today, folks, it's snowing over here!:cry:

Thank you, Duane.

karina1974

12-05-2002, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by haribobo
he would mention some of the positive things Tara, MK, and Katarina have done besides what he implies about *cashing in* and *taking the easy route out*......

Actually, when he first mentioned Katarina, he was paying Hughes a compliment, by saying she was the first Olympic champion since Witt to continue as an eligible skater, rather than turning pro. There are only three female singles Olympic Champions, now, who have done so. She, like Katarina, is taking a risk by doing this, taking on the pressure of always competing like an Olympic Champion. I think that is the reason most opt out, instead of trying to defend the title.

haribobo

12-05-2002, 06:25 PM

Oops, think I meant Oksana, not Katarina. Whatever. :p

SkateGuard

12-05-2002, 07:30 PM

Originally posted by hydro
i seem to recall Michelle taking full course loads over the summer during the off season a in 2000, as well as taking a full coarse load her first two terms at UCLA. she cut-back later in her college career when she wanted to focus more on skating, but as i remember, she was taking a full course load in the beginning.

My understanding was that Michelle started UCLA by taking three courses, and since UCLA is on the quarter system (10-11 week semesters), that should have been a full load. Also, she lived in the dorms until mid-February, I believe.

Her "lackluster" performance at the '99 Nationals was partially due to her being stressed out by school. Since that was about 6th or 7th week of the quarter system (they start almost immediately after New Year's and finish a semester by spring break), she would have been at the peak of stress in the semester.

My college was on trimesters (the quarter system without summer school), and let me tell you, it is hard enough to manage three credit courses without an elite skating career!

Erin

Erin

Yazmeen

12-06-2002, 08:20 AM

CMc: I actually took "rock" as a compliment--I interpreted it as consistent and unflappable--which Sarah is!!!

JDC1

12-06-2002, 08:38 AM

How is "apparently" a conclusion? It's not. I came to no such conclusions. My comment was based on posts on this board and other boards where a number of people have said that Emily "looks to be" one of the best all around skaters they've seen in years and that she has worked hard on her jumps and her technique is great. This is obviously not verbatim but the gist.

adrianchew

12-06-2002, 09:15 AM

Emily I believe we've said has better jump technique than Sarah... but Emily does not have a 3-loop yet last time I saw her. The noticeable differences is the lack of a flutz and triple jumps without any cheat on rotations. Her presentation skills still have a bit of development left to catch up to her older sister.

nymkfan51

12-06-2002, 09:50 AM

hydro ... you brought up the point I was thinking about. What competitive events has Sarah participated in since the Olympics?
Answer: 2 fluff events ... she withdrew from the others.

I agree that this author got his point across perfectly ... and he most definitely was intending to place Sarah above these other skaters.
I'll beleive all this stuff about Sarah when I see it.

CMc

12-06-2002, 10:27 AM

The guy said she "continues" because she was set to do Worlds before she realized she couldn't, and she was set to be in the GP comps this year, but she had an injury, and then she's about to take part in Nats in January (Please be OK for this, Sarah *fingers crossed*). I think he knew what he was talking about. Astoundingly enough I read into that correctly even though I didn't like him calling her a rock.:lol:

michele

12-06-2002, 10:25 PM

I also believe Michelle was taking a full load in the fall of 1999 (for a trimester anyway). She skated first in the 99 Skate Canada exhibitions because she had a plane to catch back to UCLA for midterms. :)

Obviously it was very difficult to manage and she did seem quite stressed out at the time. If Sarah can manage to do well both in skating and college as a premed (with all the lab components that entails), she will indeed be superhuman in my book.

coco

12-06-2002, 11:27 PM

I apologize for not having time to read the whole thread so this sentiment may be a repeat...but this whole public obsession w/fathers keeping boys away from their teenage daughters is starting to get creepy. It seems to be everywhere these days, what with that John Ritter show and several other plot lines in various sitcoms and movies.

Ya know, if fathers spent more time concerning themselves with the behavior of their sons, they wouldn't have to spend so much time "protecting" their daughters. I'm not a parent and I'm sure it's impossibly hard, but sometimes the best protection is teaching someone how to take care of themselves.

I shall now put my feminist soapbox back under my immaculately scoured kitchen sink, next to the canned preserves ;)

(I'm making a comment on that writer, not the Hughes family, who I know next to nothing about.)

NorthernLite

12-07-2002, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by coco
this whole public obsession w/fathers keeping boys away from their teenage daughters is starting to get creepy.....
(I'm making a comment on that writer, not the Hughes family, who I know next to nothing about.)

I read a subtext into the comment about "interlopers" -- perhaps the concern is more with stalker-types. All celebrities attract folks who are a couple sandwiches short of a picnic. I know I've even seen a couple people on the Net whose remarks about this particular skater gave me the willies. Celebs and "their people" should be alert.

kwanette

12-07-2002, 08:21 PM

Was Michelle in school in Jan/Feb of 99?

I thought she skated well in 99 Nats...Are you confusing it with 00 Nats...3rd in the sp...and a close win ?

I don't think MK entered UCLA until the fall of 99...

I think the author is definitely taking swipes at other skaters. I admire Sarah's view on education...I taught high school for 30 years. Her goals are admirable..

A definite dig at Tara.....and Kristi had a resume that was terrific....she was also 20 when she won, not 15 or 16...

BTW, what were the SAT scores?

SkateGuard

12-08-2002, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by kwanette
Was Michelle in school in Jan/Feb of 99?

I thought she skated well in 99 Nats...Are you confusing it with 00 Nats...3rd in the sp...and a close win ?

I don't think MK entered UCLA until the fall of 99...

I think you're right....

Michelle graduated from high school in the summer of '98, then took a year off. She didn't compete on the Grand Prix, right?

The next year (fall '99) she was a full-time student UCLA, competed at Skate America and Skate Canada, and came into Nationals totally stressed out.

At '99 nationals, she did skate well, but the media felt she didn't skate well enough. I think the media expected a performance like '98.......

Erin
(who really doesn't remember each Kwan performance after six national titles ):D

CMc

12-08-2002, 09:40 AM

Well I guess it goes to show you that people's lives should not be under a microscope for anyone except the ones living them.

I truly admire and respect Sarah (as you folks have known for quite some time now) and I think she's the best thing to happen to the skating world in a really long time, but it makes me crazy when suddenly it seems the media has to watch every move she makes, all because she became the Olympic Champion. They weren't doing that before.
I have to admit, when there are any new articles online about Sarah, I do read them, but after a while I'm like "Do I really have to be following her life this much??" and I take a step back. I'm a big fan, but not an obsessive one. I do have something resembling a life, thank goodness! ;)

And I don't think it should be this way for anybody in the spotlight--Ha, I know that's why it's called "spotlight", but I think even famous people have a right to some privacy.

As for the protectiveness from her family, I don't totally disagree with it. While Sarah's a very grounded young lady, she's still a young lady, and I guess her folks really know what they're doing. It's obvious they don't want anything bad to happen to her, whether it's from a misguided agent or a misguided boyfriend. At some point, I think they'll let her have her say about it.