Article - Yagudin unsure of his future

[adrianchew]

http://globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/sports/RTGAM/20021208/wyagu08/Sports/sportsBN/breakingnews-sports

Note - it does contain Sears Open spoilers.

[summertime]

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

[Halo girl]

Personally, I think he keeps talking about this for publicity.

If it's as big of a problem as he claims, he'd do something to help himself. Yet he won't take time off, doesn't want to consider surgery, just keeps skating along. I don't have much sympathy for people who complain, yet refuse to help themselves.

[RobinA]

Yags is done. I've thought it since the first time I heard he had a hip injury. I think he talks about it because he's asked, and because he's a young man coming to terms with the fact that something he's spent his entire life working toward is coming to an end. Most kids his age are just starting out. He's faced with the end of a career. Not to say he can't have many more careers, but I doubt he's seeing that right now.

[skatingfan3]

Halo girl,

Did you read the article carefully?? I don't get the feeling he's complaining but merely explaining his current situation because he was asked. As for the taking time off, he did but what I gather from the article, taking time off won't help his pain problem, so he DOES plan to have surgery in the spring.

Just thought I clear this up.

Deborah

[duane]

Halo Girl makes a good point, tho.

if the injury is as serious as it is, and, according to yagudin himself, "reports that the injury wasnt as serious as originally thought just arent true", why "ignore the pain" and continue to compete? his right hip has "a scarcity of cartilage", but yagudin plans to fulfill his rigorous skating schedule, knowing that this will not help the injury. this is not helping himself. does the name "tara lipinski" ring a bell? will he or his fans be happy when there is no cartilage at all in the hip?

this is totally nuts. if yagudin is looking towards the future, and feels that the money he now makes is important, he has many more opportunities available to him. he is the reigning Olympic champion, extremely popular, and as the girl yelled, he's "HOT"! this guy could make millions in endorsements alone--in either Canada or America.

[spiralsrfun]

I agree...


(Analogy)

...it's like this person at our work, when he always complains about this hurting, or that hurting, I say "Take some Tylenol" he says: "No..." then I say...suit yourself, but please don't complain then, either do something about it or be quiet.

[adrianchew]

I can't tell you what Aleksei is thinking - but no one for money is likely to endure that sort of pain. He seems to have an intense desire and passion for his skating and a determination to not let anything, even an injury, stop him from getting on the ice.

He skated his heart out for the crowds in Canada. While his actions may seem questionable and foolish to some of us - you have to respect that sort of willpower and strength of character.

[skatingfan3]

I wish that was true about the endorsements thing, duane, but that's not the case. Female figure skaters get the endorsements.

Okay, he does plan to have that surgery in the spring but no surgery is 100% successful in solving the problem, there are risks. I think he should have that surgery now but he's worry what if the surgery doesn't work and he's worse than he was before?? I think he's trying to get through this season (and it's going to be a long season for him), make his $ because he's going to need it for all those medical bills.

Deborah

[donnamarie]

I wish Alexei would stop skating for awhile and get the surgery now. He could come back later, as a show skater if nothing else. I love his skating, but I don't admire him for skating in pain. I'm sure it's hard for him to take the time for surgery now, and I'm sure he desperately wants to skate, but for gosh sake, he needs to do what needs to be done. He has already won enough medals, he has the artistry to carry him through in the future without the big jumps. He will always have a future in skating, even if, like Tara, he does the easier jumps. It sounds like he's being foolish to keep skating with this injury, when surgery is what he apparently needs.

[duane]

Originally posted by skatingfan3
I wish that was true about the endorsements thing, duane, but that's not the case. Female figure skaters get the endorsements.

in america, yes...but in Canada, the male skaters reign supreme. i remember kurt browning was once voted the most popular athlete in canada (over all the great canadian hockey players!), and we all are aware of elvis's superstar status in Canada. it seems the sport of FS is more respected in Canda than it is in America (and not seen as a "girl's" sport) and yagudin is extremely popular in Canada.

[Tigger]

All of you are forgetting one very important factor here....The power of denial. Trust me, I know all about denying the truth about something and going through w/your original intentions when it's completely the worst thing you could do. While Alexei knows how serious this is, he's not really in the place he needs to be in to actually realize skating is the worst thing he could do right now. It's part of the process of dealing w/something this serious. I'm really concerned he's doing worse harm to himself by skating, but until Alexei gets to that place where he can deal w/what's going on, he's going to keep on skating. Because that's what he knows and loves and how he's always dealt w/things because skating has brought him so much. I wish I could reach out, grab Alexei and sit him down in a chair myself, but only Alexei can do that. I remember all too well when I was facing a situation where a medical problem changed my life forever and it's a very dark place. You don't come out of that in a day and denial you're even there is part of it. That's where Alexei is right now. I just hope he can come out of it and find some peace w/the decision he has to make.

[lBrokenAnkle]

I am sorry Yags is going through this. He is taking injections, but it sounds like they are not too effective. He says he can't feel his leg on some of the jumps. This really, really worries me. Obviously continuing to skate is not going to help the hip injury, but it could also result in injury to other areas, the stomach, the leg, the back... Heck, skating completely healthy is dangerous, imagine how much more so it is with this kind of injury? How would the audience, how would his castmates feel watching him each night knowing what he was going through, what he was risking?

The thing is, this is not by any means unusual for an athlete. In one sense, Yags is lucky, he won the whole enchilada. Some skaters never make it before their bodies break down. Every football player is one tackle away from the end of the career, every baseball pitcher one pitch away from a blown out elbow. When the unthinkable happens they have to move on. Ygas may not be rich, but he is surely well off enough to take some time to get healthy and decide what to do next.

Bev Smith calls Yags strong. Well at some point it is stronger to give up on one thing to move on to the next. I hope the people around him give him all the support he needs to come to terms with his future, even if it is not what he'd hoped for.


Laura

[Tigger]

Another thing...

Alexei has a problem that's been there since birth. Skating has made it worse. This isn't going to get better w/simple rest. The only way something like this gets better is by medical intervention, like surgery. I wish he'd take the time to get the surgery now, but....Sigh!!

[jcspkbfan]

If I recall correctly, not so long ago, Alexei did have a chat with someone who knows all too well what he's going through right now: Tara Lipinski. I can't remember exactly what advice she gave him, but I hope she remembered to include a few words of warning about the possible consequences of overexherting a serious injury like this! It's a shame she can't do the full SOI tour this year because otherwise they would both have someone to support them and understand each other's pain.

Also, let's not forget in addition to all of the events Alexei is scheduled to do this next week or so, he's also scheduled to skate in 70-odd cities with SOI this winter! I'm sorry for posting a slight spoiler about this year's SOI tour here, but I seriously question the wisdom of the choreographers (who must have seen more than anybody just how much pain Alexei's in right now) who gave him so much work and so many solos in this year's show (while it sounds like certain other skaters in the show got somewhat shortchanged as a result, IMO). Didn't the powers that be at SOI learn anything from doing basically the same thing to Tara four years ago when she first joined the tour??

I only hope Alexei's surgery will ease his pain and if this injury does mean the end of his eligible career, he will at least be able to skate for many more years in the professional ranks!

[Halo girl]

I don't think it's denial, after all, he fully admits he won't be able to skate forever. People who are in denial don't admit they have problems, much less do they admit that their lives will change. I agree with duane that is has more to do with cash flow. After all, in the article, Alexei stated that skating is how he makes his money, and if he isn't skating later, he'll need the money he's making now. That's why I still say it could be for publicity. Olympic champions are the ones that typically get the most attention anyway. He's playing the Olympic champion who's now a victim of cronic injury. He's in the spotlight right now, and those in the spotlight tend to get better deals. It's very possible he is using this right now while he's still able to skate in order to make more money for his future.

I do think he really is hurt, but considering he keeps crying wolf at each competition, I tend to believe things aren't as bad as he's letting on.

[dmr65]

I am confused as to why SOI has him doing 3 highly motivated programs, and he's signed onto other compeitions with this problem he has... SOI knows he has a problem, why assist him in quickly ruining his health and career? Is it an injury or actualy degenerative problem?


I am very neutral with all this, because I really do not know what to believe. He says he is in pain, danger of pain and ruining his hip, doctors say this, doctors say that... I read all that, think about Tara, hearing he's doing 3 programs in a show that tours 70, adding is he doing the Canadian leg? and before all that doing competitions still landing jumps like there is no problem... This is why I don't know who or what to believe...

Nothing against Yags, I just wonder what or which journalist or articles are correct, and not just journalist getting attention using his name...


:?:

[dmr65]

Just like with B&S + S&P, Oly scandal
Nancy + Tanya.. I am starting to get a bit tired of these stories coming out left and right about Yag's, injury or hip problem... I rather the reports come out with more definitely information, instead of possibly, maybe, he said she said, I wonder, blah blah blah...

I so think it's the journalists trying to get attention, so they keep the snow ball rolling. I hope eventually Yags will just tell them when he finds out anything definite he's let them know. So I hope Yag's PR people will try to get a grip on those stories, because I am sure they don't want people eventually see him as a exiting whinner... That does not feel good to the fans to read ... His fans know better, but I think some in the general skating public may not be so understanding..

I say that, because when ever we see Tanya's name, we immediately start to laugh and think of what she cried about, said or did after the Olympics that was looked on as a joke..

I fear B&S and S&P will be viewed for the scandal, they did not ask for, and not their accomplishments.

The following is just my personal view.

When I personally read or see the initials, G&G, I think of their great accomplishments, beautiful skating... I use to get mixed thoughts when I see Katia.. I use to see poor widow... But I think Katia herself didn't want this, so I have to believe she and her PR worked hard to omit that poor widow scenario, instead of flip flopping stories...

I no longer think tragidy, when I see or read about Katia... She refuse to allow that.

B&S + S&P, I hope with the growing friendship between Anton and David, things or views may from the negative views.


Well, that is just my take on it.. Not meaning to offend anyone...



Denise...

[summertime]

Yes, Yags is scheduled for the Canadian leg of SOI.