A rude reception?

[ceceB]

Hi all!

Today in the newspaper I was reading an article about worlds, and an interesting point was brought up.

Do you think American fans might be colder towards certain countries? I mean, obviously the whole "freedom fries" thing doesn't speak for everyone, especially respectable skating fans :D, but should German and French (maybe even Canadian) skaters be concerned about the crowd?

I figure this is irrational. I know that nationality has nothing to do with whether I'm a fan of the skater. Certainly I've never thought unfavorably of a skater because of where they're from. But this is an emotional time.

What do you all think?

[Arsenette]

Personally I doubt it.. I would think if Worlds was in a different country it would be that way (especially when the Americans hit the ice) but for the most part I think because we ask these questions (being fans) I assume the general consensus would be to cheer everyone.

[gardana]

I don't think they'd get a rude reception, or at least I hope they won't. I read a report about the French team going to the practices, and when they announced "France" on the intercom-there was a lot of cheering.:D

[anital]

Canadians booed the US National Anthem at a major sporting event today. I am disgusted. It's not Americans who will boo, it's others who will boo the Americans. I wish they'd leave world politics out of sports.

[roogu]

I think when it comes to skating, fans let the skating speak for themselves if politics are a concern. In the end, good skating is good skating and fans never forget that.

[VGL]

Originally posted by anital
Canadians booed the US National Anthem at a major sporting event today. I am disgusted. It's not Americans who will boo, it's others who will boo the Americans. I wish they'd leave world politics out of sports.


That happened at hockey game in Montreal, Quebec. There are a lot of people in Quebec that believe that Quebec should separate from Canada. I would hardly consider that representative of the country as a whole. Please do not lump all Canadians together like that.

[PatC]

Exactly. Plus a lot of people who follow hockey seem to check their brains at the door. Intelligent people normally, and idiots while watching the game. ;)

Take that report with a grain of salt. It's not representative of anything in Canada.

[Lynnet]

I am a proud Canadian and I have never booed anyone for anything anywhere. When Cinquanta got booed at Edmonton Worlds, I was embarrassed and did not participate. This does not mean I do not have very very strong opinions on subjects ranging from the War in Iraq to the leadership of the ISU. I do. I just believe that booing is a lack of manners that says more about the booers than it does about the booees. <g> There are much more constructive ways to protest and show our opposition to anything. My apologies for the bad manners of a few of my countrymen/women.

[sk8er1964]

I'm an American (living in a great country) who has grown up less than an hour from Canada (another great country). I have lived in England, too (yet another great country).

I think it is pretty safe to say that there are idiots everywhere. How often have we heard about all-out fights at soccer games between people from diffrerent countries? Here, about a year ago at a Detroit basketball game, some of the idiots boo-ed the Canadian national anthem, and I don't think they even had a reason. This is Detroit - I can't think of any city that has closer ties with another city and country than we do with Windsor Canada - they should have known better. Heck, I can even sing parts of their anthem because I have heard it so many times. So, Lynnet, I return the apology.

I would sincerely hope that politics won't enter into the Worlds and skaters will be left out of it. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised to hear some of the idiots' boos. Hopefully, the cheers of the intelligent people will drown them out.

[Excidra]

Whether or not the American crowd will boo skaters from countries who decided not to support America in the war, remains to be seen. But i'm willing to give the American crowd the benefit of doubt.

Actually, the Americans have booed, well not exactly. In the time of the Olympics, it was reported that the American hockey team were stepping on the Canadian flag as it was placed on the ground, what do you say about that? Surly I was not going to be upset with America as a nation because of the actions of a few.

[KatieC]

Just a little update on the hockey and anthem situation in Canada. Toronto Maple Leafs fans gave a standing ovation to the singing of the American National anthem tonight.
And, count me as another who can sing the anthem of another country. At a professional competition here several years ago, Todd Elderidge won against Kurt Browning and obviously Cdn fans were disappointed. But, when Todd got up to receive his award all of my friends and I joined in singing the U.S. anthem because there just weren't enough Americans in the crowd to be heard. I thought it was pretty neat at the time.

Edited to add, I understood that the report about the flag at the Olympic hockey game was false.

[Jenny]

More on the hockey situation - at Saturday night's game in Montreal, the American anthem was cheered, as it was at Saturday night's game in Toronto. Hopefully there will be no more booing of any anthems.

... at least until the playoffs start. Last year the Canadian anthem was booed in New York. A few days later, when the American anthem was played in Toronto, the crowd showed their good sportsmanship by cheering. Again, hopefully there will be none of that stupidity this year.

Jenny

[Artemis]

Originally posted by KatieC
Edited to add, I understood that the report about the flag at the Olympic hockey game was false.

Not false. The American team did have the Canadian flag on the floor of their locker room. However, they reported that it was not out of disrespect, or to walk on it, but rather to remind themselves of what they were up against. Folks can draw their own conclusions about the real reasons ...

As for the booing of national anthems ... I'm really hoping that this sort of disrespect will end, and especially that there will be no such nonesense at Worlds. However, if it does happen, I also hope that it will be viewed in context: as the actions of a small group of people in a time of great international tension.

[Mazurka Girl]

The French skaters have gotten a very pleasant reception during practices. It doesn't seem like this will be a problem.

[butterfly]

Originally posted by Mazurka Girl
The French skaters have gotten a very pleasant reception during practices. It doesn't seem like this will be a problem. I believe that we must be an example to other countries and that we as a people respect our guests. We don't have to agree with them to respect them as athletes, besides the athletes do not decide policy for their countries. We actually have an opportunity to show them how great America and Americans are. Hey don't forget it is a competition and we can go out there and beat them on the the ice.

[JillLaQ]

I really think that all the skaters will be well received, and will have a good time at this years worlds. We Yanks like to have a good time and want everyone to remember good things about our country.

Personally speaking, I hope all the skaters do their best and are judged fairly.

[fsfan]

..the skaters were all well received..

The German and French were particularly well received, as were the Canadians.

The response that was kind of "luke warm" was for Plushenko following his skate......

[Aussie Willy]

When I went to Worlds in Minneapolis in 98, my friend and I commented how supportive the crowd was to all skaters. Of course they went wild for the US skaters which I was a bit bored with, but overall the way they applauded and supported every skater from every country was fantastic. And those performances which may not have won a medal or even placed in the top 10, but were definately personal bests got a great round of applause (Sylvia Fontana comes to mind).

However I definately remember A&P were not very well received by some of the Canadians (who were in a big group at one end of the rink) and even treated quite rudely (wild applause when B&K were place ahead of A&P while A&P were still in the kiss and cry area), because it was just after the 98 Olympics and the B&K judging scandal. Even my friend who was not into ice dance but caught the end of the compulsories commented on it.

[Lynnet]

Aussie Willy, I don't think that fans are being rude when they cheer the placements while another skater is still in the Kiss and Cry. Fans cheer the instant they see the placements come up on the board if the skaters they are routing for go into first place. I have been to a lot of skating competitions and I have never seen a crowd, when the marks come up, turn their heads as one to see if the Kiss and Cry is empty before cheering marks or placements. That seems a little much to expect.
I always cheer for a great skate no matter who does it - but I cheer extra specially loud for my favourite skaters. I can't imagine anyone who doesn't.

[Mazurka Girl]

Brian Joubert got a rousing ovation from the audience after his SP, which included me. I rest my case. :)

Stanick Jeannette was also warmly received during SP, which did not include me (although I clapped). Since I saw him earlier in the day smack his kleenex box onto the practice session ice during what looked like a little tantrum (or something) & then leave it there for a fellow competitor to come along & pick up after him. That was not his finest "Little Prince" moment, tsk tsk. :P

[pittypat]

Originally posted by PatC
Exactly. Plus a lot of people who follow hockey seem to check their brains at the door......


ROTFLOL :D

[LTM]

Just from what I've seen on TV the crowds have been pretty awesome
in Washington.
My only questions is that there do seem to be large blocks of empty seats at times?
Or am I imagining things.

[fsfan]

Yep... 3 large sections... 22 seats per row per section i believe...

so that's 66 x 16-20 rows of empty seats!!

No one seems to know, but it seems that they want to give those "secret" judges some protection from the crazy skating fans.....