WC #4 NAGANO, JAPAN

[aaosmts19]

Dec 14, 2008 23:26:07 GMT -5 mtnme said:

So, I watched the B final again. Just as JR starts to pick up the pace to set up a pass, Apolo gives him a little pat on the butt, like "Go get 'em, kid - I'm just gonna sit back here in 4th".

That's interesting....I'll have to watch that again. Ok, let's take nationality out of it for a moment. DOes it really seem right that skater's are communicating on the ice with each other during a race. Skaters are to race as individuals. If that is the case, why would one skater be encouraging another?

If this IS the case (and we dont' know if it is)....the case being that Apolo was going to show up but not really go for it in the "B", I think he made a tactical mistake of making this gesture.

People will probably slam me for saying this, but consider: how would we take it if we were in 2nd and 3rd, skating to win, against Korea, and we saw one of the Korean skaters make this gesture? I venure to guess that we would interpret it the same way that the judges did.

...about Apolo wanting to skate a more limited schedule this year...glad he is skating as much as he is and working the kinks out of those new skates!

[EnElYaK]

What's the link to watch Apolo'c races?

[August]

All interesting points. I’ve heard that Apolo doesn’t believe in stressing the body and risking injury without good reason. Perhaps he wanted to save his strength for when it really mattered. Personally, I wouldn’t read too much into the gesture because if that was what he was up to, why give himself away?

[aaosmts19]

www.universalsports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&KEY=&SPID=13052&SPSID=105576

[mtnme]

Here's the link. It's the second to last race, so you'll have to fast forward to the last 10-15 minutes to see the race again.

(Unless you're snowed in like me and have time to watch the whole enchilada again! LOL.
Ahhh, winter in Tahoe. We had an unusually long Indian Summer, the ski areas were starting to panic....and BAM! I'm looking out the window at 'white out' conditions.

....I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas....)


www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?SPSID=105581&SPID=13052&DB_OEM_ID=23000&_MODE_=ONDEMAND&CLIP_ID=352002&CLIP_FILE_ID=356552

As for the assist, as Apolo has said before about B finals, the only reason to skate them is "for points and for pride". There was no particularly good reason to go 'full tilt boogie' and risk injury, especially right before Nationals, which are much more important as they determine the World Team. So why not let the others knock themselves out. (and ESPECIALLY if what SusanG said is true...he wasn't all that fired up to skate the WC's anyway. Oh, and 'Hi' Susan, we've missed you at the competitions lately.)

As for the supposed 'assist', I would say the pat looked more 'paternal' than anything else. And I've noticed that behavior throughout the last 2 seasons with the younger skaters, and truth be told, I find it quite endearing. Apolo will most likely retire after 2010, and instead of copping a "it's been fun, but so long sucka's" mentality, as the 'elder stateman, he seems to be more than willing to give of his time and his knowledge to the up and coming skaters. In a sport where supposedly, it's every man for himself - instead I have seen Apolo in the heat box before a skate, giving a pep talk to Simon Cho or JR any number of times. And I confess, I kinda like that. The sport may never see another athlete as charismatic as Apolo, but he may leave the sport knowing there is still plenty of talent, and it warms my heart to see him willing to nurture it.

We all heard originally that they weren't going to compete in Japan as it was too close to Nationals. The original decision might have been the best one. And I 'feel their pain', so to speak. After spending nearly two weeks skipping around the West Coast for WC1 and 2, I was ready to come home and sleep in my own bed and catch up with my day to day life. And don't get me wrong, I LOVED every minute of the experience and the company I was in, but it was wearing. These athletes have been on the road almost continuously since WC1. While constantly going head to head with your competitors is probably a good thing, if for no other reason than to keep you on your game and learn from each experience, I also believe too much of it can wear an athlete out and have them peak at the worst time- when it matters the least - and can hurt his or her overall season in the long run. Apolo has done this for a very long time. I'm sure by now he knows what is best for him and what ain't.

What others may view as ulterior motives for not winning, I tend to view as being a smart competitor. Knowing when to pull out all the stops ...and when to not do so.
As Apolo said in one of my favorite interviews, when asked if he felt a lot of pressure to perform - " ....I have to satisfy myself before thinking about satisfying others... especially in the sport".
Apolo may always keep us guessing, but he always comes through when it counts. He's a smart man, and a smart competitor - I have no doubt he knows what he's doing, even though it may seem mysterious to us at times.

[gasp]

LOL Mtnme: I'm sure by now he knows what is best for him and what ain't.

ITA

[nell]

I am very impressed with Apolo's attitude toward, interest in and nurturing of the younger skaters. The fact that he shares his knowledge and experience with these guys, who are not only his team mates but, quite frankly, his competitors, to me just proves how darn good he is. The epitome of Olympic good sportsmanship.