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Post by susie on Aug 27, 2009 5:32:23 GMT -5
Sorry folks. I have followed the guy for years. I've seen first hand his behavior towards his fellow athletes on the ice in Olympic venues, WC races, US Championships and I ain't buying that for a second. He's a real person with real feelings and flaws, for sure, but if he had this nasty streak, it would have been exposed somewhere over the 7 years he has been in the media eye. Lord knows they didn't spare him when he had his car crash or during the hearings on the 2002 Trial races, I don't think they would give him a bye on that stuff if it were there. I admire and respect Apolo Ohno and sure as heck, wouldn't throw him under the bus for one newspaper article with one sided allegations and a handful of hypotheticals thrown in. As for "head games"? Yup, undoubtedly they are being played in this as in any sport. But there is a difference in trying to "psych" another athlete out by claiming your superior skills and trashing another athlete as a person. That's a low road that, thank heavens, not many athletes take. When they do, it generally blows up in their face by inspiring the other person and degrading themselves in the fan's eyes. Thank-you and amen, sister! This is Charles Ryan's side of the story. I'd love to hear Apolo's side of it. Think back to when Apolo did DWTS. Was he behaving like some high-maintenance prima donna, or was he laid-back, relaxed, charming, and yet focused, hard-working, and trying his best to please his partner? THAT's Apolo. Goodness knows the camera followed him around enough. I suppose I've heard my fair share of gossip, but never anything to question why I'm an ardent fan of his -- just normal guy stuff. In fact, there are lots of people who have nothing but glowing things to say about him. It is true that he can be very introverted and private. We all know that. I think sometimes introversion can be misinterpreted as arrogance. I do believe that he's come out of his shell a bit over the past two years, however. If (big if) there was a brawl, then I'm going to guess that it was over a LOT more than one cheeky pass. From everything I've heard, Apolo is not one to get worked up quickly AT ALL. I think you would have to go very, very far to get him that level of mad. Maybe C. Ryan did something brazen, showboat-y and foolish that endangered Apolo or the other skaters. Maybe it was the accumulation of a number of strongly irritating incidents. But we're not going to hear about that from Ryan, now are we? I agree with Mtnme that I've seen flashes of brilliance from Ryan, and flashes of less than brilliant. I don't think it's because he's spread himself too thin (although that might contribute,) but more because he isn't quite all there as an ST skater. IMO he's good, yes, but great, no. |
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Post by autumnsbliss on Aug 27, 2009 9:56:11 GMT -5
OK, am I missing something here?? There is one article in which Ryan portrays himself as being mistreated (his side of the story to which he is entitled) A reference in the article to an altercation between Ryan and Apolo but no mention of who started the altercation and no mention of punches being thrown. An altercation can be a shouting match too, I would think. Someone brings up their high school track team story. Someone else "thinks" there is an unspoken hierarchy on the team' and all of a sudden Apolo is an egotistical maniac who "pounds" on people who pass him??? and we've been drinking kool-aid?? Yikes! My track story wasn't to demean Apolo but to simply explain what Ryan could have done to upset him.  I think very highly of Apolo and this article didn't sway my opinion, not even for a second. I actually could understand why he could be upset at Ryan because of my personal experiences. My main point about the track story is that Ryan (most likely a newbie when this alteration took place due to him calling his mother) probably came out and possibly like others said show boat or something that could endanger other skaters. But like I was saying some people just get put off by a new person coming out of nowhere to beat them for a workout. It could quite possibly be that Ryan passed Apolo in a workout in which he didn't need to or wasn't suppose to and cut off Apolo on the ice. Most athletes have that competitive nature and I can see Apolo being erked (like my friend was) by some simple acts by Ryan (even if Ryan didn't think of them as big deal). These stories of the "no passing" and the "altercation" are so vague that you just don't know what is going on. The more I think about it, the more I feel that its just washed out media drama to get some papers sold. I'm not sure how the media was the last winter Olympics to cause pre-Olympic drama but it looks like they want to get started early this season.  I just hope once the Olympic team is picked that they will really stay close and not let any possible negative on a teammates get out. Maybe Apolo should give them some media lessons for preparation since he's pretty much an expert now.  No Excuses, No Games, Just Sport. Exactly.  |
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Post by mtnme on Aug 27, 2009 15:12:11 GMT -5
And Mtnme - I rather like it when you can't keep quiet...   Why, Thank You LurkerB.  I'd put a little 'blushing emotie', but I'm too busy to go retrieve it.  Back at ya!  |
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Post by number1fan on Aug 27, 2009 16:18:26 GMT -5
 hey y'all
thank goodness for google alerts…...
finally, something we can sink our teeth into…an article showing our apolo as (can i say) less than perfect.
first of all…he isn’t, he’s human...and for the past 7+ years, most of us have unfairly placed him on this unreachable pedestal.
second…this article is written by who? when, in 2002? 2004? 2006? 2008? just trying to shake things up eh?
third…we need to hear from both ryan and apolo about the trueness of this article before we place judgment on anyone involved....to tell you the truth, i think this is all water under the bridge now.
and mtnme…i too vividly remember when ryan took off chasing that korean rabbit @ worlds.
that’s what i’m talking about...teamwork!
missed y’all alot!!! tabby, enelyak, mellie, jennaceeta & lexi (r u 2 back?) and of course THE POSSE!!!
p.s....i'm trying like heck to make it to trials in a couple of weeks...will check my messages soon.
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Post by mtnme on Aug 27, 2009 16:28:11 GMT -5
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Post by susie on Aug 27, 2009 18:52:40 GMT -5
I just want to say that I know that there's been a feeling in some segments of the Apolo fan community that maybe our guy should not be quite so idolized. Is he human? Sure. Flawed? Absolutely. Does he put his pants on one leg at a time? You bet! (...and wouldn't you just love to see that, lol!) But I wouldn't be Apolo's fan if I thought for a minute that he was anything other than a really great guy. I have to admit that I find the trash-talking (that is probably inevitable leading up to the Trials and the Olympics) upsetting, but it is what it is. Folks, Apolo is the same guy who was knocked out of contention for a gold medal at the Salt Lake Olympics, crawled across the finish line to get silver, was stitched up afterwards, and who was so very proud to accept the silver medal on behalf of our country, with nary a wimper or word of complaint? That's character! And this was right after the 9/11 attacks, when we were so hurting and raw. I was proud of Apolo then, I was crying when I saw him on the medal stand in Torino, and I'll probably be a slobbery mess when I see him compete in Vancouver. Will Apolo win at the Olympics? No one can say. But I do know that he has worked so very hard to prepare for the games. Folks, Apolo's ours, and he's going to be wearing our colors. Does anyone doubt for a second that he will do us proud, and represent us well, no matter what happens? I rest my case. |
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Aug 29, 2009 11:18:54 GMT -5
A.] Obviously I realize that I need to take a look at the way MY words are being perceived by others because I never meant for my OPINION to seem like a FACT. I only assumed that the fight had been physical in some stance because of the writer's words - which are pretty much always subjective it appears. So I'm sorry if what I said made you guys think one thing when I didn't mean it that way.
B.] I don't think Apolo is idolized (as much as he could be). He just rarely seems to slip up. I think he has a good enough team around him to know the consequences of his mistakes.
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I think very highly of Apolo and this article didn't sway my opinion, not even for a second. I actually could understand why he could be upset at Ryan because of my personal experiences.
