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Post by skaterswaltz on Sept 28, 2009 0:46:06 GMT -5
Wow - don't write the team off already. Have some faith -- there's a lot to be said for American Ingenuity. GO TEAM USA!!!
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Post by mtnme on Sept 28, 2009 10:30:01 GMT -5
Wow - don't write the team off already. Have some faith -- there's a lot to be said for American Ingenuity. GO TEAM USA!!! I agree here 1000%. One bad competition does not a lowly team make. Not only do I believe Team USA is exhausted, but it wouldn't surprise me if they are holding back some. Apolo has said repeatedly that by the time the 2006 games came along, the competition knew what he was going to do before he did it. He is a smart competitor. He won't make that mistake twice. I doubt he will tip his hand before the games, just do his part to get the 5 spots for a full Olympic team and 3 spots for every individual race. Plus, com'on guys. He had the flu! Try to remember the last time YOU were on the bathroom floor hugging the toilet with said malady. I myself SLEPT in the bathroom as I no longer possesed the strength to quickly get to the needed bathroom appliance in short order. FORGET even thinking about strapping on some skates and trying to go mach 10 around a rink.  Give the guy a break. He did just fine considering the circumstances.  The rest of the team did well the week before. And suddenly the next week they don't have what it takes? I don't think it works that way. They've been traveling and competing now for a solid month, if not more. They're tired and understandably so. Give them a break too.  If my understanding is correct, normally teams wouldn't have bothered with these first 2 world cups in an Olympic year for exactly that reason. But if I'm not mistaken, the ISU cracked down on that not wanting to put on events the heavy hitters in the sport wouldn't compete in. I can't remember the last time Apolo competed this early in the season. And given the work load, it's going to be a loooooonnnngggg season for all the teams before the Olympic games. Have Faith. GO TEAM USA! |
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Post by lilyover76 on Sept 28, 2009 11:01:04 GMT -5
[/color][/quote] I'll second that!  ;D |
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Post by Mars on Sept 28, 2009 11:02:58 GMT -5
[/color][/quote] I'll second that! ;D[/quote] DITTO!!!  |
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geri
New Member
Posts: 42
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Post by geri on Sept 28, 2009 12:12:12 GMT -5
DITTO...........all that traveling in such a short time would have done me in.
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goaao
New Member
Posts: 34
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Post by goaao on Sept 28, 2009 12:41:01 GMT -5
I totally agree with mtnme and the rest. I think they all did well, especially Apolo, all things considered. Here's some good news......according to USSpeedskating twitter
"JR Celski will be throwing out the first pitch during the Mariner's game on Wednesday night."
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Post by wildfire on Sept 28, 2009 12:57:02 GMT -5
Wow - don't write the team off already. Have some faith -- there's a lot to be said for American Ingenuity. GO TEAM USA!!! I agree here 1000%. One bad competition does not a lowly team make. Not only do I believe Team USA is exhausted, but it wouldn't surprise me if they are holding back some. Apolo has said repeatedly that by the time the 2006 games came along, the competition knew what he was going to do before he did it. He is a smart competitor. He won't make that mistake twice. I doubt he will tip his hand before the games, just do his part to get the 5 spots for a full Olympic team and 3 spots for every individual race. Plus, com'on guys. He had the flu! Try to remember the last time YOU were on the bathroom floor hugging the toilet with said malady. I myself SLEPT in the bathroom as I no longer possesed the strength to quickly get to the needed bathroom appliance in short order. FORGET even thinking about strapping on some skates and trying to go mach 10 around a rink. Give the guy a break. He did just fine considering the circumstances. The rest of the team did well the week before. And suddenly the next week they don't have what it takes? I don't think it works that way. They've been traveling and competing now for a solid month, if not more. They're tired and understandably so. Give them a break too. If my understanding is correct, normally teams wouldn't have bothered with these first 2 world cups in an Olympic year for exactly that reason. But if I'm not mistaken, the ISU cracked down on that not wanting to put on events the heavy hitters in the sport wouldn't compete in. I can't remember the last time Apolo competed this early in the season. And given the work load, it's going to be a loooooonnnngggg season for all the teams before the Olympic games. Have Faith. GO TEAM USA! 
You hit it ALL right on...HAVE FAITH in our Team. Be positive and supportive of them all, they're working hard!![/i] |
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Post by gasp on Sept 28, 2009 13:24:13 GMT -5
My thought: We need to move away from believing WINNING is the only measure of success at all times. I believe Lily has the best perspective on that philosophy through the eyes of her grandson who competes in the Special Olympics program. I encourge all of us to keep the threads here and at Boots 'n Blades positive and foreward thinking. If you post to the skater's FB sites, ditto for those posts too. It's been a long journey from Marquette to Korea for all of us. We have Apolo with some kind of bug. We have J.R. down and recovering in SLC. We have Allison worrying us to death on every turn or close pass. We have poor Jordan unable to use all of his techno gadgets while in China. We have fans who can't get NBC to cover these athletes so we backdoor it through China to watch in Korea. Three cheers for T.C. for that. Yeah, there's alot we could grumble about, but I for one will pass. So looking forward to the next NON-TELEVISED race.
And with permission from the Reutters to post here and ONLY here & at B 'n B, let me share a true insider's perspective.
This via email. Thanks again to Beth Reutter for permission to post:
Katherine is heading to Champaign, IL for a week of R&R after 3 HARD weeks of competition:
1) Olympic Trials: Katherine named 2010 National Champion and nominated as the #1 seed to the women's 2010 U.S. Olympic Short Track Team;
2) World Cup I: Katherine earned individual gold (1000m), bronze (1500m), and silver as a member of the Ladies 3000m Relay Team;
3) World Cup II: thrills and spills - no medals
As Katherine's parents, Jay and I have very different roles in Katherine's skating career - Jay is the technical side of the team, I'm the soft side of the team -the shoulder for crying and the ear for listening. From the 17 years that Katherine has been in skating, here's what I've learned - first and foremost -
After a race/meet - athletes *greatly* dislike comments from FFF's (fans, family, friends) that focus on what they didn't accomplish, instead of what they did accomplish. Comments such as 'Too Bad', 'Better luck next time', etc. are well-intentioned, but they'd rather hear 'Wow, look how far you made it!'. Athletes at this level see the glass as half full, not half empty; they thrive on positive energy; they work hard to ward off negative energy vampires!
They think in terms of the Olympic Motto:
"Citius, Altius, Fortius" - faster, higher, stronger....every step of the way serves to make them faster, higher, stronger.
And the Olympic Creed really puts their endeavors in perspective:
"The most important thing is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
Katherine struggled at World Cup II, but she fought well - she made it to the finals in all of her events!
54 women participated - so many that in the 1000m there were Pre-Preliminaries to the Preliminaries! And from the Preliminaries they went to Heats, to Quarterfinals, to Semifinals, to Finals. Katherine made it to the B final - coming in 5th *overall* behind the 3 Koreans and one Chinese in the A final and ahead of 2 other Chinese in the B final - ahead of 49 other competitors.
More women can be on the line in the 1500, making for fewer rounds; still, they had to go through Heats, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals. Katherine made it to the A final; she fell in the 2nd to last lap - that's short track - but she had a solid hold on 2nd and was fighting for 1st. The spill put her in 6th *overall*, behind 2 Koreans, 2 Chinese, and Australia's top skater - ahead of 48 other skaters.
Bottomline - y'all know the cream floats to the top; Katherine's at the top. With two 2009-2010 World Cups behind her, here is how the International Skating Union has Katherine ranked (based on points):
World Ranking
1st in 1000m
2nd in 1500m
3rd *overall*
09-10 World Cup Classification Ranking
1st in 1000m
4th in 1500m
Katherine did GREAT at World Cup II - Please share your postive thoughts with Katherine at: katherine@katherinereutter.com
When Beth ends this email ^^^above^^^ I am certain she would want you to feel free to insert your favorite skater's name in place of Katherines and let that one and/or ALL of the team know we are behind them 100%.
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sk8er
Full Member
Posts: 145
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Post by sk8er on Sept 28, 2009 13:58:11 GMT -5
GASP: thank you. Great post and right from the horse's mouth. Here's a quote from my guru, Paramahansa Yogananda: " When you make up your mind to do good things, you will accomplish them if you use dynamic will power to follow through. No matter what the circumstances are, if you go on trying, God will create the means by which your will shall find its proper reward. This is the truth Jesus referred to when he said: If ye have faith and doubt not...if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, it shall be done. If you continuously use your willpower no matter what reverses come it will produce success and health and power....." And also, "If you make up your mind and go forth like a flame every obstacle shall be consumed." The althletes already practice visualization, athletes have for years. The brain treats these mental images as if they were actual experiences. Try reading "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor. So, yes....let's keep those positive thoughts and images flowing for everyone!  |
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Post by skaterswaltz on Sept 28, 2009 16:42:46 GMT -5
TEAM USA JUST ROCKS...PERIOD! And they make us proud at every turn. And as a parent, I think their parents ROCK, too. I cannot even comprehend sending my daughter off to parts unknown at 14 or so to train. But that's what parents do - enable the dream. And that's what I want to do as a fan -- enable their dream any way I can, even if it's through osmosis!  GO TEAM USA! And of course my usual: GO APOLO GO!
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Sept 28, 2009 18:29:50 GMT -5
I haven't lost my faith in any of the skaters. You all make very valid points. Thank you! :] And to keep the momentum going - GO TEAM USA! |
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Post by mtnme on Sept 29, 2009 1:07:26 GMT -5
Thank You Gasp for that A-M-A-Z-I-N-G post. And Thank You to Beth Reutter for allowing you to post her thoughts here. I myself may have been guilty of those well meaning comments to the skaters, and it is something I am sure to be more mindful of in the future. Focus on what they DID accomplish. Got it. I hope all the skaters know how proud we are of them, and just how wonderful they are and how much they inspire us to step up to our own struggles. And as Skaterswaltz said, their parents rock too. Not only for being able to send their kids off to parts unknown at 14, but for believing in them. You look up in the stands, and you see the parents of the skaters. Competition after competition, you know them by sight. Their unwavering belief in their kids, that they can do anything they set their minds to. Sadly, I didn't grow up in a home like that. At times I believe that the world is full of opportunities. One call from dear old dad, and I'm on the edge of a hopeless abyss of negativity. And then I go to these competitions, and these skaters and their parents renew my faith, that all things are possible. And once again, I believe. This year hasn't been a good one for me. My faith and belief in the positive often shaken to the core. That's when those 'earthly angels' the powers that be place in your path arrive at just the right time, with just the right thing to say. Wildfire sent me the link to this song. I'm not much of a Country Western music fan as a rule, but I think the words to this song is my new anthem. The chorus may be a fitting one for the skaters too. Rascal Flats - STANDYou feel like a candle in a hurricane Just like a picture with a broken frame Alone and helpless Like you've lost your fight But you'll be alright, you'll be alright. (Chorus) 'Cause when push comes to shove, You taste what you're made of You might bend, 'till you break 'Cause it's all you can take On your knees you look up Decide you've had enough You get mad! You get strong! Wipe your hands, Shake it off- Then you Stand, Then you Stand Life's like a novel With the end ripped out The edge of a canyon With only one way down Take what you're given before its gone Start holding on, keep holding on Everytime you get up And get back in the race One more small piece of you Starts to fall into place 'Cause when push comes to shove, You taste what you're made of You might bend, 'till you break 'Cause it's all you can take On your knees you look up Decide you've had enough You get mad! You get strong! Wipe your hands, Shake it off! Then you Stand, Yeah, you Stand! www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N0yB24M7VMAnd thanks again, Wildfire. |
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Post by Lori on Sept 29, 2009 13:18:58 GMT -5
Wow - don't write the team off already. Have some faith -- there's a lot to be said for American Ingenuity. GO TEAM USA!!! EXACTLY, Skaterswaltz... I went through the calculations, and if my understanding is right, if we perform in World Cups 3 & 4 as we did in World Cups 1 & 2, we would still accomplish BOTH the ultimate World Cup goals for both Ladies and Men: 1) Qualifying to send a full team of 5 Ladies and 5 Men to the Olympics, and 2) Qualifying the maximum of 3 skaters per gender per individual distance... ...not bad, eh? |
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Post by wildfire on Sept 29, 2009 15:19:07 GMT -5
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stfan
Junior Member
Posts: 51
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Post by stfan on Sept 29, 2009 15:50:52 GMT -5
Thank you all for sharing your thoughts. I felt guilty and tried to think back if I've ever said anything negative. Only positive thoughts from now on. I felt even better after Lori's calculation. Thank you!
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~Lori