Serious comment about Michelle and the streaker

[probativev]

I know this whole thing turned out kind of funny, but I want to say that I'm so impressed with Michelle for having the nerves of steel and pulling on such a great performance after that. She already said that she thought the man might have a weapon and she was looking out for a gun when he started taking his clothes off. I can only imagine how another skater would have been totally rattled after that. Really, kudos to her for maintaining composure and able to pull through.

And another thing, I posted this in another thread, I don't like this happening at all. While this guy is just a hack, it exposes to more dangerous people how vulnerable the athletes are. It definitely can give certain not-so-harmless people ideas.

I wonder if they will show this on the broadcast tonight. I have really mixed feelings. On the one hand, I want the world to see how great Michelle handled this. OTOH, the last thing we need is to let some terrorist know that they can just get into the rink when the most famous American skating icon is on the ice.

Not funny at all....

Alexa

[kwanette]

Alexa, I totally agree with your sentiments...

[dancethingy]

not just the most famous american skating ICON, but a WORLD famous skating ICON

[GardenKitty]

I agree as well. I kept thinking about the lunatic who stabbed Monica Seles. You never know what an individual who comes charging onto the ice like that has in mind. On the one hand I'd love to hear what Uncle Dick has to say, but I really don't think they should give him any media coverage.

[Baylor]

I too, thought of Monica Seles. Didn't that happen in Germany too?


Baylor

[Kabooke]

Yeah, Monica was stabbed in Germany!

After the German courts did relatively nothing to the guy
who did it she vowed never to return to Germany and hasn't to this day!:(

[Yzerbear19]

They showed the streaker on CBC's coverage. They later said that they after they got him off the ice he was able to run out into the parking lot where they then caught him. Definitely raises questions regarding the safety of the skaters. Can you imagine if he would have jumped down there while she was skating her program?

Yzerbear

[wingheartsong]

Yes, that did happen in Germany too. I agree with how disturbing this is. How could that guy have gotten on the ice and actually skate around at the same time that Michelle was skating?! What the heck kind of security do they have?! Very scary - and yes, Michelle handled it incredibly well.

[neneth]

I saw it and it really rattled Michelle.Michelle did not noticed that she was skating with this guy.Until Rafael called her to get of the rink.Then the security can.The guy started taking off his clothes.They brougth Michelle at the backstage and I don't who who was with her Rafael.But according to Paul is a USFSA representative.Michelle can back to the rink and try to calm down.breathing heavily, like blowing air.Did not took much time to calm down and skate.But while she was skating Michelle still blowing air up to 10 second of her program.Michelle is very brave to do that and to finish her program without any major mistake I applaud her for that.Even during her intervview Michelle pale and still blowing air.
I just hope it will not happen again.I do believe that somebody have a conspiracy against Michelle.This is a very weird World competition.

[TwinnerA]

I was terrified when I heard there was a man on the ice. Why didn't some MKF'ers go tackle him and drag him off the ice. No, seriously, I was scared for Michelle!

[gatzbee]

if ANYTHING secuirty needs to be REALLY increased. i thought after the nancy kerrigan incident that things like that would be prevented. wow, im so glad nothing happened to michelle. she's like the rock star of skating, and security was that poor that something like that happened :eek

[LadyM76]

When I heard about this, the first thing that went through my mind was Monica Seles and Nancy Kerrigan. I am so thankful that he didn't hurt Michelle or anybody else. I hope they increase security and take more precautions(?) to protect all the skaters. This incident took what was already a very strange Worlds and made them even wierder.
LadyM76
PS...I really hope Michelle feels good about this Worlds, and that she keeps competing next year.

[GinnySmith]

Alexa--

Well said. I posted this in another thread regarding the light-hearted headline "Man In Mask & Tutu Suprises Kwan"

"She was not surprised by a man in a tutu. She was surprised by man in a mask, who then stripped naked to his waste. After that, he pulled out the tutu and slipped it on.

IMHO that is a completely different scenario than first seeing him in the tutu and a lot more frightening. So it is an injustice to Michelle the way the headline trivializes the incident.

Her first thought was to look for a weapon and get off the ice. She certainly kept her wits about her."

Where was security?

[shellyfan]

Seles wont return to Germany because they gave the guy a slap on the wrist. Germany had Munich, Monica and after 9/11 and 3/11 during the last two years they still can offer decent security?
Scary!!!
Shame on you Germany!!

[SkateWorlds1]

I wonder why he chose Michelle? It kind of makes you think, doesn't it?

[kyla]

I don't think I have ever been prouder of Michelle She delivered a great performance and didn't let that moron rattle her. She's one in a million and she has tremendous courage. I wonder why he chose Michelle as well. She also came from behind and moved up 2 placements. Congrats to Michelle.

[Googoo]

I just watched the broadcast, unspoiled. That was HORRIBLE. I am soooo upset right now reading that she was worried he had a weapon. I know I was.
I can't believe she was able to skate the way she skated (90% perfect and simply beautiful) after what happened. It kind of reminded me of 2001 Worlds with the boot problem but obviously this is much worst.
And kudos to Dick Button for laughing about it. :rolleyes

[GinnySmith]

As far as I am concerned, everybody is sluffing this off just a little too lightly. Had it been any other skater but Michelle, who everybody expects to handle this well, believe me, it wouldn't be dismissed as an insignificant funny thing.

I am shocked that everyone is treating it as if it is no big deal.

[mano]

Dick Button was in fine form tonight. I was incredulous when I heard him laugh. I knew there was a streaker, but I did not know that he popped out while she was on the ice. I was really worried for her and was thinking, where the heck is security. That the guy was able to do all that for a few minutes is unacceptable. Security should have been on him the moment he put one skate blade on the ice.

[egskater0003]

the security guy were so wimpy looking and did not look aggressive enough when trying to contain the streaker. This worlds has just been a bunch of BS. Great performances in all disciplines, but poor judging, security and turning Worlds into an ISU politcal thing.

But only MK can go and skate beautifully after such a thing. Any other skater would have crumbled with the streaker distraction.

[Crizzy]

Isn't the dork from Canada??

At first I thought it was a comic relief show provided by the ISU, then I saw other men chasing the guy. It was no joke, Michelle was really rattled.

I like how Rafael kind of push the big guy and made sure Michelle was ok. Shows he really cares about her.

Congrats to Michelle. I hope she'll skate next year, after hearing Roxanne I cant wait to see her interpretation.:TOS

[billob]

Michelle mentioned that at first she thought it was a flower sweeper till the cloths started coming off.

As for Michelle...WOW...How many skaters at the comp would have been able to re focus like she did???

[GMAN]

All I can say is, if that guy came out on the ice right before I was going to skate, I'd run and get my pots and pans and he'd have a good ole' whooping that wouldn't feel so good!

[beegirllw]

why do they keep saying he was a streaker? He wasnt nude. He's a moron though.


LOL GMan with you pots and pans, just like Bugs Bunny or something. :b

[GinnySmith]

GMAN--I wish you had been there. I would have loved to have seen you take this guy to task with your pots and pans. It would have been far more effective than whatever they call security over there. :lol

[MSI83]

What I was wondering was how in the world did he get on the ice in the 1st place?? It didn't look like he was difficult to spot, not to mention he obviously looked like a very "disturbed" person. He couldv'e easily pulled out a weapon on the skaters, and people at rinkside.

[keensk8]

This moron was promoting a casino website. He couldn't have picked a better time to pull this stunt than to come out between the American skaters. That gave him his best chance of getting TV coverage. Unfortunately it worked. Event promotors had better get their acts together where security is concerned. This should serve as a wake-up call. Very scary!

[SusanBeth]

Well it didn't work completely. ABC had the good sense to blur the name of the website. That's a little less free publicity for that slime.

I'm very thankful Michelle isn't hurt. However, the security team was ridiculous. There were all those men prancing around without a clue. Didn't it occur to them that this was possible and plan for it? How about having at least a couple of security guys in skates and able to get to the intruder as fast as possible? That guy had way too long a chance to cause harm. If he had wanted to hurt Michelle, they couldn't have gotten to him fast enough to stop him.

[Pattern99]

They're idiots about security. If this had been the U.S., he'd never had gotten near the boards, let alone onto the ice!! And the security guards were pussyfooting around him! In the U.S., they'd have had him down in a second!! Well, look at Britain (of which I'm a national, I'm ashamed to say) - they let the 5 from Guantanamo Bay go free, even with solid proof from the U.S. that they were involved in terrorist activities! All because they're SO AFRAID of being called racists!!!! Shame on the Europeans! I wouldn't blame any U.S. athlete who refused to compete in Europe - too risky and the Europeans are wimps!!!

[Charmed One]

What a freakin' moron that guy was. >:
Honestly. :rolleyes In DC last year, there were a
few times we couldn't even get near the
boards without someone trying to push us away.
And to top that off, half the time there were police
officers roaming the arena. Sometimes they were
stationed right in front of us.
Whoever was head of security there in Germany
ought to be fired instantly. >:

*Breaths big sigh of relief and calms down*
I am so thankful no harm came to MK or the other
skaters. *shakes head*

Sorta OT, now that MK has bronze, how many
other skaters besides her have a medal of every
color ? It can't be too many. :)
Hmmm.....medal of every color.....
**coughcoughOlympics2006coughcough** :)

[kwan glass]

Want to know how poorly Dortmund did on security? Quote from my post (http://pub165.ezboard.com/fmichellekwanforumspoilers.showMessage?topicID=837 0.topic):

Speaking of sick….I’m sorry if what follows is too much on my behalf. I’ve been saying this ever since the competition ended. How could they (is it ISU?) be so careless in choosing Dortmund? But then again, the “secret judging” system is yet another flaw. No security. No enforcement of rules. There were so many errors in the expected “procedure” that I caught in a span of just 6 hours. I entered Westfallenhalen expecting them to search my bag and question my digital camera, yet all they check are tickets??? Then I see a man with a video camera and people with their flashes on! And the scoreboard! Where is the efficiency? I must have caught 10 typos within the last two groups ranging from WOLRD figure……to MICHELL EKWAN….to Raf’s jumbled name. AND that guy. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for the appearance of the tutu-goldenpalace-trying-to-psych-MK-out guy. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. They put the skater’s lives at risk and endangered them. Especially Michelle. Dortmund may not have been the best place to have championships. I personally would’ve preferred Frankfurt. But if it didn’t have to be in Germany, I wouldn’t have a problem with it being in North America or USA again. The things I witnessed I wouldn’t have seen happen. The security would’ve been tighter and I know the U.S. cares about the safety of their skaters.

I was so worried and concerned. My mom and I were talking about the whole Seles and Munich incidents. It's a shame. I had no idea about how Michelle thought he might've had a weapon. What channel was that interview on? All I can say is, Raf's a great coach and Michelle really is superwoman.

~Christel

[lillyfly]

Some boxers have that web site on thier backs. They get $50,000 for using thier backs as a billboard. It didn't work since ABC blurred it out.

[Forever Loyal]

When I saw him on the ice I became frightened for Michelle. She was still skating around and you could see the look of fear in Rafael. In addition to the rotten corrupt judging at this Worlds, Michelle had yet another incident. This was the worst Worlds in years. Thank God Michelle wasn't hurt!

[iceangelic]

Yeah, that was sick! I cant believe how inefficient Germany's securities are! You would have think that after the Seles case, and 9/11, they would tighten things up.

My hypothesis is that he probably is a very good friend of someone and they didnt bother to clear him.

[sandrakae]

Did anyone notice how rafeal, pulled that fat security guard away from her then told him to get lost. He sort of poing his thumb in the get lost gesture.

[dec5]

Or telling him to get the clown off the ice so Michelle can skate. MK took it in stride though...loved seeing her laugh after they got the guy off the ice.

[GinnySmith]

My hypothesis is that he probably is a very good friend of someone and they didnt bother to clear himIt sounds to me as if the guy only needed to have a ticket. Here is what the article in International Skating Online had to say about the incident:

www.iceskatingintnl.com/c...rlds04.htm (http://www.iceskatingintnl.com/current/content/worlds04.htm)


Two days ago, during his annual Worlds press conference, ISU president Cinquanta was asked about spotty security here. He dismissed the concern.

How is it that a spectator was able to bring a pair of skates to his seat, and why were seats that allowed easy access to the ice not better patrolled? And why did it take so long for security to respond?

After the event Kwan indicated at first she thought he was a sweeper (flower girl) and then a streaker. Then she said it dawned on her he could have a gun and left the ice.

Sometimes security arrangements at large skating events go over the top, where only a prudent thoroughness is needed. Arrangements here, however, have not met that standard.

And this article by Phil Hersh puts it into even better perspective with quotes from Michelle regarding the various stages of thinking she went through during the incident:

chicagosports.chicagotrib...onal-print (http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/international/cs-0403280147mar28,1,7786128.story?coll=cs-international-print)

Fortunately, the publicity-seeking moron who startled Michelle turned out to be harmless.

However, had some truly crazy person or organization wanted to do inflict serious harm, the 2004 World Figure Skating Championship sounds as if it was a golden but missed opportunity. The fact is, everybody in attendance was in jeopardy. Every skater, coach, volunteer, fan, flower girl and family members who were there supporting the skaters.

The incident should be a wake up call for Speedy and the ISU. However, I am not too optimistic they have enough brains to get the message.

[graciesfriend]

I agree totally; this incident should not be dismissed as something funny. Michelle did look shaken to me and it is a testament to her as an athlete and as a person that she could skate as well as she did. I hope the USFSA lodges a major protest about this incident.

[taf]

What I'm wondering is didn't anyone see this guy putting his skates on & lacing them up? It takes me about 5 minutes to put my skates on-plenty of time for that man's seatmates to get security.

BTW, they questioned that man & then just let him go since it's not a crime in Germany to disrupt a sporting event.

[madison]

There isn't a crime called 'disorderly conduct'?

[John King]

That idiot who attacked Monica Seles came from Germany,Jeff Gilooly and his goons came from America,and I'm sure some Francophobes will try to blame this guy's actions on him being from Montreal.If I were withing punching range of this guy,I would have clobbered him,regardless of who was on the ice.

[GinnySmith]

motherlode02--

Apparently not. From the Hersh article:Police said the intruder's hotel room and other details about him were checked before he was released. They said German law does not provide grounds to arrest him for disorderly conduct.

[twrlytwzl]

I think this Worlds was a joke from start to finish. Michelle deserves better than what she experienced in Germany. She clearly was ambushed by the judges, they could have told her or Raphael before her skate that she was going over if she indeed was), the security was so poor it was a shame. They were lucky someone didn't take the opportunity to make a statement and hurt someone. The judges just didn't want her to win, for what reason I can only speculate on. IMO I think that Cinquanta is out to get her because she defied him in regards to the Grand prix.
Michelle held up due to the fact that she is a class act and a great champion. She skated two brilliant programs. I am very proud of her.

On another note, it was an embarrasment for Italy to watch Carolina Kostner skate. She S---ed.

On another note, Shizuka really needs to get a better costume designer, she has blah taste and we really don't want to see her buns hanging out.

I hope that Michelle never returns to Germany and I sincerely hope that the ISU would get their act together and eliminate some of the secrecy that goes on in the judging system. (Yeah, I know, maybe when He-- freezes over will that happen)

[Pamby]

Keep in mind that Michelle was right behind Nancy Kerrigan when she was attacked in 1994 and that she supposedly received death threats at a Worlds early in her career. (I don't remember what year. Was it in '96?)

I admit I just assumed it was some publicity-hungry jokester (as, fortunately, it was) until Michelle left the ice when I realized it could be a safety threat to her. For most of us, including, I imagine, Dick Button who was laughing about it, it doesn't immediately occur to us that it could be something dangerous like that, but security people ought to have been assuming that it was, and Michelle's past bad experiences gave her good reason to wonder if he had a weapon.

Of course MK was chosen on purpose, for maximum publicity's sake. I applaud ABC for blurring out the idiot's promotional message.

[iloveskating]

Did anyone notice how rafeal, pulled that fat security guard away from her then told him to get lost. He sort of poing his thumb in the get lost gesture. Yes, I definitely noticed that and thought it was great of RA!

Security at COI & SOI give me more hassle about bringing in my slightly-longer-than-normal-camera-lens than Mr. Tutu was given. Where's that Russian acrobat guy Vladmir when you need him? He would've made short work of the jerk. :lol (Oh yeah, he's probably home with Naomi!)