Will you keep the results a surprise?

[MissVegan]

I know we have a long way to go before the Olympics, but are you planning to keep the competition results a surprise, or will you get spoiler information ASAP so you know how Michelle did?

I think at this point I'm planning to keep it a surprise. It will be sooo hard not to just find out what happened, but I'd rather wait. If I found out Michelle did not win or did not do well, for example, that would pretty much ruin watching the competition for me. I'd feel stressed and sad during everyone's programs. If I found out she won, that would be amazing, but I still wouldn't feel quite as thrilled as if I'd watched her performance with no prior knowledge to the results.

Anyone know around what time the LP will be in Italy? I know the time difference is six hours, but not sure if the LP will be in the afternoon or evening...basically, how long will I have to cut myself off from the world? :) I'm even considering taking a day off work to be absolutely sure I don't accidentally hear anything. Even if I tell my coworkers to keep in quiet, they still bring newspapers into the lunch room and turn on radios, etc.

I managed to keep it a surprise during 1998, but it wasn't easy. What about you?

[luvablepinay]

im going to keep it a surprise. if it were a different event [ie marshalls, or something.] then i'd wanna know. i'd rather watch and find out for myself. compared to knowing first, and then seeing what happened.

[Undaunted Courage]

I would keep it a surprise. The only benefit to getting spoiled would be to have prior knowledge if MK's SP and LP are SP-mode-recording-worthy.

[taytay165]

I'm going to keep it a surprise i think. I agree that if I know the results it will be either hard to watch, or not quite as exciting, or something like that. :)

- tara

[Skate Sandee]

Hell freakin NO WAY am I going to keep it a surprise! I will have a stroke if I watch it that way! Spoilers for me all the way.

[Nitts]

I think it's almost impossible to wait and be surprised. In 1998 my husband (then boyfriend) called me early in the morning to let me know he heard on the radio that Tara Lipinski won gold. It was all over the media, and he wanted to let me know before I heard it from someone else.
Plus, I don't know if I could wait! Hopefully someone will be there providing the spoilers (live) just like at some other competitions.
Hopefully this time we'll hear good news!

[nymkfan51]

I will most definitely be spoiled! I want to know the very second it happens! Heck, I want to know it before it happens! :rollin

Anyway ... Turin is 6 hours ahead of NY time. The ladies event takes place:

SP - Feb 21 - 7PM local time ... 1PM eastern time
LP - Feb 23 - 7PM local time ... 1PM eastern time

[kwanette]

I'm with Skate Sandee....SLC live almost killed me..

nymkfan51..Wow! You know the times?;)

[AZSkateFan]

I can't handel another live Olympics!

[Nathan]

I'll try to be unspoiled but it's going to be very hard....

Being as thought this might be one of her last competitions I'm going to wait..

And it depends too...
If she's 1st after the SP or 2nd or 3rd then i'll definitely wait.

If it's like the past two years at worlds where she's 4th or 5th entering the FReeskate then i'll probably just be spoiled to get it over with...\

That's what I did when I tapped the 2000 Worlds. I taped them and didn't think with Michelle being in third that she'd be able to win, so I watched then end first was pleasantly surprised and I went back and watched with delight!

[kwancierto de aranjuez]

I tried being not spoiled during Nagano but I just couldn't help but check the websites for results... The lag time was too long. It's hard waiting that long for it to show on the tube...

I went unspoiled for the 2002 and it just killed me. My friend and I were watching and we were crying by the end of it.

How long is the lag time between Turino and the States? 7 hours?

Who could wait that long? It'd be like torture...

[iloveskating]

I stayed unspoiled for SLC (west coasters had tape delay). Bad mistake. I haven't gone unspoiled since, and prob won't for Turino either. I can't take another real-time disappointment. :(

[JunJohn21]

Anyway ... Turin is 6 hours ahead of NY time. The ladies event takes place:
SP - Feb 21 - 7PM local time ... 1PM eastern time
LP - Feb 23 - 7PM local time ... 1PM eastern time

Awesome! Now I don't have to worry about the newspapers. All I have to do is stay away from the TV, Internet, and people until that night.

[epoibim]

What would really be nice is if NBC aired the competition live...they could always re-air it in prime time, but it would be nice to get it live at 1pm in the afternoon.

Somehow, going unspoiled makes me feel as if I'm skating with her - experiencing everything as she does. I've screamed with her, cried with her, and cheered with her. I like finding out when she does. I have gotten lazy this past season, though...hey, if stations aired events LIVE, or at the very least, less than a week or two later, this wouldn't be a problem!!:lol

[shirleyprice1]

nothing can ruin my time of watching, but, I will try to find out the results as quickly as I can and the quickest way that I can ! Rather that than hearing it on ESPN, or reading it in a streamer as before.:rolleyes

[TwinnerA]

I am a news junkie, but I am going to do my best to avoid the internet, radio news and any TV channel that reports sports news or has a crawler in order to remain unspoiled win or lose. Sure I am nervous, but for me going unspoiled for the biggest competitions is the only way to go.

[iloveskating]

Hopefully there will be webcast or at least a live results link, or at the very least, live cell phone reporting (guess that would be $$ from Italy though). If I actually get to follow the results in real time, even if not on tv, then I do not count it as officially spoiling. It's the tape delay that I cannot tolerate.

[nerdycool]

I'm going to attempt to keep it a suprise. This past year, I was all for the spoilers, especially during Worlds. I gotta say, knowing what all went down made me not want to watch it, and to this day, I still haven't seen one minute of footage from worlds. Besides, from my Nationals spoilers experience, it's not as exciting knowing who did what and how they ended up. But I am an internet junkie, so it'll be hard.

[Eeyora]

They should air it primetime on NBC and live on cable either CNBC, MSNBC, USA or Bravo

I don't think I can go unspoiled. In Nagano every single news program had results. Entertainment Tonight opened with Tara's irritable screaming.

[mary]

Oh, I have to be know. I can relax while watching if I know the results in advance. Win or lose, I have always been able to watch her skate. It's just more enjoyable for me if I know the outcome.
m

[lavender]

I'm not really looking forward to the results...tooo many bad memories so I will be spoiled. I dealt with '98 better than '02 for so many reasons (one being that it wasn't aired live ('98) ).

[Krista]

There's no way Ill keep it a surprise. Ill have too big of a stomach ache that day if I do. :lol

[Katie]

I have been unspoiled for the last two Olympics, and I don't think that I can handle another one. I think that I'll probably watch the SP, then wait til after the LP is finished (being televised) and have someone else tell me or something like that.

Oh who am I kdding- I'll most likely be spoiled like every other competition this season. :)

[Rebecca]

My nerves just cannot take watching it an not knowing what will happen. I want to know everything, when a skater falls, etc. I always spoil myself because when I watch it I am on pins and needles and cringe with every jump, so knowing ahead of time makes me less of a nervous wreck and I can relax a little. I know, I'm a big baby :lol .

In 1998 I found out in a McDonald's drive thru during my lunch break. The announcer said "Tara Lipinski wins Gold, Michelle Kwan wins silver and for the bronze..well who cares".

[GoldenMichelle]

Defintely unspoiled, though it will be hard with all the coverage. ...hopefully I won't get spoiled though.

[KwanPassion]

I'll be going unspoiled...although the nerves will almost be unbearable, they are for all the world events (although I always spoil for qualifying)... and live is still really hard too. I'll have to lock myself into my room the whole afternoon. In the mean time, I'll probably have to be comforted by everyone else going unspoiled on the forum, you guys work wonders!

[KwanBoy23]

I will do what I always do normally, be spoiled for the SP and not spoiled for the LP. Of course at SLC I wasn't spoiled for either and I don't really plan on it again. Either way I will not be spoiled for the LP at ALL. Maybe the SP, but I intend to watch it "as it happens" so to speak.

[FlashOBlue]

Definately spoiled! I'll listen on the computer to live coverage or check in here for live updates. It's really exciting knowing about it first hand. That way no one can spoil me by accident like they did (TV News, CNN) in 1998. I want to know it as Michelle knows it. And I get so nervous on line! This way I can start drinking champagne early!

[GinnySmith]

Color me spoiled! I want to be following it in the moment as the story unfolds so I'll be "watching" on the internet. :)

:SJ

:SE

:LB

[Vinluvskwan]

Other than Eurosport, CBC, and other online media... Turn to ESPN and ESPN2 for the news scrolls, as they usually have the most up to date sports headlines.

[zins]

Add me to the spoiled crew. I just can't handle waiting it's way too long on the west coast to try and stay unspoiled. I'll be at work teaching, but I'm definetly going to check in on the internet during the day. Too bad our stupid websense blocks the forum :( , but for some reason does not block FSU so I'll have that up and running. My class, I'm sure, will be hoping she does well since a Michelle Kwan great skate puts me in a very happy mood.:D

[uncchristine99]

I will definitely go spoiler-free. I always do. I can't NOT go spoiler-free. It's just so much more exciting when you don't know the results. Plus it's the OLYMPICS!

In 98, my mom had the news on (as usual) and it was blasting cuz we were both in the kitchen making dinner. And of course, it was all over the news--TARA LIPINSKI BEAT MICHELLE KWAN. I about cried. That was the most horrible feeling in the world.... watching the broadcast later on, waiting for Michelle to make some kind of mistake... and when she didn't, I was bawling like a baby. I couldn't believe she didn't win with that free skate.

Alas, I think spoiler-free is the only way I can watch these things. I can't handle it otherwise cuz I love MK too much.

[ceap]

No way...I have to be spoiled. I wasn't for 1998 and heard on the car radio that Michelle won Silver and I was so upset and devastated, I had to pull over. Can't go through that again. Since 1998, I have always known the results ahead of time. My sanity and stomach couldn't take it if I didn't.

[Dragonlady]

I won't watch TV, listen to radio or read the internet until I watch the event on TV. No way I want to be spoiled. It takes the fun out of watching the competition - sitting on the edge of my seat, chewing my nails. I wish I could watch all competitions unspoiled.

[Heather]

I was one of the few people who watched Nagano unspoiled, I think. ;) I tend to normally like to go unspoiled, though it makes me insane. ;) Een though I'll know some people actually attending the event (and would love to talk to them right away after it takes place.) I think I might try to go unspoiled. It's really difficult during the Olympics, but I think I'm going to try.

I reserve the right to change my mind between now and the competition though!

[machina111]

How long will the lag time be between when the skating takes place and the time it's aired?

[Skatekwan6]

Why can't people just get over bad memories from 98 and 2002 and treat 2006 as a new, exciting, and possibly very satisfying experience? Michelle is brave enough to face the Olympic pressure again, so why can't her fans?

As for the results, I am going to be surprised. Because if Michelle wins, I will want to experience it as close to "live" as possible. I learned my lesson when Carly won the Olympics. I found out before hand, and when I watched it, it just didn't have the same excitement. There is a possibility that it will be a moment I will never forget, and I want to experience that without getting spoiled.

[chipso1]

Hmmm, this is a toughie. I'm going to try to go unspoiled for both, but I might spoil for the short program . . . . . .and then maybe the long. . . .:b

[tinuviellovesMK]

Spoiled all the way.

I'll be in grad school then, but if it is at all possible, I will stay up all hours of the night watching the numbers come up and chatting with MKFers.
2000 Worlds was the Last time I watched unspoiled. I don't enjoy the tension. When I watched unspoiled, I would have to tape the competition after and watch it again after I knew the results. This was because the beauty of the program is completly lost on me until I know when and where the falls come.

[MKGrace]

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>I learned my lesson when Carly won the Olympics. I found out before hand, and when I watched it, it just didn't have the same excitement.<hr></blockquote> ITA. I spoiled myself for the Nagano short program and even with Michelle being first I had a guilty feeling while I watched it (like I had peeked at my Christmas presents). I didn't have the pins-and-needles feeling watching it, so I didn't spoil for the free skate or at all for the 2002 Olympics. I enjoy that on-the-edge of your seat nervous excitement- I can take it once every four years for a few hours. Of course I'll need some wine and munchies to get me through.

[chipso1]

Just read the first few posts of this thread . . ..

It would be awesome if one of the NBC stations would show it live (and then re-air it on the main station in prime time). That would give me a reason to *be sick* and stay home from school that day! :)

[patsue]

Color me spoiled! I want to know before it's aired--both short and long programs. There are no other ladies I want to watch--the last three Oly results have been such keen disapppointments to me (not in Michelle's skating) the ladies that won were so fortunate to win--watching them take the gold, was an affront to my eyes. Being spoiled means I can watch Michelle and then go and either shout with joy or cry, knowing it will most likely be Michelle's last time at the Olympic games.

[Skatekwan6]

so I didn't spoil for the free skate or at all for the 2002 Olympics.

Wasn't everything live? :b

It would be awesome if one of the NBC stations would show it live

That would be cool. I'm sure that a lot of people (including me) would stay up and watch it at some weird hour.

[probativev]

Man, this is so tough to decide....I feel like crying already thinking about it. I'm actually thinking of organizing an Seattle MKF gathering for members here to watch together and if it works out, I guess I'll go unspoiled.

[MKGrace]

Skatekwan6 - No, it wasn't live. I live on the West Coast so we got the skating tape delayed. <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/eyes.gif" />

[magicalhaven]

Hi Everyone,

I will definitely be spoiled. As it is, even during the live broadcasts, I set the recorder and walk out of the room! I can't watch.

I come in during the scores, and then I rewind the tape and watch the performance.

I'm convinced that this method brings her good luck!;)

[Heather]

It would be awesome if one of the NBC stations would show it live
You mean the networks treating skating like an actual sport? But why would they possibly do that? :b

[Skatekwan6]

Skatekwan6 - No, it wasn't live. I live on the West Coast so we got the skating tape delayed.

Oh yeah sorry. I keep forgetting about that. That sucks. I don't see why they just don't put it on TV whenever it is being shown live in the east.

You mean the networks treating skating like an actual sport? But why would they possibly do that?

lol, Heather. No one ever says football or basketball aren't sports when there is a "bad" call. And boxing matches come down to a "decision" a lot, but no one questions whether that's a sport...such a double standard. It would probably be called a sport if only men did it.

[chipso1]

You mean the networks treating skating like an actual sport? But why would they possibly do that?

Silly me! I guess that means that they won't be showing more than the top 8 skaters either . . . . :p

[mzheng]

Go spoiled definitely for me.

It is imposible for me to enjoy her competetion skating without knowing the result.

If only I could be spoiled now. :b

[uncchristine99]

The last 3 skaters from SLC were live, weren't they? I specifically remember the commentator saying they weren't going to commercial until after the very last skater... which I think, went Michelle, Sasha and Irina.

In any case... it's on the other side of the world. No way are we gonna get it live.

[Skatekwan6]

The last 3 skaters from SLC were live, weren't they? I specifically remember the commentator saying they weren't going to commercial until after the very last skater... which I think, went Michelle, Sasha and Irina.

Yeah, everything was live for the east coast, but the west coast had a tape delay.

[churchofkwan]

I think I'd get too nervous sitting around waiting for the tv to show stuff that most likely won't be live :b

[boggartlaura]

Definately going spoiled.

[gratefulmkfan]

Color me spoiled rotten. It's just better for my health and the mood of anyone who has to speak to me during the Olympics -family included. I get ridiculously nervous during Michelle's major competitions. It's just the way it is for me, so I'm better off knowing before I view, whenever I can.

I wish I could internalize "Don't worry" and that Michelle just "Skates Happy", so that "Don't worry, skate happy" made sense coming from me; but the thought has not yet made that longest trip in the world - from the head to the heart - at least not for me yet! Maybe some day :) .

Happy Birthday Michelle!!!!!!!!!!!!!