In 1994, I was in sixth grade. My cousin (a year older than me) was learning how to figure skate, and even competed in local events. I was her biggest fan, and in turn, became mesmerized by the sport. Anytime there was a figure skating competition on TV, my sister and I would settle in to watch. We even pretended to be judges sometimes, offering our own scores for the skaters after each performance was complete. I couldn't wait for the Olympics to begin.
Then, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked. I was in shock over the brutality, and the unfolding details of the soap opera-style saga, all linked to Tonya Harding. I recorded every news report, saved every magazine clipping, and waited—with the rest of the world—to see if Nancy was able to bring home the gold in Lillehammer.
Sure, my devotion may have been a little over the top, but at the same time, I remember how much of a hero Nancy was to me as a kid. She overcame so much to compete, and it's the first time I can remember absolutely idolizing an athlete or celebrity figure. It meant so much to me to see her do so well (even if her golden girl status was short-lived after that). Now—20 years later—ESPN has released an awesome documentary about the scandal called The Price of Gold. For anyone who followed the events of 1994, it's a great recap, and also introduces a slightly different vantage point than the one that I had as a kid. I still think Tonya was in the wrong, but it is interesting to watch a story with such an obvious media bias unfold.
What do you think? Is this a story you followed closely? Or am I the only one? :)
Happy Friday dear readers! Here's to a three-day weekend that's as peaceful as the image above. What do you have planned for the next few days off? A good friend of mine is hosting a party to watch the football game. To spice it up, it's a chili cook-off too. Any good recipes you can recommend and share? Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:
Forget the fact that I currently live in New York — I'm a Red Sox fan, born and raised. Based on this, you can only imagine my delight upon watching the video series above from New Era. In Rivals Are Forever, John Krasinski and Alec Baldwin go head to head in support of their respective teams. Krasinski (a die-hard Sox fan) and Baldwin (a Yankees fan, natch) prove their comedic chops, not to mention their ability to trash talk with the best of them. If a video like this doesn't make you run right out to buy a hat in support your home team, I'm not sure what will.
