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Post by Guest on Nov 26, 2009 13:27:26 GMT -8
Happy Thanksgiving! Has it been decided yet who will skate the individual distances in 2010?
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Nov 26, 2009 13:55:42 GMT -8
Happy Thanksgiving! Has it been decided yet who will skate the individual distances in 2010? Happy Thanksgiving, Guest! Officially we won't know until I think January, but if you basically look at the top three in every distance (except the women's 500, it's the top two) then you'll know who will be racing.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Nov 27, 2009 1:40:08 GMT -8
Hi, Guest! If USS sticks to what they state in their regs, the skaters at the Olympics should be according to their (very confusing) rankings at Olympic Trials - which should be as follows: MEN: 1500M - Ohno; Celski; Malone 500M - Ohno; Malone; Cho 1000M - Ohno; Jayner; Celski LADIES: 1500M - Reutter; Baver; Derrick 500M - Dudek; Reutter (Lana Gehring would have been the 3rd skater, but we only qualified 2 in this distance ) 1000M - Reutter; Derrick; Baver I'm not sure how any injuries would be substituted, but I assume it would be according to the protocol from Olympic Trials. If you want to see how the lineup was determined, see my post #14 on the Olympic Selection Process thread: therockerforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=trips&thread=411&page=1
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Post by Guest on Nov 27, 2009 5:21:30 GMT -8
Thanks, Loi. That is the line up I'm hoping for.
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Post by Joyce on Apr 7, 2010 9:17:13 GMT -8
A beautiful day in NYC, so decided to venture to Rockefeller Center to see Apolo. Turned out well as Lori knows I am usually "charmed" in my encounters. A lot going on at the same time as is so usual in NYC, and without any of us knowing about it ahead of time!
The Today Show had Meredith introducing Davis and White doing their Bollywood piece in the rink. Something must have been going on with Figures because Belbin and Agosto and Marai Nagasu were just milling about. There's a distinct advantage in the slow PR of USS - not huge crowds and mainly the tourists taking in Rockefeller Center and just being at the right place at the right time when Olympians are present! I love it!!
Apolo's event was unrelated to the Today Show and the other Figs, but the beautiful Sea Grill is adjacent to the Rink. I saw Apolo right away - he was socializing with the Figs who left shortly after. Yuki and I saw each other at the same time and he signaled me to come down to the private area, actually sent Ian to fetch me. We caught up on events and then Apolo went to do some publicity around the Rink - signing autographs, throwing " I (heart) Washington Spuds" T-shirts to the crowds, being video-taped with a Washington spuds flag, etc.
The gathering crowds were kept behind chained areas and were shouting at Apolo for autographs and pictures. Two of the fans (really sweet girls) handed me the cookies to give to Apolo - you can see his Tweetpic of the 8Zone cookies.
Both Apolo and Yuki looked great, very relaxed and rested. I can sense their continuing astonishment of the "journey" unfolding before them. His "events" are exceeding expectations and branching into even more avenues in which to travel. They are both still so incredulous at the level of thoughtfulness of the fans. They could not believe the cookies and the art work ( again see Tweetpic), and I saw how humbled and appreciative they were of these gestures.
Lucky me, more memories.............and still at an ice rink!
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Apr 7, 2010 10:24:24 GMT -8
I'm so glad you got to go, Joyce! I'll copy your post to Apolo's thread later today. (I got the pics, and I'll add them to the copy.) Thanks for sharing!
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Leigul
Member
US SHORT TRACK KICKS ICE!!!
Posts: 0
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Post by Leigul on Apr 7, 2010 21:27:36 GMT -8
Fantastic story Joyce! Thanks for sharing! Apolo and the people he surrounds himself with are just great!
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Post by Joyce on May 23, 2010 7:39:12 GMT -8
Lori -
As to the discrepancy of dates on Apolo's NYTimes article - avid NYT readers have always complained of the amount of time needed to read through the voluminous Sunday NYTimes. Most people read favorite sections but the diehards want the enjoyment of reading it all. So many years ago Times subscribers had the option to have completed sections of the Sunday Times delivered on Thursday - the Magazine, Book Review, etc and especially the Employment and Real Estate sections so people could have a jump on others, but ultimately to get a head start on the Sunday paper. ( Isn't this such a NY thing to do!!) Of course the remaining sections that are subject to "up to the minute" reportage are delivered at the appropriate time.
This concept has been hugely popular so you will see a Thursday publication date for Sunday paper content on many features.
BTW - the publication date for Apolo's book is October 26, 2010 - as yet untitled.
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Post by Joyce on Oct 29, 2010 12:54:36 GMT -8
Test
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Post by Joyce on Oct 29, 2010 14:07:09 GMT -8
Apolo's Booksignings in NYC
Apolo had 2 booksignings in NYC - the Fifth Ave B&N and the Wall Street Borders. My official visit was to Borders as it is in a beautiful historical landmark building, but I also went to B&N to meet some friends. Simon&Schuster's PR Dep't conducts these types of events on a regular basis, so they are very organized and efficient but quite accomodating to fans.
Apolo is accompanied by John Schaffer. Yuki may attend some of the West Coast signings, unknown at this time As we have learned to expect from Apolo, he is the consumate pro - full of grace, generosity, serenity and warmth. At both sites the crowds were full of excitement and there is electricity in the room when he enters. Fans gave a loud cheer and applauded when he appeared. Lines formed early for both places, but time goes quickly as people loved sharing their connections to Apolo - some saw him at Vanc, at previous events, or looking forward to their first meeting. There is not a single face ( male or female ) without a warm smile or a big grin. There were so many people who came up to me recognizing me from other events. I'm pitiful at name/face recognition, so I just go with it.
Apolo is in usual matinee-idol mode - healthy, jubilant,devastatingly handsome - despite statements of "exhausted, so much travel, not enough sleep".
Lines moved quickly as the NYC schedule was geared toward a lunchtime crowd on a workday - many people rushed to return to their offices. Procedure was to purchase book first and then get in line with proof of receipt. They actually had people there to index the page that Apolo would sign. At both places - a flyer with instructions were given - no personalization, no memorabilia, picture taking only from afar. Cameras were collected by staff members at the head of the line and they would take a pic of you and Apolo with your camera. The pictures are generic - the staff member stands in a corner capturing you and Apolo at the table, both leaning in and tilting heads towards each other. I deferred on the picture, and Apolo added, "she probably has enough anyway!!" I really don't, but I dislike posed shots and prefer candids.
Everyone left quite pleased with the autograph and picture - more than they bargained for! A staff member was heard saying that he had never seen such a wide cross-section of people at a book signing - all ages, both sexes equally represented, very varied!
Needless to say, I enjoyed my booksigning experiences and time with Apolo and John.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Oct 30, 2010 8:49:27 GMT -8
LOVE IT JOYCE! Thanks for posting. I'll copy it to Apolo's thread along with the pics.
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Post by Joyce on Nov 7, 2010 12:05:44 GMT -8
Book Review
Finished Apolo's book this weekend and then enjoyed reading Linda's views.
I had lowered my expectations of the book as I am not a fan of Alan Abrahamson ( had read his Michael Phelps' book and was not impressed with his story construction or prose style) and have doubts about people below a certain age attaining the perspective and distance needed for true reflection. At the same time I realize that Apolo is not a Justin Bieber! Unlike many I was not in a favor of a "tell-all" - that was never what Apolo is about.
Happy to report, even as a person "familiar'' with his story, I found it a very compelling read, and not a book I wanted to finish in 1 day but over several. While his life pre-short track is chronicalled like "Journey", much more depth and description is given and the"rebellious", father/son conflict is much more visceral. While much has been reported about his exceptional talents at a young age, you realize just how precocious he was, especially intellectually. No wonder Yuki was so overwhelmed at times! If many events and names sound redundant, it is a testament to the fact that Apolo finds that they still do resonate as such.
With his competing years behind him, Apolo is more candid about his injuries. The injuries were numerous and more severe than I ever realized. It was difficult to read about. He never was anywhere near 100% healthy in 2002/2006 - and the "cut" in 2002 was more problematic than revealed. In my mind his medal count and successes are all the more incredible in view of all these physical problems and the pain threshhold he trained himself to endure.
Most of us know about his keen interest in Eastern philosophies and inner meditative states, it played a much bigger role than I imagined and he embraced it at a very early age.
The weakest chapter was DWTS ( no offense intended to those fans - I am expressing opinions on the book, not the show!) He repeats his mantra here - opened up his personality, etc. This felt like a chapter assigned to his ghostwriter and padded with filler to make it a full chapter - do we need to read costume descriptions and verbatim comments from the judges from each week!!
Agree with Linda - the last several chapters were great! Corny to say but straight from the heart. The precise training, the disappointing 2009, Trials, his narrative of the Vancouver races - it was difficult to put the book down. I don't know how invested most readers will be, but those who follow this site will be very invested. We know most of the names and people, have been to most of the venues, and we know the races. His commentary on the Vanc races made me want to watch my recorded tapes immediately! His abject sadness at the end of Vienna Worlds made me reflect back on what I had experienced there. I saw his graciousness but did not see the extent of his pain - how did I miss it, as a fan I hoped I did not do anything to intrude on his private pain, was I sensitive enough to the whole team on that last day??
Those last chapters were very intense, wonderful and difficult to read at the same time. With a ghostwriter, it is sometimes difficult to establish the author's "voice'', no problem here as Apolo's passion is overwhelming. It left me very satisfied. He toys with 2014 a bit at the end - but as far as I am concerned his circle is complete and should remain so.
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Post by Joyce on Nov 8, 2010 19:09:27 GMT -8
Geri -
That was actually my thought too. The DWTS chapter was rather asynchronous with the rest of the book. It fell very flat and lacked the passion and intensity of the other chapters. I will probably do a second reading and skip that chapter entirely, which will probably give the book a completely different flow and make it more cohesive.
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Post by guest on Nov 23, 2010 22:56:16 GMT -8
Hi Laura,
Elena's Chinese team podium pictures are great. Do you know how I can contact with her? I'd like to discuss with her and see if she is willing to share the 2 pictures with the members at a Chinese short track forum (in Chinese). Thanks in advance for you time.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Nov 24, 2010 6:22:23 GMT -8
Hi, Guest - I'll ask Elena and let you know. It was nice of you to ask first! She might like the link to your forum - can you either post it here, or send it to me privately at lori@rocker-u.net. Thanks!
I'll post a few more over the next few days that you might be interested in.
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