What they're saying

By Times staff reports
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 17, 2002

I can honestly say I will never watch or support another figure skating event until the IOC changes its judging format. I realize this is not the first incident of this kind, but for me it's the last.

You have athletes who, after winning medals, must pee in a cup and undergo drug tests. We know if the test is positive the medal is taken away. Pete Rose bet on baseball and will never be inducted to the Hall of Fame. Yet, the judges at the Olympics do not have to answer to anyone.

I was always under the impression that the Olympics was held to a higher standard, the true Olympic spirit. If the judges represent that Olympic spirit, I do not want any part of it. I think that this incident is truly sad for figure skating and the Olympic movement.

Jelena Mulin, Odessa

I have a solution to the problems with judging Olympic figure skating. Just give all the Russian skaters a gold medal before the competition and let the rest of the skaters compete for the real gold medal. The International Skating Union as much as admits the Russian medal was a mistake. Otherwise, why give out another gold medal? The Russian medal is tarnished

What tarnishes? Silver.

Bob Gilley, Tampa

Yes, boys and girls, all things are possible. They can clone a cat, you can buy a beer in Utah, the International Olympic Committee can make like Spike Lee

It really can do the right thing. Maybe not without enormous media and public pressure. Maybe not without an international arbitrator ready to humble the members. Yet in the end, we must acknowledge that the IOC went out of character and played the hero. It finally stepped forward, led, and saw that the right thing was done.

For today, the IOC could be pleased with itself. For today, the right thing was done. More, though, is still to come.

Steve Dilbeck, Los Angeles Daily News