Lights, fireworks and rock ‘n’ roll signaled the end of another Olympics this past Sunday. I took the opportunity offered by Salt Lake City’s closing ceremony to reflect and ruminate on the Games events, both on and off the ice. Without further ado, I present my best and worst moments from the 2002 Winter Games.The Worst Moments
3) Michelle Kwan failing to win a gold medal again. It looks like Kwan, for all her world and US titles, might never get her hands on Olympic gold. This would be as tragic as Marino never winning a Super Bowl.
2) Skategate Two, the Russians threatening to pull out of the Games because Irina Slutskaya won silver and not gold. Such unsportsmanlike behavior is the opposite of everything the Olympics represent and did the Russian reputation no favors either.
1) Skategate One, the pairs figure skating controversy. The French judge just changed her story again, now claiming that it was the Canadians who put pressure on her. This situation has developed into a complete farce and the ISU needs to take quick steps to ensure nothing of this kind ever happens again.
The Best Moments
3) Sarah Hughes coming from practically nowhere to upset Kwan and Slutskaya, and take home the woman’s figure skating gold. The 16-year-old put together the program of her life and her joy at winning gold was evident to everyone.
2) Jim Shea, Jr. winning gold in the skeleton. A third generation Olympian, Shea had his grandfather and dad to live up to. His grandfather won gold, so did Shea Jr.
1) Canada winning Olympic ice hockey gold. The team carried the weight of a country on its shoulders and responded with a 5-2 win over the U.S. in the final to take the gold back to the birthplace of the sport.