The Arizona Republic
Johnson, 'Mean Jean' succumbed to gold fever
By Dan Bickley
PARK CITY — A conversation that may have taken place over the last few days:
Jean Racine: "Get off my sled! Don't you understand this is MY Olympic moment?"
Gea Johnson: "Sorry, friend, this is my Olympic moment, too. And if you keep whining, I must crush you."
On Tuesday, a sordid soap opera came to a shocking end. The quiet, unassuming tandem of Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers stunned the competition with a gold-medal performance. And the most publicized bobsled team in history imploded under the weight of its own ambition.
Racing with an injury far worse than anyone knew, Johnson completely blew out her hamstring and ended up on crutches. After a coldhearted pursuit of gold, Racine's merciless dream ended in a river of tears. And, sorry to report, more than a few members of the bobsled community were delighted with the shifting winds of fortune.
Los Angeles Times
"Kwan Wins the Battle but Not the Ice War"
By Bill Plaschke
SALT LAKE CITY — At the risk of being drowned out by 15,600 cheers, pelted by dozens of floral arrangements, suffocated with a flag and knocked cold by a teddy bear, I offer these two thoughts.
Michelle Kwan doesn't deserve to be in first place today. If her approach doesn't change, she might not deserve the Olympic gold medal on Thursday.
She could get punked by Sasha Cohen, just as she was punked four years ago by Tara Lipinski in Nagano.
She could get flattened by Irina Slutskaya, who has covered her in ice chips three times in three big events this season.
Or, she could be trampled by history, remembered as one of those skaters who wins an Olympic gold medal only because it is her turn.
