I think it depends on distance, and how often you see them. You’re more likely not to see a sibling who is significantly older than you.
I loved Toller's snarky commentary and have always been glad he won his lawsuit.
I think that Frank, after the drama with Christopher Bowman, whom he genuinely cared about, and the sudden surprising parting from Michelle, whom he also cared about, decided he did not want to get emotionally tied to a skater again.
I got that feeling, too, but I think it started years earlier. First, he loses a lot of his friends and mentors in the 1961 crash. He was living with the Vinsons the year before and was touring with Ice Capades at the time of the crash, so never really had much chance to come home and grieve. Things like that tend to stay as emotional baggage for a long time.
info! The Coughlin chapter sounds heartbreaking.
IMO Johnny has had a chip on his shoulder regarding American skaters that were or are favored by the USFSA because . . . he wasn't.
Gracie was lashing out at him, and he had to remove himself before it became deeply dysfunctional.
Can do! Remember Javi Fernandez in 2016?
I remember thinking that Santee sounded very unsympathetic when he informed Gillian Wachsman and Todd Waggoner that they had finished in fifth place. (1988 Olympics - pairs.) Maybe I was inferring something not there, but I sensed a "Nyaah" in Santee's vocal delivery of that result.
Also since Michelle Kwan. It's clear that that didn't end well, even though we'll probably never know what really happened. I would imagine that Gracie would have mentioned it in her book, if Frank had ever confided in her about Michelle.
Yes, exactly. Any athlete must be aware that smoking will harm their health, performance, and looks, for the rest of their lives if they don't quit. If they aren't aware of it, something is wrong in their coaching. Someone must have convinced Gracie that she should try what she admits in her book was formerly, to her, a disgusting habit.
I agree that Frank had a right to protect himself from Gracie's verbal abuse. She clearly has anger management problems and sometimes relationships have to be ended without informing the other individual in person. Mental health issues do not excuse behavior and in this case she was the abuser.
I think it's possible to see Frank's side, but still have a lot of empathy for both of them. Reading this part of the book, there were times when I felt like hugging both of them.
I remember, when she went to Frank, the only thing I ever heard about this pair was that it was heavily orchestrated and encouraged by USFS. Frank was Tammy before Tammy: the coach USFS wanted all their top ladies to work with. And Gracie, being USFS's new quintessential ice princess, was though to need their quintessential ice princess coach.
This is why I'm not as outraged as other people about the jacket tossing incident. Tempers and emotions were high for both of them - and Gracie openly admits this in the book. She also admits she told him to throw the jacket away: he was following her directions. I'm not even mad about how he "fired" her (it happens more than you'd think that coaches fire skaters - it's just usually not public).
