Comments on: 2008 Olympic Judo Day Three: Women’s 57 kg, Men’s 73kg

By: Kendall Shields

Kendall Shields — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:54:57 +0000

Nick,

Where did I say anything like you’re “not very good” or that your accomplishments are “shit,” as you’ve implied I have? I didn’t say anything even close to that. I know your record. I know you’re a world class player. You obviously deserved to be there, and you fought hard. How much clearer could I have been when I wrote “I am slighting neither the effort nor abilities of either athlete”? Your match with Pina was clearly grueling, and a tough match-up stylistically, but pretty much *any* match with six penalties is going to be a lousy match for the spectators, regardless of how tough the match itself was. I know you’re not fighting for the spectators, you’re fighting for you, but I’m writing here from the perspective of a viewer. That was the extent of my comment on your match, and if you conclude from anything I wrote there that I think you’re “not very good” or that anything you’ve done “is shit,” then you’re drawing conclusions that simply aren’t there. Those are all *your* words, not mine. You’re defending yourself against accusations nobody has made.

If I HAD said either of those things you’d implied, I’d understand you being bent out of shape here, but you’re reading way too much into a comment on a single match.

I wish you well with your training and continued success in the future.

Best,

By: Dave Walsh

Dave Walsh — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:57:25 +0000

I don’t think Kendall ever said you sucked, he actually said no slight to your ability or effort, but that you just canceled each other out. I know that Kendall is a proud Canadian and was pulling for you, so I’m sure you can obviously understand his disappointment.

By: Nick Tritton

Nick Tritton — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:26:52 +0000

Hey man.. it was a tough match.. and well, we both had the same style.. but if you think that match was the worst match of the tournament you didnt watch very much of it lol.. anyways love your comments.. I guess because im not very good, that would mean, me beating Guilheiro at the world championships in Brazil was shit, and me losing in overtime to the olympic champ at the wrolds also in brazil was shit too.. lol your a joke

By: Kendall Shields

Kendall Shields — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:50:22 +0000

As I said as clearly as I could, “I am slighting neither the effort nor abilities of either athlete.” I meant that. Obviously the point is not that I can compete “at that level with that pressure and with any such measure of skill,” as you demand — that’s a self-evidently absurd standard for commentary (if you tell me you didn’t like a movie, I’m not going to ask you “well when was the last time you produced a film?”). The point is that by the standards of the tournament in which these athletes were competing, their match, unfortunately, was poor. Clearly it was a tough match for both, as you say. It was grueling. It was also, from the perspective of this spectator, the worst match I’ve seen in the Olympics thus far.

Thanks for reading, John.

By: John Squires

John Squires — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:36:22 +0000

Re: 73 kg. match Can. vs. Por Actually the guys did “engage” just the ref’s decided that there was not enough action and went overboard with shidos - come on, 6 penalties before the match was over with some given only for what appeared to be two fighters struggling to come to grips, ea. having mirror image styles…. it was a tough match up for both and you do them a disservice by calling it the way you did. When was the last time you fought at that level with that pressure and with any such measure of skill?…

Had the refs in that match and many other contests on day three done thier jobs there would have been many diff. results…..horrible reffing! Apparently they were directed at the outset of the week to be more actively engaged in the matches… if they want to be responsible for the score maybe they should compete again (if they ever did) I think that the refs calls made that fight what it was and resulted in the posturing that you saw…..

By: Kendall Shields

Kendall Shields — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:07:41 +0000

Tiago was my pick! I was disappointed, too. But he fought well in difficult circumstances, and we can be sure he’ll be back to fight another day.

By: Eduardo

Eduardo — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:11:20 +0000

Yup… Guilheiro’s throw was good stuff.

Really disappointed with Tiago Camilo, but can’t put blame on this guy. He fought with a sore hand… and didn’t make excuses because of it.

By: Kendall Shields

Kendall Shields — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:24:29 +0000

I am with you on both of those points.

By: Dave Walsh

Dave Walsh — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:02:49 +0000

I thought Guilheiro’s Ippon for the Bronze was like –the– throw of the night. That shit had me jump out of my seat.

Mammadli looked awesome the whole time.