What a shame a bunch of these "entertainment" writers (I won't call them sports reporters, because I haven't seen much evidence they know anything about figure skating, let alone other sports) latched onto the bus comment. I am surmising that when Johnny woke up Thursday morning that he sensed it wasn't going to be his dream day. Maybe he slept poorly the night before, maybe the nerves and expectations were weighing upon him too heavily, maybe he just physically did not feel ready for an Olympian feat--whatever the reasons, he just wasn't feeling it. I have experienced many days where I knew the instant my eyes popped open that day that it wouldn't be a good day (Friday was one of those days.) Isn't it fair to call that not feeling your aura, or feeling black inside? I don't see anything at all wrong with those feelings or expressions. I have read that it was too noisy for Johnny to get a good nap Thurs. afternoon; all the cumulative distractions were piling up and then the bus situation must have just been the last straw. If I, as a spectator, thought I'd miss part of the competition due to a late bus, I would be majorly pissed-I can only imagine what one of the main competitors would feel if they were deprived of all the time they needed to get completely physically and mentally ready to go. So yes, missing the bus is no excuse for a poor performance, but the cumulative effect of everything that day must have just gotten to Johnny.

You know, Johnny is otherworldly, but he is not superhuman. Some skaters have the great fortune to put out their best performances at the Olympics (Brian B., Tara, Sarah, Ilya K.) and others have definitely not, but still won gold (Scott H., Kristi, Victor P.) I honestly don't remember seeing a men's Olympic podium where the silver and bronze medallists both fell.

Betty