I saw something over at YouTube tonight that disgusted me, so I thought I'd share it with all of you. The guys behind Getbig.com and LiftStudios interviewed Valerie Waugaman at the Olympia Expo, and to my eye it looks like an interview meant to belittle or discredit her. They asked her why she was talking to herself offstage before her routine the night before, which is an odd question, and she explained that she was trying to give herself "affirmations" and "stay in the moment". Lots of athletes do this and I doubt it's something to which an observer would draw attention, absent an ulterior motive. Then the interview shifted to this line of inquiry:
Q: So you weren't high?
VW: What's that?
Q: You weren't on drugs or high?
Waugaman denies that she was on drugs or high, and tries to laugh it off.
There's no way to paint "So you weren't high?" as anything other than deliberately disparaging. Waugaman handled it about as well as anybody could be expected to handle such an ambush. I have no idea what these two thought they were up to, but to my mind they only succeeded in discrediting themselves, not Waugaman. I wouldn't be surprised if competitors stay clear of these clowns in the future, to avoid being ambushed on video.
It struck me that the interviewer was doing two things - firstly, trying to deflate the spiritual talk Valerie was giving with a joke, and secondly, being immature and somewhat childish because, let's face it, she's smoking and he's trying to be 'cool' and 'at ease' with her, and nothing says "I'm breezy" than cracking jokes.
His joke wasn't particularly funny or well-timed, but I don't think it was harsh, especially when you see how Valerie took it. I really wouldn't call it an ambush. I've done the talking to yourself backstage thing - these guys are obviously just somewhat nervous talking to Valerie and want to appear cool and funny next to her, and at the same time, aren't used to the backstages of the contests. I find it hard to believe these people have seen people talking to themselves backstage before.
On the other hand, if they're used to this kind of thing, then they are ambushing her. I honestly don't know enough about the people doing the interview to form an informed opinion.
Regardless, I do agree - Valerie comes off good from the interview. I like her a lot more.
Lingster
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Not amateurs
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Super Administrator
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2006-10-11 06:39:52
Those guys were going around doing lots of interviews at the Olympia, and I don't think this was the first time either of them have done this.
Vas
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Registered
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2006-10-11 18:14:31
Amen Ling
Any doubts of intent are erased by reading what I. Suck Hinds posted on the GetBig.com figure board.
Vas
mortiskbailey
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Registered
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2006-10-11 18:42:44
Ever heared of being objective? She was talking to herself back stage, she even admits it. No harm no foul.
But for the smoking thing; who the hell talks to themselves when they are high? I sure don't... So the answer is paranoid schizophrenics.
Besides, so what if you're right? I admire them for having the minerals to do it.
Holiday
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Registered
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2006-10-11 19:12:36
From what I got from the last Harbody Radio show, Valerie's stage performance was outside of usual. The 'high' question was rather blunt, but I don't think it was rude in its delivery. However that 2 minute routine thing sounds half-baked. This is figure, not fitness.
