Thank you, Cekoni, for talking to her and arguing for Plushy!
I agree with you that she probably doesn't have nasty intentions as some real Plushy haters that I've seen. I don't know much about her, I have to say, though from what I've read so far of her articles, I have my own doubts. Well, how to say this, so far it's not clear to me that she's...capable of understanding someone like Evgeni Plushenko. This new article she wrote essentially says that he is "enigmatic" (her word, and one that I find very interesting) because he speaks his mind! To me, an article that can--with all apparent seriousness--say this reveals a great deal more about its author than about its subject.
And that's leaving aside the question of what particular things Plushy has actually said during his career, or how "polarizing", as she put it, each of those things really were, especially when put in perspective. It's not as if he's made statements like "I gave a gold medal performance regardless of how others skated", or "my competitors are working to be somewhat near my level". I guess by "polarizing statements", she probably meant the quad controversy after Vancouver. But then maybe she could also take a look at how this "polarization" eventually resolved itself, in terms of how many people are doing the quad now...
(Well, I'll give her credit for having used the word "polarizing", since that word in itself implies that some agree and some do not, which I suppose was true. Although from other part of the article, I am not completely certain she understood that point herself.)
The thing with Plushy is, he cares about figure skating, and he has beliefs about them. So when it comes to skating, he'll evaluate himself and other skaters, as well and as honestly as he can. He's talked about his own strengths and weaknesses at some given time or competition; he's talked about others' strengths and weakness at some given time. Of course, what he says is just his own point of view--but that's always true, with everybody who ever makes a comment about skating or anything else. What on earth can be more natural? People claim he has a "big ego", but to me, his so-called "ego" has nothing to do whatsoever to do with it; it's their own egos that can't take it.
In real life, I have met (quite rarely) people who can say very direct and blunt, or even harsh things (far harsher than anything Plushy ever said publicly about anyone's skating, actually), not about skating but about some other specific area. I confess it took me a long time, but finally I gained enough maturity to understand that at least with some of them, this is absolutely not about being "arrogant" or "humble" or having a big or small ego. In fact, it's exactly the opposite--because they believe that egos--their own or anyone else's--are simply not useful in comparison with the endeavor himself. I believe this is the case with Plushy, too.
? Also, there is judgment factor, the one that is supposed to be based on the rules, and not some "different perception of what these things mean" stuff. 
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They know how to raise the audience!!!! 
