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N0KFQ > TODAY 06.01.15 16:00l 73 Lines 3221 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 44029_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jan 6
Path: IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 150106/1500Z 44029@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.62
Jan 6, 1994:
Skater Nancy Kerrigan attacked
Olympic hopeful Nancy Kerrigan is attacked at a Detroit ice rink
following a practice session two days before the Olympic trials.
A man hit Kerrigan with a club on the back of her knee, causing
the figure skater to cry out in pain and bewilderment. When the
full story emerged a week later, the nation became caught up in a
real-life soap opera.
One of Kerrigan's chief rivals for a place on the U.S. Figure
Skating Team was Tonya Harding. In mid-December 1993, Harding's
ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, approached Shawn Eckardt about somehow
eliminating Kerrigan from the competition. Eckardt set up a
meeting with Derrick Smith and Shane Stant, who agreed to injure
Kerrigan for a fee.
On December 28, Stant went to Massachusetts, where Kerrigan was
practicing. However, he couldn't carry out the attack so he
followed her to Detroit, where Smith met him. After hitting
Kerrigan, Stant fled the ice rink in Smith's getaway car. With
Kerrigan unable to skate, Harding won the championship and a
place at the 1994 Olympics.
On January 11, Derrick Smith confessed to FBI agents. Three days
later, Stant surrendered and also confessed. Harding was
questioned on January 18, but denied her involvement. She claimed
that she would cut off any connection with Gillooly if he was
responsible. The next day, Gillooly was charged with conspiracy
to assault Kerrigan. Shortly after, he agreed to a deal in which
he implicated Harding.
Harding then came forward, changing her story and admitting that
she had learned of Gillooly's role in the attack after the
championships but did not inform authorities. Meanwhile, U.S.
Olympic officials named Kerrigan and Harding to the team that
would compete in Lillehammer, Norway. When the United States
Olympic Committee began considering removing Harding from the
team, she filed a lawsuit that successfully stopped this action.
At the Olympics, the competition between Harding and Kerrigan set
ratings records. Harding's performance was a drama in itself. She
broke down crying after a lace on her skates broke. Even after
being allowed a restart, Harding wasn't able to pull herself
together and finished eighth. Kerrigan took home the silver
medal, and many thought she deserved the gold.
Back in the U.S., Harding pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder
the prosecution of Kerrigan's attackers. She was fined $100,000
and sentenced to probation and 500 hours of community service.
Other than Gillooly's testimony, there was never any further
evidence of Harding's knowledge of the plans before the attack.
But Gillooly got revenge on Tonya by sinking to new tabloid
depths, selling graphic photos of the couple having sex on their
honeymoon.
Meanwhile, Harding wasn't above trying to exploit the crime and
her notoriety herself. However, an attempted movie career was
dead in the water from the beginning. Kerrigan even succumbed to
the temptation years later, appearing on a talk show with Harding
to promote herself.
In 2003, about a year after fighting in a "celebrity boxing"
event, Harding made her professional boxing debut.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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