January 6, 1994: Harding vs. Kerrigan

January 6, 1994, 30 years ago: Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan is attacked while preparing to compete in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, at Cobo Hall (now named Huntington Place) in downtown Detroit. It starts one of the greatest "soap operas" in the history of sports -- if, that is, you consider figure skating to be a "sport."

In 1989, at the U.S. Championships, Tonya Harding finished 3rd. In 1990, Kerrigan finished 4th. In 1991, Harding won, while Kerrigan finished 3rd. In 1992, Kerrigan was 2nd, Harding 3rd. In the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, Kerrigan finished 3rd for the Bronze Medal, Harding 4th. In 1993, Kerrigan won the U.S. Championship, and Harding was 4th.

In 1994, a Winter Olympic year -- the 1st time it was held in the even-numbered year between Summer Olympic years, instead of in the same year -- both Kerrigan and Harding really, really wanted to win. It could be said that Harding wanted to win in the worst way.

After a practice session, Kerrigan was hit on the right leg, right above the knee, with a police baton. The attack was not captured on video, but its aftermath was, with Kerrigan sitting on the floor holding her knee, surrounded by attendants, and crying out, "Why?" over and over. "Why?... Why?... Why?... "

The assailant was soon captured, and identified as Shane Stant. He was hired by Jeff Gillooly, Harding's ex-husband -- in other words, they were already divorced. I won't get into Harding's personal life here, but that's some dedication to an ex.

Kerrigan had to drop out of the tournament, and Harding won it, with Michelle Kwan finishing 2nd. But the other skaters petitioned the U.S. Figure Skating Association to allow Kerrigan on the team anyway. Since 2 spots were available, Kerrigan was named along with Harding, with Kwan as an alternate, with the very real possibility that Harding could be disqualified.

The media firestorm was intense, and it has since been labeled an event that, had it happened during the era of social media, would have "broken the Internet." It meant that the ladies singles figure skating competition at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway would be among the most-watched sporting events in the history of American television, right up there with the most-watched Super Bowls, watched by more people than had ever watched a baseball game or a basketball game.

Harding had her own moment of tears when she had a problem with the laces on her skates, and could be heard begging for a re-skate: "Please!" She was awarded it, but she only finished 8th.

Kerrigan gave what she thought was the best performance of her life, and the American media, obviously wanting her to win, was nearly unanimous in its belief that she should have won the Gold Medal. She didn't: In a very close decision, the Gold Medal was awarded to Oksana Baiul of Ukraine. In other words: After all that, neither Kerrigan nor Harding won the Gold. No American did.

The fact that the final result of figure skating competitions is dependent upon judges, rather than tangible results like time, distance, or runs or points scored, is the reason I believe that, however athletic and artistic it might be, figure skating is not a sport.

Kerrigan and Harding both turned professional after the Olympics, but Kerrigan was in demand on the pro skating circuit, and Harding was not. The USFSA banned her for life.

Harding denied any involvement in the planning of the attack, but later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder the prosecution. She served no jail time. Gilooly made a plea deal, ratting the others out, publicly apologized to Kerrigan, admitting that, "Any apology coming from me rings hollow," and served 2 years.

Figure skating remains the most-watched Winter Olympic sport on American television, ahead of hockey, although it has never again reached the heights of attention that it did in the Winter of 1994.