Doctor JIM MICHELS cheats ?????

[John B]

MICHELS cheats
That a look at is.
http://p205.ezboard.com/fwaterskiingfrm2.showMessage?topicID=930.topic
Not sure what to think of this.
But if it is true, it's not good.

[Jorski]

Seems like a bunch of BS....it is very hard to imagine that any sane individual would think that you could move the buoys in without anyone noticing.

Skifly always seems to have a lot of crap on it

[east tx skier]

Yeah, it's skifly. That forum gives me a headache. If it happened, I'll hear about it from somewhere else.

[BriEOD]

Wow, that's crazy if it happened.

[6ballsisall]

How could anyone think 2' of movement wouldn't be noticed. The naked eye with no peripheral set locations could see that. Surely Michels wouldn't do that, he's smarter than that. I'm putting my waders on, the S*** is getting deep on that site.

[east tx skier]

Yeah. I can't imagine that it did. That guy's got so much press on him I'd be surprised (hell, I'd be surprised anyway). Just a lot of people out there that passionately dislike him for whatever reason. I just get the feeling that this may be less than accurate. I agree with the one post that said, if the 1, 3, and 5, buoys were actually off, then it would've taken a lot longer than 30 minutes to get it worked out. Course would have had to be surveyed.

[rodltg2]

how would you move the balls anyway ?

[east tx skier]

The rumors make it sound as if there were separate anchors and retractable cables. I'm still not buying it.

[east tx skier]

Well, this is taking shape fast.

Water Ski Mag Article on "Scandle at Malibu Open" (http://www.waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=37245)

[LakePirate]

How does the saying go...there is no such thing as bad publicity?

Maybe it will make sportscenter

[east tx skier]

Probably not bad for the sport. But not good for Dr. J.

[John B]

Here are the facts from Skiers at the Event as 2 PM
The 1,3,5 buoys line up with the jump course. From the start dock you can see straight down them. After women's JM was the first skier. During his turn the buoys did not line up, they were about 2-3 feet narrower. It was brought to the attention of the officials. After he skied and was on his way in, many of the rest of the men's field watched the buoys move back into line. It was caught on video, no doubts about it, it is not a rumour . . . obviously hell was raised.

The tournament was halted for about 30 minutes but then continued at the officials decision and the buoys were supposedly back to normal.

A diver has been sent down to investigate and found some form of device cable that brings the buoys in.

As of right now JM has not been disqualified as there is no proof it was him that he did it and he denies it. He has been shown the video and since there is obviously something wrong with the course his score can not stand.

They are currently moving onto Women's Jump and a decision about how to proceed has not been made yet.

Those are all the facts as of right now . . .

[east tx skier]

Some time ago, I, sort of, recall Mark and I saying that moving buoys would make the sport more interesting. For the record, I meant while the skier was trying to ski around them. 8p

[Cloaked]

Here are the facts from Skiers at the Event as 2 PM
The 1,3,5 buoys line up with the jump course. From the start dock you can see straight down them. After women's JM was the first skier. During his turn the buoys did not line up, they were about 2-3 feet narrower. It was brought to the attention of the officials. After he skied and was on his way in, many of the rest of the men's field watched the buoys move back into line. It was caught on video, no doubts about it, it is not a rumour . . . obviously hell was raised.

The tournament was halted for about 30 minutes but then continued at the officials decision and the buoys were supposedly back to normal.

A diver has been sent down to investigate and found some form of device cable that brings the buoys in.

As of right now JM has not been disqualified as there is no proof it was him that he did it and he denies it. He has been shown the video and since there is obviously something wrong with the course his score can not stand.

They are currently moving onto Women's Jump and a decision about how to proceed has not been made yet.

Those are all the facts as of right now . . .How about a re-ride... Now there's a concept for the astute officials... :rant:

[John B]

How about a re-ride... Now there's a concept for the astute officials... :rant:
I say hang his a$$ from a tree at 43 off.

[LakePirate]

I say hang his a$$ from a tree at 43 off.

The question is would he have the ground moved up to closer to the branch?

[ski_king]

The question is would he have the ground moved up to closer to the branch?
or use a cable system to lower the branch

It is hard to believe that he actually could believe he could get away with this.... but then again it sounds like he may have got away with it last year............ assuming, he actually did something here.

[John B]

It is hard to believe that he actually could believe he could get away with this.... but then again it sounds like he may have got away with it last year............ assuming, he actually did something here.

If Water Ski has it on their site as braking news it happen.
If he didn't do it himself he should have stop after his first pass and said something is wrong with the course.
If screw up when I set my course up and don't get a boom all the way out it messes up your timing and that is if out by just a foot.
He did it.

[east tx skier]

It'll be interesting to see what Schnitz has to say about this. From his site, he was there with his camera ready. Doubt we'll ever see those pics.

[AirJunky]

Hey Doug,
Who is Schnitz & whats the URL to his site?

[east tx skier]

Schnitz is a skier. He's been touting Dr. Jim for a long time.

www.schnitzskis.com The reference I made was to the blurb about the 'Bu Open on his home page.

Also, there is a very interesting thread on the Malibu Crew Site (http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1350&st=40). Someone over there posted about having a radio and listening to some of the chatter among the judges during and after Dr. J's set.

[6ballsisall]

I may stand corrected. Go to www.waterskimag.com Pretty conclusive piece on the homepage about the event. Shame on him if it is all true. If so, that guy has a real mental problem.

[SteveO]

And to think that Parrish, Beauchesne and the others were just working to hard. With Marcus Brown doing the west coast techinique and the others using old school, I quess Dr. Jim uses the Purdue technique. The Purdue technique is a midwest style that finds a good engineer to build the course to your specs that can be changed from skier to skier.

[east tx skier]

You know, given that there's a cash prize, if it turns out to be true, and he was in on it, it could turn into a criminal matter.

[LakePirate]

Having him drawn and quartered sounds like appropriate punishment.

[6ballsisall]

Seriously though guys. I don't know what the cash prize is, he is a Dentist that rakes some some dough. If he needed this for his ego I think the guy has some serious mental issues that need to be addressed. I love the sport and all but cmon, he won't become president of the US from winning a tourney.

[east tx skier]

Well, apparently, the judges have allowed him to go to the semi-finals. Somebody needs to get the video on the net.

[rodltg2]

has anyone heard if the course moves or not?

[parks_jr_55]

http://www.schnitzskis.com/images/Jim_Michaels_41_off_July_2004.wmv

Here is him skiing in July.

Anyone see the buoys move.

Schnitz calls the 5 and 6 made but according to www.mymastercraft.com he was inside.

[parks_jr_55]

That's also the site of the Malibu Open.

[John B]

http://www.schnitzskis.com/images/Jim_Michaels_41_off_July_2004.wmv

Here is him skiing in July.

Anyone see the buoys move.

Schnitz calls the 5 and 6 made but according to www.mymastercraft.com he was inside.
That video was filmed at his lake with his movable course.
It looks look he could have miss ball 5 but it is hard to be sure.I ran it over and over in slow motion and it looked like he miss the 6 ball.
Then I started paused it as he came to the balls.
Doing that 5 ball was ??? but he made ball 6.

update
I watch it over over again in slow motion using pause, and it looks like he made all 6 of the balls

[Ryan]

I think he just wants to win one tournament then he'll move on to his next conquest. He has done a similar cycle with other sports. No wife, no kids... You've got to do something to avoid the suicidal tendancies.

[SKI*MC]

I dont believe it at all. I was at the Malibu Open today, Micheal ran 3 at 39, and Parish 3 at 41. I dont believe it at all!!!!! He did not Cheat!
:mad: Until i see "the video" i wont believe it at all! :mad: :mad:

[wakesport]

I missed all the excitement. I got there just as Chris Parrish skied and left just after Damian Sharmen crashed hard on his 3rd jump. Didn't hear anyone talking about movable bouys. But what was the delay with the start of womens jumping all about. They had to go move or remove some bouys then.

[SKI*MC]

I think they said the bouy came off mark.

[parks_jr_55]

Cheater or not, I still think hes a good skiier. Hopefully I will be able to see the rest of the Malibu Open

[SKI*MC]

My dad used to ski with him. He even said back then, that he would go pro.

[parks_jr_55]

http://www.nztwsa.co.nz/Malibu%20Open%20Results%20Day%201.htm

i'd say its pretty obvious

they found a cable into the boathouse so he is not in this alone by anymeans

big slap in the face for Dr. Jim

[scott88prostar]

When I heard this yesterday from a friend who was there I thought someone was playing a joke on him...he has tarnished a sport we all love and Id love to see some sort of charges....how bout it east tx...a little pro bono?....this guy has to be a head case....why compete in sport that keeps score if you dont play by the rules!

[6balls]

The guy is an arrogant ***** and should be banned from the sport. He has made a farce of the first major pro event to come to Wisconsin in 15 years. He has drawn considerable criticism over the past few years for setting his so called records, on his lake and his lake only. In fact the one time he showed up for an R -Class tourney at Still Waters - A private lake a mile up from his house - he "Injured" himself when the field got into the serious shortline.

There are now some folks who are saying, Yes, the system was there. All of his ski buddies knew about it and that it was a training device that they used. These people are saying that either one of his buddies tried to help help him without his knowledge or that one of the pros sabotaged him by engaging it

WHAT A CROCK?! :rant:

:twocents: You're hosting a world record pro waterski tour stop and you fail to see the importance of disclosing the existance of this system to Ed Brazil - the AWSA Surveyor.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! PLEASE WELCOME Dr. Jim Michaels - LIAR - CHEAT - LOSER - LAUGHING STOCK :purplaugh

[east tx skier]

Sorry, no pro bono. Can't do it. If the guy skis at that level, he should've known it was narrow and should've said something. Pretty disgraceful.

[Cloaked]

Is there an official statement or judgement on this issue? So far, all I have seen is opinions and witness testimony. Was the man disqualified, acknowledged with his run, or is it ongoing?

[Hoosier Bob]

It really does not matter now that I ran 48' off on rough water behind my buddies Rinker! I am now the world record holder and I expect all to bow before me! :headbang:

[6balls]

As of yet this is what's up:

Initially he said no way was the course narrow.
Then they showed him the tape and he agreed the course was narrow.
He withdrew from the competition
No officials will comment about it.
There are numerous theories and now there is a movement to say there must be some sort of logical explanation.

[Hoosier Bob]

Did you know you look a lot like that guy from Night (Knight?) Rider? Kit? You know!As of yet this is what's up:

Initially he said no way was the course narrow.
Then they showed him the tape and he agreed the course was narrow.
He withdrew from the competition
No officials will comment about it.
There are numerous theories and now there is a movement to say there must be some sort of logical explanation.

[Cloaked]

As of yet this is what's up:

Initially he said no way was the course narrow.
Then they showed him the tape and he agreed the course was narrow.
He withdrew from the competition
No officials will comment about it.
There are numerous theories and now there is a movement to say there must be some sort of logical explanation.
Thank you Sir.

[rodltg2]

i find it hard to believe that JM would risk so much by cheating, especially with all the hype and hard work. it would seem that he or at least a ski friend would be smart enough to know that someone would notice a narrow course. on the other hand a bouy moving device for training seems like it would only promote bad habits. i wish someone would make an official statement . too bad we proabably wont be seeing that on the nightly news.

[6ballsisall]

I can't see how he wouldn't know if he is skiing at that level. It's just all to coincidental, all his "records" are set on his lake. He doesn't ski on tourneys except on his lake, video footage available on the web comes from his site. If he truly didn't have this planned and it was merely a mishap why didn't he fess up right away about the alterable course? Just to many suspicous questions unanswered at this point. Whats really strange is that he did not have to disclose his "special" course with the surveyor of the site. How could "extra cables" be missed?

[sizzler]

surely this is too obvious......how could he not know???

i suppose the conspiracy
theorists will be out now...

cia involvement and aliens :uglyhamme

[Jorski]

Try the new INSTASLALOM:

Dial 1-800-DOCTORJ and order the "adjustable version...it slices, it dices, it juliennes !

This part is from the instruction manual:
--Allows for precise customized placement of turn buoys. Finally, turn where you want to turn !

[east tx skier]

Just got a mass email from USA Waterski. Rightfully so, they announced the top scores for this event. Of course, they made no mention of the moving course.

In my opinion they should offer an explanation even if that explanation is that something was afoot and they're still investigating. Their ignoring it in the email press release makes me feel a lot better about not renewing my membership this year.

[Andyg]

There is supposed to be some news coverage of this on the Milwaukee AM talk radio station this morning. If you are interested in listening to it you can listen via the internet at the following link.

Just a warning it is a conservative talk radio station so you may have to put up with some politics until it comes on. For example they are talking about the latest supreme court rulings, right up your alley East Texas Skier.

AM620 WTMJ (http://www.620wtmj.com/620listenlive/index-new-alt.asp)

[east tx skier]

Thanks, Andy. By the way, Waterskimag appears to have pulled the report they filed on Friday. I wonder if the good Dr. has been threaten doing some damage control?

People on the Nicholl's board are comparing this to the lady that took a cab to win the Boston Marathon.

[ski_king]

Interesting read
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jun05/336774.asp

[Andyg]

The discussion has started on AM620 as of 11:10 AM central time.

[ski36short]

I agree that I don't see the "training" reason for the course mechanism as a good idea. That should have been disclosed before the tournament. Is there always a jump course on that lake or is it customarily just the 26 slalom course buoys? It would be alot easier to pull off that stunt without the jump course as a reference...

[Andyg]

I just found these pictures on one of the other sites. It clearly shows that bouys moved after his run.

His run

[Andyg]

Picture after his run.

[John B]

I find this hole thing so hard to believe. I don't see how he could be so stupid. To think he could get away with something like that at a pro event. For his friends that knew what he was going to do and not tell him.
Jim there will be cameras on you while you ski it will be seen.
If it did go to court for fraud,and it should. I think he would probably be found not guilty. Before everyone says no way he guilty. Look what happen last mouth with Michael Jackson. With enough money and the right lawyer you can make lie look like the truth.

His defense would go something like this.

Why would a man with all he has going for him do something like this.
There are a lot of people that don't like Dr. Milchels that might have set him up.
The reason that he did not nosiest the course not being right.
He was excited about being in his first pro competition and just though he was skiing good.
That he is not a bad man,that he just made some mistakes.

The prosecution would agree with all of that.

But say he did not discloses the fact that his course had the ability to be manipulated.
Even after the course had been seen moving.
He is a liar and a cheat,and should be strip of all of his so-called world records.
And should go live in a hole for the rest of his life.
Or at the lest change his name and go live Afghanistan.

[betsy&david Harrison]

My :twocents: ...if guilty, and the pictures sure look suspicious, he should be striped of all titles and banned from any/all tournaments. What a scandal! This sport does not need bad crap like this. B

[John B]

[QUOTE=east tx skier]Thanks, Andy. By the way, Waterskimag appears to have pulled the report they filed on Friday. I wonder if the good Dr. has been threaten doing some damage control?

Doug, if you use the link that you posted on Friday it is still there.
http://www.waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=37245

[tex]

This makes us look like a bunch of cheating figure skaters!

I'm just glad it didn't happen in Texas-No strike that...I wish it had...we would know how to handle a cheater!

[Prostar19]

Check it out. It really happened. You can not dispute the pictures.

http://www.nztwsa.co.nz/Malibu%20Open%20Results%20Day%201.htm

[east tx skier]

[QUOTE=east tx skier]Thanks, Andy. By the way, Waterskimag appears to have pulled the report they filed on Friday. I wonder if the good Dr. has been threaten doing some damage control?

Doug, if you use the link that you posted on Friday it is still there.
http://www.waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=37245

Now why didn't I think of that. ;)

[JDK]

Has anyone, anywhere, ever heard of, or seen an "adjustable" course?
(I ask this question sincerely).
It seems to me that a 'pro' level skier with his own 'adjustable' course is like an NBA player with a variable height hoop in his back yard for practice.

[AirJunky]

Man, what a mess. Has there been any official word yet?

It's funny to read all the posts on the Waterskimag.com site from Dr. Jim's family & friends. Their stickin up for him saying he's innocent till proven guilty. While that is certainly true, the pictures of the moved bouys & the fact that he's never come clean yet sure don't make him look very innocent........ or very honest!

[OhioProstar]

JDK....great point. There was no need for a tighter course unless you were cheating. If a person is training, wouldn't they run more rope rather than adjust the course, just from a logistically point it wouldn't make any sense. You would be moving the couse around rather than skiing. It is obvious this was pre-meditated. This guy needs to nail some big sets at more than a few tour events to prove any different.

[Jim@BAWS]

After trying to READ EVERTHING...What a joke.. this guy is done!!!
Adjusable course HA HA HA. Ever heard of going back to 28 Off
instead of 32? Ever heard of lowering the boat speed to improve
your position and timing? BUSTED BUSTED BUSTED !!!

This guy needs to work on a mini course where the balls are half
way between the boat bouys and the course bouys.

I skied a personal best yesterday at 38 MPH 45 off... man those
boat buoys like to move around alot HA HA HA


Jim@BAWS

[east tx skier]

Has anyone, anywhere, ever heard of, or seen an "adjustable" course?
(I ask this question sincerely).
It seems to me that a 'pro' level skier with his own 'adjustable' course is like an NBA player with a variable height hoop in his back yard for practice.

You can get a practice course/mini course setup with some of the portable courses. Just balls 5 feet inside the usual distance if I understand correctly. Good for people just learning perhaps from a timing/confidence standpoint. Don't know what use a supposed world record holder would have for it unless he's running a summer camp or ski school in his spare time (is he?). Either way, although I was initially skeptical about info coming from skifly (and there's plenty of reason to be based on some of the stuff I've read on there in the past), those pictures don't lie.

[bret]

This question still bugs me: why has he only chosen to ski at his own lake?

A buddy of mine was at the Bull Neck Open this past weekend at Scott Greenwoods lake and someone called from the Malibu Open to tell them about it and at that time, mild mannered Andy Mapple was all in Michels face asking him questions.

[east tx skier]

RAOTFLMFAO!

Did anybody catch the new ad for a ski course onSki-it-again (http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?topic=Search&postid=SIA02209)

[betsy&david Harrison]

It is very clever! Jeez, maybe I can ski 43 off next time too. Would we be calling this the PRO's Mini course? B

[Leroy]

VF LOL!

This is such a joke and the longer it goes without official word the messier it is. Guess that is homecourt advantage.

RAOTFLMFAO!

Did anybody catch the new ad for a ski course onSki-it-again (http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?topic=Search&postid=SIA02209)

[John B]

I just got off the phone with Lisa at Insta-Slalom.
She said that when you order a mini course.
That is now called a Michels' course.

[LakePirate]

Now that is just not right.

[rodltg2]

as ridiculous as his course idea is , i would be curious to see how it works. it seems like it would be a cabling nightmare. are the 2,4,6 balls independant from the 1,3,5 or do they all come in and out together?

[tex]

RAOTFLMFAO!

Did anybody catch the new ad for a ski course onSki-it-again (http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?topic=Search&postid=SIA02209)

That is greatness! I hope they leave it up!

[rodltg2]

is this how it works

[east tx skier]

Unless the anchor lines are on tracks, I don't see why that wouldn't just pull them deeper into the water. Or does the tension spring accomplish that?

[rodltg2]

i think the only way it wold work if it was on a track , like unistrut or curtian track.

[JDK]

Here you go. Infinitely adjustable and the vertical lines stay at the perfect tension.

[Leroy]

What a great training device!

[rodltg2]

jm should pick up jumping now, with an adjustable ramp.

[ski_king]

I see the article at Waterski Magazine has been updated. It is now called "Buoygate" (http://www.waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=37245)

[east tx skier]

Just received the following mass email from USA Waterski:

The Latest News From USA Water Ski

Statement Regarding Wisconsin Event

USA Water Ski is aware of the incident at last weekend's event in Wisconsin and, per American Water Ski Association (AWSA) rules and AWSA and USA Water Ski bylaws, proper steps will be taken to investigate the situation. USA Water Ski has zero tolerance regarding acts of impropriety or unsportsmanlike conduct on
the part of any of its members. It is of paramount importance that ALL information be collected and that we have a full understanding of the severity of this incident – looking not only at this tournament, but all tournaments held at this site – and that we understand who all are involved.

[east tx skier]

Schnitz has a revised statement in response to the USA Water Ski statement on his site (www.schnitzskis.com) that is clear as mud.

[rodltg2]

doesnt make much sense to me. sounds like he's making jm the victim.
it does however sound like he admits that jm was using " magic " to run those lengths.

"Thank you for opening our eyes to finding other ways of accomplishing our goals."

this statement sounds like cheating is an alternative to achieving our goals if the legitmate way doesnt work.

i just cant seem to make enough money working so maybe i will j ust steal it. :D

[wiltok]

A "thank you" - is he kidding?? Thanking a guy who is a cheater! At least that's how I read it....

[east tx skier]

It reads as though there has been an official statement. If there has, I haven't seen it. Forgiving him is one thing. Thanking him just seems nuts.

Anything that paints him as a victim is asinine, yet par for the course in this day and age.

/scuse me while I get in touch with my inner cheater.

[Ric]

The goofy speak on schnitzer's site about all this makes me begin to question schnitz! I've always looked at him as an icon in the slalom world. Inventing the Adjustable fin and doing the ski tests, etc. He may be the guy's friend but that statement was just plain weird.

[east tx skier]

Agreed. While everyone's over there reading that statement, click over to the videos section. Play the "Round 1 41 Off Dr. Michaels" video. Pause it at 32 seconds. This appears to be almost the same perspective as the pictures shot of the moving buoys. Pull up the pictures from the M.O. of the mini course in a separate window and compare the two.

There's a building at the treeline, two bushes closer to the water, and a third tree to the right of the two bushes, but further up the slope that you can use for reference.

Discuss.

credit to Scoke on the Nicholl's board for noticing this.

[AirJunky]

"A thank you for pushing us all to be more, to be better skiers, to work harder towards our goals."

Well, at the very least, he certainly pushed Parrish to be better.

[6ballsisall]

Schnitz has a revised statement in response to the USA Water Ski statement on his site (www.schnitzskis.com) that is clear as mud.

Ummmm......yeah......... That guy is officially full of S*** in my book

[JDK]

"A man who became caught up in something other than the truth and was carried away by the ever growing, self perpetuating snowball that followed"

Pretty much says it all right there.
.....and this guy wants to thank the cheater?
I wonder if he would 'thank' his suppliers of equipment if one of them double billed him on an invoice?

[USC8791]

Schnitz has a revised statement in response to the USA Water Ski statement on his site (www.schnitzskis.com) that is clear as mud.


:confused: ***! I think he must have been snorting some of Dr Jim's belly button lint prior to submitting that statement.

[Leroy]

I think Dooker or Toolman wrote that! This is an example of needing a lawyer to write something! They just need to come clean, but I'm sure will not if they haven't so far. As messy as the Indy F1 race.

[6ballsisall]

Seriously, that guy needs to lay off the white stuff! Can you say convuluted message?

I wondered about Schnitz when I asked him to (offered to pay whatever) set up my ski right and he never replied, then I tried to buy an accuski system off him. Both times, no reply email. That guy is a fruit cake!

[MYMC]

My take on the Snitz commentary:

Thank you for pushing us harder and further then we had gone before.
We'd never gone as far as resorting to cheating just to say we set records
Thank you for opening our eyes to finding other ways of accomplishing our goals.
We thought we'd run out of other ways, but we forgot about cheating
Thank you for teaching us about internal and external strength.
The strength to believe our own lies
Thank you for helping us become more than we ever thought possible.
Like an accomplice for instance
Thank you for helping to expand our minds and our understanding of this sport that rips the flesh from our bones yet we chase it with an unparalleled passion.
That passion is only parelleled by the delusional lengths to which you will go to make us believe you are something you're not.
And thank you for having the courage to step forward in this time of great discontent with the truth.
So now it takes "courage" to tell the truth?

On a side note: Is this a time of great discontent or is this a time of discontent with the truth? In Schnitz's case I believe he's got some serious discontent with the truth.

[John B]

If you look a the poll that Waterski online had. I think they must have known the Doctor was cheating.

[east tx skier]

There's still more doublespeak on Schnitz's site today. If I were him, and I'd been conned by this guy the way he has, I'd have a little more to say.

Perhaps, maybe, I assume too much.

By the way, if you could, somebody with a frame grabber, please post the side-by-side of the 41' off "record" from Schnitz's video section next to the "mini-course" from the M.O. Just pause the video at 32 seconds. It's the "round 1" video.

[Leroy]

OK Doug, when you turn in a 3 at 41 off run, there will be questions asked!:D



Some time ago, I, sort of, recall Mark and I saying that moving buoys would make the sport more interesting. For the record, I meant while the skier was trying to ski around them. 8p

[pilot02]

Ok, Maybe I'm just totally out of the loop as far as websites go, but can someone please point me in the direction of the "Nicholl's" site.
Thanks!

[Ric]

http://eclipse.nicholls.edu/cgi-bin/BBS/webbbs_config.pl

it does get biting and edgy over there at times (even to the point of being an N owners sub site sometimes) but there are some serious skiers on there for sure.

[Tom023]

East, I tried to grab the two but I'm not sure I was looking at the right images. So I just grabbed these two that kind of say it all.

[east tx skier]

Thanks, Tom. Actually, the comparison I did was the second image you posted to this paused video (http://www.schnitzskis.com/images/Dr._Jim_Michaels_55_KPH_Records,_Round_1_-_2004.wmv) at the 32 second mark.

[Tom023]

Gotcha, now I see what you are trying to do and say. I'll see if I can get them side by side.

[east tx skier]

Cool. If you can find a better perspective on that video, please post that one instead. That's just what I was looking at yesterday (credit to Scoke).

By the way, don't forget to check out the shadowy figure on the grassy knoll. ;)

[Tom023]

It will have to wait until I can get home to my Mac. Couldn't grap the video properly with what I have on my work PC and the Mac down in our video editing room, believe it or not, does not have Windows Media Player and they wouldn't let me load it. So... when I get home I should be able to compare. Interesting stuff.

[east tx skier]

Can you frame grab on WMP? Wasn't aware of that feature.

[Andyg]

This is the best I can do. This is a still at 32 seconds on the movie clip.

[Andyg]

Is this what you are looking for. The top picture is of the course when it meets AWSA requirements. The bottom picture is from the video.

[east tx skier]

Actually, the second picture Tom posted shows the narrow course. I've also heard there may be better spots on the video where the camera lines up a bit better. 2 min. 34 seconds on one of them (not sure if it's the one I linked). Thanks for the pictures.

[Andyg]

I just modified the above photo with a different shot from the video.

[Ric]

I think I see the shadowy figure on the grassy knoll now


That, my friends, is one magic slalom course.

[shepherd]

Wow, I've never heard of this guy until a few days ago (yeah, I'm a newbie). I was kind of inspired... until I read this thread. F*** it. Write him off as some kind of loser and go out and ski. (Shut up and ski!!!) What are we doing sitting here in front of these computers anyway???
Oh yeah, I'm at work... :mad:

[bucky]

Wow, I've never heard of this guy until a few days ago (yeah, I'm a newbie). I was kind of inspired... until I read this thread. F*** it. Write him off as some kind of loser and go out and ski. (Shut up and ski!!!) What are we doing sitting here in front of these computers anyway???
Oh yeah, I'm at work... :mad:

Exactly. (also at work).

[east tx skier]

At work is the key phrase. So somebody post something.

[tex]

All this Doctor Michael talk makes me want to go out and take a jump set! Enough.

[John B]

Wow, I've never heard of this guy until a few days ago (yeah, I'm a newbie). I was kind of inspired... until I read this thread. F*** it. Write him off as some kind of loser and go out and ski. (Shut up and ski!!!) What are we doing sitting here in front of these computers anyway???
Oh yeah, I'm at work... :mad:

I just got in from the lake, and the way I skied this morning :mad: I was thinking of puling the mini course balls, and putting the full course balls in their place.(making a Michels' course) :D

[Ric]

I just got in from the lake, and the way I skied this morning :mad: I was thinking of puling the mini course balls, and putting the full course balls in their place.(making a Michels' course) :D
I asked the pro at our club yesterday when he was going to get us some of those magic bouys.

[6ballsisall]

Yep I could've use a "special" course the other day 8p

[SKI*MC]

I never thought that waterskiing could be a cheating sport... :( but i tought wrong... if you could imagine how embarassed JM is, just think how Malibu is taking it, all that money and publicity put into a comp like that, and the one hosting it, cheats.

I'm Famous.. sort of (http://www.waterskipros.com/events/event4/index.asp) look under the pictures, and the kid standing next to Chris Parish
thats me next to Chris Parish, and my friend Peter taking the picture

[east tx skier]

Don't forget about HO. Weren't they sponsoring JM to an extent? I could be wrong.

[east tx skier]

Same paper. New Article.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wauk/jun05/337528.asp

[rodltg2]

i dont want to join, can you cut and paste the article?

[TrespalmasPR]

Here's the above article:

How'd you like to have Oconomowoc dentist Jim Michaels working on your root canal this week while the water ski world drills him with insults and crowns him a water skiing fraud?

Michaels is at the center of buoygate, the biggest sporting scandal since "Shoeless Joe" Jackson and his White Sox teammates were accused of throwing the 1919 World Series. OK, maybe not that big. But you'd think so if you plugged into the Internet chatter about the sanctioned professional water ski tournament that Michaels hosted on his private man-made lake in Waukesha County last week.

Michaels is accused of cheating in a water skiing competition, where slalom skiers are judged by how many buoys they can ski around with the shortest rope at a fixed boat speed. Witnesses say - and Web-posted pictures purport to prove - that when Michaels skied early in the tourney, the buoys were set closer together by an underwater cable system, then widened for others.

That'd be akin to a base runner scoring the winning run because somebody suddenly moved home plate closer. Or, say it ain't so, Sammy Sosa hitting all those home runs with a corked bat or steroids.

Baseball's the national pastime, but competitive water skiing is a playground for the elite who can afford fast boats, water toys and travel. Though $100,000 was at stake for 75 skiers last weekend, the top prize was $9,000.

Advertisement

Competitive water ski devotees and others claiming to know Michaels have lampooned the man, who's now being investigated by USA Water Ski, the national governing body for organized water skiing in the United States. Communications director Scott Atkinson said it could take weeks or months because the board of directors is made up of volunteers from all over the country, and now, at the height of the ski tournament season, they are often traveling.

Michaels, 48, seems in no mood to talk. A man answering the phone at his home Wednesday hung up with a "No comment, thank you." A receptionist at his office said he wouldn't comment.

As a neighbor and dentist, Michaels has missed some buoys, too. Neighbors raised a stink in 1998 over the 25-foot high berms installed to form the lake, in apparent violation of his permit. He later got an amended permit for slightly lower berms and built a house on the property, now assessed at nearly $1.5 million.

In February, Michaels also reached a stipulation with the state Department of Regulation and Licensing so he could keep practicing dentistry. The regulatory board found that in 1998 he left a broken file in a patient's tooth during a root canal and didn't refer him to a specialist for it until two years later. Michaels agreed to pay $1,825.73 in costs, a $400 fine and take a 10-hour course in root canals in coming months.

Now it's buoygate that's the buzz.

Michaels was featured in the November-December 2004 Water Skier magazine as "a bit of a mystery man since first breaking the national records" - all of which were made as an amateur on - a coincidence? - his private lake.

Next to the magazine's two-page picture of him laid out nearly horizontally on the water, his slalom ski leaving a wall of water behind him and his biceps bulging, is his revelation that, "if God is willing," he'd successfully compete in last weekend's Malibu Open tournament and break a record. It was to be his first professional competition, until he dropped out under fire.

If God was moving those buoys, USA Water Ski investigators would probably like to know.

[rodltg2]

thats awesome. he 's going to have sell the house and practice and move very very far away. never to ski again.

[jamisonsbrodie]

Check out the latest talk from the waterskimag forum!!

http://www.waterskimag.com/forum.jsp?ID=556951

[Cloaked]

Buncha' thread jackers, they are... LOL... :D :D

I tell ya folks, if we get a bunch of whinners and crawfishers here like that on that particular forum, it will be a sad day indeed. :(

[6ballsisall]

Yeah, that guy is a total looser at this point IMO. I wonder if anyone actually believed that was really JM on the WSM forums

[SKI*MC]

That would be kinda sad...

[peason]

I know the water ski organizations have been trying for years to get this sport sanctioned for the Olympics - but have been unsuccessful. This surely will not help that cause. Which is too bad.

[AirJunky]

I know the water ski organizations have been trying for years to get this sport sanctioned for the Olympics - but have been unsuccessful. This surely will not help that cause. Which is too bad.
Hey, Olympic athletes cheat all the time! :purplaugh
Seriously, I heard the problem with getting skiing sanctioned for the Olympics is the fact that it's towed with a motor. This would be a first in the Olympics.

[ski_king]

T-Shirts (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=23808&item=7166938300&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW) are now being sold on Ebay.

[6ballsisall]

Waterskimag pulled this article off the front page of their site. Maybe it's old news by now. That or JM threatened suit. JM sure is a piece of work! Well look at it this way, he got his 5 minutes of fame/shame :D

[Cloaked]

Just ashamed he put himself in that predicament.

[6ballsisall]

I just got my copy of WSM a few days ago. I wonder what kind of coverage on this matter will be in the next copy of WSM?

[SKI*MC]

Waterskimag pulled this article off the front page of their site. Maybe it's old news by now. That or JM threatened suit. JM sure is a piece of work! Well look at it this way, he got his 5 minutes of fame/shame :D


I think his shame will last a lot longer than his fame!

[BriEOD]

One word ... Integrity. If you don't have that you don't have anything IMO.

[SKI*MC]

Now he is saying that he was sabotaged

[6balls]

Now he is saying that he was sabatashed...

Sabotaged or Succotashed? :purplaugh

[ski_king]

Interesting read dated July 6, 2005 on SCHNITZSKIS.COM (http://www.schnitzskis.com/pages/460743/index.htm )

[6ballsisall]

Interesting read dated July 6, 2005 on SCHNITZSKIS.COM (http://www.schnitzskis.com/pages/460743/index.htm )

Boy his story sure changed from his last post on his site! Giving Schnitz the benefit of the doubt, he might have been shocked by the whole event and felt the need to stand up for him. This whole gig probably didn't help his reputation any

[Maristar210]

I have been silent until now.

Simply put, the guy needs to be banned. Without question. Cheat your dental patients, they're used to it.

I am surprized no one has assualted this man yet for detrimenting the integrity of the sport. Now its like Lance Armstong.... "Maybe they all do that?" Well you never know right? Really sad.

Thanks Jizz, I mean Jimzz

[SKI*MC]

I wonder if he will ever ski again...

[6ballsisall]

You know I just can't help but wonder how Schnitz and others didn't know about his "special" course. Didn't Schnitz work with him at his lake? Surely Schnitz could tell something was up with his course based on his experience in the biz. It just seems like more than Jim M had to be involved in this whole scandal, that's an awful lot of things to facilitate.

Disclaimer: I am not pointing fingers at anyone else but JM, just merely making an observation

[Diesel]

I have been silent until now.

Simply put, the guy needs to be banned. Without question. Cheat your dental patients, they're used to it.

I am surprized no one has assualted this man yet for detrimenting the integrity of the sport. Now its like Lance Armstong.... "Maybe they all do that?" Well you never know right? Really sad.

Thanks Jizz, I mean Jimzz

Okay I have remained silent until now simply because I am not a competitive skier but I have not seen any evidence either way if he did in fact cheat. If I missed it please point me to a link....... I have not even seen the AWSA make a statement and he was not disqualified from the event. As far as I can tell no official or sanctioning body has addressed the situation even though an investigation was launched at the event. The lack of official response makes it sound like the investigation did not uncover sufficient evidence to prove he did in fact cheat. Meanwhile people everywhere, mostly people who do not know the guy or were not even at the event are jumping on the conviction band waggon. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty??

I have seen all the pictures and while it is quite evident the bouys were narrower how come everyone is so quick to blame him for delibertly moving the bouys?? :confused:

Is in not possible that somebody other than himself narrowed the bouys in an attempted sabotage or possibly one of his cronies trying to help without his knowledge??

I think everyone needs to open their minds a little bit.

Disclaimer: I do not care either way and do not follow competitive water skiing so I do not know much about this guy or his intentions. From an outsider looking in I see a whole bunch of questions that have not been answered yet I see a guy who could very well be innocent being crucified. I don't see enough evidence to claim he deliberately cheated. Someone please show me specifically (with evidence and links) how you guys are coming to the conclusion so easily?? :confused:

[Lake_Tippy_Skier]

I wonder if he will ever ski again...

I know of a nice river in Baghdad

[east tx skier]

Schnitz put another statement on his website yesterday. He's changed his tune a bit over the last week or so.

www.schnitzskis.com

[Granite_33]

Diesel,
Circumstantial evidence all points to it being highly questionable the way I see it.........

From My perspective..........my perspective only
1. No one knew about the device to move the buoys........I have yet to read or hear of any training partners, etc who knew it was there......and the good Dr only admitted he had something when questioned on it. To me this rules out sabotage.
2. His record runs happened at his lake......which is not evidence, but the good doctor has never duplicated his record performance anywhere else......which to me is highly questionable....
3. The buoys moved right after his run. This tells me that it was timed and planned.
4. Its taken years for competitive skiers to reach the 41 off mark. Seems to me that the good Dr moved quite quickly to hit his records. For what its worth, the videos of his record runs looked waaay to easy. But then again, I have an untrained eye........and, well, Yoda was a small dude with big powers too. :)

In the overall scheme of the world........this barely registers as a speck on the radar screen. So that begs the question, why even do it? For some recognition? I would rather be 2nd knowing I did everything by the rules without performance enhancing equipment, drugs, etc than I would be #1 knowing I cheated. That would be a hollow victory for sure.

[bcampbe7]

4. Its taken years for competitive skiers to reach the 41 off mark. Seems to me that the good Dr moved quite quickly to hit his records. For what its worth, the videos of his record runs looked waaay to easy. But then again, I have an untrained eye........and, well, Yoda was a small dude with big powers too. :)


I was trying to figure this out also. I was trying to decide if he was extending around the buoys like someone at 41off would probably have to. Not sure how tall the Dr is either.
It's hard to tell.

[jimmer2880]

It would still be nice to hear something "official". Guess AWSA just wants to not leave a doubt when they finally do come out.

[John B]

I was trying to figure this out also. I was trying to decide if he was extending around the buoys like someone at 41off would probably have to. Not sure how tall the Dr is either.
It's hard to tell.

He is 5,11
His height was in a WaterSki Mag.
This article was in WSM back when we all, or most of us though he was for real.

http://waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=36318

[André]

He should have mentionned the device to Ed Brazil.
He should have noticed the narrow bouys on his first ball of the first pass and stop right there and tell the officials.Any skier of that caliber,and even me at 28 off,would instantly notice the narrow bouys.
The fact that he only skied 3.5 at 39 on a narrow course says it all.
In all the videos at 41 off,he's not high enough on the boat.
Last proof for me:You can't replace talent and hard work of Chris Parrish,Andy ,Jeff and Wade by cheating and steroids.
I say let's hang him from a 41 feets high tree...but then again his rope may be too long!

[bcampbe7]

He is 5,11
His height was in a WaterSki Mag.
This article was in WSM back when we all, or most of us though he was for real.

http://waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=36318


Interesting read John B, thanks.

[Diesel]

He should have mentionned the device to Ed Brazil.
He should have noticed the narrow bouys on his first ball of the first pass and stop right there and tell the officials.Any skier of that caliber,and even me at 28 off,would instantly notice the narrow bouys.
The fact that he only skied 3.5 at 39 on a narrow course says it all.
In all the videos at 41 off,he's not high enough on the boat.
Last proof for me:You can't replace talent and hard work of Chris Parrish,Andy ,Jeff and Wade by cheating and steroids.
I say let's hang him from a 41 feets high tree...but then again his rope may be too long!

I thought courses were suppose to be inspected prior to the tournament?? So I am assuming somebody did not thouroughly inspect the course prior to the event. If the course was inspected and given the "okay" I don't think Jimmy is liable.

I have heard many people mention steroid use. Does the AWSA specifically prohibit thier use during competition or training? If so what type of testing do they currently do on their athletes?? Was Parrish, Andy, Jeff and Wade all tested during their hay-day??

[east tx skier]

I believe courses are surveyed. I suppose, thanks to this, divers will be involved int he future. Thus, if it was the correct dimensions and given the okay, but later, and we're just assuming here, he was responsible for having someone adjust it inward while he skied, which by all accounts is when it happened, I wouldn't go so far as to say he was off the hook just because he got the narrowing cable system under the radar.

[Diesel]

I believe courses are surveyed. I suppose, thanks to this, divers will be involved int he future. Thus, if it was the correct dimensions and given the okay, but later, and we're just assuming here, he was responsible for having someone adjust it inward while he skied, which by all accounts is when it happened, I wouldn't go so far as to say he was off the hook just because he got the narrowing cable system under the radar.

So I guess it is safe to say the course certification process will be changed in the future :D.

See if I have the correct............From what I have read this quite possibly might not have been noticed if it was not for the jump course bouys, right. Then how many times has this happend before and nobody noticed. Not just on his lake but accross the country and not just by Jimmy but other skiers as well...... Just some food for thought :)

[east tx skier]

That's correct. The speculation has been that he used it to break the record. The criticism from skiers who know more about it than I do was always that he was not far enough up on the boat for 41 off.

Further speculation was that when he did actually ski on other sites, he was using a longer than regulation handle section (most skiers prefer to use their own handles).

[MYMC]

I always was told that to be "R" certified the course had to be anchored to the bottom and could not be "portable". I thought this was the reason that companies like EZ-Slalom could be certified "B" or "C" but not "R". Guess I was told wrong? :confused:

[Diesel]

I always was told that to be "R" certified the course had to be anchored to the bottom and could not be "portable". I thought this was the reason that companies like EZ-Slalom could be certified "B" or "C" but not "R". Guess I was told wrong? :confused:

I would think the certification process would be more thorough as well. What if a guy legitimately runs a WR run then after the fact they find a buoy out of wack due to the design of the course itself. Does the WR still hold?

[Jim@BAWS]

Record tournaments are careflly reviewed by AWSA officals.
Video is used... if there is something out of wack it is reviewed
immediatly. Triangulation is used for measuring and then input into computers. Records have been reveresed weeks later. Happened
at Mc Cormick's at the end of spring. A driver was brought in and
HOT times where recorded in LD jumping a pending WR was taken back and the driver has been banned for cheating with the the Tournment sponser knowing that it happened. Skiers are shunning away because of it. They do not want to participate when cheating is alleged or later proven.

[Diesel]

Record tournaments are careflly reviewed by AWSA officals.
Video is used... if there is something out of wack it is reviewed
immediatly. Triangulation is used for measuring and then input into computers. Records have been reveresed weeks later. Happened
at Mc Cormick's at the end of spring. A driver was brought in and
HOT times where recorded in LD jumping a pending WR was taken back and the driver has been banned for cheating with the the Tournment sponser knowing that it happened. Skiers are shunning away because of it. They do not want to participate when cheating is alleged or later proven.

So were jimmy's original world records certified by the AWSA officials??

[AirJunky]

So were jimmy's original world records certified by the AWSA officials??
From what I've read the records were certified via video tape. What do ya bet Jimmy brought just brought an end to that!! :dance:

[SKI*MC]

dang... will all this ever stop for JM?

[6ballsisall]

Probably not anytime soon. He put himself and the sport in a real pickle. He deserves the heat IMO

[Diesel]

From what I've read the records were certified via video tape. What do ya bet Jimmy brought just brought an end to that!! :dance:

Here's my thoughts: I don't think there will ever be an official statement. The way I see it the AWSA has as much to loose by claiming Jimmy cheated. After all they were the sanctioning body that validated the original records. The AWSA has been severely embarrassed through this whole escapade and they have to bear a portion of the fault. The used their vector/mathematics technique to validate Jimmy's original video tape, then failed to fully inspect a course for a major event. This has all blown up in their face and it appears they are trying to sweep it under the rug and move on to save some face.

[Granite_33]

Here's my thoughts: I don't think there will ever be an official statement. The way I see it the AWSA has as much to loose by claiming Jimmy cheated. After all they were the sanctioning body that validated the original records. The AWSA has been severely embarrassed through this whole escapade and they have to bear a portion of the fault. The used their vector/mathematics technique to validate Jimmy's original video tape, then failed to fully inspect a course for a major event. This has all blown up in their face and it appears they are trying to sweep it under the rug and move on to save some face.


It sounds like the AWSA should have been more in depth with course certification. But then again, they probably have never had something like this happen before. From the posts above from Jim@BAWS, it sounds like if any wrondoing is found, then they will take appropriate action.

Regarding the records that the good Dr. set..........If they certified by videotape, than all I can say is that I am absolutely stunned. :noface:

I think the AWSA will release a statement eventually after they feel that the investigation has fully concluded. To not make a statement and let any of the good Dr.'s records stand in the face of this debacle would render them illegitimate in my eyes.

[bradcox]

Believe this. The guy has been suspended, as well he should. He holds no records either. He was stripped of them as well. No doubt he is a good skier, but never stepped up to ski another tournament anywhere else. Hum, something is amiss. I know I would never ski with him.

See AWSA remarks here---> http://usawaterski.org/pages/Current%20News/CN2005AWSAMemberReprimand.htm

See Waterski Magazine Photos here--->http://www.waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=37245

Click on "VIEW GALLERY"

[Maristar210]

Believe this. The guy has been suspended, as well he should. He holds no records either. He was stripped of them as well. No doubt he is a good skier, but never stepped up to ski another tournament anywhere else. Hum, something is amiss. I know I would never ski with him.

See AWSA remarks here---> http://usawaterski.org/pages/Current%20News/CN2005AWSAMemberReprimand.htm


WOW

I read it twice and am still surprized.

Steve

[ski_king]

I guess that is the final answer to this question. (http://www.waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=36318)

I still find it amazing he thought he could have gotten away with it.

[6ballsisall]

That guy is a total pudd whacker. :noface: :noface: :noface:

[Farmer Ted]

salad tosser

or just plain old tosser

[Farmer Ted]

wanker!!!!!!!!!!!!

[6ballsisall]

arse munch :purplaugh

[betsy&david Harrison]

I think all of us agree that JM can stick it where the sun don't shine.

[rodltg2]

James Michaels today released the following statement regarding the June 24, 2005 Malibu Open Waterski Championships at Lake Lynn Louise in Wisconsin.

I would like to apologize to my fellow water skiers for the inappropriate conduct that gave me an advantage in the June 24, 2005, Malibu Open Waterski Championships. I will accept the sanctions that the American Water Skiing Association determines are appropriate.

My competitive zeal got the better of me and clouded my judgment. I have no excuse for this, and recognize that this was a mistake.

I have the utmost respect for the sport of competitive water skiing. I give due credit to the competitors in the field who prevailed in the competition. Even though I removed myself from the competition and did not gain anything from the competition, I acknowledge that my behavior was inappropriate and simply wrong. I take full responsibility for the situation. My family and coaches had absolutely no knowledge of or involvement in what occurred, and I apologize for having disappointed them so deeply.

I will work to rebuild a relationship of trust with the American Water Skiing Association and others in the water-skiing field. I hope that fellow water skiers will accept my apology and can forgive me for my lapse in judgment.



From Dr. Jim Michaels

[André]

No.I won't accept his apology.
He's a cheater that got all this attention by cheating with absolutely no respect for the men 4 skiers that have been competing against him for the record.
Guys like Mike Morgan and Chuck Forrest should have got the publicity and recognition for theirs REALS performances.
He mentionned the 2005 Malibu open but what about all the others tournaments he held on his lake when he established World records,was he cheating then too ? I think so...
He wants to be call "Dr".He certainly doesn't represant them well...

[tex]

James Michaels today released the following statement regarding the June 24, 2005 Malibu Open Waterski Championships at Lake Lynn Louise in Wisconsin.

I would like to apologize to my fellow water skiers for the inappropriate conduct that gave me an advantage in the June 24, 2005, Malibu Open Waterski Championships. I will accept the sanctions that the American Water Skiing Association determines are appropriate.

My competitive zeal got the better of me and clouded my judgment. I have no excuse for this, and recognize that this was a mistake.

I have the utmost respect for the sport of competitive water skiing. I give due credit to the competitors in the field who prevailed in the competition. Even though I removed myself from the competition and did not gain anything from the competition, I acknowledge that my behavior was inappropriate and simply wrong. I take full responsibility for the situation. My family and coaches had absolutely no knowledge of or involvement in what occurred, and I apologize for having disappointed them so deeply.

I will work to rebuild a relationship of trust with the American Water Skiing Association and others in the water-skiing field. I hope that fellow water skiers will accept my apology and can forgive me for my lapse in judgment.



From Dr. Jim Michaels

See ya in 6 years! Way to go USA Waterski!

[LakePirate]

It's all o.k. Dr. the waterski world will forgive you.

Are you serious?

[Granite_33]

He's only sorry because he was caught.

:mad:

[Granite_33]

He wants to be call "Dr".He certainly doesn't represant them well...


Dr. Feelgood maybe..............

[Leroy]

I was just wondering what happened with him! Someone was in there pulling the ropes and put together this system and I don't believe he was alone.

[6ballsisall]

What a putz.

[Andyg]

There was an article on this in the Milwaukee paper this morning. Here is a link to the article and a copy of it.

Article (http://www.jsonline.com/news/wauk/aug05/345431.asp)

Host of ski contest admits rigging buoys
He says event not first time he cheated
By RAQUEL RUTLEDGE
rrutledge@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 1, 2005
It wasn't an illusion when water-skiers from around the world reported that the distance between the buoys at a competition course in Waukesha County appeared to widen after the first skier finished his run.

Jim Michaels


Recent Coverage
6/29/05: Walker: Oh buoy, dentist leaves a big wake
6/27/05: Sanctions possible if contest's buoys rigged
6/27/05: Nichols: Building own private lake is no tough feat for some
6/26/05: Claims of rigged buoys taint top ski contest

On The Web
American Water Ski Association

Advertisement

World-record-holder Jim Michaels - whose private lake near Dousman was the site of the event - admitted Monday that he set up an underwater mechanical system to manipulate the course and give himself a competitive advantage in the 2005 Malibu Open Waterski Championships and Wakeboard Exhibitions in June.

And Michaels, through a public relations specialist, acknowledged that he had cheated other times in the past in setting national records in slalom events at his lake.

"My competitive zeal got the better of me and clouded my judgment," Michaels said in a prepared statement released by a public relations consultant. "I have no excuse for this and recognize that it was a mistake."

Michaels' statement followed a decision by the American Water Skiing Association on Monday to suspend Michaels, 48, from the sport for six years and strip him of his national records for what it dubbed "unsportsmanlike conduct."

"I've been with the organization since 1993; I have not experienced anything like this," said Steve McDermeit, executive director of the association.

McDermeit said the association's chief officials and dozens of pro skiers at the event noticed the distance between the buoys mysteriously grow about 2 feet minutes after Michaels finished his run.

A lesser distance allowed Michaels to ski around more buoys with a shorter rope - criteria for winning the competition.

The event, which drew about 2,500 spectators, was temporarily halted, and Michaels withdrew from the competition.

He sent a letter to association board members Friday admitting he rigged the course.

Stripped of records
Both McDermeit and Michaels' public relations consultant, Evan Zeppos, said the June event was not the first time Michaels, a dentist, had cheated.

Michaels held national slalom records in the Men 4 and Masters Men 55K divisions held on his private lake, Lake Lynn Louise, which he built several years ago specifically for water skiing.

"He no longer holds any record that I'm aware of," McDermeit said.

The American Water Skiing Association also recommended that its parent, USA Water Ski, suspend Michaels' membership from that group, forbidding him to participate in other sanctioned water-skiing events such as show skiing or exhibitions.

In his statement, Michaels apologized to his fellow water-skiers, his coaches and family, all of whom he said had no prior knowledge of his scheme.

"He feels very remorseful about the situation," Zeppos said. "He accepts full responsibility for his poor judgment. He feels very badly about it."

Neither McDermeit nor Zeppos would say how Michaels controlled the underwater cables attached to the buoys, whether he or someone else pressed a button in the boathouse or whether the system was on a remote timer.

Investigators found no evidence of other skiers' involvement.

Zeppos said Michaels was not after the prize money, which totaled $100,000 for men's and women's winners in three events.

"I think it was just his competitive desire to win," Zeppos said.

Zeppos said Michaels doesn't expect his dishonesty with the water-skiing world will affect his dental practice.

"There's a pretty clear divide between what happened with his skiing and his dental practice," Zeppos said. "In his mind, there is no correlation. It's a practice built on experience. He's an excellent dentist."

[BriEOD]

Wow, that's a pretty big scandal. I give him credit for being man enough to own up to it. But, I don't think he will ever be able to recover from the damage he caused. I doubt we'll see Dr. Jim in skiing anymore. He should go back to racing airplanes.

[6ballsisall]

Some how I think if I was an insurance company I'd have a hard time believing the last statement. :rolleyes:

[Diesel]

Wow..........................

but did anyone notice the street address for USA Water Ski :D

1251 Holy Cow Road * Polk City, Florida * 33868

(ph) 863-324-4341 – (fax) 863-325-8259
Mon-Fri * 8:30-5:00 EST.
© Copyright 2005 USA Water Ski

Now that's appropriate :D

[Summerset]

Here is a copy of the article from the Milwaukee Journal from today.
Michaels admitted to cheating.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wauk/aug05/345431.asp

[wiltok]

This is my favorite part:

"Zeppos said Michaels doesn't expect his dishonesty with the water-skiing world will affect his dental practice.

"There's a pretty clear divide between what happened with his skiing and his dental practice," Zeppos said. "In his mind, there is no correlation. It's a practice built on experience. He's an excellent dentist.""

BLLSHT! If he is that competitive, I could see a scenario "Hey, neighbor just bought a Porsche, I should buy one too. How could I pay for it...."

[6ballsisall]

Total Looser, no other way to put it :mad:

[Maristar210]

Total Looser, no other way to put it :mad:

What I am perplexed with is the fact that he identifies this as a mistake.

We all know what the definition of mistake is. This is NOT a mistake. Words like:

Deception, liar cheat, manipulator more often resemble his acts.


All in all I feel sorry for his kids. Hot shot MD school dropout goes to dental school and makes a few bucks only to leave himself and his entire family a reputation they will not outgrow for centuries.

Steve

[BriEOD]

All in all I feel sorry for his kids. Hot shot MD school dropout goes to dental school and makes a few bucks only to leave himself and his entire family a reputation they will not outgrow for centuries.

Steve
Excellent point...

[east tx skier]

Hot shot MD school dropout.

Is he really an MD dropout or are you being an anti-dentite?

[SKI*MC]

WOW! i Hadn't thought of that... dang, he really did screw up!

[Maristar210]

Is he really an MD dropout or are you being an anti-dentite?

TX
Anti-dEnTitE
I cannot be sure but the statistics are better than 30-50% of dental students originally wanted to go to med school and ... um.. I guess weren't smart enough. :eek:

I am niether BTW

Steve

The fact remains. His kids get their a$$ kicked on the playground once a week forever. Poor BasMustard.
Steve

[east tx skier]

Ah, I see. Got a father in law and two uncles who are on the other side of those stats. Pretty intelligent people all. One of them used to have J.A.D. (Just A Dentist) on his stationary though. People would write him letters with his name, JAD. Makes for good stories.

As for being smart enough, last I heard, Dental school still required completion of gross anatomy. Anybody know if that's still the case.

[Mag_Red]

Don't know about the gross anatomy but I was a pre-dental major in College...........even accepted into the OSU Dental program. Decided at the last minute not to persue it............I have always questioned that decision........but hell I'm happy doing what I do and that's what really matters...........Right??????

[east tx skier]

Premed for 6 weeks here. Ultimately majored in English. Went straight to law school. No regrets.

[bigmac]

Ah, I see. Got a father in law and two uncles who are on the other side of those stats. Pretty intelligent people all. One of them used to have J.A.D. (Just A Dentist) on his stationary though. People would write him letters with his name, JAD. Makes for good stories.

As for being smart enough, last I heard, Dental school still required completion of gross anatomy. Anybody know if that's still the case.

At most dental schools, the course curriculum for the first two years is similar to medical schools. Anatomy, biochemistry, physiology. It's not easy.

[6ballsisall]

At most dental schools, the course curriculum for the first two years is similar to medical schools. Anatomy, biochemistry, physiology. It's not easy.

I agree, there still have to be pretty bright to be good at it.

Doesn't change things, he is still a pudd whacker :cool:

[bigmac]

I agree, there still have to be pretty bright to be good at it.

Doesn't change things, he is still a pudd whacker :cool:What an amazing scandal.

Cheating to such an egregious degree, especially after all the hype about the guy and his "records" (all on his home lake) indicates to me that he's got a screw loose. Nothing to do with intellect or the ability to get through dental school - but at least a basic personality disorder of some kind (narcissism (http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php/type/doc/id/419) comes to mind...).

He's a general dentist in solo practice in a small town (Oconomowac area 26,000 people). Average income for such a practicioner won't come close to building a 12-foot deep, private 18 acre lake and putting a $1 million house on it (his is the only house on the lake - it's apparently not a development project), not to mention the costs involved in traveling, private trainers, and time-away-from-dental practice. And his wife is one of 13 Assistant District Attorney's for Waukesha County. So, I wouldn't make too much of the fact that the guy's a dentist - it's probably irrelevant. The guy has a serious emotional problem, and his money has to be coming from an alternate source.

[6ballsisall]

I would not be surprised if insurance providers start raising a red flag with claims submitted from his office. The guy has serious issues to say the least

[BriEOD]

What an amazing scandal.

Cheating to such an egregious degree, especially after all the hype about the guy and his "records" (all on his home lake) indicates to me that he's got a screw loose. Nothing to do with intellect or the ability to get through dental school - but at least a basic personality disorder of some kind (narcissism (http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php/type/doc/id/419) comes to mind...).

He's a general dentist in solo practice in a small town (Oconomowac area 26,000 people). Average income for such a practicioner won't come close to building a 12-foot deep, private 18 acre lake and putting a $1 million house on it (his is the only house on the lake - it's apparently not a development project), not to mention the costs involved in traveling, private trainers, and time-away-from-dental practice. And his wife is one of 13 Assistant District Attorney's for Waukesha County. So, I wouldn't make too much of the fact that the guy's a dentist - it's probably irrelevant. The guy has a serious emotional problem, and his money has to be coming from an alternate source.

An article in Water Ski Mag said he raced prop planes and I think had won some money.

[phecksel]

What an amazing scandal.

Cheating to such an egregious degree, especially after all the hype about the guy and his "records" (all on his home lake) indicates to me that he's got a screw loose. Nothing to do with intellect or the ability to get through dental school - but at least a basic personality disorder of some kind (narcissism (http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php/type/doc/id/419) comes to mind...).

He's a general dentist in solo practice in a small town (Oconomowac area 26,000 people). Average income for such a practicioner won't come close to building a 12-foot deep, private 18 acre lake and putting a $1 million house on it (his is the only house on the lake - it's apparently not a development project), not to mention the costs involved in traveling, private trainers, and time-away-from-dental practice. And his wife is one of 13 Assistant District Attorney's for Waukesha County. So, I wouldn't make too much of the fact that the guy's a dentist - it's probably irrelevant. The guy has a serious emotional problem, and his money has to be coming from an alternate source.

I think it was on the Waterski Mag Forum, someone made an accusation of fraud, inventing cavities that another dentist couldn't find.

WRT to airplane racing, having raced myself and won a few "smaller" events, you're lucky if the prize money pays for gas. An airplane is a big cloud to permanently hide lots of money. Kinda like our hole in the water...

[AirJunky]

I would not be surprised if insurance providers start raising a red flag with claims submitted from his office. The guy has serious issues to say the least
While he would certainly deserve it if it happened........ I'd bet that since professional waterskiing is such an unknown niche sport, not many people outside of the sport or his hometown will remember this "scandal" in 6 months.

[bigmac]

I would not be surprised if insurance providers start raising a red flag with claims submitted from his office. The guy has serious issues to say the least

Even though one would have to question the professional ethics of someone capable of such high-profile sports cheating, the dynamics of small-town practice are such that I doubt this will have much effect on his dental practice. Insurance providers are unlikely to know about the issue, and if they do, they won't care. Likewise, it will have no effect on his license to practice dentistry as far as the state of Wisconsin is concerned.

The consequences and repercussions of this cheating scandal will be basically confined to the water skiing world, I predict. Tongues will wag in Oconomowac for a while, then it will all fade away. In 6 years he'll be 54, so I suspect we've pretty much heard the last of Jim Michaels as a competitor.


.

[east tx skier]

My father-in-law is a dentist in a small town. While you're right that his insurance and licensing will probably not be effected, in a small town dental practice, reputation is key. I don't know how small this town is, but if there are other dentists, I would expect he'll lose some patients over this. But it may not matter to him from a financial standpoint. From everything I've read, he has a great deal of family wealth (and let's not forget a private ski lake). It was a selfish act. I pity his children for having to grow up under his influence. I always looked up to my father.

[bigmac]

My father-in-law is a dentist in a small town. While you're right that his insurance and licensing will probably not be effected, in a small town dental practice, reputation is key. I don't know how small this town is, but if there are other dentists, I would expect he'll lose some patients over this. But it may not matter to him from a financial standpoint. From everything I've read, he has a great deal of family wealth (and let's not forget a private ski lake). It was a selfish act. I pity his children for having to grow up under his influence. I always looked up to my father.

I can't imagine that this cheating scandal is an isolated event in his life. It would be amazing if he were some kind of Ward Cleaver all his life, and then one day just decided to con the entire water skiing world. I'll bet that the personality dynamics that culminated in such a high-profile act of dishonesty have been some kind of theme throughout his life. My guess is that the whole business is far less surprising to his wife and children than to the rest of the world that doesn't know the real him.

[Danimal]

I believe the Dr. Cheat is in a little more hot water than he initially thought. New article in the Milwaukee Journal this morn about him. He had his property reassed as a fish farm so his taxes are lower. Officials are looking into this. The ADA also reported that he does 750 root canals a year. Remember he is just a general practioner. Do the math... that comes out to 2.05 root canals a day every day of the year. Might get investigated for that also.

This guy has some problems! I will post the article tomorrow when they put it online.

[Ryan]

This guy doesn't deserve any defense... but he could have one or more other dentists working for him in his practice - it's not uncommon - it would explain why he has so much time to play.

[peason]

Quick call 02lighting - we may have a case for him to defend!

[Maristar210]

Quick call 02lighting - we may have a case for him to defend!


I knew pink lightning would get dragged into this one somehow. It only took a day and a half.

Certainly does not look good for the Dr. I hope for his familiy's sake he is just a skiing cheat. Not a convictable law breaking fraud.

Steve

[6ballsisall]

Quick call 02lighting - we may have a case for him to defend!

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

I wonder if that one turned ole Pink, pink in the face! :cool:

[Danimal]

Skiing dentist's claims are a bit fishy

Posted: Aug. 3, 2005
County Lines


Laurel Walker
E-MAIL *|* ARCHIVE
*

First he cheated. Then he hired a PR expert.

Man, the spin around Jim Michaels, the dentist from the Town of Ottawa in Waukesha County, has left a virtual whirlpool on the private, 16-acre Lake Lynn Louise he built for water skiing.

Or, for fish-farming, if you buy the use he convinced the tax assessor of, resulting in a lower assessment and taxes. But let's not jump ahead.

Michaels was caught in a real buoy bind June 24, when a professional water ski tournament was under way on his lake. Observers noticed the buoys widened after Michaels skied. He held amateur national records for his age group and had said in a recent interview he wanted to break a record in the professional ranks that very weekend.

Now we know how. He had a secret cable system that narrowed the buoy course for him.
Recent Coverage
8/1/05: Host of ski contest admits rigging buoys
6/29/05: Walker: Oh buoy, dentist leaves a big wake
6/27/05: Sanctions possible if contest's buoys rigged
6/27/05: Nichols: Building own private lake is no tough feat for some
6/26/05: Claims of rigged buoys taint top ski contest

On The Web
American Water Ski Association

The American Water Ski Association took five weeks before disciplining him Monday. Its board banned him from competition for six years and stripped him of his national amateur slalom records - achieved on his own lake. Michaels' spin master, Evan Zeppos, said he cheated then, too. The association also recommended that his membership in USA Water Ski, the national governing body of organized water skiing, also be suspended for six years.

Michaels' excuse?

"My competitive zeal got the better of me and clouded my judgment."

Oh, puleeeease.

His cheating, of course, raises deeper questions.

Like how Michaels had time for skiing.

According to a stipulation he reached in February with the Department of Regulation and Licensing, which required he pay costs, a small fine and take a refresher class to settle a complaint for leaving a broken file in a patient's tooth during a root canal, Michaels is a busy, busy man.

As part of the stipulation, Michaels and his attorney insisted on this "finding of fact" - that Michaels "currently performs approximately 750 root canal therapies annually with only minimal incidents of complications."

Seven hundred and fifty? A check with the Wisconsin Dental Association's Carol Weber, director of public relations, said statistics aren't kept, but "physically, it could be done." (That's two or three a day, every workday of the year with no time off for vacations - or waterskiing.)

While possible, Weber added, a dentist she asked said "it seems highly unusual from a general dentistry perspective."

Then there's that fish farm.

Michaels got his property assessment changed in 2001 when the 16-acre lake was moved from a residential class to agriculture use as a fish farm. Today, his 13.4 acres of residential land is assessed at $16,776 an acre. The 16-acre lake: $256 an acre.

Jim Murphy, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's supervisor of assessments, said water farming "is a pretty gray area," frankly, and Michaels' use of the lake for ski tournaments and waterskiing "raises a red flag."

Had the Town of Ottawa Board of Review not just wrapped up its assessment roll review July 27, Murphy would recommend that the assessor take a close look at it, he said.

Assessor Judson R. Schultz said the assessment was based on Michaels' information and input from the state. Next year, he said, Michaels will be asked to document the income he makes from fish farming.

If you ask me, fish would have a heck of a time thriving under the daily harassment of water skiers.

Then again, now that Michaels' wake has been clipped, maybe what fish there are will get some peace and quiet.

[woody]

You'll like this: water skiing / wakeboarding increases fish stocks as it increases the aeration of the water. Geezer from british water ski I was talking to earlier this week had a survey done on one of their new lakes before and then a couple of years after they started skiing on it. Fish stocks went up. Apparently he knows fishermen that only fish on skiied lakes. Although that could be to do with what gets dragged behind the boats in bikinis.

[captkidd]

The fact that he hired a PR expert says a lot about his sincerity. The only reason anyone would hire a PR expert is to put a good spin on a bad situation:

"According to his PR expert, Mr. Smith was performing alcohol testing when he crashed his Mercedes into the school bus loaded with children. Mr. Smith was unselfishly performing these tests himself in order to avoid testing on laboratory animals, a move that has been applauded by PETA, the SPCA, and Mel's Bar." (theoretical)

It would also give him someone else to blame later on.

[jimjohn]

PR expert ?

[jimjohn]

I'm lost on this one

[jimjohn]

Still Lost!!!

[6ballsisall]

Jim get some hair where it counts and you'll be up to speed. :purplaugh

J/K little fella :woohoo: