When I wrote about those about 50 people, who don't need clarifications for headlines, I didn't mention that from Finnish ski jumpers there are few others also on that category. Matti Nykänen (of course), Janne Ahonen and probably still Toni Nieminen. It is not so much about success as it is about fame. Harri, as shy and awkward and not wanting media attention as he is, has something in him that makes people to notice him. He irritates many people a lot. Really a lot. And I now mean people who have never even met him. For example on MTV3's page comments in news about him are sometimes so full of aggressive, offensive comments concerning him, how he looks, how he talks, even his parents etc. that it is almost scary. Then again, many people really like him.
Right after Sapporo silver medal he made a mistake of talking too freely about their situation at the time (it was considered abnormally harsh public criticism for the head coach, though it was more about their equipments than anything else, and when you look back, nothing really unacceptable.) After that he never get along with Nikunen again and it create controversy and publicity. And then it got rolling.
You also have to understand that ski jumping really is very popular in Finland. For example they yesterday published the top-10 most watched TV programs from last year. Every year one or two 4H's competition are there. Also this year. And higher up than any hockey game or other sport happening. For example none of the Finnish footballers are as well known in Finland as Rane and Harri are. There are maybe two or three hockey players who are. Then there is Kimi Räikkönen. And that is about it.
To thrive in Finnish press as an athlete you have to know how to handle the reporters. You have to be very friendly with them. Rane is very good at this. So is for example Anssi. Matti doesn't care and it shows in the press he gets (and doesn't get.) Harri just didn't know how to work the press or really didn't want to play the game. And from story to story reporters have taken more and more latitude to write things about him they wouldn't write about anyone else. Even now after career end there has been some stories and comments, where reporters basically write that Harri has no conscience, is deeply disturbed and that other jumpers and coaches have long time hoped that he would quit. That is something I have hard time seeing them writing from someone else. Especially right after career end. And I'm surprised some of the texts have passed their chief editors and lawyers. Then again, Harri has never made a case about those before, so they may relay to that.
There are few athletes who are incredibly protected from bad press in Finland. Best example is one hockey player, who has absolutely spotless public image. Great family man etc. And it is so public secret, that it is in no way secret any more, that truth is very much something else. Still, not the one questionable word in press ever. Rane probably has same kind of protection from press. With that I don't mean that he would have done anything that would make a bad press. As far as I know, he really is spotless (expect those things he did tell himself in the book.) But even if he would do something questionable, it would never hit the press, if it wouldn't be an actual serious crime or something.
also ohne bestimmten grund mein ich jetzt...(hoffe man versteht was ich mein..):idee:
