Sarah Burke died while practicing at an unsanctioned event in Utah. Why did it matter what kind of event it was? Because her insurance coverage in the U.S. did not cover unsanctioned events.
This meant that upon her death, her family was left with a medical bill in the hundreds of thousands of dollars—early reports put it at $550,000, but latter reports suggest it was in the neighborhood of $200,000. If Burke had suffered the accident at any kind of event in her native country of Canada, her medical bill would have cost her family nothing.
Burke's death is the latest incident raising the viability of President Barack Obama's healthcare plan, which has called for a universal healthcare insurance available for all at affordable costs, but which has been opposed by the majority of the Republican Party. Republicans now control the House, but long before the swing, several states had filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the government's ability to mandate states health laws.
What many opposers to the plan are saying is that Obama is introducing socialism to the U.S. by allowing the wealthy minority pay for the poor majority, but what Burke's death shows is that the mounting cost of paying for health care can affect anyone.
Fortunately for the charismatic athlete, her fans have shouldered the burden of paying her bills through donations. A reported $285,000 has been raised and her family has vowed to use any extra money to start a foundation in her name.
It would have been a worthy gesture if the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association had picked up the tab on Burke's bill considering how big an ambassador she has been to not just the sport, but for Canada as well. Still it's good to know that after all her family has been through since she first slipped into a coma, they won't be crippled by a financial setback.
Now, if only the rest of America can have the luxury of walking into a hospital for a medical procedure or check up without the fear of becoming bankrupt by the time they walk out.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Robin Thicke concert review
It's long overdue, but since I teased about it in an earlier blog entry, I have no choice but to share my pictures and videos from the Dec. 7 concert I attended featuring my favorite soul singer Robin Thicke.
It was a pretty cold night in Atlanta and I was a bit sick, but it was an early birthday gift to myself (my birthday is Dec. 8) and there was no way I was missing it for the world. I had been dying to see him perform in concert, but never had the chance to as I was never in town when he performed in Miami or Atlanta. I finally got my opportunity and took advantage of it.
It was an intimate setting at the Loft, a small bar/club above the Center Stage in Atlanta, to boost publicity for Thicke's newest album "Love After War." It was extremely hot in the room (partly because of his gyrating moves,) but it was a lot of fun.
Thicke performed his current single, which shares the same title as the album title, as well as future single (in my opinion) "Pretty Lil' Heart." But he belted out other crowd favorites like "Love you girl," sans Pharrell Williams and "It's in the Morning," from his previous album "Sex Therapy." He also covered some of his less notable songs like "Shooter" and "Shakin' it 4 daddy."
If you are well versed on Robin Thicke's background, you'd know he's well known for his soulful ballads. He couldn't get all of them in, but he performed "Can U Believe," "Sweetest Love," "Sex Therapy," and closed with his most popular tune "Lost Without U."
When I say closed, I don't quite mean done. Finito! He remained on stage for a surprise song, which judging by how many times he teased the surprise during his set, I don't think he expected anyone to guess he would sing a song like that. I certainly didn't. So instead of spoiling it, I'll just play it.
Overall, Robin Thicke covered songs on all his albums save for his first: "A Beautiful World." I understand many fans hardly know about that album, but I would have loved to hear either "When I get you Alone" or "I'm A' Be Alright." Still, for a small promo concert held a day after his album had dropped, it was worth every minute in the hot air balloon called the Loft.
I am looking forward to when he goes on tour (he announced he would begin in March) so I can see him perform on a bigger platform. Just as I predicted correctly that he would tour with Alicia Keys about two years ago, I'm predicting he would tour with Mary J. Blige this year. What do you think? Who do you think would make the perfect touring partner this year?
It was a pretty cold night in Atlanta and I was a bit sick, but it was an early birthday gift to myself (my birthday is Dec. 8) and there was no way I was missing it for the world. I had been dying to see him perform in concert, but never had the chance to as I was never in town when he performed in Miami or Atlanta. I finally got my opportunity and took advantage of it.
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| Robin Thicke took the stage for a promo concert at The Loft in Atlanta Dec. 7, 2011 |
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| Despite the heat, Robin Thicke kept the crowd hype all night |
Thicke performed his current single, which shares the same title as the album title, as well as future single (in my opinion) "Pretty Lil' Heart." But he belted out other crowd favorites like "Love you girl," sans Pharrell Williams and "It's in the Morning," from his previous album "Sex Therapy." He also covered some of his less notable songs like "Shooter" and "Shakin' it 4 daddy."
If you are well versed on Robin Thicke's background, you'd know he's well known for his soulful ballads. He couldn't get all of them in, but he performed "Can U Believe," "Sweetest Love," "Sex Therapy," and closed with his most popular tune "Lost Without U."
When I say closed, I don't quite mean done. Finito! He remained on stage for a surprise song, which judging by how many times he teased the surprise during his set, I don't think he expected anyone to guess he would sing a song like that. I certainly didn't. So instead of spoiling it, I'll just play it.
Overall, Robin Thicke covered songs on all his albums save for his first: "A Beautiful World." I understand many fans hardly know about that album, but I would have loved to hear either "When I get you Alone" or "I'm A' Be Alright." Still, for a small promo concert held a day after his album had dropped, it was worth every minute in the hot air balloon called the Loft.
I am looking forward to when he goes on tour (he announced he would begin in March) so I can see him perform on a bigger platform. Just as I predicted correctly that he would tour with Alicia Keys about two years ago, I'm predicting he would tour with Mary J. Blige this year. What do you think? Who do you think would make the perfect touring partner this year?
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Freeskier Sarah Burke dies
The skiing world lost a champion earlier today when Canadian freeskier Sarah Burke passed away from complications resulting from injuries she sustained while training in Utah.
Burke, 29, was regarded as the most famous freeskier, earning the respect of peers such as Grete Eliassen, who confessed to watching Burke for inspiration in this article I wrote after interviewing the two at the Women Sports Foundation's Annual Salute to Women in Sports. In the article, both women discussed injuries while competing in a dangerous sport. Unfortunately Burke wasn't able to recover from a Jan. 10 accident in Utah.
Burke tore her vertebral artery, leading to severe bleeding of the brain, according to a statement from her publicist Nicole Wool. Burke suffered a cardiac arrest and went into a coma. Wool said Burke sustained irreversible damage to her brain due to a lack of oxygen and blood, and was unable to recover.
When I interviewed Burke in 2007, it was difficult to keep it professional because she cracked up everyone in the room with every word. Burke was interviewing Eliassen for a video feature on the Foundation's sister website GoGirlGo! Besides using information from that interview for my article, I was allowed to interview the both of them for about 10 minutes after. Those 10 minutes resulted in one of my most interesting interviews ever.
The two biggest stars of their sport were not only each other's biggest rivals, but also best friends. Not too many sports can boast of such a dynamic relationship. But their free-spirited characters, so alike, were a big reason they developed such a unique relationship.
Not too many celebrities take the time to reach out to the people who interview them. But Burke did. I was pleasantly surprised to get a Facebook message from her, thanking me for capturing the essence of her relationship with Eliassen in the article, and we exchanged a few messages on the social network.
Now, as her family privately mourns her passing, I think about that effervescent smile, always planted on her face no matter what. I remember her for her campaign to get more women competing in her sport and for contributions toward encouraging more girls to become active and participate in sports, which earned her the Yolanda L. Jackson Give Back Award at the 2007 Annual Salute.
That's who she was, a fighter. She fought until the very end; until she could fight no more. For that, her legacy should reflect her fighting spirit just as much as it reflects her incredible records and wins as an athlete.
Burke, 29, was regarded as the most famous freeskier, earning the respect of peers such as Grete Eliassen, who confessed to watching Burke for inspiration in this article I wrote after interviewing the two at the Women Sports Foundation's Annual Salute to Women in Sports. In the article, both women discussed injuries while competing in a dangerous sport. Unfortunately Burke wasn't able to recover from a Jan. 10 accident in Utah.
 |
| Freeskier Sarah Burke died after injuries sustained while training in Utah |
Burke tore her vertebral artery, leading to severe bleeding of the brain, according to a statement from her publicist Nicole Wool. Burke suffered a cardiac arrest and went into a coma. Wool said Burke sustained irreversible damage to her brain due to a lack of oxygen and blood, and was unable to recover.
When I interviewed Burke in 2007, it was difficult to keep it professional because she cracked up everyone in the room with every word. Burke was interviewing Eliassen for a video feature on the Foundation's sister website GoGirlGo! Besides using information from that interview for my article, I was allowed to interview the both of them for about 10 minutes after. Those 10 minutes resulted in one of my most interesting interviews ever.
 |
| Sarah Burke was known for her smile as much as she was for her incredible twists and tricks |
Not too many celebrities take the time to reach out to the people who interview them. But Burke did. I was pleasantly surprised to get a Facebook message from her, thanking me for capturing the essence of her relationship with Eliassen in the article, and we exchanged a few messages on the social network.
Now, as her family privately mourns her passing, I think about that effervescent smile, always planted on her face no matter what. I remember her for her campaign to get more women competing in her sport and for contributions toward encouraging more girls to become active and participate in sports, which earned her the Yolanda L. Jackson Give Back Award at the 2007 Annual Salute.
That's who she was, a fighter. She fought until the very end; until she could fight no more. For that, her legacy should reflect her fighting spirit just as much as it reflects her incredible records and wins as an athlete.
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