Perception (More Olympics).

When the Chinese figure skating pair fall, regroup for a total of four minutes, and then skate an otherwise beautiful performance and wind up getting silver, they are said to be courageous and true Olympians.

When Sasha Cohen falls (admittedly twice, but wasn't that worse for her nerves and self-esteem?), gets right back up, and then skates an otherwise beautiful performance and winds up getting silver, she is said to have "squandered her gold-medal chance."

No one even thought Cohen had a chance at gold until they watched her short program. How can she have squandered her chance when she was the underdog in the first place?

Oh, media, you crazy.