It seems that the mother of Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette may have experienced some symptoms several days before suffering a fatal heart attack in Februrary, just days before Joannie was to compete at the Olympics. According to the Montreal Gazette, Joannie found a handwritten note in her mother’s purse that outlined some of the aches and pains she had been feeling. The elder Rochette did not tell anyone about the symptoms, including her doctor and daughter.
Was she keeping track of her symptoms with the idea that she’d talk to her doctor after the Olympics? Or did she simply ignore the signals? No one will ever know for sure. But one wonders if Rochette’s mother would be alive today had she gone to the doctor at the first signs of trouble.
This is our only life and it’s up to us to protect it. So if you experience any signs of a heart attack — chest discomfort, pain or discomfort in the arms, and shortness of breath — call a doctor and seek medical attention right away. Every minute counts.
Showing posts with label Figure skating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Figure skating. Show all posts
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 02, 2010
Post-Olympic Letdown Plagues Skaters
After I returned from vacation last week, I managed to catch some of the World Figure Skating Championships in Turin, Italy. Was it my imagination, or did this competition seem lackluster? Some of the medalists of the Vancouver Games opted not to participate at Worlds this year, including gold medalists Evan Lysacek, and Shen and Zhou in pairs, as well as Johnny Weir and Stephane Lambiel. Understandably, Joannie Rochette begged off after performing two emotionally charged programs in Vancouver after her mother died suddenly, and Evengi Plushenko bowed out due to injury.
According to the USA Today, many of the skaters who participated in the worlds this past week complained of fatigue, and others appeared to be sleepwalking through their performances. Yu-Na Kim, gold medalist from Vancouver and reigning world champion, was especially disappointing, missing three of the elements in her short program which put her in tenth place. She finished second overall, but even her free skate was less than dazzling. Kim admitted later that she lacked motivation.
Other skaters seemed unaffected by a post-Olympic letdown and provided outstanding performances -- Mao Asada’s free skate, Daisake Takahashi, Mirai Nagasu’s short program, to name a few. It begs the question whether there should be a world championships held so soon after the Olympics, or if there should be one at all?
The last time all four Olympic champions competed at the worlds was in 1992, and all four champions went on to collect world golds. Skier Lindsay Vonn and speedskater Shani Davis competed at their world championships within a few short weeks after the Vancouver Olympics, and performed well.
So why then is it so difficult for skaters to stay motivated to compete at worlds? Granted, there are more competitions for skaters today than there were in 1992, but the training and conditioning methods have improved so much over the years that skaters should be able to handle the added workload.
A lot of this has to do with having the right mindset. If athletes train only for the Olympics, they won’t have much left in the tank to compete for post-Olympic events. If they train for the entire season, they are able to pace themselves through the long grueling season. Asada and Takahashi proved that last week when both performed better and looked stronger than at any other time during the season. Ice dance medalists Virtue/Moir and Davis/White also performed as well in Turin as they did in Vancouver.
Abandoning the World championships altogether is not the answer. It’s a great platform for younger skaters to gain experience and show what they can do on the world stage. I think it’s important to keep the level of interest up for the sport.
One possibility is moving the world championships to January, which of course means, moving the U.S. and Canadian national championships to December. In the Olympic year, you could probably cancel the European and Four Continents since neither event has any bearing on which skaters go to the Olympics; that’s done at the respective national events. Having the worlds in January would provide a sneak preview of the Olympic Games and generate more interest from viewers and fans. And I think the top skaters would be more likely to participate in the event, although they may hold back somewhat in their performance. But as a skating fan, I'd much rather see that than a no-show.
It’ll be interesting to see if the International Skating Union addresses this issue when it convenes in June.
According to the USA Today, many of the skaters who participated in the worlds this past week complained of fatigue, and others appeared to be sleepwalking through their performances. Yu-Na Kim, gold medalist from Vancouver and reigning world champion, was especially disappointing, missing three of the elements in her short program which put her in tenth place. She finished second overall, but even her free skate was less than dazzling. Kim admitted later that she lacked motivation.
Other skaters seemed unaffected by a post-Olympic letdown and provided outstanding performances -- Mao Asada’s free skate, Daisake Takahashi, Mirai Nagasu’s short program, to name a few. It begs the question whether there should be a world championships held so soon after the Olympics, or if there should be one at all?
The last time all four Olympic champions competed at the worlds was in 1992, and all four champions went on to collect world golds. Skier Lindsay Vonn and speedskater Shani Davis competed at their world championships within a few short weeks after the Vancouver Olympics, and performed well.
So why then is it so difficult for skaters to stay motivated to compete at worlds? Granted, there are more competitions for skaters today than there were in 1992, but the training and conditioning methods have improved so much over the years that skaters should be able to handle the added workload.
A lot of this has to do with having the right mindset. If athletes train only for the Olympics, they won’t have much left in the tank to compete for post-Olympic events. If they train for the entire season, they are able to pace themselves through the long grueling season. Asada and Takahashi proved that last week when both performed better and looked stronger than at any other time during the season. Ice dance medalists Virtue/Moir and Davis/White also performed as well in Turin as they did in Vancouver.
Abandoning the World championships altogether is not the answer. It’s a great platform for younger skaters to gain experience and show what they can do on the world stage. I think it’s important to keep the level of interest up for the sport.
One possibility is moving the world championships to January, which of course means, moving the U.S. and Canadian national championships to December. In the Olympic year, you could probably cancel the European and Four Continents since neither event has any bearing on which skaters go to the Olympics; that’s done at the respective national events. Having the worlds in January would provide a sneak preview of the Olympic Games and generate more interest from viewers and fans. And I think the top skaters would be more likely to participate in the event, although they may hold back somewhat in their performance. But as a skating fan, I'd much rather see that than a no-show.
It’ll be interesting to see if the International Skating Union addresses this issue when it convenes in June.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Could Skating Judge’s Comments Backfire on U.S.?
The Winter Olympics in Vancouver haven’t even officially begun, and a figure skating controversy is already brewing.
According to Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail, veteran American skating judge Joe Inman has been accused of bias against European skaters after he sent a series of e-mails to some 60 international judges and officials, some of whom would be involved with the Vancouver Games, reminding them to mark presentation scores accurately.
Inman sent the e-mails after he heard Russia’s Evengi Plushenko, the reigning Olympic champion, say in an interview after the European championships, “If the judges want someone to place high, they can arrange it.” Plushenko also admitted in the interview that he and Frenchman Brian Joubert do not have transitions in their programs because they focus on their jumps. Both Joubert and Plushenko have been criticized for their lack of transitions in their program, though judges continue to score them well in their component scores.
Inman’s e-mails were picked up by a French sports publication which published a story about them with a headline that read “The Hostilities Begin.” The article suggested that Inman was leading a lobby of North American judges against European skaters, a charge that baffled Inman, who says the e-mails were meant to be instructional in nature and were not meant to stir up controversy. Inman is one of the creators of the current scoring system and teaches other judges about how to assess skaters’ performances and score them accurately.
The timing of this controversy cannot be good. While the European skating community accuses North American bias against their skaters, one wonders if there will be a backlash against North American skaters. Would European judges underscore leading skaters like Canada’s Patrick Chan and American Evan Lysacek while bumping up scores for skaters like Joubert and Plushenko? Or will Plushenko’s comments do himself in by prompting international judges to pay closer scrutiny to his, and everyone else's, program components?
The men’s competition starts next Tuesday.
According to Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail, veteran American skating judge Joe Inman has been accused of bias against European skaters after he sent a series of e-mails to some 60 international judges and officials, some of whom would be involved with the Vancouver Games, reminding them to mark presentation scores accurately.
Inman sent the e-mails after he heard Russia’s Evengi Plushenko, the reigning Olympic champion, say in an interview after the European championships, “If the judges want someone to place high, they can arrange it.” Plushenko also admitted in the interview that he and Frenchman Brian Joubert do not have transitions in their programs because they focus on their jumps. Both Joubert and Plushenko have been criticized for their lack of transitions in their program, though judges continue to score them well in their component scores.
Inman’s e-mails were picked up by a French sports publication which published a story about them with a headline that read “The Hostilities Begin.” The article suggested that Inman was leading a lobby of North American judges against European skaters, a charge that baffled Inman, who says the e-mails were meant to be instructional in nature and were not meant to stir up controversy. Inman is one of the creators of the current scoring system and teaches other judges about how to assess skaters’ performances and score them accurately.
The timing of this controversy cannot be good. While the European skating community accuses North American bias against their skaters, one wonders if there will be a backlash against North American skaters. Would European judges underscore leading skaters like Canada’s Patrick Chan and American Evan Lysacek while bumping up scores for skaters like Joubert and Plushenko? Or will Plushenko’s comments do himself in by prompting international judges to pay closer scrutiny to his, and everyone else's, program components?
The men’s competition starts next Tuesday.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Kwan Won’t Compete in 2009-2010
Amidst all the excitement of the baseball trading deadline last Friday, I nearly missed a major announcement from Michelle Kwan who decided not to compete in the 2009-2010 season. Instead, she will start grad school for a master’s degree in international affairs.
The announcement comes after much speculation about whether she would try to compete for her third Olympics in Vancouver. But at age 29, she has not competed since 2006 when she had to withdraw from the Olymics in Turin because of a hip injury, so she is probably not in the best competitive condition. While Kwan has not officially announced she is retiring, her decision not to compete this coming season essentially puts an end to her illustrious figure skating career. There will never be another skater quite like her.
The announcement comes after much speculation about whether she would try to compete for her third Olympics in Vancouver. But at age 29, she has not competed since 2006 when she had to withdraw from the Olymics in Turin because of a hip injury, so she is probably not in the best competitive condition. While Kwan has not officially announced she is retiring, her decision not to compete this coming season essentially puts an end to her illustrious figure skating career. There will never be another skater quite like her.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Skate Canada Wants to Change Figure Skating Image
With the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics less than a year away, Skate Canada has decided it’s time to change the image of figure skating. With declining attendance and television ratings, Canadian skating officials believe that rebranding the sport as more masculine will draw new fans from hockey, football and baseball, according to the Wall Street Journal. Officials also want their male skaters to refrain from wearing sequins, ruffles and other frills in favor of simpler, more uniform outfits. They have also requested their skaters to talk up their injuries and training regimen to showcase how tough and macho the sport is.
It is no surprise that these rebranding efforts have outraged gay advocacy groups, who call it an attack on skating’s sizable gay audience. And the controversy made its way “World News with Charles Gibson” on ABC-TV.
This controversy has been going on for decades, and Skate Canada has always been somewhat sensitive to this issue. After all, it was a Canadian skater, Toller Cranston, along with Great Britain’s John Curry, who routinely wore frilly costumes in the late 1970s to express the artistry of their programs. Then along comes Kurt Browning in the early 1990s, who performs the first quadruple jump in competition and skated to rock music – moves that helped make the sport more macho.
The truth is both Skate Canada and gay advocacy groups are overreacting. This is not an attack on any particular audience, but on the sport’s artistry.
While I can understand Skate Canada’s desire to expand their fan base, it is taking the wrong approach. They can call the sport anything they want and they can try to change people’s perception of it, but they cannot change the reality of it – that it is a beautiful but physically demanding sport that requires athletes to skate to music. The sport will never draw fans from more aggressive, macho sports like hockey and football – they represent two different fan bases.
While I am not a fan of some of the frilly, sequined costumes that some of the male skaters choose to wear for their programs – I think they tend to distract from the program rather than enhance it – it’s unrealistic to expect male skaters to adhere to a more uniform look. Ultimately, the costume decision should be left to the individual skater and his coaches with the music and program in mind.
It is no surprise that these rebranding efforts have outraged gay advocacy groups, who call it an attack on skating’s sizable gay audience. And the controversy made its way “World News with Charles Gibson” on ABC-TV.
This controversy has been going on for decades, and Skate Canada has always been somewhat sensitive to this issue. After all, it was a Canadian skater, Toller Cranston, along with Great Britain’s John Curry, who routinely wore frilly costumes in the late 1970s to express the artistry of their programs. Then along comes Kurt Browning in the early 1990s, who performs the first quadruple jump in competition and skated to rock music – moves that helped make the sport more macho.
The truth is both Skate Canada and gay advocacy groups are overreacting. This is not an attack on any particular audience, but on the sport’s artistry.
While I can understand Skate Canada’s desire to expand their fan base, it is taking the wrong approach. They can call the sport anything they want and they can try to change people’s perception of it, but they cannot change the reality of it – that it is a beautiful but physically demanding sport that requires athletes to skate to music. The sport will never draw fans from more aggressive, macho sports like hockey and football – they represent two different fan bases.
While I am not a fan of some of the frilly, sequined costumes that some of the male skaters choose to wear for their programs – I think they tend to distract from the program rather than enhance it – it’s unrealistic to expect male skaters to adhere to a more uniform look. Ultimately, the costume decision should be left to the individual skater and his coaches with the music and program in mind.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
The World Title That Almost Wasn't
I was thrilled to see Naperville native Evan Lysacek win the gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships last week in Los Angeles (no, I was not there in person, but watched it on the Oxygen network). Both his short program and free skate were brilliant.
And to think, Lysacek may not have won this title had it not been for Johnnie Weir.
By International Skating Union rules, the top two placements by American skaters at the world championships must total 13 or less to keep three spots on the team. Weir's third-place finish at the 2008 championships combined with a 10th-place finish by Steven Carriere equaled 13, which gave the U.S. three spots for this year's team.
Imagine what might have happened if they had earned only two spots. The U.S. men's team would have consisted of Jeremy Abbott and Brandon Mroz, who finished first and second at the U.S. championships in January. Lysacek, who finished third at nationals, would not have made the team and the world title would have gone to someone else.
Sobering thought, isn't it?
And to think, Lysacek may not have won this title had it not been for Johnnie Weir.
By International Skating Union rules, the top two placements by American skaters at the world championships must total 13 or less to keep three spots on the team. Weir's third-place finish at the 2008 championships combined with a 10th-place finish by Steven Carriere equaled 13, which gave the U.S. three spots for this year's team.
Imagine what might have happened if they had earned only two spots. The U.S. men's team would have consisted of Jeremy Abbott and Brandon Mroz, who finished first and second at the U.S. championships in January. Lysacek, who finished third at nationals, would not have made the team and the world title would have gone to someone else.
Sobering thought, isn't it?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Weir Has a Lot to Prove at Worlds
As a prelude to the World Figure Skating Championships starting today in Gottenberg, Sweden, the New York Times ran an interesting feature about the ongoing rivalry between the U.S.’s leading contenders, Johnnie Weir and Evan Lysacek. Sadly, we won’t be seeing the rivalry in action in Sweden because Lysacek withdrew from Worlds last week due to an arm injury. Jeremy Abbott, who finished fourth at Nationals, took his place on the team.
Lysacek’s absence puts the American men in a tough spot. The American men must finish well at Worlds to keep three spots on the team for next year. The top two American finishes at Worlds must combine to equal 13 or less or the team will lose one spot. Weir and Lysacek barely hung on last year when they finished eighth and fifth respectively.
What makes things tricky is that Weir is the only skater on the men’s team with any international experience at the senior level, and he has never finished on the podium. The other two men, Abbott and U.S. bronze medalist, Stephen Carriere, are making their first trip to the senior Worlds.
With two rookies in the fold, Weir needs to step up his game and perform better than he ever has. He needs to prove that he is capable of skating two clean and complete programs at the international level, which he has never done. With Lysacek out of the competition, Weir has a chance to perform on the international stage without the distraction of their heated rivalry. And with so much at stake for the men’s team, Weir can prove that he can be a team player.
A third or fourth place finish will probably work wonders for both Weir’s confidence and the future of the U.S. team. It will also take the pressure off Carriere and Abbott, who would need to finish ninth or tenth at the worst to keep three representatives on the team. Weir is certainly capable of it. He’s got the talent, the artistry and the athleticism to compete against some of the top names in the world. The question is – does he want to?
The men’s competition begins Friday.
Lysacek’s absence puts the American men in a tough spot. The American men must finish well at Worlds to keep three spots on the team for next year. The top two American finishes at Worlds must combine to equal 13 or less or the team will lose one spot. Weir and Lysacek barely hung on last year when they finished eighth and fifth respectively.
What makes things tricky is that Weir is the only skater on the men’s team with any international experience at the senior level, and he has never finished on the podium. The other two men, Abbott and U.S. bronze medalist, Stephen Carriere, are making their first trip to the senior Worlds.
With two rookies in the fold, Weir needs to step up his game and perform better than he ever has. He needs to prove that he is capable of skating two clean and complete programs at the international level, which he has never done. With Lysacek out of the competition, Weir has a chance to perform on the international stage without the distraction of their heated rivalry. And with so much at stake for the men’s team, Weir can prove that he can be a team player.
A third or fourth place finish will probably work wonders for both Weir’s confidence and the future of the U.S. team. It will also take the pressure off Carriere and Abbott, who would need to finish ninth or tenth at the worst to keep three representatives on the team. Weir is certainly capable of it. He’s got the talent, the artistry and the athleticism to compete against some of the top names in the world. The question is – does he want to?
The men’s competition begins Friday.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Change Is in the Air For U.S. Figure Skating Championships
The Chicago Tribune learned that the U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be spread out over nine days and two weekends in 2010 to provide for live coverage of the sport on NBC leading into the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Under the new format, which will only be in effect for 2010 and other Olympic years that follow, the senior men’s and pairs competition would take place during the first weekend and the ladies and ice dance would be the second weekend. The juniors and novice competitions will take place the week in between. In non-Olympic years, the schedule would revert back to its current setup with all four free skate programs taking place on the same weekend.
The move will allow NBC to telecast the short and free skate programs of each of the four disciplines to give figure skating a bigger national TV audience and generate interest in the Winter Olympics. While I can understand U.S. Figure Skating and NBC wanting to capitalize on its recent successful coverage of the national championships in St. Paul, Minn., which increased 65 percent over last year’s coverage on ABC/ESPN, I think this plan is risky and could harm attendance. I know of few people who would be willing to attend an event over two consecutive weekends. For the diehards, it means staying an extra couple of days. For the not-so-diehard, it means choosing one weekend over the other or staying home altogether. With the sport already struggling to attract fans, it can’t afford to lose more of their in-person audience.
In related news, NBC will provide coverage of the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles next year. I would think that this development closes the door on any possible agreement between ABC/ESPN beyond this year when the current contract expires. Furthermore, if NBC’s ratings for these figure skating events continue to rise, look for a longer-term deal with the network after the Vancouver Olympic Games.
The move will allow NBC to telecast the short and free skate programs of each of the four disciplines to give figure skating a bigger national TV audience and generate interest in the Winter Olympics. While I can understand U.S. Figure Skating and NBC wanting to capitalize on its recent successful coverage of the national championships in St. Paul, Minn., which increased 65 percent over last year’s coverage on ABC/ESPN, I think this plan is risky and could harm attendance. I know of few people who would be willing to attend an event over two consecutive weekends. For the diehards, it means staying an extra couple of days. For the not-so-diehard, it means choosing one weekend over the other or staying home altogether. With the sport already struggling to attract fans, it can’t afford to lose more of their in-person audience.
In related news, NBC will provide coverage of the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles next year. I would think that this development closes the door on any possible agreement between ABC/ESPN beyond this year when the current contract expires. Furthermore, if NBC’s ratings for these figure skating events continue to rise, look for a longer-term deal with the network after the Vancouver Olympic Games.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Figure Skating Tours May Merge
Organizers for two of figure skating tours are discussing a possible merger, the Chicago Tribune reported yesterday. Champions on Ice and Stars on Ice have both seen declining attendance at their traveling shows in recent years. While those associated with both tours deny any discussion taking place, it really doesn't surprise me that some "downsizing" might take place.
Sometimes we get caught up in the beauty of the sport that we forget that figure skating is still a business. And when business begins to slump, as it has for skating since the beginning of this decade, you look for ways to cut costs. Obviously, it doesn't make sense to keep both tours going when they attract such a small audience.
Sometimes we get caught up in the beauty of the sport that we forget that figure skating is still a business. And when business begins to slump, as it has for skating since the beginning of this decade, you look for ways to cut costs. Obviously, it doesn't make sense to keep both tours going when they attract such a small audience.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
NBC Deal Promises Fresh Start for Figure Skating
I was thrilled to learn that the U.S. Figure Skating Association signed a three-year deal with NBC to broadcast the national championships and Skate America competition beginning October 2007, with much of the finals broadcast live during primetime. In a Woman’s Eye post several months ago, I wrote that the USFSA would be better off working out a deal with another network or forgoing a deal altogether rather than renew their arrangement with ABC/ESPN. In recent years, TV viewership for the sport had declined and ABC was clearly lacking any kind of commitment or motivation to promote the sport on its network. ESPN serves a predominantly male audience while figure skating’s largely female fan base was ignored. Programming also suffered as the network resorted to fluff stories and overhyped dramas to appeal to viewers. Even long-time announcers Dick Button and Peggy Fleming seemed old and tired at times. It was clear that it was time for a change.
Figure skating is a natural fit for NBC. The three-year deal will conclude with the 2010 national championships and will serve as a promotional lead-in for NBC’s coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. The network’s cable outlet, USA Network, its local affiliates and online resources open up bigger and better promotional opportunities for the sport.
The deal is a testing ground for both parties. NBC can help figure skating rebuild its fan base, and the sport can help the network refine its programming capabilities of Olympic sports in preparation for its coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
The only remaining question is who will be in the broadcast booth. I can see Dick Button doing occasional commentary for the broadcasts, but frankly, I think his days in the broadcast booth are over. A fresh opportunity like this deserves fresh faces, and the team of Paul Wylie and Suzie Wynn would be a great asset to NBC. They have done a terrific job as the secondary broadcast team on ESPN, covering the Four Continents and the Grand Prix events. They’re professional, unbiased and knowledgeable, and they refrain from “cheerleading” the skaters the way some of their colleagues at ABC/ESPN are guilty of doing.
ABC has been the broadcast home to figure skating for 43 years and still has rights to the international events, such as the World Championships, through 2008. After so long on one network, many fans may have a hard time adjusting to NBC as the new network for figure skating. But in this case, the change was not only good, it was necessary.
Figure skating is a natural fit for NBC. The three-year deal will conclude with the 2010 national championships and will serve as a promotional lead-in for NBC’s coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. The network’s cable outlet, USA Network, its local affiliates and online resources open up bigger and better promotional opportunities for the sport.
The deal is a testing ground for both parties. NBC can help figure skating rebuild its fan base, and the sport can help the network refine its programming capabilities of Olympic sports in preparation for its coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
The only remaining question is who will be in the broadcast booth. I can see Dick Button doing occasional commentary for the broadcasts, but frankly, I think his days in the broadcast booth are over. A fresh opportunity like this deserves fresh faces, and the team of Paul Wylie and Suzie Wynn would be a great asset to NBC. They have done a terrific job as the secondary broadcast team on ESPN, covering the Four Continents and the Grand Prix events. They’re professional, unbiased and knowledgeable, and they refrain from “cheerleading” the skaters the way some of their colleagues at ABC/ESPN are guilty of doing.
ABC has been the broadcast home to figure skating for 43 years and still has rights to the international events, such as the World Championships, through 2008. After so long on one network, many fans may have a hard time adjusting to NBC as the new network for figure skating. But in this case, the change was not only good, it was necessary.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
More Trouble for U.S. Figure Skating?
As if U.S. Figure Skating doesn’t have enough to worry about with expiring TV contracts and shrinking audiences, two female skaters have filed lawsuits against their former coach for alleged sexual abuse, according to Sports Illustrated. In the lawsuits, Emilie Nussear, 24, and Collete Appel, 21, allege that their former coach, Bob Young, forced them to strip in front of him, touched their bodies and asked them sexual questions. The alleged abuse occurred between 1998 and 2004 when the girls were teenagers, but they were too scared to come forward. In most sexual abuse cases, the alleged victims are not identified by the press, but Nussear and Appel wanted to be identified to help bring awareness to their cause, according to their attorney, Gary Phelan.
Young, who was responsible for bringing Oksana Baiul and Viktor Petrenko to Connecticut for their training, was banned from coaching at USFSA events several years ago after settling a previous sexual abuse allegation with another young skater, Jessica Roos. Young continued to coach privately for a few years after his ban, however.
This is the second alleged abuse case that I’ve heard about in the last six months. Last October, former Canadian pairs champion and current coach Lloyd Eisler was suspended by Skate Canada for one year for alleged inappropriate behavior toward a 15-year-old skater that he was coaching. While Eisler cannot coach at Skate Canada events, he continues to coach in the L.A. area where he now resides.
When the Eisler story first broke, I sensed that the allegations against him were just the tip of the iceberg, and that other cases would emerge. It doesn’t surprise me at all that more skaters are coming forward with allegations of alleged abuse. Skating is a breeding ground for this kind of activity, when you think about it. Put a bunch of young trusting prepubescent girls in tights and leotards in a room, and someone, somewhere is going to take advantage of them. I expect that as more cases come forward – and I suspect there are more -- coaches, choreographers, judges, and other officials who deal regularly with young skaters will come under closer scrutiny. While Skate Canada and U.S. Figure Skating have policies in place for reporting abuse, banning a coach from national competitions isn’t enough. These organizations will need to do more to protect its talented skaters.
Young, who was responsible for bringing Oksana Baiul and Viktor Petrenko to Connecticut for their training, was banned from coaching at USFSA events several years ago after settling a previous sexual abuse allegation with another young skater, Jessica Roos. Young continued to coach privately for a few years after his ban, however.
This is the second alleged abuse case that I’ve heard about in the last six months. Last October, former Canadian pairs champion and current coach Lloyd Eisler was suspended by Skate Canada for one year for alleged inappropriate behavior toward a 15-year-old skater that he was coaching. While Eisler cannot coach at Skate Canada events, he continues to coach in the L.A. area where he now resides.
When the Eisler story first broke, I sensed that the allegations against him were just the tip of the iceberg, and that other cases would emerge. It doesn’t surprise me at all that more skaters are coming forward with allegations of alleged abuse. Skating is a breeding ground for this kind of activity, when you think about it. Put a bunch of young trusting prepubescent girls in tights and leotards in a room, and someone, somewhere is going to take advantage of them. I expect that as more cases come forward – and I suspect there are more -- coaches, choreographers, judges, and other officials who deal regularly with young skaters will come under closer scrutiny. While Skate Canada and U.S. Figure Skating have policies in place for reporting abuse, banning a coach from national competitions isn’t enough. These organizations will need to do more to protect its talented skaters.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Skating Championships Produce Surprises and Disappointments
Leading up to the World Figure Skating Championships last week, I expected the American skaters would bring home two medals. I was hopeful for three, but in the end, we were lucky to get one – a bronze in ice dancing. The championships had their share of surprises and disappointments. Among them:
Surprises:
* Miki Ando of Japan won the women’s title. Did anyone expect her to even finish in the top five?
* Thomas Verner of Germany finished fourth, moving up from ninth after the short program. In a very talented field, he wasn't mentioned among the top contenders. I don’t think anyone thought he would be that close to the podium. But Verner, the 2007 European silver medalist, had an outstanding free skate while other skaters ahead of him faltered.
* Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the U.S. silver medalists in ice dance, finished seventh in their first world championships. Of all the American skaters, they probably had the best overall competition, and will likely move up quickly in the international ranks in the next few years.
Disappointments:
* The U.S. team only earned one medal – a bronze in ice dancing by Belbin and Agosto. And they only got the bronze because two other dance teams behind them made more mistakes. With the exception of Davis/White, the U.S. ice dance silver medalists, I don’t think anyone else had a solid competition. I can accept third, fourth or fifth place finishes, but not with such sloppy performances.
Men’s competition. After seeing the thrilling men’s free skate last year at the World Championships in Calgary, I fully expected the same level of competition this year in Tokyo. But it didn't live up to its billing. It seemed that all the guys were bit by nerves, and everyone made mistakes in their short program. Even the men’s world champion, Brian Joubert of France, lacked a spark and played it safe in his free skate, completing only one quad jump when he could have put everyone away.
* Delayed-broadcasts of the events. By the time ESPN aired the event, the men’s and pairs events had already been decided and you could read about them on the Internet. The time difference took a lot of the drama out of the telecasts.
For all the results, visit www.isu.org.
Surprises:
* Miki Ando of Japan won the women’s title. Did anyone expect her to even finish in the top five?
* Thomas Verner of Germany finished fourth, moving up from ninth after the short program. In a very talented field, he wasn't mentioned among the top contenders. I don’t think anyone thought he would be that close to the podium. But Verner, the 2007 European silver medalist, had an outstanding free skate while other skaters ahead of him faltered.
* Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the U.S. silver medalists in ice dance, finished seventh in their first world championships. Of all the American skaters, they probably had the best overall competition, and will likely move up quickly in the international ranks in the next few years.
Disappointments:
* The U.S. team only earned one medal – a bronze in ice dancing by Belbin and Agosto. And they only got the bronze because two other dance teams behind them made more mistakes. With the exception of Davis/White, the U.S. ice dance silver medalists, I don’t think anyone else had a solid competition. I can accept third, fourth or fifth place finishes, but not with such sloppy performances.
Men’s competition. After seeing the thrilling men’s free skate last year at the World Championships in Calgary, I fully expected the same level of competition this year in Tokyo. But it didn't live up to its billing. It seemed that all the guys were bit by nerves, and everyone made mistakes in their short program. Even the men’s world champion, Brian Joubert of France, lacked a spark and played it safe in his free skate, completing only one quad jump when he could have put everyone away.
* Delayed-broadcasts of the events. By the time ESPN aired the event, the men’s and pairs events had already been decided and you could read about them on the Internet. The time difference took a lot of the drama out of the telecasts.
For all the results, visit www.isu.org.
Is It Live, or Is It Tape Delay?
There is nothing like seeing the spontaneity and drama that unfolds during the live telecast of a sporting event, like the NCAA tournament or the World Series. Tape-delayed broadcasts seem like such a waste of air time. With the Internet making news available almost immediately, why would anyone tune into tape-delayed sports events when they can get the results online? Most sporting events should be broadcast live as it happens, even if it means showing them in the middle of the night.
The World Figure Skating Championships, which wrapped up this weekend in Tokyo, is a case in point. While the NCAA tournament was being shown live on CBS, the figure skating championships were tape-delayed and shown on ESPN in the same time slot as the tournament games. Because of the 14-hour time difference between Tokyo and Chicago, the results of the skating competition were posted on the Web. In fact, the pairs’ and men’s events were already concluded before ESPN even showed any of the competition.
ESPN handled the Australian Open in January differently. The men’s final between Roger Federer and Fernando Gonzalez was broadcast live at 3 a.m. Chicago time, then replayed at noon later the same day. Would more fans have tuned in to see the free skate programs if they were broadcast live from Tokyo, even at 4 a.m.? The network could still rebroadcast the events in primetime.
What do you think? Would you watch a live sporting event on TV if it was broadcast in the wee hours of the morning?
The World Figure Skating Championships, which wrapped up this weekend in Tokyo, is a case in point. While the NCAA tournament was being shown live on CBS, the figure skating championships were tape-delayed and shown on ESPN in the same time slot as the tournament games. Because of the 14-hour time difference between Tokyo and Chicago, the results of the skating competition were posted on the Web. In fact, the pairs’ and men’s events were already concluded before ESPN even showed any of the competition.
ESPN handled the Australian Open in January differently. The men’s final between Roger Federer and Fernando Gonzalez was broadcast live at 3 a.m. Chicago time, then replayed at noon later the same day. Would more fans have tuned in to see the free skate programs if they were broadcast live from Tokyo, even at 4 a.m.? The network could still rebroadcast the events in primetime.
What do you think? Would you watch a live sporting event on TV if it was broadcast in the wee hours of the morning?
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Figure Skating Museum Moving to Chicago?
Our fine city of Chicago is being considered as the new home for the World Figure Skating Museum, which is currently based in Colorado Springs (which is also home to the U.S. Figure Skating Association), according to a Chicago Sun-Times article. The board wants to raise the museum profile and attendance, and is looking at several larger cities that are connected by an international airport.
While Chicago has produced some notable skaters over the years, such as Janet Lynn, Timothy Goebel, and more currently, Evan Lysacek, the city is an odd choice considering it has never hosted a World or National Championships. It doesn’t have the cachet in the sporting world that other American cities seem to have. Most fans are likely to associate the city with Bears football or Cubs baseball long before they think of figure skating. I can see Detroit or St. Paul, Minn., or even Vancouver, providing a better location for the museum because of their rich skating history and more active skating clubs.
Onthe other hand, it may not be a bad idea to bring the Figure Skating Museum to Chicago, especially if it’s at a well-appointed Michigan Avenue location. I'd volunteer to be a docent in a heart beat. Could the National or World Figure Skating Championships in Chicago be far behind?
The board will vote on a new location later this month.
While Chicago has produced some notable skaters over the years, such as Janet Lynn, Timothy Goebel, and more currently, Evan Lysacek, the city is an odd choice considering it has never hosted a World or National Championships. It doesn’t have the cachet in the sporting world that other American cities seem to have. Most fans are likely to associate the city with Bears football or Cubs baseball long before they think of figure skating. I can see Detroit or St. Paul, Minn., or even Vancouver, providing a better location for the museum because of their rich skating history and more active skating clubs.
Onthe other hand, it may not be a bad idea to bring the Figure Skating Museum to Chicago, especially if it’s at a well-appointed Michigan Avenue location. I'd volunteer to be a docent in a heart beat. Could the National or World Figure Skating Championships in Chicago be far behind?
The board will vote on a new location later this month.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
U.S. Figure Skating No Match for ESPN
When the U.S. Figure Skating Association’s contract with ABC television expires after this season, I would hope that its officials would think twice before signing on the dotted line. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to walk away from a deal altogether.
ESPN’s programming targets young males, not the older female audiences that generally tune in to figure skating events. There’s an obvious mismatch in demographics, which may be one of the reasons why TV ratings for skating events have declined. Figure skating simply doesn’t fit in with the male-dominated market niche that ESPN goes after. You get the feeling sometimes that figure skating has became the adopted child that ESPN no longer wants.
If U.S. Figure Skating does renew its deal with ESPN/ABC, I expect that the network will continue to give the sport secondary billing as it has in recent years. That means more tape delayed broadcasts, more events broadcast at off-peak hours, more broadcasts (or rebroadcasts) bumped in favor of other sporting events that appeal to their young male audience. (For example, a rebroadcast of the 2006 World Championships last July got bumped in favor of the replay of the World Cup Soccer final between Italy and France). That kind of programming decisions will hurt the sport even more.
The quality of the broadcasts has also suffered in recent years. Perhaps it’s because the same broadcast team has been in place for so long that the broadcasts often look tired. And the new faces they’ve brought on board, such as Kurt Browning and Terry Gannon, infuse a false enthusiasm for the sport. The broadcasts also have resorted to sensationalism, gimmicks and over-hyped dramas to create more fan interest. The result is programming that looks like a contrived three-ring entertainment circus. The competition gets overlooked.
I’m not convinced that a deal with ESPN will work favorably for the sport. So what should U.S. Figure Skating do? It has several options.
1) Negotiate a short-term deal with ABC/ESPN for no more than three years with the understanding that the major events be carried by ABC. If events cannot be broadcast on ABC, request that ABC Family, not ESPN, be used as a backup channel. ABC Family may be a better fit for skating’s demographic (women and families) than the male-dominated world of ESPN. The shorter-term deal will force both parties to not become so complacent.
2) Be proactive about pursuing other networks. To hear sports writers and experts talk, you would think that ESPN is the ONLY broadcast option for U.S. Figure Skating. That’s narrow thinking in my view. If the sport can be promoted as family sports entertainment, it expands your broadcasting options to networks that aren’t necessarily sports-oriented. Invite other networks to bid. NBC, USA, TNT, TBS are possible alternatives. A change in network will also force a long overdue change in broadcast team.
3) Walk away. Sometimes the best deal is the one you don’t make. If U.S. Figure Skating can’t work out a network deal that works best for the sport, then perhaps the best thing to do is step away from the negotiating table and say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Walking away without a deal may seem risky to some, but it sends the message that the organization will not settle for a contract that does not meet their needs and interests.
In the absence of any deal, U.S. Figure Skating could expand its IceNetwork.com, which shows regional skating competitions, or form an alliance with the U.S. Olympic Committee, which is looking into launching a 24-hour Olympic sports network. Despite declining TV viewership for the Olympics, figure skating still remains one of the most watched winter sports on TV. If the USOC does launch its own sports network, you can bet figure skating will be one of the sports receiving top billing.
With some smart maneuvering, figure skating can get out of the ESPN doghouse.
ESPN’s programming targets young males, not the older female audiences that generally tune in to figure skating events. There’s an obvious mismatch in demographics, which may be one of the reasons why TV ratings for skating events have declined. Figure skating simply doesn’t fit in with the male-dominated market niche that ESPN goes after. You get the feeling sometimes that figure skating has became the adopted child that ESPN no longer wants.
If U.S. Figure Skating does renew its deal with ESPN/ABC, I expect that the network will continue to give the sport secondary billing as it has in recent years. That means more tape delayed broadcasts, more events broadcast at off-peak hours, more broadcasts (or rebroadcasts) bumped in favor of other sporting events that appeal to their young male audience. (For example, a rebroadcast of the 2006 World Championships last July got bumped in favor of the replay of the World Cup Soccer final between Italy and France). That kind of programming decisions will hurt the sport even more.
The quality of the broadcasts has also suffered in recent years. Perhaps it’s because the same broadcast team has been in place for so long that the broadcasts often look tired. And the new faces they’ve brought on board, such as Kurt Browning and Terry Gannon, infuse a false enthusiasm for the sport. The broadcasts also have resorted to sensationalism, gimmicks and over-hyped dramas to create more fan interest. The result is programming that looks like a contrived three-ring entertainment circus. The competition gets overlooked.
I’m not convinced that a deal with ESPN will work favorably for the sport. So what should U.S. Figure Skating do? It has several options.
1) Negotiate a short-term deal with ABC/ESPN for no more than three years with the understanding that the major events be carried by ABC. If events cannot be broadcast on ABC, request that ABC Family, not ESPN, be used as a backup channel. ABC Family may be a better fit for skating’s demographic (women and families) than the male-dominated world of ESPN. The shorter-term deal will force both parties to not become so complacent.
2) Be proactive about pursuing other networks. To hear sports writers and experts talk, you would think that ESPN is the ONLY broadcast option for U.S. Figure Skating. That’s narrow thinking in my view. If the sport can be promoted as family sports entertainment, it expands your broadcasting options to networks that aren’t necessarily sports-oriented. Invite other networks to bid. NBC, USA, TNT, TBS are possible alternatives. A change in network will also force a long overdue change in broadcast team.
3) Walk away. Sometimes the best deal is the one you don’t make. If U.S. Figure Skating can’t work out a network deal that works best for the sport, then perhaps the best thing to do is step away from the negotiating table and say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” Walking away without a deal may seem risky to some, but it sends the message that the organization will not settle for a contract that does not meet their needs and interests.
In the absence of any deal, U.S. Figure Skating could expand its IceNetwork.com, which shows regional skating competitions, or form an alliance with the U.S. Olympic Committee, which is looking into launching a 24-hour Olympic sports network. Despite declining TV viewership for the Olympics, figure skating still remains one of the most watched winter sports on TV. If the USOC does launch its own sports network, you can bet figure skating will be one of the sports receiving top billing.
With some smart maneuvering, figure skating can get out of the ESPN doghouse.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Skating for Dollars
While in Las Vegas last week watching all the sports betting action at the MGM Grand Hotel, I was inspired to create my own sports betting game -- for figure skating. Since skating events have three top winners in each discipline, the sport lends itself perfectly to a betting arrangement similar to horse racing.
You could place a bet on one skater to win (finish first), place (finish first or second) or show (finish in the top three). Or you could bet an exacta, where you choose the top two skaters to finish one-two in the exact order, or a trifecta, where you choose the top three skaters to finish in the exact order of first, second and third. There's also a quinella, where you choose the top two skaters, regardless who finishes first or second. You can place wagers for total points earned in each phase of the competition, the short program and the free skate, and whether or not someone will complete a quad jump or a triple axel. Betting on figure skating offers some intriguing possibilities.
Granted, figure skating is a wholesome sport that appeals primarily to older women and younger fans involved in the sports itself, so neither are exactly the type of audience that would place wagers on competitions. On the other hand, the U.S. Figure Skating Association sponsored fantasy skating last fall during the Grand Prix series. Fans selected skaters for their team and monitored their performance throughout the events. So perhaps betting on competitions isn't so farfetched afterall. It would help engage fan interest, and perhaps attract new fans to the sport. It can also create more excitement for the events, just as wagers encourage debate and discussion for the Super Bowl and the World Series.
Who knows? Maybe more men would begin to tune in to figure skating competitions if they knew they had something riding on the outcome.
You could place a bet on one skater to win (finish first), place (finish first or second) or show (finish in the top three). Or you could bet an exacta, where you choose the top two skaters to finish one-two in the exact order, or a trifecta, where you choose the top three skaters to finish in the exact order of first, second and third. There's also a quinella, where you choose the top two skaters, regardless who finishes first or second. You can place wagers for total points earned in each phase of the competition, the short program and the free skate, and whether or not someone will complete a quad jump or a triple axel. Betting on figure skating offers some intriguing possibilities.
Granted, figure skating is a wholesome sport that appeals primarily to older women and younger fans involved in the sports itself, so neither are exactly the type of audience that would place wagers on competitions. On the other hand, the U.S. Figure Skating Association sponsored fantasy skating last fall during the Grand Prix series. Fans selected skaters for their team and monitored their performance throughout the events. So perhaps betting on competitions isn't so farfetched afterall. It would help engage fan interest, and perhaps attract new fans to the sport. It can also create more excitement for the events, just as wagers encourage debate and discussion for the Super Bowl and the World Series.
Who knows? Maybe more men would begin to tune in to figure skating competitions if they knew they had something riding on the outcome.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
U.S. Crowns New Champions
At the U.S. Figure Skating Championships that wrapped up this weekend in Spokane, Wash., it was clear that change was in the air. When the competition concluded, new champions were crowned in three of the four disciplines. That's nothing new in the season following the Olympic year when many skaters leave the sport to pursue other interests or turn pro.
As expected, Belbin and Agosto won the ice dance competition with a new free dance to "Amelie." It was their fourth national title.
The big surprise was in pairs in which Brooke Castile and Benjamin Okolski, former Jr. champions, won the title over 2006 champions Rene Inoue and John Baldwin -- by less than one point.
In ladies, 2006 world champion Kimmie Meissner was favored to win over what many called a weak field. She won the title, but by less than one point over Emily Hughes. If Hughes had not fallen midway through her free skate, she may have upset Meissner.
America's New Quad King
But the talk of the competition and the marquee matchup was the rivalry between three-time U.S. champion Johnny Weir and two-time World bronze medalist, Evan Lysacek. The short program lived up to its billing with both skaters performing clean routines. Lysacek led by less than one point going into the free skate Saturday night. By the end of the night, it was no contest.
After opening his program with a quad toe-triple toe combination (which he had practiced only once before and did not do cleanly), Lysacek was off and running. He proceeded to complete eight triple jumps in all and skated flawlessly for the entire four-minute and 30-second program, bring the crowd to its feet. It is considered one of the best free skate performances in the history of the U.S. championships. I thought his free skate at the 2006 Olympics was pretty remarkable, but it pales in comparison to what he did Saturday night.
Weir followed immediately after with a sloppy program. When he fell midway through his program, he knew he lost the competion. He finished third behind Ryan Bradley, a good 35 points behind Lysacek, who won his first national title of his career.
The championship recap program will air next Sunday, Feb. 4 at 12:30 eastern time. The show will be worth checking out just to see Lysacek's performance. It was that good.
As expected, Belbin and Agosto won the ice dance competition with a new free dance to "Amelie." It was their fourth national title.
The big surprise was in pairs in which Brooke Castile and Benjamin Okolski, former Jr. champions, won the title over 2006 champions Rene Inoue and John Baldwin -- by less than one point.
In ladies, 2006 world champion Kimmie Meissner was favored to win over what many called a weak field. She won the title, but by less than one point over Emily Hughes. If Hughes had not fallen midway through her free skate, she may have upset Meissner.
America's New Quad King
But the talk of the competition and the marquee matchup was the rivalry between three-time U.S. champion Johnny Weir and two-time World bronze medalist, Evan Lysacek. The short program lived up to its billing with both skaters performing clean routines. Lysacek led by less than one point going into the free skate Saturday night. By the end of the night, it was no contest.
After opening his program with a quad toe-triple toe combination (which he had practiced only once before and did not do cleanly), Lysacek was off and running. He proceeded to complete eight triple jumps in all and skated flawlessly for the entire four-minute and 30-second program, bring the crowd to its feet. It is considered one of the best free skate performances in the history of the U.S. championships. I thought his free skate at the 2006 Olympics was pretty remarkable, but it pales in comparison to what he did Saturday night.
Weir followed immediately after with a sloppy program. When he fell midway through his program, he knew he lost the competion. He finished third behind Ryan Bradley, a good 35 points behind Lysacek, who won his first national title of his career.
The championship recap program will air next Sunday, Feb. 4 at 12:30 eastern time. The show will be worth checking out just to see Lysacek's performance. It was that good.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
U.S. Skating Championships Preview
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships get underway later this week in Spokane. Typically, in the first post-Olympic competitive season, the level of talent at Nationals can be somewhat thin due to retirements from the top skaters in each discipline. But that really hasn’t been the case this season. The ladies’ competition is probably most affected with Sasha Cohen taking time off to pursue her acting career and Michelle Kwan recovering from hip surgery while she attends college. That leaves current world champion Kimmie Meissner as the favorite to win gold. Because this is expected to be a wide open competition, it’ll be interesting to see how some of the younger skaters perform. Are they ready and willing to make that next big step forward?
In ice dance, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto should repeat as national champions after winning silver at the Torino Olympics and third at Worlds in 2006. Ditto for Renee Inoue and John Baldwin in pairs.
The most compelling competition should be among the men where three-time U.S. champion Johnnie Weir will be challenged by current U.S. silver medalist Evan Lysacek. Weir is not having a good season so far. After finishing fifth at the Olympic Games in Torino and seventh at Worlds, his programs during the Grand Prix this past fall have been sloppy. If it weren’t for Jeffrey Buttle and current world champion Stephan Lambiel withdrawing from the Grand Prix series, Weir would not have made it to the GP final at all. Even then, Weir withdrew from the competition, claiming he had injured himself on a fall in his short program. Lysacek, on the other hand, finished the 2006 season with a bronze medal at Worlds and was skating well during the Grand Prix before a hip injury sidelined him from the finals. It will be interesting to see how both skaters will prepare for this competition, and if either of them is physically well enough to attempt a quad jump during their programs. Lysacek has the better free skate program and if he’s healthy, he should be the new U.S. men’s champion.
In ice dance, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto should repeat as national champions after winning silver at the Torino Olympics and third at Worlds in 2006. Ditto for Renee Inoue and John Baldwin in pairs.
The most compelling competition should be among the men where three-time U.S. champion Johnnie Weir will be challenged by current U.S. silver medalist Evan Lysacek. Weir is not having a good season so far. After finishing fifth at the Olympic Games in Torino and seventh at Worlds, his programs during the Grand Prix this past fall have been sloppy. If it weren’t for Jeffrey Buttle and current world champion Stephan Lambiel withdrawing from the Grand Prix series, Weir would not have made it to the GP final at all. Even then, Weir withdrew from the competition, claiming he had injured himself on a fall in his short program. Lysacek, on the other hand, finished the 2006 season with a bronze medal at Worlds and was skating well during the Grand Prix before a hip injury sidelined him from the finals. It will be interesting to see how both skaters will prepare for this competition, and if either of them is physically well enough to attempt a quad jump during their programs. Lysacek has the better free skate program and if he’s healthy, he should be the new U.S. men’s champion.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Cohen Withdraws from Nationals
Sasha Cohen officially withdrew from the 2007 U.S. National Championships and insists that she will be ready for the 2009 competitive season (which I guess means she is also skipping the 2008 season). I know a lot of skating fans are disappointed, but really this is no surprise. Cohen has said all along that she is skipping the 2007 and 2008 seasons to take a break from skating – that’s her official word. But what she isn’t saying is that she wants to focus on her budding acting career.
Cohen is deluding herself if she thinks she will be “ready” for the 2009 competitive season. When young rising stars like Kimmie Meissner, Mao Asada and other Japanese skaters are routinely performing triple axels, three-jump combinations, and triple-triple combinations, Cohen has failed to show me that she is capable of performing a single triple jump without falling on her a** during her free skate program. Does she honestly believe that she will be able to compete with the likes of Meissner and Asada? Don’t get me wrong. Cohen is a beautiful skater, and she obviously loves to perform and entertain. But when it comes to competing, she lacks the mental toughness and desire to withstand the pressures of rising to the highest level on the world stage. She can have all the talent in the world, but without mental and emotional toughness, I doubt she will ever be a world champion.
In other skating news, Cleveland may have lost out to Los Angeles for the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, but the city got a door prize instead – the 2009 U.S. National Championships, according to the U.S. Figure Skating Association.
Cohen is deluding herself if she thinks she will be “ready” for the 2009 competitive season. When young rising stars like Kimmie Meissner, Mao Asada and other Japanese skaters are routinely performing triple axels, three-jump combinations, and triple-triple combinations, Cohen has failed to show me that she is capable of performing a single triple jump without falling on her a** during her free skate program. Does she honestly believe that she will be able to compete with the likes of Meissner and Asada? Don’t get me wrong. Cohen is a beautiful skater, and she obviously loves to perform and entertain. But when it comes to competing, she lacks the mental toughness and desire to withstand the pressures of rising to the highest level on the world stage. She can have all the talent in the world, but without mental and emotional toughness, I doubt she will ever be a world champion.
In other skating news, Cleveland may have lost out to Los Angeles for the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, but the city got a door prize instead – the 2009 U.S. National Championships, according to the U.S. Figure Skating Association.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Kwan’s New Title: Ambassador
Michelle Kwan has a new job these days. In addition to studying political science and international relations at the University of Denver, Kwan was named as America’s first public diplomacy envoy, a non-paying role in which she will be “promoting our country’s democratic principles,” according to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. According to the USFSA Web site, Kwan will traveling to schools and clubs in various parts of the world to create a “cross-cultural dialogue with international youth and to increase understanding of America by sharing her story and life experiences.”
OK, so this might be a big fluff PR job, but it’ll still look good on her resume. What’s next – the United Nations?
OK, so this might be a big fluff PR job, but it’ll still look good on her resume. What’s next – the United Nations?
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