- Joined
- Aug 1, 2011
Remember what I said about FS putting soap operas to shame in terms of entertainment and scandal?
I understated that. Immensely.
I understated that. Immensely.
I love this post! Yes! Very much aligned! I remember trying to liken/rationalize the USA! chant (I was 18 at the time) to football/soccer fans in other countries. It didn’t sit well with me, but I wasn’t inured to the great story! I can name three of the players to this day. US eventually started sending the pros to the Games to compete with state-sponsored athletics, and then I was embarrassed by egos of the basketball “Dream Team.” Iirc they were humbled pretty quickly.My thoughts are very well aligned with yours, as well as my longevity, though I might have a few years on you.
At the time of the Lake Placid Games, I was all for the USA chant, but the hockey players were amateurs. It was a special and unexpected moment. Gritty. But that chant has taken over in so many arenas and is used to drown out an opposing side. It's became virulent and aggressive.
Speaking of drowning out, the Sochi fans who were trying to drown out skaters' music so they couldn't hear it while skating their programs. Boorish, aggressive, unnecessary. So, I guess I hate the evolution of fandom. I have no wish to be at skating events any more. The intolerance makes me fearful.
There's no openness to others in that tactic, which is where we are right now.
On the other side, I also am fearful of fans projecting themselves onto the objects of their fandom, such that we see fans defining what specific skaters "need", "wish", "feel" even if they've never met them or have no personal knowledge. I would feel a lot more comfortable if the fans in question are aware they are confusing themselves with the objects of their admiration. Perhaps it's social media that has brought us to this. At any rate, the projections of fan fantasies onto skaters I find very troubling. It, too, lacks awareness and appreciation for "other".
IMO These two forces are combining right now into nationalistic fandom with fan assumptions that they know what's best for a skater. This opens the pathway to abuse, especially of abuse of young people, since they are in some ways blank slates as yet, and easy to project onto.
I won't be watching the remainder of the skating events of this Olympics. Really, I've had it, and it's been many decades that I've stuck with watching the sport.
On the question of the team competition, I wish there were more teams. For those nations that don't end up in the top 5 (and therefore allowed to move into the FS portion)... it's, like, the top 5 and everyone else. Supposing instead, there were more countries, and each country got to pick 3 disciplines, their choice. Strategy could be fun!
It would also be fun to have mixed groups, where maybe 3 skaters from a large geographical region formed a team. This would let some of the smaller federations get involved, too. Supposing, for instance, we had a Scandinavian team, or a Latin American team, or a Southeast Asian team not from the traditional powerhouses.
Please don't. We "old timers" have to stick around. We provide much-needed historical viewpoints.I am. I think I'm done, after watching skating for over 30 years. I wrote a post about it in the Kamila thread and someone left a "laughing" emoji reaction. I'm tired of encountering ageism and sexism, and I'm not just talking about that thread. Sorry to say this, because I really have enjoyed this forum, but after catching covid last spring and almost dying from it, I have almost no patience anymore, and don't want to spend my time with doping apologists. If I didn't have respect for a lot of the posters here, I would just let go and post what I really feel, but as Eliza Doolittle said, I'm too lady-like to do so.
It was a joy for me too to see those guys, but what sort of adversity did they face? I know it's been difficult for Donovan to train (using a shopping mall ice rink) but ... enlighten me!I've marveled with pride at skaters who are just happy to be at the Olympics, a prize in itself. Just this week, who can forget Donovan Carillo and Nikolj Majorov and their obvious joy to skate on Olympic ice? In the face of unbelievable adversity, they made it!
Nikolaj was almost left at home by the rules of the Swedish Olympic Committee. They only wanted skaters who could finish in the top 5 (?). They used this to keep Nikolaj's older brother, Alexander, out of the 2018 Olympics even after he got a spot at Nebelhorn!It was a joy for me too to see those guys, but what sort of adversity did they face? I know it's been difficult for Donovan to train (using a shopping mall ice rink) but ... enlighten me!
Ah that I did not know about Nikolaj. I DID know about Alexander though, and was shocked that he did not go to 2018.Nikolaj was almost left at home by the rules of the Swedish Olympic Committee. They only wanted skaters who could finish in the top 5 (?). They used this to keep Nikolaj's older brother, Alexander, out of the 2018 Olympics even after he got a spot at Nebelhorn!
Fortunately, the Swedish Olympic Committee changed their mind - they also have a promising young athletes clause I think? So they let Nikolaj go based on that.
Pretty much how I feel. I feel like I'm just more of a semi casual viewer now. I use to post year around but that has changed drastically.I've been a fan for 40 years. What might make me walk away is the emphasis on tech over pcs. The judging is the problem.
Jackie Wong put it so well on yesterday's episode of "Olympic Ice" (which is a fabulous show by the way). It's on Peacock.
I certainly can't explain it with the same expertise as Jackie, but I think when they took away the school figures is when the concentration on jumps started.
What happened to the "figure" in figure skating?
When did the judging change to awarding high pcs just because of high tech.
Why is the score ceiling limit for tech so much higher than the score ceiling limit for pcs?
Thank god for Jason Brown trying to keep what I consider real figure skating alive.
While I think Nathan's gold was well deserved, he is a prime example of super points for tech giving high pcs. Nathans pcs (imho) should not be near Jasons. I just don't get how the judges can see the same pcs, especially when it comes to flow, glide out of jumps, smoothness, transitions and complicated choreography in Jason and Nathan. To me, there is a world of difference.
It's so disheartening for me to see the quad become the main deal. It's "jump skating" not figure skating anymore.
And again, I just don't understand how the judging doesn't see this.
I had pretty much decided not to bother with the ladies event this olympics because the quad has just ruined the field in my opinion.
How horrible it is to so many of the ladies skaters to realize there is no road to the medals because of the quads. You could say they just didn't keep up with the sport which is moving forward .....?? But maybe the sport is moving forward too fast to the point it's become unfair.
The recent doping allegations have brought forward another troubling factor with ladies figure skating. Weight control and delay of puberty.
Perhaps they really do need to up the age limit in an attempt to keep this from happening.
Here is a link to Jackie Wong on "Olympic Ice. He starts at about 10 min. into it.
Unavailable In Your Region
www.peacocktv.com
Please don't. We "old timers" have to stick around. We provide much-needed historical viewpoints.
I've watched every aspect of every Olympic competition since 1976, even the scant footage of figures that was provided on American TV.
I've been thrilled by Dorothy Hamill, John Curry, Irina Rodnina, Alexei Yagudin, Plushenko, Torvill and Dean, Brian Boitano, Davis and White, Virtue and Moir, Gordeeva and Grinkov... more than I can mention as they've lifted the spirits of the world with their Olympic performances,
I've been on my feet at the unexpected glory of Sarah Hughes, Tara Lipinski, Paul Wylie, Liz Manley, and many others as they won medals that nobody but themselves believed they could win.
I've felt the agony of Linda Fratiane, Brian Orser, Kurt Browning, Patrick Chan, Usova and Zhulin, and others... who came up just shy of the ultimate prize. But they lived to fight another day, and live a better life, and left the sport better because they were part of it.
I've marveled with pride at skaters who are just happy to be at the Olympics, a prize in itself. Just this week, who can forget Donovan Carillo and Nikolj Majorov and their obvious joy to skate on Olympic ice? In the face of unbelievable adversity, they made it!
Yes, it hurts that for the first time, I will not watch an Olympic event. I'll get over it, and I'm sure the participants won't miss me. But I must take a personal stand. I will not intentionally watch a dirty event.
But this, too, will pass. I'm already looking forward to the pairs event and Worlds. I hope you'll be watching, too.
I have about same thoughts about ladies but I think I am going to watch the group where Loena and Wakaba skated. Pairs free I probably watch live, because it starts 13. on Saturday local time and pairs is my favourite. I have often before skipped the ladies in big competitions if I have no opportunity to watch live. I could have watched the last group live yesterday, but I did not want to. I was very excited when I heard EC will be in Finland 2023 and was obvious I am going to arrange my work so I can go. Now I am not sure at all, if I want to go. But i have time to think about it and change my mind.I haven't watched the women SP... will not watch the LP. I will watch the pairs, probably not live though. I cannot directly comment on the judging of the women's SPs but I think that the judges are sort of screwed though... The 3 ROC athletes have had generous PCS and GOES all year. Why would that be different suddenly? They cannot dare to reward other skaters who are cleaner in every sense of the word as their scores would probably be out of the ballpark and then be scrutinized. They are lucky I am not a judge. I would have asked to be dismissed of my functions. Forgive me but I am at my lowest point of my love/hate relationship with skating.
Between now and Worlds, I should cleanse by reminiscing about Patrick. Has it really been FOUR YEARS?!?! Stick to that Fan Fest thread at least.I haven't watched the women SP... will not watch the LP. I will watch the pairs, probably not live though. I cannot directly comment on the judging of the women's SPs but I think that the judges are sort of screwed though... The 3 ROC athletes have had generous PCS and GOES all year. Why would that be different suddenly? They cannot dare to reward other skaters who are cleaner in every sense of the word as their scores would probably be out of the ballpark and then be scrutinized. They are lucky I am not a judge. I would have asked to be dismissed of my functions. Forgive me but I am at my lowest point of my love/hate relationship with skating.