Meh. I think we are beating a dead horse before it has even died. 2011 Worlds is in the books, it is what it is. What is Phil Hersh going to say, that he never liked Rachael anyway?
I couldn't agree with you more!!!
Meh. I think we are beating a dead horse before it has even died. 2011 Worlds is in the books, it is what it is. What is Phil Hersh going to say, that he never liked Rachael anyway?
Doesn't seem to be much controversy here. She did the best she could under the circumstances.
It would have been much better to have sent Mirai or Agnes, Christina, even Ashley.
If there was time, I would have sent Ashley, then Mirai. However, it seems there was not enough time.
If there was time, I would have sent Ashley, then Mirai. However, it seems there was not enough time.
I read the new Hersh column.
I feel this is just cruel of Frank Carroll and Phil Hersh to publicly flog Rachael like this. I have never been her biggest fan, never rooted her on, but bit by bit, the fan animosity towards her over 2010 Nationals, the silly downgrades at the 2010 Olympics, the fact that she cut her hair because she was told to, she dumped her short program because everyone hated it, she worked with Lori Nichol on changing up her LP presumably because she was told to...I mean, after she put in the extra work with Lori Nichol on her LP, no wonder she really wanted to prove herself at Worlds. I realize 3 spots is important but it's not the most important thing in the world, and I don't understand why Rachael needs to be dragged through the mud for the crime of wanting to compete while injured. She's not the first nor the last who thought they could make it through.
Are we really expected to believe Russia can organize Worlds in a month and US Skating can't manage to get one skater to Moscow with a week's notice? .
the fact that she cut her hair because she was told to,
Carroll had been infuriated by Nagasu's skating at nationals -- especially her body language -- and told her (and me) that in no uncertain terms.
"She has moved on from that,'' he said. "She was doing triple axels and triple lutz - triple loop in practice. She was ready to go.''
Cruel? I don't think so. It was RACHEL'S decision (per the article) to compete. She's old enough to understand the potential backlash/ramifications if she competed while injured and failed to deliver. She knew the possibility that she'd be blamed for not getting 3 spots, particularly if Czisny "held her end of the bargain" so to speak. And even if Rachel wanted to compete, it's up to her coach to make the decision as to whether it was worth it. Tom Z decided to take a gamble, also knowing full well what would happen if his student didn't deliver.
Perfectly fair to ask questions and call into question the judgment of Team Flatt, especially now that more facts have come out.
Citation please?
"I actually really liked my long hair and didn't want to get it cut because I have a rounder face," Rachael said, laughing. "I got my hair cut shortly after Champs Camp. The judges wanted a different look for my programs, and they wanted to see a hairstyle that would compliment the choreography and the stories of my programs. Plus, they wanted to see my hair highlighted so that it would have a little bit more dimension on the ice."
It's an article from Icenetwork, which is not allowed to be reposted here. But I can quote from it.
The Inside Edge with Sarah and Drew - Nov. 9
Rachael wanted to skate despite the injury, probably to avoid any regrets in case this is her last Worlds. I think she's earned that right, even if it costs the US 3 spots. We really can't blame her for that.
Perfectly fair to ask questions. I'm just saying that I don't see what she did as that unreasonable. I do recall the fan backlash against Alissa Czisny, who was not injured at 2009 Worlds but bombed, but I don't recall that Phil Hersh devoted as much attention to Alissa then as he is to Rachael now. Did he call up Alissa's coach, Julie Berlin, asking for an explanation for why she allowed Alissa to skate the way she did, with 2009 4CCs results foreshadowing Worlds 2009 results that Alissa's jumps were not stable? Did he call up Caroline Zhang's coach and ask if Caroline Zhang would've been ready to go in Alissa's place?
I see the two situations as different and therefore not comparable. Czisny was not injured and quite frankly, performed the way most people expected her to perform (she was known as being incredibly inconsistent). The real issue that year was with the Nationals results/whether she should have been selected for the team in the first place.
Flatt, OTOH, had her performance ability compromised by an injury which did NOT occur during the competition. Of course this is going to raise questions, especially if the alternate wasn't even notified that she might have to step in. Even if Flatt wanted to ultimately try, at least Team Nagasu should have been made aware of the situation (same with USFS).