Igor Shpilband fired

[CAS]

How do we know there isn't some truth to it in some ways? Maybe Igor was starting to neglect D/W, V/M, and S/S somewhat and they'd had enough. He did it with B/A to some extent which is what forced them to move to Lininchuk.

It's not hard for me to also imagine a situation where Igor didn't see where else he could go with those three and wanted new challenges. I know that´s probably shocking to most but in the case of V&M they always seem to refer to Marina when asked about coaches and Igor geared more towards D&W. Perhaps the challenge of taking a new team to the top was more enticing then trying to keep a team like D&W on top (much harder challenge heading into Sochi). The Shibs are also harder to package and sell as a sibling team. Maybe the three teams sensed a lack of excitement from him, a lack of vision but noticed he seemed more inspired with the two new teams he was working with. Throw in the possibility he worked exclusively with them might give the skaters further sense that they aren't as important anymore.

It seems so much effort went into keeping a balance at the rink and making them all feel equally loved that when that effort starts to slide things fall apart. All three teams had disappointments this season and in the case of two of them it's impossible to satisfy them at this stage in their careers because they both want the same thing. Something had to give and it seems in this case it was a coach.

[CAS]

There were no instances of him physically abusing his students.

Verbal abuse can be just as painful.

[Dragonlady]

Everyone keeps talking about Igor going back to Russia. He defected when the country was still under communist rule. He didn't just leave after the iron curtain fell. I don't think he can go back, even if he wanted to.

[emma]

I feel ridiculous posting in this thread as I have no insights or any facts to add; but I am just so shocked by this news I had to just say it out loud (or type it here). wow, wow, wow....I could see them splitting after Sochi with a lot of fan fare and celebration of having created a huge skating dynasty; but I really never expected this now.

Sure, last season seemed to show some tension; and Doris' observation that no new teams signed up is fascinating (I just didn't know that until now)....but, really i'm shocked. Hoping all ends well for the all the parties involved.

[DianaSelene]

Verbal abuse can be just as painful.

If there is verbal abuse then you just leave a teacher/coach, not go lying about him being a child molester. When I was a kid, I had enough teachers who employed verbal abuse. They were terrible people but they were not fired (even though they should have been) and I didn't go complaining to the principal that the teachers tried to molest me.

[golden411]

Seems that V/M, D/W, and the Shibutanis have a lot more maturity than Z/S.
These fine young men and women deserve a lot better than a rink full of tension and conflict between their coaches. I hope and believe that each of the six skaters can count on the support and friendship of the others to get through this upheaval. Best wishes to all of them!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~

John Alastair Kerr ‏@Jkerrbear

I think the battle for the Olympic Ice dance title just got thrown wide open
6:55 AM - 4 Jun 12

[Jammers]

Wow this might be the most shocking skating news in years.

[CAS]

If there is verbal abuse then you just leave a teacher/coach, not go lying about him being a child molester. When I was a kid, I had enough teachers who employed verbal abuse. They were terrible people but they were not fired (even though they should have been) and I didn't go complaining to the principal that the teachers tried to molest me.

I´m not personally involved in that situation so anything I add would just be gossip.

[bsfan]

Russia offers $$$

To V/M and D/W to fire their coach so they have an excuse to not getting gold in 2014?

[Olympia]

Wow this might be the most shocking skating news in years.

It's right up there with Michelle's leaving Frank Carroll practically on the eve of the Olympics, and YuNa's split from Orser. To me the former was more upsetting because I was sure it would interfere with Michelle's pursuit of the Salt Lake City gold (which in fact it seems to have done), but the latter was far more shocking because of the bad vibes coming from it. At least with Michelle and Frank, neither ever said a bad word about the other, and indeed neither has said anything to this day.

I know that this is just skating, not world peace or anything, but it is the entire world to the people involved: it's their life's work (both the coaches and the skaters) and their livelihoods, and it's done in full view of the public. (Not like bad stuff that happens at our jobs or in our schooling situations, which thank goodness is on view to no one but us.) I don't know what the causes were and have no right to speculate on them, but I do have sympathy for them all in this debacle. I hope the skaters involved will be able to pick themselves up and resume their training. I hope the coaches will find good new situations. A miserable mess for all concerned.

[Macassar88]

http://www.team-russia2014.ru/article/4587.html
New article

Piseev says that Russia will give Shpilband everything he could want in Russia.

[Jammers]

I hope Igor doesn't jump ship and go help the Russians.

[A.H.Black]

There's a new article on Icenetwork, but I'm not allowed to post the link.

[golden411]

The IN article is by Lynn Rutherford. The only really new bit I see:

"Shpilband will search for a new situation in the greater Detroit area."

[let`s talk]

http://www.team-russia2014.ru/article/4587.html
New article

Piseev says that Russia will give Shpilband everything he could want in Russia.

It also says that Pissev in fact hopes that the situation will come to the peace in Canton and they will find they way to work together.

His answer about Igor in Russia was more like the answer that logically should follow the question. It's not like he himself believe that Igor will work in Moscow.