- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
In many other sports, actually, an equivalent statement would draw severe punishment, including possible fines, suspensions, and the necessity of a coerced but profuse public apology if the offender expects to continue involvement in that sport.
I think the difference is this. In most sports there is a separate "Major League Umpire's Association," or whatever. that operates as independently as possible from the league administration and team owners. In figure skating the judges are on the team. If you are the judge from Lithuania, you are bound by the charter and constitution of the Lithuanian Skating Association, whose acknowledged raison d'etre is to secure the highest possible placements and the greatest possible number of medals for Lithuanian skaters.
Coaches, too, have a time-honored duty to their clients (and their clients' parents who foot the bills) to lobby like the dickens on their behalf. This is true even for beginners. The coach routinely takes his pal the judge aside and says, "You know, I've got a pretty good girl coming up to intermediates this year. She's worth a look." And lo and behold little Suzie gets third instead of eighth in that competition.
As for coaches bad-mouthing the opposition, we need look no farther than the Michin camp versus the Tarasova camp in plugging Plushenko and Kovtun for the sole Olympic spot this year.
Robeye said:]Meanwhile, what do you think will happen with scoring in the individual events? The same, ah, "approach" as in teams? At least some reversion back to normal?
If I had to guess one or the other and nothing in between I would expect to continue to see highly inflated PCSs and GOEs for the skaters who skate well and have the greatest momentum and/or reputation going in. This is no mere athletic contest. It is a super colossal humdinger of an international entertainment and patriotism frenzy. More is better. Even more is better yet.