Figure Skating-ISU president must quit before sport dies | Page 2 | Golden Skate

Figure Skating-ISU president must quit before sport dies

Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Talk about one sidedness. There was also a swath of positive stories too that came out around the Olympics. Yahoo sports does it again :scowl:

Well, yes, it was one-sided, because mostly it was giving Tim Wood's point of view. Every article doesn't have to give both sides of an issue. Wood comes from a specific viewpoint in skating that's contingent on his experiences: he was World Champion twice (1969–70) and hails from an era when skating meant something different. I think we can count him as an informed observer. Yes, he's older (65 years old according to Wiki), but skating fandom is made up of people of all ages. Yes, there's another side to the story. But this is Tim Wood's side. Yahoo wasn't out of line in reporting it.

But I agree that 6.0 can't be reinstated. There's got to be a way to fix the current system and make it more transparent and more fair.
 

Sam-Skwantch

“I solemnly swear I’m up to no good”
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Well, yes, it was one-sided, because mostly it was giving Tim Wood's point of view. Every article doesn't have to give both sides of an issue. Wood comes from a specific viewpoint in skating that's contingent on his experiences: he was World Champion twice (1969–70) and hails from an era when skating meant something different. I think we can count him as an informed observer. Yes, he's older (65 years old according to Wiki), but skating fandom is made up of people of all ages. Yes, there's another side to the story. But this is Tim Wood's side. Yahoo wasn't out of line in reporting it.

I'm just not buying the doom and gloom scenario. That is all. It's very frustrating seeing this beautiful sport being criticized more than anything else. If the reporters spent half the time writing positive stories about the amazing youth coming into form like Yuzuru, maybe the sport could see some growth too. There are plenty of positive angles that can be taken. That is my point. I'm just tired of articles consisting of pure negatives. The Japenese media sell the sport in a positive way and people are eating it up.

There is a way to make a point about judging issues, especially in a public setting, that draws attention to the positives aspects of the entire sport also, if indeed your intention is to grow it. Maybe he made plenty of nice remarks. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the author is a disgrintled Sochi fan who left out anything positive said. Hence my...Yahoo Sports does it again.

I mean no disrespect to Mr. Wood and I'm not trying to discredit him at all. :)
 

Jump

Rinkside
Joined
Feb 16, 2014
Btw here is the lead article on ESPN's Olympic Sports section today:



Figure skating needs leadership that will do the same -- and back it up with sincere efforts and actions, not just words.

In stark contrast, you have Cinquanta leading the ISU, who says match fixing is a "minor violation" and his right hand man is a convicted cheat as well.

If you eliminate corruption at the every level, that might mean removing Russia from the sport. :slink:
 

HanDomi

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2014
I'm just not buying the doom and gloom scenario. That is all. It's very frustrating seeing this beautiful sport being criticized more than anything else. If the reporters spent half the time writing positive stories about the amazing youth coming into form like Yuzuru, maybe the sport could see some growth too. There are plenty of positive angles that can be taken. That is my point. I'm just tired of articles consisting of pure negatives. The Japenese media sell the sport in a positive way and people are eating it up.

Well, you know... positive things are not generating the same amount number of reads, because it is simply in nature of many ppl that only negative, controversial things can bring you to read, and even comment to make you feel a "specialist" :biggrin:
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
In case you want to know something about Tim Wood and his career, here is a nice interview by Jo Ann Schneider :rock:

Mr. Wood was known as an expert in figures, sort of on the stiff side when it came to free skating. :) He still holds (and will hold forevermore :) ) the all-time highest Olympic score in figures.

Wood also has the all-time Olympic "wuzrobbed" story:

I heard you should have won the 1968 Winter Olympics, but there was a clerical error with the scores. Can you tell me what happened?

The Canadian judge wanted to put me in first, and it was his mark that would make the difference in whether I placed first or second. He put the wrong mark down by accident, and in those days, once the wrong mark was on paper, there was no way a mistake could be changed. I ended up with a silver medal in 1968 instead of gold due to that error.

http://figureskating.about.com/od/f...th-World-Figure-Skating-Champion-Tim-Wood.htm
 
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Blades of Passion

Skating is Art, if you let it be
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If skating turns into Dancing with the Stars you can count me out!!!

Oh, this is definitely not at all what Tim Wood wants. Or anyone really.

I didn't like that example in the article but there were plenty of other valid points.

If the reporters spent half the time writing positive stories about the amazing youth coming into form like Yuzuru, maybe the sport could see some growth too. There are plenty of positive angles that can be taken.

Yuzuru's skating, in his Long Program (and especially at the Olympics), is not something people care about. He is an exact example of many things that are wrong with the sport right now. The system rewards mistakes. The system rewards people for ignoring real choreography and interpretation in favor of meaningless transitions. The system rewards people for doing complicated spins and footwork that have no purpose and are tedious to watch. The system rewards people for throwing as much movement as possible into the programs rather than showcasing steady blade control and awareness of your body and line.
 

Sam-Skwantch

“I solemnly swear I’m up to no good”
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If you eliminate corruption at the every level, that might mean removing Russia from the sport. :slink:

I assume you accidentally omitted the word judge and it wasn't some Freudian slip. You meant Russian Judges right. Anything else would be nonsense.
 

Anna K.

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It don't feel like the biggest fan of Tim Wood but this caught my attention:


The ISU did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

How many requests they actually have answered since Sochi?
 

fruitbasket

Rinkside
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Jan 11, 2014
Cinquanta did respond to Phil Hersh that Yuri Balkov only committed a "minor violation" when he tried to rig competitions.

for cinquanta's standard, altering score at olympic competition is "minor violation" that is the reason why he must step down as ISU president position.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
On the other hand, what response would we expect Cinquanta to make?

Critics: Hey, Ottavio, you're a scum bag, why don't you kill yourself?"

Cinquanta: "You make some good points. I'll take it up with the Council."
 

Ven

Match Penalty
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
What does it matter what his response is? If he were a good leader, and the sport were clean and successful, he wouldn't be receiving these questions and protests in the first place.
 

Jump

Rinkside
Joined
Feb 16, 2014
I assume you accidentally omitted the word judge and it wasn't some Freudian slip. You meant Russian Judges right. Anything else would be nonsense.

Well ISU did ban all Russian judges from international skating competitions for one year back in 1977-1978 but that didn't work. So perhaps something even more drastic and nonsense is needed. Throw out Cinquanta, throw out Russia, throw out COP.
 

Meoima

Match Penalty
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Well ISU did ban all Russian judges from international skating competitions for one year back in 1977-1978 but that didn't work. So perhaps something even more drastic and nonsense is needed. Throw out Cinquanta, throw out Russia, throw out COP.
:popcorn::popcorn:
Okay, you intend to throw out nearly 1/3 of the skating community, including many world class coaches, choreographers, skaters, ice dancers...?
Not that I am a fan of the Russians, but this sounds even more unfair and will only harm figure skating.
 

[email protected]

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Mar 26, 2014
I assume you accidentally omitted the word judge and it wasn't some Freudian slip. You meant Russian Judges right. Anything else would be nonsense.

I am sure that the poster had the intention to write what she actually wrote. This forum unfortunately does not have "ignore" button so that I am forced to read one-sided abusive posts from certain characters.
 

[email protected]

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:popcorn::popcorn:

Not that I am a fan of the Russians...

Which country are you from? Should I write whether I am fan of all your countrymates or this would not be the best idea, what do you think?

Such a hypocrisy when even a slight hint against certain minorities results in a big outcry. While judging the whole nation is quite normal. Well, what am I doing here, anyway?....
 

Ven

Match Penalty
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Sam if it makes you feel any better it goes both ways! Some people can't even criticize the Sochi farce without being labeled Russian-haters, even when it's not true. I was one of the few Sotnikova proponents here pre-Olympics, and was quite sad that the entire Olympic experience got ruined by the figure skating scandal. Before the rigged results ruined everything for me, I was enjoying the games and the ceremonies. Now that's all gone, unfortunately.
 
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