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- Jan 1, 2013
Well, no wonder Adam's foot is broken, when you kick someone's backside that hard....
Way to go, Adam. That is a completely inappropriate question.
At least if Adam is going up to the OTC for rehab he can chill with Max and Jason
Adam Rippon Out of Nationals
- Thread starter demarinis5
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Well, no wonder Adam's foot is broken, when you kick someone's backside that hard....
Way to go, Adam. That is a completely inappropriate question.
At least if Adam is going up to the OTC for rehab he can chill with Max and Jason
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- Feb 10, 2014
Ha - I wonder if he regretted it after the fact. But Adam handled it very well. He's very grounded and I wish him the best.
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- Feb 27, 2012
You're welcome
for the audio link.My two cents are that Hersh's question did not seem inappropriate to me (for reasons explained below).
I'm sorry that Adam (who most definitely has my support overall) felt that it was. (I recall a previous presser when Adam/Phil did not have great rapport [understatement] either, so I'm guessing that they have years of less-than-harmonious history -- for which they probably both bear responsibility.)
I had edited my post above before I saw yours.
What I added above is that the journalists had no prior knowledge of Adam's injuries/withdrawal before he made the announcement on the call. [Someone from IN being the exception.]
I know that you know already know that, KIAL, b/c you listened to the call. But for those who have not had a chance to listen:
- Adam's eloquent and thorough announcement at the top of the call lasted several minutes. Before taking any questions, he covered a lot of ground in his announcement: how the injuries happened; his diagnosis/prognosis/plans for rehab; his thoughts on the matter; his outlook for the Olympics; etc.; etc. (Much or all of the same information/comments that Adam later tweeted at length.)
- The journalists were hearing the news for the first time, and when each was given a turn to ask a question, every single one of them (including Hersh) began by expressing sympathy/support for Adam.
- Rutherford and Zaccardi were the first reporters to ask questions, and they did ask about Adam's injury. In response, Adam's answers gave even more detail.
- Because Adam already had been so thorough and informative before the Q & A even started, some of the journalists (not limited to Hersh) chose to go ahead and ask what clearly was the same question they had planned to ask before hearing about Adam's injury.
- The journalists were hearing the news for the first time, and when each was given a turn to ask a question, every single one of them (including Hersh) began by expressing sympathy/support for Adam.
- Rutherford and Zaccardi were the first reporters to ask questions, and they did ask about Adam's injury. In response, Adam's answers gave even more detail.
- Because Adam already had been so thorough and informative before the Q & A even started, some of the journalists (not limited to Hersh) chose to go ahead and ask what clearly was the same question they had planned to ask before hearing about Adam's injury.
I would add that all of Hersh's live-tweeting focused on the news of Adam's announcement. Not a word about Nathan.
@Adaripp just told teleconference he broke left foot warming up last Friday. “Not career ending.” Sprained ankle & fractured 5th metatarsal
@Adaripp, the defending champ, out of nationals. “I hope you wont forget about me in the next few months.”
@Adaripp with nice sense of humor: “I won’t take this laying down, even though that’s exactly what I’m doing right now."
@Adaripp “I will be at the (2018) Olympics."
@adaripp taking positive approach in seeing enforced injury rest as chance to think about things that seasonal time constraints don’t allow
@Adaripp, the defending champ, out of nationals. “I hope you wont forget about me in the next few months.”
@Adaripp with nice sense of humor: “I won’t take this laying down, even though that’s exactly what I’m doing right now."
@Adaripp “I will be at the (2018) Olympics."
@adaripp taking positive approach in seeing enforced injury rest as chance to think about things that seasonal time constraints don’t allow
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- Jan 1, 2013
Sorry, ice coverage, I'm going to disagree. It was a completely inappropriate question but would still have been inappropriate if that was Hersh's only question prepared for the press conference even if they did not know about the withdrawal.
Hersh has made it crystal clear that he thinks Chen is the only one of the American men worth anything. It is inappropriate and rude for him to spend his question in Adam's teleconference crowning Chen. It would have been bad enough in his regular teleconference (and I suppose we're now getting a sneak peak into what he's going to ask Jason and Max because you just KNOW he's going to ask them about Chen too), but to go ahead and ask the question after Adam has just announced a potentially serious injury is completely beyond the pale.
Part of being a good journalist is being able to respond to what is being said so you can adjust your questions on the fly. Even if a ton of ground had been covered by everyone else, there surely had to be another question Hersh could have asked that wouldn't have made him sound like the insensitive twatwaffle that he is.
Hersh has made it crystal clear that he thinks Chen is the only one of the American men worth anything. It is inappropriate and rude for him to spend his question in Adam's teleconference crowning Chen. It would have been bad enough in his regular teleconference (and I suppose we're now getting a sneak peak into what he's going to ask Jason and Max because you just KNOW he's going to ask them about Chen too), but to go ahead and ask the question after Adam has just announced a potentially serious injury is completely beyond the pale.
Part of being a good journalist is being able to respond to what is being said so you can adjust your questions on the fly. Even if a ton of ground had been covered by everyone else, there surely had to be another question Hersh could have asked that wouldn't have made him sound like the insensitive twatwaffle that he is.
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- Feb 10, 2014
I agree.
But the real point is that Adam himself thought the question was inappropriate. And that's what really matters.
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- Feb 27, 2012
Disagree.
Hersh's question -- which did not "crown" Chen -- would have been the perfect opportunity for Adam to make a strong case for why Adam is a force for Nathan (and any U.S. man or international man) to reckon with.
For example, Adam could have said (among other things) that his (Adam's) performance abilities are good inspiration for Nathan to see in training.
Adam could have said in answer to Hersh that Nathan came back very strong from his injury, and that Adam will do the same. (Adam did express this kind of thought later in the teleconference, although not in response to Hersh.)
ETA:
Should the reporter who asked about Benji Schwimmer and his choreo for Adam be raked over the coals for being a twatwaffle asking a non-timely question unrelated to Adam's injury? I don't think so.
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- Mar 23, 2014
I have no opinion on Phil's question. (I get why he is controversial among fans, but he is one of the few mainstream journalists who covers it, and it's clear he loves the sport as much as any of us do...and he has as strong opinions as we do, too. I can admire him for that.) But if Adam didn't like it, kudos to him for standing up for himself! Phil can take it.
Are US National Champions cursed? First Jason, now Adam.
Are US National Champions cursed? First Jason, now Adam.
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- Jan 1, 2013
I have just listened to Adam's teleconference and (apart from feeling somewhat irritated that at least one person had difficulty following the "please mute your line" instruction) there was absolutely plenty of directions that Hersh could have gone without that inappropriate question to Adam.
Asking a question that had no reference whatsoever to Adam except as "Chen's training partner" is completely inappropriate and rude. Clearly, Adam agrees.
EDIT:
(Listening again) The question was absolutely rude and Adam was absolutely classy in his response. "Pete" clearly could not come up with a question in time, and simply wished Adam all the best.
The question about Benji Schwimmer was appropriate because it was related directly to Adam, and his skating. Presumably, Adam may yet work with Benji again when he is back on the ice.
Every other journalist on the call either came up with an alternative question, or had a question directly related to Adam prepared, or if they couldn't come up with a question, simply expressed good wishes to Adam. That Hersh, supposedly one of the "best" skating journalists, could not, does not speak well for him.
When even Dave Lease comes up with a better question than Hersh you know there's a problem.
Asking a question that had no reference whatsoever to Adam except as "Chen's training partner" is completely inappropriate and rude. Clearly, Adam agrees.
EDIT:
(Listening again) The question was absolutely rude and Adam was absolutely classy in his response. "Pete" clearly could not come up with a question in time, and simply wished Adam all the best.
The question about Benji Schwimmer was appropriate because it was related directly to Adam, and his skating. Presumably, Adam may yet work with Benji again when he is back on the ice.
Every other journalist on the call either came up with an alternative question, or had a question directly related to Adam prepared, or if they couldn't come up with a question, simply expressed good wishes to Adam. That Hersh, supposedly one of the "best" skating journalists, could not, does not speak well for him.
When even Dave Lease comes up with a better question than Hersh you know there's a problem.
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- Dec 25, 2012
Wishing Adam a speedy recovery. 
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- Jan 27, 2014
That question is at least related to Adam, though? The one he asked wasn't.
Ok, my cultural/ english skills might be not up to this but did Adam just imply that Hersh was asking him whether he checked out a teenager? If, so, big lol.
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- Jan 1, 2013
No, I think Adam's point was more that Adam had just announced an injury, expressed his disappointment about the withdrawal, bared his feelings about how he was going to work so hard to come back...and all Hersh could do was ask about Chen.
Wait, what? Jason is taking part in Nationals this year, isn't he?
Thanks for the explanation. Good that Adam didn't let Hersh steamroll over him.
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- Feb 27, 2012
Given that Adam stated in his announcement at the top that he hopes that the media will not forget him, I wish that he had helped himself by giving a more substantive answer to Hersh's question.
Barring disaster (in the form of another withdrawal), Nathan (win or lose) is going to get a lot of attention from the entire press corps at Nats (not only from Hersh).
If I were Adam, I would be pleased for coverage of Nathan to mention "Chen's training partner" Adam Rippon, the 2016 U.S. champion, who remains confident for 2018 in the face of injury and in the face of Chen's recent successes. I wish that Adam had given Hersh a meaty quote along those lines that Hersh and any other reporter could incorporate into stories both at the time of Nats and further beyond.
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- Dec 29, 2013
Maria Sotskova posted a sweet get well message to Adam with a picture of the two of them hugging.
https://instagram.com/p/BPDix54gOeX/
https://instagram.com/p/BPDix54gOeX/
I think it was in reference to to the fact that injury kept Jason from defending his title last year.
In any case, I was looking forward to a battle royale and sorry to hear of Adam's injury. Hoping he has a full recovery!
RE: Hersh -- I think I'm in the minority with ice coverage. While Hersh could have certainly worded his question better (or maybe waited for a better time; it's probably a question I might have asked off the call, i.e. in a follow-up to Adam personally), I don't think it's totally out of line to ask about your training mate and how that might affect your strategy.
On the other hand, given that Hersh's past comments regarding Adam (calling him a poor man's Jeremy Abbott, even sort of giving him backhanded compliments that he did well this season, but wasn't really a contender) I can see why he responded the way he did. I think if it was Lynn Rutherford or some other person not Phil Hersh Adam wouldn't have given that response.
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- Feb 24, 2012
I really feel for him. this is horrible and he was improving and getting consistent. And it really looked like he might earn a spot to worlds. I appreciate and like his positive attitude - like most athletes. THis must be really hard though on him. What a horrible situation. And this allows Jason Brown a lot of breathing room. I am sure most of us thought at the beginning of this season Nathan Chen wouldn't be ready but he is and Brown looked like he might get dumped with Rippon taking over but now I think the irony is Brown will take advantage of Adam's misfortune.
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- Jul 26, 2003
Surely, Phil prepared more questions than one about Nathan Chen (or maybe he didn't) that he could have asked Adam instead. It was inappropriate, especially after Hersh's latest write-up about Mens figure skating. I'm waiting for the day Phil turns his back on Nathan.
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- Jan 1, 2013
Agree with that. But then if it had been some other non-Hersh person it probably wouldn't have sounded as insulting as it did either. Adam and Hersh also butted heads at the post-FS press conference at Nationals.
Not really. It only takes one person off Jason's back, he's still got Max to contend with. Three into two is a marginally nicer equation than four into two, but it's still going to be one heck of a battle.
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