Adam Rippon Out of Nationals

[StitchMonkey]

It seems that Phil asked Ashley about Nathan as well

https://twitter.com/SkatingLesson/status/818978685390909441

Something tells me Phill is planning a big piece on Nathan soon.

 

[karne]

And I would be prepared to bet a hefty amount of money that Hersh will have Chen-centric questions for Max and Jason, too. Not quite on the same wavelength because they don't train with him, but I'm sure he'll ask it in a way that shows he thinks Chen is superior to both of them.

 

[ice coverage]

It seems that Phil asked Ashley about Nathan as well

https://twitter.com/SkatingLesson/status/818978685390909441 ...

Reply from Philip Hersh ‏@olyphil

And Ashley answered with humor and professionalism
https://twitter.com/olyphil/status/818984939844669440​

---

BTW, I am listening to last year's pre-Nats media call with Adam.
Christine Brennan asked him a question that was centered squarely on the topic of Ashley and was not about Adam.
That Christine Brennan has some noive.

ETA, part of Adam's answer to Christine re what he has said to Ashley: "... You have to know what your competitors are doing, so you can compile a strategy to be competitive ..."

 

[karne]

BTW, I am listening to last year's pre-Nats media call with Adam.
Christine Brennan asked him a question that was centered squarely on the topic of Ashley and was not about Adam.
That Christine Brennan has some noive.

Huge difference between a journalist asking him a question about his bff, with no particular history of problems, to Hersh asking a question about one of Adam's direct rivals, when Hersh has made clear he is a Chen-crowner (and when Adam has just announced an injury).

FTR, I would also think the question was inappropriate if Hersh asked about Max or about Jason with the same context (ie: thinking one US man is superior to all the others).

 

[ice coverage]

huge difference between a journalist asking him a question about his bff, with no particular history of problems, to hersh asking a question about one of adam's direct rivals, when hersh has made clear he is a chen-crowner (and when adam has just announced an injury).

Ftr, i would also think the question was inappropriate if hersh asked about max or about jason with the same context (ie: Thinking one us man is superior to all the others).

FTR, Nathan's results this season have been markedly superior to any other U.S. man's.
I do not think Hersh is a "Chen-crowner." I do think it is perfectly natural for any journalist (U.S. or otherwise) to take a lot of interest in Nathan.

Somehow I doubt that Jason's fans were complaining that Hersh was a "Jason-crowner" when Hersh took great interest in Jason's Riverdance at Nats.

 

[Skater Boy]

This is not out of the realm of possibility.

Regardless, I did LOVE Adam's programs this year. I got to see them both live at SA, and I has to hold myself back from screaming "YASSSSSSSSSSSSS QWEEN! WERK B****!" bbefore, during, and after that short program. His long program is truly one of my favorites of the season. Get better Adam!

I was so excited to see Adam beat Brown and well do better on the GP circuit. I do like his programs. Sorry about the quad lutz. Not a huge fan of some of his costumes which are a bit campy this year especially his short. if he likes showing flesh well there is an artistic way of dealing with that. I guess if you have the body that helps. I was just so looking forward to Jason being pushed. I think Nathan is a given even if he is second but I am not feeling Max this year and think Grant is too flat to be a real threat. Everyone else is kind of a fluke to be on the podium. here's hoping adam recovers fully and it doesn't take too long. I hope he doesn't push himself too much and too fast - one wonders if that was an issue with Polina

 

[mrrice]

And I would be prepared to bet a hefty amount of money that Hersh will have Chen-centric questions for Max and Jason, too. Not quite on the same wavelength because they don't train with him, but I'm sure he'll ask it in a way that shows he thinks Chen is superior to both of them.

You know what, I'd really like Max to tell this Man how rude it is to ask this kind of question and then say, "I'll answer questions which pertain to MY career. I don't appreciate it when other skaters talk about me, and I make it point not discuss other skaters careers!" If Phil were to ask Max who's skating he "Admires" He'll basically get the response he's looking for without putting Max in an awkward position. These skaters are under tremendous pressure right now as Nationals are coming up this in a matter of days. If Phil wants them to continue to say yes to his interviews, he needs to back the heck off.

 

[el henry]

It seems that Phil asked Ashley about Nathan as well

https://twitter.com/SkatingLesson/status/818978685390909441

Something tells me Phil is planning a big piece on Nathan soon.

If the only way that Phil can get quotes for a Nathan piece is to highjack conferences with other skaters, he's not much of a journalist.

Oh wait....

Unfortunately Jason is way too nice to shut down Hersh, but I hope some of the others do. I still remember Alexa Scimeca's classic burn [ETA: not this year, but when they were competing], when he asked one of his inappropriate questions. She said "no" and stared him down. Made me love her even more!:luv17:

 

[Mrs. P]

I was so excited to see Adam beat Brown and well do better on the GP circuit. I do like his programs.

Technically, Jason has beaten Adam during both their meet-ups (SA and U.S. Classic). But yeah, Adam obviously got a better ranking on the GP series.

 

[karne]

I think that both Jason and Max are far too sweet and polite to answer in the way Adam did. If either of them did bring out a little sass, I would probably fall out of my chair in shock. But I will be taking note of what questions Hersh has for them. Both have given the journalists plenty of material to work with when it comes to questions: Jason could be asked about the quad, about NHK, about his back, about any program changes, etc. Max could be asked about his hernia surgery, the new short program, the addition of the third quad to his free skate, the quad loop/quad Axel talk, etc. There is no excuse for Hersh to ask them Chen-centric questions.

 

[ice coverage]

Do ice dance fans get upset when Virtue/Moir are asked about their training mates Papadakis/Cizeron -- or when P/C are asked about V/M???

I myself have not noticed fans getting upset by such questions.
I am a huge V/M fan, and I think such questions to either couple are within bounds.

And I have not noticed V/M or P/C themselves seeming unhappy with such questions.

Just sayin' .

 

[karne]

But they don't ask questions about the other couple exclusive of each other. If V/M had just announced a bad injury/withdrawal and they were asked a question to the effect of "P/C are so great and better than you", I would think that is wrong too and you bet the dance ubers (who are on a whole different planet) would be freaking out.

 

[ice coverage]

But they don't ask questions about the other couple exclusive of each other. If V/M had just announced a bad injury/withdrawal and they were asked a question to the effect of "P/C are so great and better than you", I would think that is wrong too and you bet the dance ubers (who are on a whole different planet) would be freaking out.

But I was responding to your post immediately above.
Let's assume (knock on wood) that Max and Jason -- both of whom I adore :luv17:, as you know -- are in good health at the time of their pre-KC teleconferences (if they even have them).

I do not think it would be inappropriate for any journalist to ask either skater something about Nathan.
IMO, it would be a reasonable question -- along with the other possible questions that you mentioned.

And IMO, a journalist does not need an "excuse" to ask an athlete a question about a competitor. Such questions are a natural part of sport.

(It always is the athlete's prerogative to choose whether to give a full answer to the question or not.)

 

[karne]

Let's assume (knock on wood) that Max and Jason -- both of whom I adore :luv17:, as you know -- are in good health at the time of their pre-KC teleconferences (if they even have them).

I do not think it would be inappropriate for any journalist to ask either skater something about Nathan.

Sure, though I would like to think it would be related to their own skating and not an outright "You're not interesting or important, tell me about Nathan", which, whether that was Hersh's intention or not, that was how his question came off as.

Hersh could ask, "You've seen Nathan trying xyz jump this season, have you been tempted to try xyz jump as well?" to someone like Max and I would not consider that inappropriate.

 

[andromache]

FWIW, I completely understand why Phil would be more interested in how Nathan is doing than the other US men, and I say this as a fan who greatly prefers Adam and Jason (though I can admit to the excitement I felt watching Nathan land quad after quad at GPF).

Which US man is most likely to contend for a future Worlds/Olympic medal? Nathan. Who has defeated the two-time reigning world champion this season? Nathan. Who beat the OGM and World record holder in the GPF LP? Nathan.

We as dedicated fans might have more appreciation for the veterans, but Phil also reports for the average layperson who might be more interested in Nathan than in the other US men. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

[mrrice]

FWIW, I completely understand why Phil would be more interested in how Nathan is doing than the other US men, and I say this as a fan who greatly prefers Adam and Jason (though I can admit to the excitement I felt watching Nathan land quad after quad at GPF).

Which US man is most likely to contend for a future Worlds/Olympic medal? Nathan. Who has defeated the two-time reigning world champion this season? Nathan. Who beat the OGM and World record holder in the GPF LP? Nathan.

We as dedicated fans might have more appreciation for the veterans, but Phil also reports for the average layperson who might be more interested in Nathan than in the other US men. There's nothing wrong with that.

Nobody appreciates Nathan more than the US Fans. However, you don't dismiss the reigning National Champion when you're speaking directly to him. I'm very proud of the way that Nathan skated at the GPF but, he has defeated Adam exactly ONE time. I hated Phil's "Out with old, In with the new" style of questioning.

 

[andromache]

Nobody appreciates Nathan more than the US Fans. However, you don't dismiss the reigning National Champion when you're speaking directly to him. I'm very proud of the way that Nathan skated at the GPF but, he has defeated Adam exactly ONE time. I hated Phil's "Out with old, In with the new" style of questioning.

Phil's delivery certainly left much to be desired, but there also seems to be some disdain here for his interest in Nathan, which I'm simply trying to justify.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Phil's delivery certainly left much to be desired, but there also seems to be some disdain here for his interest in Nathan, which I'm simply trying to justify.

The only thing you need to know about Phil is that he only cares about quads and tricks in skating, hence why he loves and talks up the Russian and Japanese men, and in turn why he loves Nathan so much.

What he asked Adam as his one question in a teleconference was out of line-PERIOD.

 

[Skater Boy]

I think that both Jason and Max are far too sweet and polite to answer in the way Adam did. If either of them did bring out a little sass, I would probably fall out of my chair in shock. But I will be taking note of what questions Hersh has for them. Both have given the journalists plenty of material to work with when it comes to questions: Jason could be asked about the quad, about NHK, about his back, about any program changes, etc. Max could be asked about his hernia surgery, the new short program, the addition of the third quad to his free skate, the quad loop/quad Axel talk, etc. There is no excuse for Hersh to ask them Chen-centric questions.

Whether Hersch was out of line or not, a skater or athlete has to be always on their toes. I appreciate honesty because at least it is the truth; there are too many performers so to speak giving the Sunday school answer. I just hope Adam fully heals and while I am in a minority, I fear skating is pushing the technical envelope too much. Call me old fashion, lacking innovation or forward thinking but not sure this is the direction we want or need for skating. That being said I think it is Chen's to lose and with Max coming back and still not artistically competitive. I hope Adam can make lemonade out of this lemon of a situation.

 

[andromache]

The only thing you need to know about Phil is that he only cares about quads and tricks in skating, hence why he loves and talks up the Russian and Japanese men, and in turn why he loves Nathan so much.

What he asked Adam as his one question in a teleconference was out of line-PERIOD.

If you've ever listened to an interview with Phil, you would know that's just not true.

However, he does seem to overly-romanticize the days when the US was stronger in men's and ladies, which is why (I assume) he wants to see more US men doing quads.