Statement from USFS regarding Dave Lease

[Jumping_Bean]

What he said actually stings me. One of the deaths was a Novice girls skater who placed 4th in the toughest sectional in USA. I actually was certain she would make Junior Nationals the following year. That is talented to me. Also, I’ve seen athletes who are sometimes 17th move up one year to top 3. You never know when certain athletes peak. If that was my sibling and I heard someone say my sibling is not talented, after their death, I would be devastated. Weren’t the athletes coming from some high performance camp. I think that requires talent.

Oh, there were way more skaters here who were incredibly talented. As you said, they were flying home from high performance camp.
The whole Intermediate men's Eastern Sectionals podium (including the pewter medalist) with the exception of the silver medalist passed away. The winner, Spencer Lane, only started skating three years ago and was progressing incredibly fast, even working on quads and 3A in training already.
Angela Yang & Sean Kay were also incredibly talented, sweeping gold at every competition in their first season together. They won in the Juvenile category at the US Ice Dance final with a 14+ point lead with the second-highest ever Juvenile Ice Dance score.

And most of all, even if they hadn't been talented, there would be no need to make that point during an event honouring their lives and deaths. It's simply not appropriate.

 

[GGFan]

I feel several ways about this and my thoughts are not necessarily in harmony:

1. Why say it? Phrasing, timing, weak argument, etc.
2. Why would someone clip it and post it? Seems like a gotcha move in a world of gotcha moves and if the person thought it was terrible why show it to others and have it get back to friends and family.
3. We often lose perspective when we go on crusades. It sounds like he saw the USFS as such an enemy that he sought to use a tragic accident as another data point against them.
4. This is ironic because those very words are being used by those who have been on a crusade against him for a long time. You can tell some were salivating at the opportunity to expose him.
5. I wish people would chill on: takes for attention, trying to seem righteous in front of everyone, and going on crusades in which one individual or entity are deemed to be all evil. People get so high on these witch hunts.
6. Hopefully Dave starts to work on himself and starts to question his need to view everything as a salacious conspiracy.

 

[katymay]

He basically said that the children that died were not that good or talented. Just a heartless statement/opinion. Very typical for TSL.

But to be fair, he was talking about coaches that were taking advantage of young skaters and their parents...and the "not talented" remark happened to slip in there.

Well yes. I could tell what he was trying to say. I could even relate a bit-my parents had an ongoing beef with the USFSA for scheduling competitions at times in which I was forced to miss school, and then adding these 'developmental camps' (changed form over the years, but the intent was the same) which would ensure I would miss more school. (And then the USFSA would come out with its usual proclamation that they valued 'scholar athletes', which my parents thought was hilarious, because to compete at a high level you pretty much have to drop out of school, thanks to the USFSA scheduling of regionals, sectionals and Nationals. (back in the day). )Lease I believe was questioning the actual value of these camps, because that is what he does. He shouldn't have said 'not talented' as that was hurtful, but he often says hurtful and catty things. (He also had the best tribute really-with a detailed bio of each person lost. )
Once the another site Lynch Mob gets wind of a drama, they will stop at nothing to destroy the person at the center of it. They concentrate all their energy for 'social justice'. which is really just targeted hate. I suspect the irony is lost on them. TSL was a mixed bag for me-sometimes interesting and enlightening (loved Maya, and the Grinkov segments), often cringy and gossipy. Do I think he should be taken to the two square and stoned? No. And far more lives have been destroyed by the another site Lynch Mob than have been destroyed by David Lease.

 

[Anna K.]

Why would someone clip it and post it?

Because someone else read the USFS statement and asked for the context.
I don't think that an answer "oh, it's so awful, so inhuman that I will not repost it" would help to calm everybody down btw.

 

[Skating91]

A lot of people seem to be trying hard to justify his words. It's really bizarre. I guess he still has many allies, and serves a useful purpose for people with a particular agenda.

 

[Karoltyna]

And far more lives have been destroyed by the another site Lynch Mob than have been destroyed by David Lease.

Ummmmm, but his life won't be destrohed, he will wait a few weeks and will be back. That's how this type of media works.

 

[Anna K.]

Ummmmm, but his life won't be destrohed, he will wait a few weeks and will be back. That's how this type of media works.

...back with a swarm of new followers who will demand more 'honest' commentary.

The only victim is figure skating, sadly.

 

[CellarDweller]

The NFL can and most certainly does ban people from buying tickets because of what they say. Most recently, the Eagles banned a "fan" who went viral for using sexist language to the fan of another team. He was not, as far as I know, violent or breaking the law. His speech was crude and repugnant and he is banned from the Linc.

Because this is America and that is what private entities are permitted to do.

Correct. My opinion only, but I think a lot of people are under the impression that they can say whatever they want whenever they want, and claim "freedom of speech" and then get angry when there is a backlash.

Being able to say what you want and not get a backlash is not "freedom of speech", that's "speech without consequence" and that's different.

 

[Karoltyna]

...back with a swarm of new followers who will demand more 'honest' commentary.

The only victim is figure skating, sadly.

All for the drama
I must say I could agree with some of his statements, have strong opinions on many topics and can be blunt to the point of making people cry. But even I wouldn't say something like he said.

 

[Karoltyna]

)Lease I believe was questioning the actual value of these camps, because that is what he does. He shouldn't have said 'not talented' as that was hurtful, but he often says hurtful and catty things. (He also had the best tribute really-with a detailed bio of each person lost. )

Here we go - even if this was his motivation, he could do it so many other ways, not hurting anyone. BTW the value of these camps isn't what you can learn at the camp. It's totally elsewhere - the kind selected for the camp get huge motivation and self esteem boost. I can't see how this can't be seen as a value and it doesn't matter if this selected kid goes to juniors and then seniors. This boost they got will stay with them forever - this is from my personal experience. I think sport isn't about being the best, those who won't never be the best should also get chance to develop and to be acknowledged and sport itself should be people-friendly, not champion-friendly.

 

[jersey1302]

While his knowledge about inside info was unparalleled.. this doesn’t exactly shock me. He was even rude to me before and snarky over something I asked one time. I dunno if he felt threatened cuz The FreeSkate at that time was getting videos in thousands of views or what but.. he did get very gossipy on film many times ..if that’s on film imagine what’s not

 

[Weetos]

TSL have always been catty and toxic and looking for things to criticise to make themselves feel important. This was a new low. I hope they stay gone.

 

[TT_Fin]

Investing money to children's hobbies - good ones, most are good ones - is never waste of money. I have spent money to my son's music hobby. They will never be professional musicians or never earn money by it, but the money spent to new quitars and amplifiers was never wasting of money. They are average talented. I just do not understand opinion that if you child will not be Olympic medalist you waste your money. Encouraging and motivating a child to continue the hobby is not lying.

 

[hortensja]

I'm just surprised of the turn of events. I mean the phrase alone is horrible (and Dave as PR person should pay attention of how he talks). But beside that he was talking a lot and with a big respect always about the crash (I personally learned most of the facts from his SM) and especially he made a long series of post mentioning a profile of each skater from that flight. He has a style that of course is not everyones cup of tea but objectively he showed a lot of love and respect for the sport and he shared a lot of information (for ex for me with a limited free time it was very practical to follow his media).

 

[macy]

it boggles the mind that he thought a review of *this* event was in any way appropriate for the expression of *these* thoughts. Just mind boggling.

and he had the audacity to say his words were taken out of context. in WHAT context would they have been appropriate?

it's far past time he FAFO'd.

 

[Karoltyna]

Investing money to children's hobbies - good ones, most are good ones - is never waste of money. I have spent money to my son's music hobby. They will never be professional musicians or never earn money by it, but the money spent to new quitars and amplifiers was never wasting of money. They are average talented. I just do not understand opinion that if you child will not be Olympic medalist you waste your money. Encouraging and motivating a child to continue the hobby is not lying.

I will spend far over 1000 Euros on summer camps for my boy aside from usual 1500 Euros I'm spending each year on club fees, competitions, clothes and other stuff for him to train judo. This isn't small amount in PL. My boy won't be next Nastula or Teddy Riner - not that he isn't talented, it's rather the matter of work ethics. I don't regret a dime bc I see how much it gives to my boy on this hobby level. I spent around 500 Euros on FS this year - decent skates, coach and ice time. Do I regret? Not the slightest.

 

[apgold]

I'm just surprised of the turn of events. I mean the phrase alone is horrible (and Dave as PR person should pay attention of how he talks). But beside that he was talking a lot and with a big respect always about the crash (I personally learned most of the facts from his SM) and especially he made a long series of post mentioning a profile of each skater from that flight. He has a style that of course is not everyones cup of tea but objectively he showed a lot of love and respect for the sport and he shared a lot of information (for ex for me with a limited free time it was very practical to follow his media).

I agree with what you wrote here. Dave should have not said what he said, even if it was taken out of context and in a private forum behind a paywall. I do remember being touched by the tributes he posted about the skaters lost, so I think his heart is the right place, he just puts his foot in his mouth one too many times.

I am a longtime follower of TSL and often tune out when he's gotten too negative or toxic. I believe Dave cares deeply about the skating world, warts and all. I also think that he has railed against USFS repeatedly they were ready to take him down. It's a sad situation because he does get great guest co-hosts who have offered insights into the skating world - he has often had Alissa Czisny (and her husband Kurt), Meagan Duhamel, and Maya B (Russian journalist) and has done great interviews with skating luminaries from past and present.

 

[Karoltyna]

I do remember being touched by the tributes he posted about the skaters lost, so I think his heart is the right place, he just puts his foot in his mouth one too many times.

Yup, when I read his tributes, I was like ok, he can be a decent human being. Wellp...

 

[GGFan]

Because someone else read the USFS statement and asked for the context.
I don't think that an answer "oh, it's so awful, so inhuman that I will not repost it" would help to calm everybody down btw.

I think you misunderstood. I meant the person who was listening to TSL on Patreon and took the video clip and posted it in the first place.

 

[Anna K.]

I'm just surprised of the turn of events. I mean the phrase alone is horrible (and Dave as PR person should pay attention of how he talks). But beside that he was talking a lot and with a big respect always about the crash (I personally learned most of the facts from his SM) and especially he made a long series of post mentioning a profile of each skater from that flight. He has a style that of course is not everyones cup of tea but objectively he showed a lot of love and respect for the sport and he shared a lot of information (for ex for me with a limited free time it was very practical to follow his media).

I think that the answer is in your post.
If he had a series of respectful tributes and crash updates, he probably earned new followers based on this content. These followers were not used to his snarky side and expected something else from him when they signed for paid content. Hence the outrage and public complaints.