Radio interview with Alexander Lakernik, posted on FSU

[skateflower]

I'm glad that at least someone on the tech committee is echoing the concerns some fans have regarding PCS (e.g. regarding Sui/Han, etc). Hopefully this will filter down to the judges sooner than later.

Trying to influence judges' decision by 'voicing some fans' concern' is corrupt.

 

[gkelly]

Trying to influence judges' opinions of specific skaters would be corrupt, especially from a position of power.

Trying to influence judges to follow accepted rules and principles of the sport is appropriate leadership.

The tricky thing is that once you use current skaters as examples, it's easy for the latter to be construed as the former. The line gets blurry even with the best intentions.

And then the IJS is still new enough that there's still some process of everyone figuring out what the accepted principles of how to use PCS should be in the first place.

 

[let`s talk]

He brought up Chan voluntarily in the context of reputation scoring

Do you know what "radio interview" means? It means the questions are asked by listeners, usually via phone or website. The first question was about Chan. It's not like Lakernik volunterred to talk about your idol to deliberately upset you. Later, in the second part of the interview he again mentioned Chan and explained why- because he was the best example of what is wrong with this judging system- multiple falls, the PCS is still the highest.

The implication, which Mr. Lakernik did not support with elaborations, seems to be that judges have wrong "idea" about Chan's skating/PCS.

How do you know that he didn't elaborate? Elaborate your implication, please. I actually finally bothered to read the translation in the OP's link. The author of the translation that you used warned that he/she made some excerpts and not word by word. So, what is the ground of your conclusion? None. You have a language barrier, we all do, it's normal. What's wrong is to blame people without any evidence and even the possibility to obtain them. Lakernik gave quite full explanations why he thinks this and that, as full as the format of the radio interview could offer:

"- Journalist: (a question via the site) Let's start. Patrin Chan, a lot of people are criticizing him. What do you think of him, do you like him?

-Lakernik: I like Patrick. He is a skater whose skating meets the criterias of the modern FS. He jumps well, and not only. He always does something between jumps. The transitions between the elements make one whole picture. Therefore, with regard to like/dislike, the answer is simple- I like him. Another question is that, either through the efforts of the Canadian FS Federation, or somethinng else, but it happened that the opinion had been established- Chan is unbeaten. As the result he gets highest scores even when he skates not very well. And it seems to me that it doesn't make any good to FS and to Chan himself, because why he should bother to improve. He is a very good athlete. But. When he skates well, he deserves the highest scores he gets. Unfortunately, this season too there have been cases where he received almost the same score, skating with serious errors. It was a subject of discussions in FS.

-Journalist: And what to do with PCS if a skater skates with serious errors?

-Lakernik: Reduce them. Overscoring and giving points not for the skating but for the "name" is wrong. Of course we should do something about it, it must be fought.
....
-Lakernik: Chan has both- good and bad skatings at events. Sport is a struggle, fight, it's a competition. Chan is technically good, but he is not "by a head taller" (*the Russian idiom, means- he is way much better than everyone else). His LP usually has two quadruple toe loops, and a triple axel, which he does a little bit worse. But there are other athletes who can do that or even more difficult programs. And, if he fails to skate well, but still will get the highest scores, then we will continue to raise this question."
_____________________________________________________________________________________

I am not a professional translator either. Feel free to ask for a better service:

The original script in Russian:

"- (*вопрос с сайта) Давайте начнём. Патрин Чан, его многие критикуют. Как он Вам, нравится?

-Мне он нравится. Он человек, катание которого удовлетворяет критериям современного катания. Он хорошо прыгает, и не только. У него между прыжками всё время что-то происходит. У него нет пустых разбегов. Переходы между элементами складывают всё в единую картину. Поэтому что касается нравится/не нравится, ответ однозначный- нравится. Другой вопрос, что то ли благодаря усилиям канадской федерации, то ли как, но сложилось как бы такое мнение, что Чан непобедим и ему начинают ставить высокие оценки даже в тех случаях, когда он катается несильно здорово. И этом мне кажется делают плохую службу и фигурному катанию и самому Патрику Чану, потому что зачем тогда совершенствоваться. Спортсмен он очень достойный. Но. Вот тогда, когда он катается здорово, он заслуживает тех высочайших баллов, которые ему ставят. К сожалению и в этом сезоне были примеры, когда он получал практически те же баллы, катаясь с грубыми ошибками. Это было предметом обсуждения в среде фигурного катания.

-А что делать с компонентами в случае серьёзных технических ошибок?

-Снижать. Эти завышения баллов, выставление баллов не за катание, а за имя, с эти конечно надо бороться.
....
-У Чана бывают и хорошие, и плохие прокаты. Спорт- это борьба, соревнование. Чан технически хороший, но он же не на говолу выше других. У него в программе обычно два четверных тулупа и обычно один тройной аксель, который у него хуже немножко выходит. Но есть же и другие спортсмены, которые будут делать на ЧМ такий же набор или даже чуть сложнее. И если он будет кататься неудачно, а ему всё равно будут ставить высокие баллы, ну тогда будем дальше поднимать это вопросы."

Will this Lakernik interview have "Inman E-mail" effect?

Inman sent his writings to judges directly. Lakernik was speaking on the Russian radio. Do ISU judges have a habit to listen to it? I doubt that. I actually have another thought. He sounded confident and sincere. But there is still a PR factor to be liked by the audience. I would be interested to know if he would actually say the same things at the congress as he said on the radio. But these things will remain unveiled.

 

[Violet Bliss]

^^^ I can only react to what I have been presented.

Whatever Lakernik has said, positive or negative about any skater, they are his personal opinions and are inappropriate at this time given his position both at the upcoming event and in the ISU.

 

[let`s talk]

they are his personal opinions and are inappropriate at this time given his position both at the upcoming event and in the ISU.

His position in the upcoming event is in Ladies'. Chan doesn't skate in Ladies. And judges don't listen to Russian radio. If he expresses his opinion at the ISU congress, meetings or any other official stuff, that's what they all do and are supposed to do. It's not like they are sitting in silence.

 

[emdee]

I too agree that his comments are generally inappropriate for a person in his position. Didnt he call someone else a headcase too!!

Hi comments would be appropriate if he was unconnected and had no ISU position or if he was part of team Takahashi or team Gachinski.

 

[Mathman]

So who are those lobbyists for the federations? Are they just good nudgers and winkers?

I know, it all sounds silly, doesn't it? And yet, over the years, the iSU has managed to create an impression that cronyism and political gamesmanship is valued above all.

In the Salt Lake City pairs controversy, first Mme Le Gougne was accused of following orders from her boss with regard to a deal that he had worked out for the benefit of French dancers, then later she said, no, she just couldn't bring herself to go against her best friend in international skating, a well-known Russian official, then later she said, no, no, it was the Canadians all along who were trying to butter me up by sending me birthdays presents a month earlier.

And now Mr. Lakernik says, in answer to the question, what is the most important matter before the ISU congress:

(Lakernik) thinks that the most discussed question will be when to hold next elections, they are scheduled to after Olympic but it was offered to postpone them until 2016. He thinks it will be most discussed because it's not technical but political question, and while not everyone may understand technique, everyone has an opinion on politics.

(I believe the issue is whether to amend the ISU by-laws to allow Cinquanta to continue in office past the time that the current rules say he must retire.)

 

[Violet Bliss]

Hi comments would be appropriate if he was unconnected and had no ISU position or if he was part of team Takahashi or team Gachinski.

Then he would still be lobbying/politicking, which he said Canada is good at. Interesting Chan won last year without a Canadian judge on the panel.

If Lakernik thinks there is improper judging going on, he should protest formally with evidences or try to remedy the system officially. As it is, he is disrespecting the judges, as a tech official. Wonder how he would feel about a judge criticizing his tech calling in public.

 

[let`s talk]

I too agree that his comments are generally inappropriate for a person in his position. Didnt he call someone else a headcase too!!

You do realize that the world doesn't speak English entirely and that there are other languages. How could he possible say "headcase" if he was speaking Russian? He said about two youngs as "двух молодых необстрелянных спортсменок... проблемы с короткой программой, отсутствие опыта сказывается", which means "two young unexperienced skaters... who have problems with SP due to the lack of experience." Use the original sourse before to jump to the conclusion. If you can't- don't jump. You can always ask someone to clarify things that you don't understand because of the language barrier.

if he was unconnected and had no ISU position

Then he wouldn't be invited to the radio show before the worlds. That is how they do business in mass media.

If Lakernik thinks there is improper judging going on, he should protest formally with evidences or try to remedy the system officially.

So, basically you are saying he shouldn't go to the radio show in the first place. Would you be also angry if he came and said how good Chan is and blah-blah? I am sure you wouldn't. But praising Chan is inappropriate, unprofessional and unethitcal too, because it would be the same politicking. Still you wouldn't have any problems with that.

 

[DianaSelene]

I agree with let's talk. By the way, the word "headcase" does not exist in Russian.

 

[Violet Bliss]

Then he wouldn't be invited to the radio show before the worlds. That is how they do business in mass media.

No, he should not have gone on the radio at this time of the season. The mass media can invite experts and commentators in no official capacity.

So, basically you are saying he shouldn't go to the radio show in the first place.

Right.

Would you be also angry if he came and said how good Chan is and blah-blah? I am sure you wouldn't. But praising Chan is inappropriate, unprofessional and unethitcal too, because it would be the same politicking. Still you wouldn't have any problems with that.

I am not angry or pleased either way. It's not just about Chan, whose competition results would be least affected by his comments one way or another. Chan earns his marks by rules judges have to go by and he is far ahead enough to have a margin for purposeful lowballing. It is simply not appropriate nor professionally ethical or courteous for Lakernik to say what he says about the judges and the skaters at this particular time. He was talking like a skating fan while being in a position of power and influence. At the very least, he should avoid appearing to be biased, or lobbying or politicking.

 

[Mathman]

It is simply not appropriate nor professionally ethical or courteous for Lakernik to say what he says about the judges and the skaters at this particular time. He was talking like a skating fan while being in a position of power and influence. At the very least, he should avoid appearing to be biased, or lobbying or politicking.

I agree with this. If Lakernik has ideas for how to improve the judging system -- my goodness, he is the chairman of the committee where most of these ideas originate and through which they all must pass!

 

[bekalc]

I agree with this. If Lakernik has ideas for how to improve the judging system -- my goodness, he is the chairman of the committee where most of these ideas originate and through which they all must pass!

Except for the fact that he was asked about Patrick. Unfortunately Chan's scores are getting more and more controversial... He IS the poster child for the excesses of IJS. Perhaps he feels the need as the head of the technical committee to say, we are going to start doing something about this reputation scoring. Not to mention perhaps Chan's Team needs to hear that the gravy train will be ending.

 

[Violet Bliss]

Except for the fact that he was asked about Patrick.

So? That's not a good reason. He also brought him up unasked and commented on a number of other skaters who, more than Chan, may be more vulnerable and psychologically affected.

Unfortunately Chan's scores are getting more and more controversial... He IS the poster child for the excesses of IJS. Perhaps he feels the need as the head of the technical committee to say, we are going to start doing something about this reputation scoring. Not to mention perhaps Chan's Team needs to hear that the gravy train will be ending.

You can say and claim all these things as a skating fan but Mr. Lakernik would have to weigh his words carefully and be accountable for them.

 

[Mathman]

Perhaps he feels the need as the head of the technical committee to say, we are going to start doing something about this reputation scoring.

I do not see that he "needs to say" anything to the Moscow radio audience. As head of the technical committee he is in a position to do something about it, not just chat about it.

Frankly, I don't think that Lakernik's comments are a big deal one way or another. But if we compare this situation to the Joe Inman letter, I see a big difference. Inman wrote to his fellow judges and told them, stop giving high marks to Plushenko's transitions.

Well, so what? Joe Inman is one judge among dozens of equally well qualified and confident colleagues. There is no reason why a judge must follow the advice of Joe Inman.

But now Alexander Lakernik says to the judges, stop giving Chan such high program component scores. Well, Lakernik is not just Joe Blow. He is a high ranking ISU official. He sits on the ISU council and chairs the ISU's most powerful committee. This is a different thing altogether, IMHO.

Not to mention perhaps Chan's Team needs to hear that the gravy train will be ending.

Is this the way the ISU communicates to "Chan's team?" They hope that Lori Nichol might be tuned in to a talk show on Moscow radio? If the chairman of the ISU technical committee wants to consider changes in the scoring system or in the judges' training seminars to address the issue of reputation judging, that's great. To go on the radio in order to give sideways hints that the gravy train ride is over, chumps -- that's just childish (if indeed, this was Lakernik's intent, which I doubt).

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

Except for the fact that he was asked about Patrick. Unfortunately Chan's scores are getting more and more controversial... He IS the poster child for the excesses of IJS. Perhaps he feels the need as the head of the technical committee to say, we are going to start doing something about this reputation scoring. Not to mention perhaps Chan's Team needs to hear that the gravy train will be ending.

Do you think it's all right that he passive-aggresively wonders about S/S ("perhaps they weren't ready. Perhaps they were scared")? Because to me that's straight up disingenous plotting. Is it possible to say something like "judges had this idea that he is the best thing in figure skating, and they give him PCS accordingly. We have to deal with it," and then be fair marking said skater? Isn't is possible to say the same things without mentioning skaters in general

 

[bsfan]

Judges and technical specialists are corrupt. The difference is that corrupt Russian judges put it out in the open, while western judges always try to be politically correct.

I totally agree. No one is better than the other. And I would take the Russian way. At least they don't add another mask on it.

 

[bsfan]

I dunno, seniorita. Inman sent his comments to other judges and the email was leaked to the media, as I understand it. Lakernik did this in an interview with the press. I'd argue that the latter intended a more open forum.

Not that neither Inman nor Lakernik are inherently wrong in their comments.

Inman was playing a political game while Lakernik is not.

 

[Bluebonnet]

Inman was playing a political game while Lakernik is not.

Wow! You don't think this is a political game too?!

I think it is a good year to start smoothing the path for Sochi, don't you think?

 

[gkelly]

Inman was playing a political game while Lakernik is not.

And you know their intentions how?

It could be that either or both was acting with purely educational motives, perhaps somewhat naively, and it's the fans and other federations with agendas who are playing a political game at spinning their comments to look political, or more political than they were intended.