The "seeded" skaters are the ones that finished in the top 6 at worlds. They are "seeded" into the grand prix by the requirement that each of 1-3 gets 2 events (in other words, they are spread out so they can't face each other until the finals), and 4-6 each get two events.GP question- how do you get "seeded" or "unseeded"?
I didn't want to say anything, but I have trouble understanding this. They hired an agent, at considerable expense, to keep Caroline OUT of the news media? Does Shep stand outside Caroline's front door and fight off reporters with Chinese nunchaku ?
PolymerBob said:Judging bias seems to be more of a problem at Nationals than ISU events. If Sasha wins Skate America in front of ISU judges, she will probably deserve it.
At Nationals however, we know that the judges can make their favorite win.
What does happen is that the judges at nationals (this is true of every country) tend to inflate the scores of the winner by 10 points or so in order to give her a boost going into worlds.
I think that’s what happened in ladies last year. Alissa skated a fine short program and was so far ahead that it seemed a foregone conclusion that she would win. So the judges went into the long program with the mind set that here is our champion, let’s all get behind her and push.
I don't think Skate America has ever declined to invite the U.S. national champion, so Alissa's in. Rachael is one of the seeded skaters, so she will certainly be Skate America's choice from the 4-6 group.
I don't recall a case in ladies, but in men's, Rudy Galindo, the 1996 US Men's Champion & World bronze medallist, was not invited to Skate America in fall 1996. Todd Eldredge, the 1996 US Men's Silver Medallist and World Champion, was invited instead. This was one reason that Rudy said he went pro, since it was such a ringing non-endorsement by USFS.
How did Mr. Goldberg misfire in promoting Michelle Kwan in 1998? She didn't win the Olympic gold medal, but she quickly became a household name and a millionaire through endorsements. More so than the Olympic champion, Tara.
^ Oh, I don't agree at all. A few reporters groused that Michelle did not hang out in the press room at the Olympic village like the bubbly Tara did, but the public loved Michelle to pieces before, during and after the games.
Rachael was the top US lady at both her GP events (4th at SA and 2nd at CoR), while Caroline was 5th and 3rd at her GP events. Rachael is the National silver medalist, and finished top 5 at Worlds. Rachael is also in the "A" envelope, while Caroline is in "B". So I don't see that Caroline is the "top American".
ANW said:but the public loved Tara and I can only see they loved her more not less after the news coming out.
The one time they went head-to-head at 4CC, Caroline topped Rachel (4th to 5th). But Rachel has had the overall better results. I guess Czisny gets in "A" as the national champ but honestly, I don't feel she deserves it 100%.
I didn't want to say anything, but I have trouble understanding this. They hired an agent, at considerable expense, to keep Caroline OUT of the news media? Does Shep stand outside Caroline's front door and fight off reporters with Chinese nunchaku?
Alissa's team was always very outspoken about how US skating needs a mature woman to grab the public's attention. Rachael's team has given several interviews about how she's really focusing on her presentation/musicality, and how she balances school with skating. And until very recently, when Mirai was sidelined by injury, and her relationship with Charlene Wong seemed to sour a little, Charlene gave many public interviews. How many interviews has Caroline's coach given? Zero. And since Goldberg became their agent, they've been very wary of Caroline giving interviews, especially before big competition like National's. I remember last year ('08), there was like an interview ban altogether.
The "seeded" skaters are the ones that finished in the top 6 at worlds. They are "seeded" into the grand prix by the requirement that each of 1-3 gets 2 events (in other words, they are spread out so they can't face each other until the finals), and 4-6 each get two events.
The only way you can get "unseeded" is if you withdraw from the Grand Prix altother. Then there is a formula for which skaters are elevated to the "seeded" position in the place of the skater who withdrew.
All other skaters are "invited." There are various rules about which categories of invited skaters must get invited to two events, which must get invited to at least one, and which may get invited to at least one.
Flatt's group on the other, may be playing catchup. Prior to this year, there was really very little info about Flatt available....she skates and she is a good student. Still the same info at this point, but maybe a bit more detail available.
Press or no press. The kids still have to get on the ice and skate!
I think the interview ban was only prior to the actual events (SP/LP) at 08 US Nationals by Zhang's group. Prior to that, there seemed to quite alot of press including the fluff bit with Zhang and Kwan that was shown on tv IIRC.
Shep did a good job of promoting Zhang for quite some time before 08 Nationals. I think they have taken a more subtle approach in the last season, which may be a good thing for Zhang.
Instead of having to respond to requests for interviews, sponsorships, public appearances, etc., she can always tell them "Please direct all queries to my agent", and the query falls into a black hole that is Goldberg. That is almost certainly what's happening now.