Debbie Wilkes Article

Back when Debbie Wilkes took on the volunteer job of working as technical specialist with the ISU and still working as a journalist, she assured us that she would be able to keep her journalistic integrity.

She now has a new article up that sounds amazingly similar to a recent Speedy tantrum.

http://www.tsn.ca/figure%5Fskating/news_story.asp?ID=107289&hubName=figure_skating

You be the judge.

Ouch. Is she ever nasty about Kwan and Cphen. Cohen was out of the GP for very legitimate injury reasons. Michelle also cited an injury. I still think it's a skater's decision about what competitions they do. The ISU just likes to whine.

LOL, I see what you mean, Mpal. Debbie Wilkes does seem to be taking it personally that Michelle and Sasha are "dissing" the ISU.

Since she is so pleased at the opportunity to see all the "fresh faces [that] have given us a whole new reason to watch" the Grand prix events, it is not clear to me exactly what her personal beef is with the skaters who skipped it. Wilkes writes:

"To maintain the high quality of competition and therefore the integrity of events, it's essential that both the ISU and the skaters regard their "arrangement" as being a two-way street.

"Why should the ISU continue to provide the opportunity for success, both for itself and for the skaters, if the athletes feel no obligation to fulfill their side of the bargain?"

This makes it seem as though Wilkes is contending that there is some sort of arrangement or bargain between the ISU and the skaters. Since, as we know, the ISU has arrangements and bargains only with its members (the national skating federations), not with individual skaters, I can only surmise that Wilkes means some sort of tacit, "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" deal whereby the ISU gives the skaters the opportunity to skate in competitions and the skaters in turn -- well, are supposed to take advantage of these opportunities by showing up.

It seems to me that if a particular skater passes on the opportunity, allowing some other skater to take his/her place -- I frankly don't see how that affects Ms. Wilkes' happiness and well-being.

Her other argument is:

"What is really interesting is that neither Kwan nor Cohen will have officially tested themselves under the new system and they won't do it at US Nationals either the US choosing for the time being to stay with the 6.0 standard of old.

"Considering the complexities and richness of it, I can't imagine, under a scoring system you've never used, being able to deliver your first solid and sophisticated competitive performance of the year, at the World Championships! And I don't care who you are!"

ROFL! Well, I don't suppose that Kwan and Cohen care who Debbie Wilkes is, either.

Unless, of course, Wilkes turns out to be the technical controller at some event in the future where Kwan or Cohen is competing. In that case articles like this do cast doubt on the ability of the ISU to guarantee unbiased judging on the part of its officials under CoP judging.

In any case, it may well be true that Michelle and others are making a tactical error in not exposing themselves to the new judging system -- but again, surely that's their problem, not Ms. Wilkes'.

And then there is this model of reasoning, LOL:

"When 2 of the world's top competitors totally renege on what I believe is their responsibility to the ISU and to their fellow competitors, it clearly shows that in this case the inmates are running the asylum."

Think about it. The form of Ms. Wilkes statement is: When someone doesn't do what I believe is right, this clearly shows that something is objectively wrong. What is clear is that the segue between the speaker's personal beliefs and judgments about the real world is unsupported -- not to mention the immoderate and emotional language of the supposed conclusion.

Oh well, it's a passionate sport. On the subject of the CoP, the Canadian federation has invested a lot of emotional capital in the new judging system, so we should not be surprised to read premature claims like:

"[Under the new judging system] it's a level playing field where the most serious veterans can't depend on reputation to get them to the podium. This time the only thing that matters is their program and how well they skate it."

Time will tell.

Mathman

"What is really interesting is that neither Kwan nor Cohen will have officially tested themselves under the new system and they won't do it at US Nationals either the US choosing for the time being to stay with the 6.0 standard of old.

Click to expand...

Someone should tell Sasha that her highest score in the ISU statistics web page doesn't count because she hasn't officially tested herself against the system.

http://www.isufs.org/isujsstat/pbslto.htm



Oh, and by the way, the USFSA couldn't adopt the Code of Points this year because it wasn't the official ISU scoring system at the time the USFSA held all of their meetings to set this year's rules. We were stuck with 6.0 because of the timing of the ISU Congress and our own.

I like your thoughful dissertation on this, Mathman.

I think a writer cannot serve two masters: The ISU and the "free press."

:agree:

I believe that Debbi Wilkes will only be the tech expert for pairs.

I agree with all the posts. Her statement is so bias that she shouldn't be allowed to be a tech specialist. She might sight a spin as level 1 and say "oops, I mean level 2". By that time the damage have been done. No, she might not be a judge but she is empowered to call a jump, spin, footwork as she sees it. I just hope that the 2 assistant tech specialists is not as biased as her.

Oh yes, Michelle and Sasha really really need that $50,000 prize. Hello, that's pocket change for them. Also the appearance fee is gone.

Their end of the bargain?!?! I knew it! The ISU really stand for International Satans Union

Jeez, you would think as a journalist she has done her research and if she's going to use slang at least spell it correctly. It's not "dis" it's "diss"! Ms. Wilkes please check out Ebonics Dictionary

I think the gist of this article is:

Unless the rest of you know something I don't, like some legitimate reason to selfishly "dis" the ISU by not participating in the GP, I think both Kwan and Cohen, providing they qualify through US Nationals, should have their world invitations revoked immediately.

and:

Competing in the GP Series should be mandatory for world top ten. No GP? No Worlds.

Ms Wilkes is a reporter and she is doing her job. Her language is similar to Ms Brennan's in many respect. Fans praise and blast both of them and similarly to a half dozen other figure skating reporters.

I don't understand her position in the ISU. Why would she want that job while still working as a journalist? Is she a paid employee of the ISU? If so, then it is her duty to protect the organization. However, to dis (her word) the two American divas is not called for because they are not out to destroy the ISU.

Her article, imo, would be valid if she only wore "one hat", that of a reporter. But she wears "two hats" and they should not work as a team.

To justify that article Ms Wilkes should explain fully her role with the ISU. If exposing this potential disregard for the rules of the organization is a part of her job, then she should issue an ISU decree on the subject. Otherwise we must take her entire reportorial piece as nothing more than an opinion with no official backing, and yes watch her if she is assigned to a Technical Specialist job as well.

Joe

Debbi does have a point. Since the new judging system has appeared many skaters have "disappeared." Time to "get with the program" - I think that is her message.

I find this part of the article the most offensive.

" At least Plushenko put in a winning appearance at Cup of Russia whereas it looks like both Kwan and Cohen could only get inspired to compete when shown a big wallet, and only then on home turf!

Unless the rest of you know something I don't, like some legitimate reason to selfishly "dis" the ISU by not participating in the GP, I think both Kwan and Cohen, providing they qualify through US Nationals, should have their world invitations revoked immediately."

It's one thing for her to have an opinion on how the system should work ... it's another thing entirely to start accusing certain skaters of being money grubbers, and to call for them to be banned from a competition this year ... for breaking a rule which does not exist, but that she feels should!

I think she has overstepped her bounds, and creates serious questions on whether or not she should be involved in any way with the judging of competitive events.
BTW, she is not paid by the ISU ... but that doesn't make her comments any less dangerous, IMO.

I don't think that skaters have disappeared as much as they are fighting injuries that may have been brought on trying to increase the difficulty of their programs for COP. Speedy and Wilkes can whine all they want but as long as there isn't a rule making GP participation mandatory that's about all they can do unless the ISU's frustration with non compliant skaters starts showing up in the skater's scores. The ISU needs Kwan, Cohen, and Plushy more than the skaters need the ISU.

Wow, that seemed way harsh. I do agree though that there are injuries and 'injuries'. You see similar things in tennis where players pull out.

ISU is struggling to put together a 'season' for skaters, but it doesn't really have the financial clout to crowd out the competition (SOI, cheesefests, IceWars, etc.).

If Wilkes does hold a position within the ISU, she hasn't disclosed it in this article. I find this omission very disingenuous. :sheesh:

Joesitz said:

I think the gist of this article is:

Unless the rest of you know something I don't, like some legitimate reason to selfishly "dis" the ISU by not participating in the GP, I think both Kwan and Cohen, providing they qualify through US Nationals, should have their world invitations revoked immediately.

and:

Competing in the GP Series should be mandatory for world top ten. No GP? No Worlds.

Ms Wilkes is a reporter and she is doing her job. Her language is similar to Ms Brennan's in many respect. Fans praise and blast both of them and similarly to a half dozen other figure skating reporters.

I don't understand her position in the ISU. Why would she want that job while still working as a journalist? Is she a paid employee of the ISU? If so, then it is her duty to protect the organization. However, to dis (her word) the two American divas is not called for because they are not out to destroy the ISU.

Her article, imo, would be valid if she only wore "one hat", that of a reporter. But she wears "two hats" and they should not work as a team.

To justify that article Ms Wilkes should explain fully her role with the ISU. If exposing this potential disregard for the rules of the organization is a part of her job, then she should issue an ISU decree on the subject. Otherwise we must take her entire reportorial piece as nothing more than an opinion with no official backing, and yes watch her if she is assigned to a Technical Specialist job as well.

Joe

Click to expand...

I don't praise Brennan no matter how nice she is to Kwan because I think she is full of it. Always diss her when I can. Wilkes and her comments about banning people and calling money hungry as if she knows deserves to be taken down a notch.

I think that the GP events are not as exciting if the best skaters are not there. If certain top skaters are withdrawing from GP series because of an injury (or some other reasons), they should not be allowed to compete in cheesefests that fall. If a skater is injured, she/he is injured and does not compete elsewhere or skate in shows. And if they do participate in cheesefests, etc. they should be banned from Worlds (or Olympics in the Olympic season).

With the exception of the Olympic season there are only five ISU events in skating season for top skaters. If that feels too heavy and exhausting, it is time to turn pro. Maybe in figure skating the matters need some more cleaning than only in judging. The skaters have had the benefits of being able to remain as eligible and in the same time got payed like pro skaters. If the skaters are forgetting how good matters have been to them and are declining to compete in some ISU events, maybe we need to go back to "old times" as there was a difference between amateurs and pros in earnings.

BTW, do the skaters still need to skate two freeskates in GP Finals? If that is the case, it should be changed as well as no qualifying rounds for seeded skaters in Worlds.

Marjaana

The Rules

If the ISU wants a rule that says participation in the GP series is mandatory for participation in Worlds, then they need to pass that rule and every other rule BEFORE the season begins. If they want to have exceptions only with doctor's certificates, then they need to pass that rule BEFORE the season begins. While many focus on the CoPs as the field leveler, how about the rest of the rules? Shouldn't they be spelled out correctly and clearly ahead of time?

Regarding participation in the cheesefests: ISU has designated certain events as allowed for eligible athletes (I'm not sure the word they use is "allowed" but you get what I mean)... so if the ISU doesn't want the competition of having athletes participate, they simply remove the designation... which would be cutting the nose off to spite the face since Marshall's, for example, is a major advertiser for the rest of the GP series.

Interesting conundrum.

Linny

In response to several e-mails (which are posted on the MKF), Debbie Wilkes has said that there is no conflict of interest because she is not paid by the ISU. Her false accusation that Sasha is lying, and her suggestion that the top American ladies should be banned because they followed the existing rules, shows, however, that she is simply too biased to recognize an ethical conflict if one came up in the middle of the street and bit her on the nose.

Question--before the GP series, what kind of international competition was there besides Worlds? Before the 90's, weren't there a lot fewer competitions?

As much as I have missed seeing Michelle, Sasha, and Plushy this season, I have really enjoyed seeing the "surprise" winners! Perhaps the confidence that these skaters got from medaling during the GP series will translate to one incredible fantastic World competition!

eliza88

Skating before the GP series

eliza88 said:

Question--before the GP series, what kind of international competition was there besides Worlds? Before the 90's, weren't there a lot fewer competitions?

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There definitely were fewer "made for TV" competitions (like the USFS events), but several of the GP events pre-dated the series by quite a few years. Skate America, for example, goes back 20 some years at least. I believe that NHK had a longer history and the same for Skate Canada. There were other events (some of which still exist as "B" level comps) but they weren't linked into the GP "series" until 1996 or 1997 (called Champions Series the first year or so). Skaters weren't required to compete in a certain number of them and there certainly wasn't any requirement for the top skaters from Worlds to compete in them (though they often did so -- at least in one). Of course, Europeans has a long, long history -- way back when skaters from outside Europe could compete there -- Dick Button won one year -- the same year he won the North American Championships (which no longer exists). But back in his day, a skater might only skate at their National championship (and any qualifying event required) and then Worlds, if they made the team.

Jaana said:

...If certain top skaters are withdrawing from GP series because of an injury (or some other reasons), they should not be allowed to compete in cheesefests that fall. If a skater is injured, she/he is injured and does not compete elsewhere or skate in shows. And if they do participate in cheesefests, etc. they should be banned from Worlds (or Olympics in the Olympic season).

Click to expand...

Jaana, to me, this is exactly the mentality that is so objectionable on the part of the ISU. Ban this, forbid that, do not allow the other, and punish everyone who disagrees with me about how they should live their lives.

If someone wants to skate, let him or her skate. If someone wants to stay home, let him or her stay home. It's a free country. (Oh, wait...)

As for the success of the Grand Prix series and it's dependence on the participation of this particular skater or that, I think the records show that the live attendence is about the same over the years no matter who competes. Almost everyone who has commented this year (except perhaps Mr. Cinquanta) has said how nice it is to see some new faces.

Regarding the worry about the effect on television contracts for the ISU (is it the athlete or the ISU that is interested in $$$?), remember that the ISU lost it's $20,000,000 U.S. TV contract way last year, long before any of these current concerns surfaced.

Mathman

Mathman said:

Jaana, to me, this is exactly the mentality that is so objectionable on the part of the ISU. Ban this, forbid that, do not allow the other, and punish everyone who disagrees with me about how they should live their lives.

If someone wants to skate, let him or her skate. If someone wants to stay home, let him or her stay home. It's a free country. (Oh, wait...)

As for the success of the Grand Prix series and it's dependence on the participation of this particular skater or that, I think the records show that the live attendence is about the same over the years no matter who competes. Almost everyone who has commented this year (except perhaps Mr. Cinquanta) has said how nice it is to see some new faces.

Regarding the worry about the effect on television contracts for the ISU (is it the athlete or the ISU that is interested in $$$?), remember that the ISU lost it's $20,000,000 U.S. TV contract way last year, long before any of these current concerns surfaced.

Mathman

Click to expand...

Seems that the ISU is very "Old Testament aka Thou shalt not" in their thinking. Reeks of paranoia IMHO.

I agree with fans of the skaters mentioned that this article is harsh.

However, I do not agree with those raising the issue of conflict of interest or how Debbie cannot be a journalist and caller. It is not as if the ISU has a large pool of pairs experts to choose from when selecting callers. She just happen to be one AND a journalist. Now, should she have given up her television job? I say no. This is a woman who completed a Masters degree in Communications or something similar to that for a career in television. That takes years, investments and alot of hard work. One does not just walk away from it. Plus, before anyone mentioned conflict of interest(fans and Hersh), she addressed it in a article at her site. She clearly mentioned the steps that she took in order to address the conflict of interest BEFORE taking on the ISU's job.

Now, does this article means she is therefore going to be a biased caller?

IMO, one can't tell 100% for sure. One can assume but not with certainty.

I must also add that in her 2nd article, she also mentioned been vocal about mandatory GP even before this year etc.


My opinion about the article - I agree and disagree with her. Most of all, she should not have mentioned skaters names because it only make matters worse.