Adam Rippon Out of Nationals

[Moxiejan]

I've worked with Phil in the past & can understand him not wanting to ask about info that already had been discussed. The problem was the inconsiderate way that he did it. Really, if his aim was to get a quote from Adam about Nathan, all he had to do was ask Adam if during his recovery he would have an increased role in supporting other Raf training-mates, either at the home rink or in KC. However Adam answered (even if he mentioned Ashley and Mariah but not Nathan), it would have been the perfect lead-in to a follow-up question about training alongside Nathan. IMHO, Phil's bluntness cost him a chance at a more interesting answer.

 

[Mathman]

I've worked with Phil in the past & can understand him not wanting to ask about info that already had been discussed. The problem was the inconsiderate way that he did it. Really, if his aim was to get a quote from Adam about Nathan, [b/all he had to do was ask Adam if during his recovery he would have an increased role in supporting other Raf training-mates, either at the home rink or in KC.[/b] However Adam answered (even if he mentioned Ashley and Mariah but not Nathan), it would have been the perfect lead-in to a follow-up question about training alongside Nathan. IMHO, Phil's bluntness cost him a chance at a more interesting answer.

If Mr. Hersh is reading this, he is smacking his forehead over the lost opportunity.

 

[karne]

I've worked with Phil in the past & can understand him not wanting to ask about info that already had been discussed. The problem was the inconsiderate way that he did it. Really, if his aim was to get a quote from Adam about Nathan, all he had to do was ask Adam if during his recovery he would have an increased role in supporting other Raf training-mates, either at the home rink or in KC. However Adam answered (even if he mentioned Ashley and Mariah but not Nathan), it would have been the perfect lead-in to a follow-up question about training alongside Nathan. IMHO, Phil's bluntness cost him a chance at a more interesting answer.

Agreed. It was poor journalism. There were a couple of ways the question could have been asked if he wanted a Nathan-centric answer.

 

[KwanIsALegend]

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.

I hope I did not come off as showing any disdain for Nathan. I certainly did not mean to if I did.
I still think Phil's comment was rude and out of place and the dead silence and awkwardness that followed was the result of that. I agree that we will probably see similar questions posed to Jason and Max from Phil.
Phil is very opinionated, he doesn't hold back whether discussing skating or politics. I guess the press can ask whatever they want and it is up to the skater to answer if they choose. Skaters have to be ready and know how to handle the press. It is part of being an elite senior skater.

 

[Moxiejan]

I don't want to get too off topic here, but I have to respond to this and say that I completely disagree. Senior refers to the skater's skill level not his or her age. And I have a problem with saying that kids (and yes, they are still kids) are fair game just because they're talented skaters. That makes absolutely no sense. And what exactly does "fair game" mean anyway? Are the weight comments OK just because they're said to boxers, as someone mentioned? And really just because things can get nasty at press conferences in other sports, does that mean that figure skating can't be a little classier than that? I'm not saying reporters shouldn't ask the tough questions--that's their job. But it doesn't mean there has to be nastiness just for the sake of it.

Sorry but not respecting that many of these incredible athletes are still growing up and dealing with all the pressure that entails--while juggling training demands, financial pressures (in many cases), school, and the growing pains we all have--is very insensitive and just doesn't seem right. /endrant

Adam is 27; he is not a "kid" but a professional athlete. No different from the NFL or NBA or any other sport in which incredible athletes must deal with all the pressures you listed above. If we ever want skating to be treated/covered as a major sport and not just occasional fluff entertainment, we have to stop asking that skating reporters be "nicer" and not ask relevant questions about athletic fitness (yes, that would include weight). No, I would not want this for those below senior level (after all, Little Leaguers are not questioned in the same way as major-leaguers). But once an athlete starts representing his/her country at an elite international level, learning how to deal with reporters is part of the job.

 

[noskates]

I sort of agree with you Moxie but I would not put Adam - or any other current figure skating competitor - on a par with a professional baseball or basketball or football player. For one, professional athletes have handlers and managers who are trained and get paid good money to make sure that their athlete knows how to talk, knows what not to say, knows how to fend off rude interviewers. They also are, if they're really good, interviewed all the time! Sometimes after every game. I really don't think figure skaters have the luxury of a team other than a coach or two and a choreographer. I haven't weighed in on this yet but I do think Phil was trying to evoke some kind of negativity from Adam when all Adam was trying to do was make a statement about his physical condition. To ask him about other competitors at that time was classless and crude.

 

[Moxiejan]

Many elite skaters have contracts with agencies that provide managers/advisers who arrange appearances and commercial endorsements. For those who haven't reached that level but intend to have a career in skating, it's a valuable investment to spend a few hours on media training. Even if it means wearing last year's dress.

 

[Mathman]

^ No, I don't agree with that at all. Just because some fifteen-year-old can skate really well, that doesn't give adult journalists or anyone else the right to bully them or treat them with rudeness. (Adam -- OK, he's not a kid -- take your best shot. )

 

[ice coverage]

... ... I would not put Adam - or any other current figure skating competitor - on a par with a professional baseball or basketball or football player. For one, professional athletes have handlers and managers who are trained and get paid good money to make sure that their athlete knows how to talk, knows what not to say, knows how to fend off rude interviewers. ... I really don't think figure skaters have the luxury of a team other than a coach or two and a choreographer. ...

Adam's agent is David Baden, who is a Vice President at IMG.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-baden-a21a28a
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOyYhtMh5MV/?taken-by=davidbaden (Jan 2)​

Adam has been an IMG client since at least 2011.

https://twitter.com/IMGSkating/status/129197619078627328 (random tweet from Oct 2011)​

Baden and other IMG agents represent quite a few Team USA skaters.

Baden's LinkedIn page lists lots of the skaters whom he represents.
In late 2016, the very talented Vincent Zhou (who has yet to win a senior medal) posted on his website that David Baden had become his agent.

 

[Moxiejan]

^ No, I don't agree with that at all. Just because some fifteen-year-old can skate really well, that doesn't give adult journalists or anyone else the right to bully them or treat them with rudeness. (Adam -- OK, he's not a kid -- take your best shot. )

Asking a tough question is not at all the same as bullying. And if a 15-year-old skates well enough to make a senior podium (and the press conference that follows), he/she should have gotten training in answering questions by coach/parents. Really, anyone at high school level should be able to answer a few questions; helps with college/job interviews down the line. As for the kind of rudeness shown by Phil, it likely hurt his chances of getting a "good" answer more than it hurt Adam.

 

[Weathergal]

Adam is 27; he is not a "kid" but a professional athlete. No different from the NFL or NBA or any other sport in which incredible athletes must deal with all the pressures you listed above. If we ever want skating to be treated/covered as a major sport and not just occasional fluff entertainment, we have to stop asking that skating reporters be "nicer" and not ask relevant questions about athletic fitness (yes, that would include weight). No, I would not want this for those below senior level (after all, Little Leaguers are not questioned in the same way as major-leaguers). But once an athlete starts representing his/her country at an elite international level, learning how to deal with reporters is part of the job.

Moxiejan, I was mostly reacting to the comment about not using kid gloves on, well, kids just because they're skating as Seniors. In general, as I mentioned, that yes, reporters should ask the tough questions as part of their job--but there has to be a purpose to it other than just trying to rattle someone's cage. (And let's face it: figure skating IS a little different from other sports. I mean where else do you have a kiss and cry area? ) Note I'm not saying that's at all what happened with Phil Hersch. I was speaking in generalities and not about his question to Adam. About his question, I don't think it was intended to be rude, but it wasn't really the best time to be asking it. I think Adam handled it just fine. It wouldn't surprise me if GS (and other forums) have spent more time discussing than Phil and Adam have spent thinking about it. I'm far more saddened by Adam being injured, especially during such a great season for him and him not having the chance to defend his title.

^ No, I don't agree with that at all. Just because some fifteen-year-old can skate really well, that doesn't give adult journalists or anyone else the right to bully them or treat them with rudeness. (Adam -- OK, he's not a kid -- take your best shot. )

I'm with you Mathman.

 

[kwanette]

I agree. I don't think Phil was trying to be mean or nasty and he was simply taken off guard by Adam's sudden withdrawal. He probably immediately regretted asking the question in such an insensitive way. I just think his lack of tact was surprising considering his experience. It seemed something more like a rookie error.

It's also true that figure skaters are treated pretty kindly compared to athletes in other sports. I follow tennis and it's amazing some of rude questions players get asked. But then tennis players probably get used to them pretty quickly since they have so many press conferences.

Had he regretted it, he wouldn't have been snarky in his tweet re: Ashley's being professional" when asked about Nathan. Phil can get get nasty, Skate America 2001, anyone?

 

[karne]

Asking a tough question is not at all the same as bullying. And if a 15-year-old skates well enough to make a senior podium (and the press conference that follows), he/she should have gotten training in answering questions by coach/parents. Really, anyone at high school level should be able to answer a few questions; helps with college/job interviews down the line. As for the kind of rudeness shown by Phil, it likely hurt his chances of getting a "good" answer more than it hurt Adam.

On the contrary, if a 15 year old is in a press conference, I would absolutely consider it bullying for a journalist to pester them about their weight or fitness.

 

[noskates]

I seriously doubt that Adam's manager/representative from IMG follows him around and sits with him while he's being interviewed - or even vets the interview before he sits down. I still think Hersh was out of line. Most of these skaters are used to being interviewed by retired skaters or the commentators at events. That's a bit different. And asking anybody about their weight or fitness is actually no one's business. For a skater - the proof is in the performance. I bet if someone had asked Mirai Negasu about her weight or any other female skater there would be recriminations all over this board.

 

[Moxiejan]

If all that is the case, then these skaters will forever be treated as protected children and not as professionals whose career happens to be skating.

 

[el henry]

If all that is the case, then these skaters will forever be treated as protected children and not as professionals whose career happens to be skating.

I don't know what "that" is, but I don't think so. It means that adult journalists, which presumably Phil is, will know the difference between a 16 year old child and a 27 year old adult and ask appropriate questions.

Otherwise they risk looking like the horse's patootie that Phil did with this question ETA: to Adam (for entirely different reasons than the child/adult dynamic).

 

[sheetz]

Had he regretted it, he wouldn't have been snarky in his tweet re: Ashley's being professional" when asked about Nathan. Phil can get get nasty, Skate America 2001, anyone?

Maybe. I'm only going but how it sounded on the audio clip. But in the end I think while Phil's question was eye roll worthy I don't think it was anything to get too worked up over, and I hope Adam realizes that.

 

[ice coverage]

I went back and re-listened to the Hersh part of the call.

Don't know why so many in this thread are completely overblowing an "awkward silence" or whatever they want to call it.

Maybe not everyone here has had firsthand experience with those types of conference calls, which inherently can sometimes be a little awkward.

Each person on the call dials in from her/his own separate location.
I think it is safe to assume that Adam and the USFS moderator (presumably Renee Felt) were not in the same room (he in California; she in Colorado Springs).
Nor are any of the reporters in the same room with anyone else.
No one can see anyone else, and no one can receive any silent visual cues from body language.

Adam gave his answer to Hersh's question -- but through no fault of Adam's or Renee's, Renee could not be certain that he had finished saying everything that he wanted to say. So before calling on the next reporter, she simply waited a beat (properly so) -- in case Adam was just taking a pause and had more to say. After the short beat, Adam did not resume speaking, and only then was it clear to Renee that it was OK to move on to the next question.

The short beat was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. Happens all the time with these types of calls.

---

I seriously doubt that Adam's manager/representative from IMG follows him around and sits with him while he's being interviewed - or even vets the interview before he sits down. ...

Baden travels with Adam to major competitions on a regular basis. Very obvious from Baden's social media. (He is a big tweeter/Instagrammer.)
Baden is Ashley's agent too and travels a lot with her.
The same is true for other IMG agents and their skater-clients.

Based on the Instagram photo that I linked above, Baden (who is based in NYC) seemed to have been on site in California when NBC was shooting the pre-KC interview and fluff with Adam (before his injury).

It most certainly is the agent's responsibility to vet the interviews of his clients -- as well as the responsibility of USFS Media Relations, in the case of USFS skaters.

Baden no doubt was dialed into Adam's teleconference -- to listen, but not to speak on behalf of Adam.
That said, an official USFS teleconference is not a unilateral "interview" that needs vetting. USFS should be doing the gatekeeping as to which reporters have access to the call.

 

[Hyena]

I think the question Phil Hersh asked is wel not particularly probative but it is a free world with freedom of speech at least in America. Ditto for Adam's response. Really much ado about nothing in every way. I am not sure why Phil asked that question - he shouldn't assume Adam was paying all that much attention to his competitors especially if they don't train together. Is journalistic privilege so to speak to ask about competitiors but really why should Philly think Adam was watching Nathan that closely is a huge assumption. Sure he could have phrased things better. Ie. Much has been written and said about Nathan's rise technically what is your position on this focus on quads? Or, Nathan appears to be the frontrunner for US Nationals based on the Grand Prix what changes have you noted in his skating? Has it or does it affect how you prepare and train? Was there any extra pressure coming in as the defending American champ? Anyways really we are blowing things out of proportion. Adam's comments about inappropriate may be right not only because he just announced his withdrawl but really what does he know about Nathan and his skating.

Well, sure. I don't see anyone here saying Phil should be arrested for asking Adam about Nathan. Freedom of speech does not equal freedom from criticism.

 

[Mathman]

...Mirai Negasu...

This is off topic, but Mirai is one of Phil Hersh's all-time faves.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/keyword/mirai-nagasu

Three forces of nature blew into the area late last week. Rain, snow and Mirai Nagasu. The weather wiped out the entire first weekend of alpine skiing at Whistler, forcing postponements of the men's downhill and women's super combined. Nagasu filled some of the entertainment gap with the mix of witticisms, wisdom, wacky observations about herself and her experiences and often self-critical honesty that already have made her a one-woman media show...