Adam Rippon Out of Nationals

[kwanette]

My problem with Phil's question was THE TIMING...with the announcement of Adam's season ending injury. Had this been a regular pre Nats teleconference..with a healthy Adam heading off to KC..and Nathan was mentioned as a training mate and rival..it would not have bothered me. IIRC, last yr during an interview when Adam was training in COS..he was asked about Max..which was fine..

As far as Phi's asking Ashley about Nathan, she isn't injured and to the best of my knowledge isn't competing against him.

 

[Tavi...]

My problem with Phil's question was THE TIMING...with the announcement of Adam's season ending injury. Had this been a regular pre Nats teleconference..with a healthy Adam heading off to KC..and Nathan was mentioned as a training mate and rival..it would not have bothered me. IIRC, last yr during an interview when Adam was training in COS..he was asked about Max..which was fine..

As far as Phi's asking Ashley about Nathan, she isn't injured and to the best of my knowledge isn't competing against him.

I agree with this.

If I recall, at one of the pressers at Nats last year, Adam was asked and spoke very graciously about Nathan.

For me it was the timing of the question: it seemed inappropriate in the context of telecom, which was to discuss Adam's withdrawal from Nats due to injury. I would have had no problem if it had been asked in a follow up phone call or email. But Adam had just been injured a few days before the telecom, and I'm sure that as positive a face as he put on it, the injury and withdrawal was a bitter pill to swallow.

Imagine: you're 27 - on the older side for an Olympic hopeful. You've just had a career year and the Olympics is one year away. You've been pretty much injury free your entire career, and now, in the build up to the 2018 Olympic season, you're injured and your season ends. Just like that. You were a favorite to go to the 2014 Olympics but seriously underperformed and missed out. You thought long and hard after that and fought back and despite your age and all the younger competitors surrounding you, you felt your chances were looking pretty good for 2018. And now injury has stopped you dead in your tracks. And now PH asks you, not even whether you worry about being able to come back next year and be competitive with the likes of Nathan Chen and others, but just about Nathan, the 17 year old kid most likely to take the national title you can't even try to defend - and who just took a medal at the GPF where you placed last. And Nathan spent months at the OTC and with Zoueva, so he actually wasn't even your training mate for awhile. I honestly think the question in this context showed PH's focus on his own interests - getting ready to write an article about Nathan (ie, the 2017 champion who is still a diamond in the rough as to PCS, but has already made huge strides) and no interest in Adam's own situation.

That's my opinion, anyway.

 

[skylark]

^^^ Well said.

Listening is part of a journalist's job of communication. That Phil was so busy live-tweeting the sad news during Adam's several-minute statement tells me that Phil was much more interested in Getting the Scoop. As far as the "important" function of getting the news out to the public is concerned, a few more minutes wouldn't have mattered.

I'm glad the other journalists showed a more complete understanding of their job.

=Tavi...;1600290
Imagine: you're 27 - on the older side for an Olympic hopeful. You've just had a career year and the Olympics is one year away. You've been pretty much injury free your entire career, and now, in the build up to the 2018 Olympic season, you're injured and your season ends. Just like that. ....

That's a very good scenario putting us squarely inside Adam's head and heart, Tavi. Empathy.

 

[andromache]

Exactly. Phil was being insensitive in this particular time and place. We all make mistakes. I don't think it means he had bad intentions or that he's a bad journalist or a bad person.

And let's also remember that in other sports, much more challenging or insensitive questions are asked pretty often. If Adam was a teenager, I'd be more harsh on Phil, but Adam is a grown man and an elite athlete and can handle a question about his teammate (though it's also his prerogative to not answer the question).

 

[skylark]

And let's also remember that in other sports, much more challenging or insensitive questions are asked pretty often.

Yeah, I was thinking this also. Figure skating reporters wait their turn, wait to be acknowledged to ask a question, don't generally holler out provocations.

 

[FlattFan]

Exactly. Phil was being insensitive in this particular time and place. We all make mistakes. I don't think it means he had bad intentions or that he's a bad journalist or a bad person.

And let's also remember that in other sports, much more challenging or insensitive questions are asked pretty often. If Adam was a teenager, I'd be more harsh on Phil, but Adam is a grown man and an elite athlete and can handle a question about his teammate (though it's also his prerogative to not answer the question).

That's because we treat skaters with kid gloves. Other sports have no problem calling someone out if they look fat, etc... look at boxing and what kind of questions they are getting.

Stop walking on eggshells around these skaters. Ask whatever you want. If they don't like the questions, they can sass or not answer them. Free for all.

 

[andromache]

That's because we treat skaters with kid gloves. Other sports have no problem calling someone out if they look fat, etc... look at boxing and what kind of questions they are getting.

Stop walking on eggshells around these skaters. Ask whatever you want. If they don't like the questions, they can sass or not answer them. Free for all.

There's probably a healthy middle ground in there somewhere. (And let's keep treating athletes under 18 with kid gloves, thanks.)

 

[ice coverage]

Find it both hilarious and incredible that for some in this thread, the concept of multi-tasking either is something completely foreign or is cause for condemnation.

I wonder what our friend Jackie Wong @rockerskating -- a master of doing at least three or four things at once -- would make of such oblivion or disapproval.

For those of us who live in 2017, multi-tasking is part of daily life as we know it. Certainly for journalists.

Multi-tasking clearly comes very easily to some of our modern and adept members. I'm talking about those who simultaneously are watching a live competition on YouTube; live-posting comments on GS; following live-tweets from Jackie and perhaps posting tweets of their own; participating in the live YT chat; and doing who knows what else offline at the same time.

 

[sheetz]

Exactly. Phil was being insensitive in this particular time and place. We all make mistakes. I don't think it means he had bad intentions or that he's a bad journalist or a bad person.

And let's also remember that in other sports, much more challenging or insensitive questions are asked pretty often. If Adam was a teenager, I'd be more harsh on Phil, but Adam is a grown man and an elite athlete and can handle a question about his teammate (though it's also his prerogative to not answer the question).

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.

 

[skylark]

that for some in this thread, the concept of multi-tasking either is something completely foreign or is cause for condemnation.

If this is defined as being about multi-tasking, Phil's priorities maybe got a little skewed. I don't think anyone condemned multi-tasking. I'm not Phil's biggest fan, but I wasn't condemning Phil either. Just expressing an opinion, and discussing why it felt like an inappropriate question at that particular time in those circumstances. Also being happy that the other journalists reacted to Adam's announcement differently. I'm not backing down, however, on my opinion that it's part of a good journalist's job to listen for other things than the bottom line. Like all other human beings, Phil isn't perfect, but it's over. I also think Adam recovered nicely and, if Phil wanted a quote about Nathan, he got it.

 

[FlattFan]

There's probably a healthy middle ground in there somewhere. (And let's keep treating athletes under 18 with kid gloves, thanks.)

You are too kind. I think all skaters in the senior rank are fair game.

 

[ice coverage]

If this is defined as being about multi-tasking, Phil's priorities maybe got a little skewed. I don't think anyone condemned multi-tasking. ...

I was not "defining" "this" (whatever "this" is) or anything as being about multi-tasking.

I get that many people (in addition to Adam) were/are unhappy with Phil's question. And all of you -- esp. Adam -- are entitled to that opinion. (Just as I am entitled to a different opinion.)

But within the pile of comments against Phil are several sarcastic criticisms of him specifically for live-tweeting. (I didn't quote you previously b/c your post was not the only one of that ilk.)
The criticisms of Phil's live-tweeting make no sense to me in the first place ... but regardless of my opinion on live-tweeting, criticism of Phil's live-tweeting is (IMO) completely irrelevant as to what any of us think about Phil's question one way or the other.
People can walk and chew gum at the same time.

When I have referred to Phil's live tweeting, my purpose has been to debunk the notion (promulgated more than once in this thread) that Phil believes no U.S. man other than Nathan is worth paying attention to. Although Phil's question pertained to Nathan, Phil clearly was paying attention to Adam's injury and future, and Phil clearly wanted other people to pay attention to Adam as well.

 

[Pamigena]

People can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Sure they can. But if they suck at doing both at the same time, they may end up walking face first into a lamppost.

 

[Skater Boy]

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.

 

[ice coverage]

... he shouldn't assume Adam was paying all that much attention to his competitors especially if they don't train together. ..

Nathan's primary coach is Raf Arutunian, who is Adam's coach as well.

 

[karne]

But within the pile of comments against Phil are several sarcastic criticisms of him specifically for live-tweeting. (I didn't quote you previously b/c your post was not the only one of that ilk.)
The criticisms of Phil's live-tweeting make no sense to me in the first place ... but regardless of my opinion on live-tweeting, criticism of Phil's live-tweeting is (IMO) completely irrelevant as to what any of us think about Phil's question one way or the other.
People can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Perhaps, and perhaps someone like Jackie is skilled enough to be able to multi task the way he does. But Hersh is clearly not. Was he live-tweeting? Sure! But he clearly was not able to multi-task by then devising a new question to ask Adam at the same time, resulting in him asking a douche question.

I also doubt Hersh's live tweeting had anything to do with showing that he cared about Adam and was more to do with "OMG it's huge breaking news quick quick I have to be first!".

 

[andromache]

I also doubt Hersh's live tweeting had anything to do with showing that he cared about Adam and was more to do with "OMG it's huge breaking news quick quick I have to be first!".

A journalist's job is to break news, not to show they care. But given how small the skating world is, I would be surprised if Phil and Adam aren't on pretty friendly and comfortable terms (even if they are snarky, semi-adversarial ones.) Phil is perfectly capable of expressing his caring privately rather than in a press conference.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Wrong, but we can agree to disagree.

 

[Mathman]

A journalist's job is to break news, not to show they care. But given how small the skating world is, I would be surprised if Phil and Adam aren't on pretty friendly and comfortable terms (even if they are snarky, semi-adversarial ones.) Phil is perfectly capable of expressing his caring privately rather than in a press conference.

This is quite true. Phil's job used to be to sell newspapers; now it's to generate clicks, sign up "followers," inspire posts on Internet forums, etc.

Phil adored Michelle Kwan, but that didn't stop him from tearing into her when the opportunity arose. Plus, I don't think it is an outrage for a journalist to ask a sage old veteran what he thinks about the young whippersnappers coming up.

I do agree, too, that we critics should hold back in our criticism of young teenagers, especially in comments about who is pretty and who is ugly, etc.

 

[Weathergal]

You are too kind. I think all skaters in the senior rank are fair game.

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