In my opinon, when you go out to compete, you go out with your best effort, not with a "work in progress", which is exactly what most of the skaters in the Grand Prix circuit do. And, frankly, so many times the skating is sloppy and full of mistakes. Does the public really want to see this?
Yes. Exactly. This is another good point that I forget to bring up. I don't think certain skaters REALLY take competitions outside of the Nationals, Olympics and Worlds seriously. If anyone doubts me take a look at all the skaters who withdraw, skip, and half-do the GP. It's to the point where it's become a strategy now. On the flip side, often times these same skaters end up doing the best at the major comps. The exception is Irina this past season.
It's a double edged sword, really.
Why is this even a discussion issue? It makes me want to bang my a head against the wall! The only purpose to label figure skating or Gymnastics not a sport is to devalue it. I've asked many a many people what is the point if not to devalue and so far there has been no reason. If this isn't your case-what is your cause?
Exactly what Joe said. I say FS isn't a sport. That doesn't mean I think any less of it as an event or an activity. I just simply do not buy the thought that judged events, no matter what they are, can be considered sports. That's it, no more to it.
Also a figure skating channel could have such events as regionals, sectionals and nationals for all novices, juniors and seniors. We never get to see these most of these events.We would be able to see the lesser knows and the young ones come up.
Again, Joe is right on here. Who else besides the hard-core fans would be interested in such coverage? How many hard-core fans are there? Can all the hard-core fans get together and donate money/time to make such a thing happen? I would not rule out such a possibility, esp. with what's going on these days. But the real chance of such a thing happening is less than me winning the lottery tomorrow.
The reason Ice skating has lost a lot of its fans is there's few live televised events and the only one there is, Michelle Kwan wins everytime so there is no competition. People like the drama of a live event and for there to be some doubt on who the winner will be....
Part of this statement (the latter part) has some truth to it. But besides that, 1) it's a judged event (what I said earlier), 2) it is known to be corrupt, 3) it has little credibility (who wants to watch something when the winner has already been decided beforehand??) and 4) the event is shown way after the fact. (That means that many people know the results already, sometimes for weeks before it is finally shown on TV. After that, why watch it? All the suspense is gone. It's like opening a Christmas present when on Dec. 3rd you managed to catch the people wrapping it and saw what it was. Where's the surprise?)
And ITA with MK winning every Nationals competition. Actually IMO only the Kwan fans (and maybe some skating buffs) really seem interested in watching her rack up all the titles. The average viewer who doesn't care about Kwan will easily tire of her winning. But at least internationally she's very beatable.
btw, Michelle had a win in 2003 but not since. She is vulnerable.
Internationally I would definitely agree that she is vulnerable. She's been beaten by more skaters in the past two years than probably in the previous eight years.
Nationally though that's a different story. Everyone knows where I stand here, so I'll leave it at that. :yes:
, as well as figure skating. Oh well, dream on......
