Sasha not going to 2007 Nats | Page 6 | Golden Skate

Sasha not going to 2007 Nats

Whenever you say "SC", I always automatically think "Skate Canada". :laugh: that's what that abbreviation is used most for, anyway.

(Same with "SA" and Skate America, but some use SA to refer to Shizuka Arakawa.)
 
People talk about the decline of skating but I don't see TOO much, actually. Skating was on basically for three straight days on NBC and ESPN. NBC still runs a good number of these "pro skating shows", and ESPN actually finds time to recap skating events. I don't think the popularity of skating is as bleak as some make it out to be. Sure, the popularity has decreased significantly in the past 10 years but it's not like there's NO skating on TV.


yes, but the coverage is not as substantial as it could be/once was...

and looking at how few of the pro shows are shown now as opposed to back in teh glory days, the number of tickets sold, etc etc... and being from the generation of Tonya/Nancy... it is a huge difference...

not only that but the decline of pro skating competitions also shows that they can't get sponsers because sponsers see less and less of a market...


and once again money rules skating.... ;)
 
As to whether hype is negative or not, I'd say it depends on who is getting hyped. Hype always leads to (external) pressure, and some thrive on it while others choke on it. (I'm sure we can all come up with examples of this.)

It's a tough call because it may not necessarily be the athlete's fault that they are getting hyped by the press (or the fans). But I may have to put it in the negative category just because of what can be at stake should you fall short of the expectations. It's a big duty.

That said, attention never hurt anybody...even if it's the bad kind.

yes, but the coverage is not as substantial as it could be/once was...

and looking at how few of the pro shows are shown now as opposed to back in teh glory days, the number of tickets sold, etc etc... and being from the generation of Tonya/Nancy... it is a huge difference...

not only that but the decline of pro skating competitions also shows that they can't get sponsers because sponsers see less and less of a market...


and once again money rules skating.... ;)

I wasn't watching skating back in its heyday so I don't know EXACTLY how big it was. But what I am saying is that skating still seems to be finding a "niche" audience on TV. I'd agree though that competitive skating is what's really in trouble. I think we'll continue to see skating shows, though, for a while...especially during the holidays.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
considering we had a skating show pretty much every weekend back in the heyday during the regular skating season... shows around the holidays (which is basically what we get now) is not all that great in my mind

but then most of my favorites are retired, or getting there so *shrugs*
 
Yeah, I realize the # of shows are down now compared to 1998 but I'm basically saying it could be a lot worse.

That said, US TV coverage of competitive skating may be almost completely on its way out. I doubt ABC will want to hold onto it and maybe even ESPN will be on the rocks with it a couple years from now. The viewers are there, I'm sure, but these guys need to figure out how to get them to watch. The status quo definitely is not the answer.
 
Last edited:
You mean "television coverage of competitive figure skating is on the way out," right? I think there will always be an enthusiastic core of participants.

What makes me sad is not so much television but the fact that skaters at major competitions are performing to empty houses. Maybe "cheesefest idol" will turn out to save the day.
 
Whenever you say "SC", I always automatically think "Skate Canada". :laugh: that's what that abbreviation is used most for, anyway.

(Same with "SA" and Skate America, but some use SA to refer to Shizuka Arakawa.)

Yah, "FS" I have a tendency to think of Fumie, but know better due to the context clueing me in to the intended meaning. That is how I figure it out anyway.

As far as definitions of thing, I would suggest not doing what the "writers" that say FS is not a sport do, and try to come up with your own definition of the word "sport." The word and meaning are already defined and that was instigated for exactly this purpose - so people don't question or miss use words.

HYPE
1. to stimulate, excite, or agitate (usually fol. by up): She was hyped up at the thought of owning her own car.
2. to create interest in by flamboyant or dramatic methods; promote or publicize showily: a promoter who knows how to hype a prizefight.
3. to intensify (advertising, promotion, or publicity) by ingenious or questionable claims, methods, etc. (usually fol. by up).
4. to trick; gull.
5. exaggerated publicity; hoopla.
6. an ingenious or questionable claim, method, etc., used in advertising, promotion, or publicity to intensify the effect.
7. a swindle, deception, or trick.

Now it is a question of which use, not what someone "thinks" it should mean.
 
You mean "television coverage of competitive figure skating is on the way out," right? I think there will always be an enthusiastic core of participants.

Yeah, lol, that's what I meant. I edited the post.

What makes me sad is not so much television but the fact that skaters at major competitions are performing to empty houses. Maybe "cheesefest idol" will turn out to save the day.

I wonder how THEY feel about it, though. Maybe that might be contributing to the "lack of emotion" in today's skaters that people have been talking (complaining) about. It's hard to be that way when you're performing for 10 people vs 10,000.
 
Last edited:
Yah, "FS" I have a tendency to think of Fumie, but know better due to the context clueing me in to the intended meaning. That is how I figure it out anyway.

Yeah, FS means primarily "figure skating", lol. The only non-ambiguous one IMO is "MK" which will always refer to you-know-who because there's nothing else to confuse it with. :laugh:

I think we all know what Hype means, BTW
 
I think #2 and #5 are the senses in which we usually use the word "hype" in discussing figure skaters.

Joe's point is that it is not "hype" to say, for instance, "I think Rachael Flatt has loads of talent and might well be a factor at senior nationals this year" (that's "praise").
 
As to whether hype is negative or not, I'd say it depends on who is getting hyped. Hype always leads to (external) pressure, and some thrive on it while others choke on it. (I'm sure we can all come up with examples of this.)
First of all, it's more than your hype term that causes pressure. There are many factors for causing nerves to get the best of someone. And you can name several skaters who do not get your hype term and who are nervous in front of a crowd while others thrive on it. It's like that in any sport. Nothing revealing here.

Your hype, though concerns fans of figure skating who praise a skater with the skaters results or anticpation of greater things to come. It seems to grate on you that someone becomes so popular. Just thinking; no offense intended. Are you bothered with other people's popularity?

In the Emily thread many posters are praising her chances for a win at Nats. Is that your kind of hype? To me, it's a discussion, but if it were about Kimmie, I think you would call it hype because some posters would praise her. Am I correct? Just trying to understand.

Joe
 
Yeah, FS means primarily "figure skating", lol. The only non-ambiguous one IMO is "MK" which will always refer to you-know-who because there's nothing else to confuse it with. :laugh:
:laugh: Yep, the context is usually the clue.:agree:
I think we all know what Hype means, BTW
One might imagine that, but apparently there was some discrepancy.;)

Praise I would conceder (after looking over the definition) is something that happens due to a happening, not so much of a "prediction." A "prediction" to me anyway would fit more in the area of Hype. Praise happens in correlation to what has happened, not what might. Might to me anyway is hype - and NOT negative either. Just speculation based on past performance receiving praise encourages one to hype with assurance on the future.

Like Sasha getting Hype that she will be a good actor, and then her performance received praise - from some.
In the Emily thread many posters are praising her chances for a win at Nats. Is that your kind of hype? To me, it's a discussion, but if it were about Kimmie, I think you would call it hype because some posters would praise her. Am I correct? Just trying to understand.

Joe
In my mind, you can't praise someone until it has been completed. I think that holds true with the definition as well.

I am trying to help, but sure some are thinking shut up SeaniBu.:laugh: :cool:
 
First of all, it's more than your hype term that causes pressure. There are many factors for causing nerves to get the best of someone. And you can name several skaters who do not get your hype term and who are nervous in front of a crowd while others thrive on it. It's like that in any sport. Nothing revealing here.

Your hype, though concerns fans of figure skating who praise a skater with the skaters results or anticpation of greater things to come. It seems to grate on you that someone becomes so popular. Just thinking; no offense intended. Are you bothered with other people's popularity?

In the Emily thread many posters are praising her chances for a win at Nats. Is that your kind of hype? To me, it's a discussion, but if it were about Kimmie, I think you would call it hype because some posters would praise her. Am I correct? Just trying to understand.

Joe

No and no. In fact I find the very idea that I dislike other people's popularity laughable...even ludicrous. Where did that come from? When I say "hype", in this case I mean the COMBINATION of hype from the press and "up-talk" from the fans. Nothing wrong with that.

And about Emily- that's not hype, it's discussion. You're right. What I DID see as hype though was most of that Caroline Zhang thread. It's not even those posts that praised her TALENT but the predictions thinking she'll make it BIG in the seniors that I consider to be fan hype.

Everything and anything can make a skater nervous. Hype may or may not make a skater nervous on the ice but it does add pressure. Pressure to me is different from nervousness. One can be under pressure and not feel it at all.
 
In my mind, you can't praise someone until it has been completed. I think that holds true with the definition as well.
So true, Seanibu, but how can a humble patron of the art of figure skating like me have so much power to (and you'll forgive the word) hypea skater without seeing the skater.

However, if I were a poster who is unable to give a word of praise for anyone in the sport, then I would use hype as a derrogatory term without realizing its true meaning because I would not want to praise anyone.

So if someone is not skating well you can just scoff it off by calling on hype.

Joe
 
Seems like we should just not say "hype" any more because it brings up strong feelings. :scratch:
 
I don't see anything wrong with strong feelings. Everything is going to be subject to someone's "ideas" anyway. I think the "trick" is to not be "belligerent" or "over sensitive" and allow for others to express their opinions within those perimeters.

:yes: Yes on occasion I can be a hypocrite, but I try to learn from my past mistakes.:cool:

BOT.
I am wondering if Kimmie or Emily are at all relieved that Sasha is not going to Nats, or if they didn't feel that she would stop them from placing higher anyway. You never know with FS, but what impact that had on their nerves if any???
 
That's definitely a point...but usually the stronger your competitors, the harder you'll have to try to win it. Kimmie, instead of actually needing to go all out, can just phone it in and still win. For Hughes it doesn't really matter because Meissner is her national competitor and she's never beaten her before.

I remember Kimmie (or her coach) saying that she really wanted a national title, though, so maybe she'll really fight for it even though there's not much of a fight to be had. But if Emily skates first and does really well, that may change things. This is for the other thread, though.
 
I remember Kimmie (or her coach) saying that she really wanted a national title, though, so maybe she'll really fight for it even though there's not much of a fight to be had. But if Emily skates first and does really well, that may change things. This is for the other thread, though.

The impact of Sasha not being there, or the fact Emily comes on strong if skating first applying "extra pressure" to Kimmie? That pressure might not be as great coming from Emily if Sasha was there to "possibly" add to it. ??? I see where you are coming from and think it fits both. JMO
 
Back
Top