Should They Return?

[Ptichka]

Then that means Meno and Sand could've gotten bronze.

Continuing the "what if" line, if G&G and M&D weren't in the game, than Eltsova and Bushkov would have been; they usually beat Meno & Sand (at post-Olympic Worlds, E&B were 3d to M&S's 6th).

 

[slutskayafan21]

Kovarikova/Novotny or Woetzel/Stuer may have also skated better without the reinstated pros. Those were 2 teams that seemed to suffer with their attitude that season, which may have had something to do with the 2 reinstated teams. Lots of what ifs. At their best either of those teams easily beat Meno/Sand and are competitive with Shishkova/Naumov.

Of course another what if, is without the 2 reinstated pairs the judges swing the other way on that close split between Brasseur/Eisler and Shishkova/Naumov. They may have been worried about the idea of the reigning World Champions skating 2 clean performances and not winning a medal at all. So without those 2 reinstated great pairs, they may have gone the other way in that decision as well.

Gordeeva/Grinkov and Miskutienok/Dmitriev were both clearly young enough they could both have easily had stayed until 1994 without ever going pro in the first place.

 

[decker]

Not as open as you think. In team sports there are 'farm' teams where the drudgery of waiting to be called up to the majors may be so long that it will be too late for most aspiring players to get to the majors. There are Rules for those sports, too.

Joe

I believe the intended meaning was that anyone who thinks it's worth a shot should be allowed to try for the Olympic team. For example, a basketball player does not give up Olympic eligibility when he or she goes to work for an NBA or WBA team. There is no silliness about temporarily retiring from pro competition every 4 years.

BTW, not all team sports have a farm system. There is no minor league for pro basketball or for (American) football. The players prove themselves on college teams, where years of eligibility are limited by the NCAA.

Technically it is possible to be drafted into the NBA out of high school or to make an NBA or NFL team through open tryouts. But it's not exactly a common occurrence, precisely because there is no farm system where teams can park an uncertain or immature player. It's all or nothing -- major league or unemployed.

Susan

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I believe the intended meaning was that anyone who thinks it's worth a shot should be allowed to try for the Olympic team. For example, a basketball player does not give up Olympic eligibility when he or she goes to work for an NBA or WBA team. There is no silliness about temporarily retiring from pro competition every 4 years.

I think that decision would rest with the player's team which the Oly Cttee is concerned with - not an individual

BTW, not all team sports have a farm system. There is no minor league for pro basketball or for (American) football. The players prove themselves on college teams, where years of eligibility are limited by the NCAA.

No truer words were ever said. The talent scouts are out all over.

Technically it is possible to be drafted into the NBA out of high school or to make an NBA or NFL team through open tryouts. But it's not exactly a common occurrence, precisely because there is no farm system where teams can park an uncertain or immature player. It's all or nothing -- major league or unemployed.Susan

Not sure if this has anything to do with re-entering a non professional organization. Maybe I misunderstood the premise of the thread topic.

Joe

 

[pengdequan]

i don't see anything wrond with retired skaters making a comeback, after all how many of us wished we hadn't quit that great job? But I feel that these desicions to return should be made by the skater with no pressure from federations etc.

Yes,they should enjoy every moment on the ice,just like s/z

 

[astimegoesby]

I have no problem with skaters returning to eligible competition as long as they truly want to come back and aren't just pressured into it by their federations, and as long as they're healthy and injury-free.

I guess that's my main problem with Plushenko and Yagudin's return to eligible skating. Both of them have experienced so many serious injuries over the years, I'd just hate to see either one of them permanently injure themselves trying to return to doing all the jumps they need to be serious contenders again. No gold medal is worth that kind of risk...especially since they've already both won everything in sight at the eligible level (except for Yagudin and Russian Nationals).

And since Yagudin's already lost his eligibility, if an exception is made for him to return to eligible competition, an exception will have to be made for all skaters who've ever lost their Olympic eligibility.

At least when the pros reinstated in 1993/94 , they all had to earn their spots on the Olympic team and none of them received any special treatment. They were also all injury-free and still had realistic chances of contending for gold, except for Katarina Witt...and I think Katarina's reasons for reinstating had nothing to do with winning a third Olympic gold medal.

 

[sillylionlove]

While I am a fan of Yagudin's here is my problem if the returns....

I was hoping at the next Olympics that there would be some new faces...not the same people that were in the past two Olympics. Does this make any sense???

 

[mvick]

While I am a fan of Yagudin's here is my problem if the returns....

I was hoping at the next Olympics that there would be some new faces...not the same people that were in the past two Olympics. Does this make any sense???

Yeah you are making sense.

However they should make their decision whether or not to return to the amateur competition on the basis of themselves, NOT on what other people would think. As long as they earn a spot without special treatment, I don't mind seeing familar faces in the Olympics.