- Joined
- May 15, 2009
I did use baited one time and got immediate response that it has nothing to do with fishing.
Unless you were ice fishing - and brought along your skates. Then it would all come together.
I did use baited one time and got immediate response that it has nothing to do with fishing.
Worlds is the premier event in the non-Olympic years, so what in the "world" are they thinking? Someone needs to explain the reasoning here.
It is funny to think US Skating is now or has ever been totally fair. But atleast we make an effort to have a competitive and fair selection process.
Do you think it's fair to make a World or Olympic team selection based on Nationals alone? I don't think so. It's an effort to raise the value of the US Nationals competition, but it's not fair for the entire country to send some one who peaked in one competition but couldn't and is not the representitive of the power and the level of the skating in this country. Yes, I realized that there will be too easy having the under-the-table deals and special interests if there is not a certain selecting guide. Maybe the Japanese way is a lot more fair.
I dont see much importance at all to GP except as a money maker for ISU.
But what can be more fair than saying, "this is it. Skate your best at Natls if you want to go to Olympics."
That worked for US Skating for like 60-70 years and I think we have won enough medals to show that using Natls to pick Olympic team is viable.
I think it's very important, we can change the names or the places, but the fact that we have these competitions are very important for keeping this sport going.
Sounds too simple to me. I think anything if it's too simple, it will inevitably have more holes need to be filled.
How many medals are enough medals?
Is it possible that Kurt Browning was the last Canadian champion with big "it" factor?
Maybe Borne and Kraatz.
It's too bad that we can't make something out of ice dancing. The best U.S. skaters right now are Belbin and Agosto and Davis and White. With S&B, H&H, C&Z and the S's coming up right behind them. "It" up the wazoo, if you ask me.
But nobody asked me. Unfortunately, all the negatives of figure skating in the public mind -- sissy sport, cheating and politics -- are all the more magnified for ice dancing.
Unfortunately, all the negatives of figure skating in the public mind -- sissy sport, cheating and politics -- are all the more magnified for ice dancing.
Are you so sure about that? Some of the negatives - cheating - can be applied to the Pairs after SLC scandal. As to the sissy factor - hmmm - unfortunately not sure it is any bigger in Dance than in.....men's singles.
If that were true, how would you explain the popularity of "Dancing With The Stars?"
Unfortunately, all the negatives of figure skating in the public mind -- sissy sport, cheating and politics -- are all the more magnified for ice dancing.
As an ancient one, who watched the '84 Sarajevo games I remember the impact T/D made. I remember the buzz surrounding their Gala skate and how hyped it was, much more than either Katerina or Scott.
that's because T/D skated a 'perfect program' according to the judges. To this day their perfect sixes amaze people... even those that don't know a thing about the sport.
Scott, on the other hand, won by reputation more than by what he put out on the ice the final night of competition (this is by his own admission)... had figures not been the place where judges did most of their dealing - we might not have Stars on Ice... or "Scott Hamilton - Olympic Champion"
Plus, there is still a feeling that ice dance teams have to get in line..
Is it possible that Kurt Browning was the last Canadian champion with big "it" factor?
.
But isn't the same thing true for Johnny? Joubert - check (Olympics, Worlds 2005 come to my mind), Lambiel - check (twice at a Grand Prix in 2007, Worlds 2008), Lysacek - check (Nationals, CoC 2007), Takahashi - check (Worlds 2008), Buttle - check (GPs), Chan - check (Worlds 2008)...
I don't want to diminish Lysacek's accomplishments, but I don't think he is that much better than everyone else. And he also had his downs, off the podium in 2007 after medaling at Worlds 2005 and 2006, not on the podium at the Olympics.
He will go to the Olympics as the reigning World Champion, that is written in stone. But is he really the leading US-American man? I prefer to see it more open, Abbott and Weir have just as much potential and chances the coming season. Plus Rippon is coming from a very good experience at Junior Worlds and seems to be able to project his love for skating onto the ice.