Has anyone read this book: Skating on Air: The Broadcast History of an Olympic Marque

[aliceanne]

I just received an ad from Amazon for this and was curious if any FSUers were familiar with this book or author.

I prefer anecdotal histories written by people involved with skating over dry scholarly works trying to attach some sociolgical significance to skating. OK, I just like gossip! Toller's books are my favorite.

[Sylvia]

The full title of the book is: Skating on Air: The Broadcast History of an Olympic Marquee Sport by Kelli Lawrence (with Foreword by Verne Lundquist).

There's a press release and a short Q&A with the author here: http://www.lifeskate.com/skate/2011/...uee-sport.html

[madm]

It's available from Amazon for $40, but the screen says they only have 3 copies in stock.

[geena]

Hi Aliceanne,

I'm the author of "Skating on Air" (Kelli)... I don't know that the book is particularly gossipy :-), but I interviewed over 30 folks involved either as skaters, on-air broadcasters, behind-the-scenes TV folk, or some combination of all three. I can assure you that it is DEEP in anecdotes! (And while it isn't exactly a coffee table book, it has over 70 photos too.)

In addition to the thing I did with Lifeskate, you can read a longer interview I did with Vlad at World Figure Skating...

http://worldskating.blogspot.com/201...istory-of.html

If you (or any other FSU readers/posters) decide to get "Skating on Air," thanks so much... and if you like it, please tell your friends :-D

[skatesindreams]

geena, I'm ordering it, now.

[aliceanne]

Hi Aliceanne,

I'm the author of "Skating on Air" (Kelli)... I don't know that the book is particularly gossipy :-), but I interviewed over 30 folks involved either as skaters, on-air broadcasters, behind-the-scenes TV folk, or some combination of all three. I can assure you that it is DEEP in anecdotes! (And while it isn't exactly a coffee table book, it has over 70 photos too.)

In addition to the thing I did with Lifeskate, you can read a longer interview I did with Vlad at World Figure Skating...

http://worldskating.blogspot.com/201...istory-of.html

If you (or any other FSU readers/posters) decide to get "Skating on Air," thanks so much... and if you like it, please tell your friends :-D

Lots of photos = good. I'll buy it.

[manleywoman]

Just got my copy a few days ago, so I'm looking forward to reading it!

[geena]

Yea Manleywoman! I'm finding out when the preview copies go out from my "previewers" rather than my publisher Same thing happened with Laura at Required Elements.

I should add that most of the photos (except for maybe 10-12 of the older ones) are from the collections of people that have worked behind the scenes for the different networks (ABC, CBS, etc)... in the past 20-30 years... I don't think they've been published before.

Big THANKS to anyone who's so inclined to get the book. I think you'll like it!

[snoopysnake]

I got it and am enjoying it very much.

[geena]

I got it and am enjoying it very much.

So glad to hear it, Snoopysnake!

[taf2002]

geena, I was going to welcome you to the board but I see you've been a member for awhile. I'm glad you decided to join the discussion. I am looking forward to reading this book and I really hope it is well received.

[geena]

geena, I was going to welcome you to the board but I see you've been a member for awhile. I'm glad you decided to join the discussion. I am looking forward to reading this book and I really hope it is well received.

Thank you Taf! Yeah, I'm essentially a lurker that's chimed in maybe 3 times in 5 years The last time I posted might have been to announce the debut of my "State of the Skate" blog in 2008.

[geena]

Hi all--

Just wanted to add the link to this article about the book that ran in one of the suburban Chicago newspapers last week. I did a book-signing up there (near Chicago) a few days ago; if anyone has a location suggestion for my next one please post! Thanks!

http://oakpark.suntimes.com/entertai...the-sport.html

[aliceanne]

I just finished reading the book. It is not light reading (you won't read it in 1 or 2 days) but it is a very comprehensive study of figure skating marketing in the U.S. As promised it has lots of pictures. My only disappointment was that it didn't have any interviews or information about other countries, but I guess the author didn't have access to that information or maybe it would have been too long?

What was interesting was how the network people had their favorites to win (we always hear about the judges) and I can imagine that the degree or type of exposure a skater (especially a teenager) gets could affect them competitively. It makes you realize how important a coach is at the international level is in terms of helping the skater filter information and feedback about their skating.

There is also a lot of technical information relating to filming and producing skating shows and competitions for those interested in skating photograpy and journalism.

[manleywoman]

Hi all--

Just wanted to add the link to this article about the book that ran in one of the suburban Chicago newspapers last week. I did a book-signing up there (near Chicago) a few days ago; if anyone has a location suggestion for my next one please post! Thanks!

http://oakpark.suntimes.com/entertai...the-sport.html

Wish I'd known, I woujld have gone!

[geena]

My only disappointment was that it didn't have any interviews or information about other countries, but I guess the author didn't have access to that information or maybe it would have been too long?

What was interesting was how the network people had their favorites to win (we always hear about the judges) and I can imagine that the degree or type of exposure a skater (especially a teenager) gets could affect them competitively. It makes you realize how important a coach is at the international level is in terms of helping the skater filter information and feedback about their skating.

You're kind of correct on both counts, Aliceanne, w/regards to why I didn't open up the discussion (in the book) to other countries. The content of the book is definitely PACKED as is (as you noted, not a light read!), so the idea of going beyond the US coverage with perhaps another 30+ interview subjects was fleeting for me at best, at least this time around. Secondly, as someone who is only familiar with US coverage I wasn't sure I was the best one to discuss coverage in other countries.

Sounded like you liked the book otherwise--? I hope so!

[geena]

And Manleywoman... aw, rats! I'd have loved to see you there. You need to "like" my Facebook page for "Skating on Air"...

(The rest of the FSU readers too!)

But you bring up a good point. I'll try to mention future signings here, if possible.

I'll likely be up in the Chicago area again for a signing later this year.

[geena]

Sorry I goofed the quote from Aliceanne on my earliest post today! The first two paragraphs were supposed to be listed as a quote (with my comments below them) but I clearly didn't do it right!

[aliceanne]

Sorry I goofed the quote from Aliceanne on my earliest post today! The first two paragraphs were supposed to be listed as a quote (with my comments below them) but I clearly didn't do it right!

That's OK, I struggle with quotes when I'm on my cell.

Yes, I liked the book.

What surprised me was the way that Rick Gentile the head at ABC (which was covering Nagano) said point blank that "we felt the wrong skater won" (referring to the ladies competition at the 1998 Olympics). It's one thing for him to have a personal opinion, but ABC was picking skaters to back?

Then at Salt Lake in 2002 Meg Streeter (ABC director) said that "maybe Michelle has stayed in the game too long, she is no longer fresh". I was thinking wow imagine the skaters hearing that. She's only 21 and they make her sound over-the-hill. Four years ago she was their skater.

It makes me wonder if hearing comments like that was part of the reason Michelle left Lori and Frank a few months before the Olympics. I had heard her say that she was getting comments that she needed to spice things up.

[geena]

Quick correction-- Rick Gentile (and the Nagano Olympics) were part of CBS' coverage, not ABC.

In that particular case, what I think he was saying was that the CBS crew had invested more time in Michelle (as the gold medal favorite) than Tara-- via fluff pieces, research, etc.-- so the natural inclination was for the CBS crew to root the one they felt they "knew" better. But at the end of the day, the producer's job is to tell the story that unfolded-- whatever it happens to be. I think Gentile feels they he did that successfully. And the director's job is to present each skater's program in the best light, regardless of who it is (I should add that Bob Fishman, who directed in '98, made no mention of having a favorite. To be honest, he directs SO many different sporting things in a year I don't think he has time to pick favorites!)

As for Meg Streeter-- while she clearly formed opinions of certain skaters as she went along, I think she by and large she kept those opinions to herself (at least at the time). The one she was more concerned with was Dick Button-- remember that she once talked to him about toning down his comments so as not to hurt the skaters' feelings... even though she later felt that she'd made a mistake!

You make a really good point about the whole idea of broadcasters getting so invested in the skaters! With so many of them admittedly in love with this sport, I guess it's fair to call it a job hazard at times