Ashely Wagner will be in South Korea for the Olympics

[mag]

Ashley is articulate and honest, as always:

“No matter what happens with my career from here on out, I am proof that you don’t have to be the most talented, you don’t have to be the most graceful, you don’t have to be the most supported, but if you have the most heart, you can make anything happen.”

Ugh! I really, really, dislike this kind of comment. It is similar to the “you just have to want it badly enough” bs.

First off, Ashley had/has a ton of support. Yes, hard work is a huge part of it, but then there is luck, money, coaching and support (just ask Alaine Chartrand about that.) Having heart may be a good sound bite, but it comes off the wrong way. Did Ashley not have enough “heart” so that is why she didn’t make the team or is it that she now has “heart” and that is what has given her these new opportunities? IMHO, Ashley has these new opportunities because she was smart enough to get a good agent, worked hard enough at all the past opportunities that came her way, and built up a resume that would allow her to step into this new role. She should be proud of what she has accomplished. She is a role model and a great one to speak about hard work, perseverance, and overcoming adversity. That would be way more useful than a contrite sound bite about “the most heart.”

 

[aftershocks]

^^ Fair enough @mag, but if it's just a matter of semantics, it seems to me you are taking Ashley to task about her comment more than is really warranted. To me Ashley seems to be trying to put a good face on what happened and to move forward. I think it's commendable that Ashley has always seemed to be realistic about her weaknesses, but strong and savvy enough to not allow her limitations to prevent her from achieving her goals.

In my book, Ashley is a role model with gumption and heart! She certainly was not saying that no one else has heart except for her. That's a pointless and exaggerated reading of her comments. I don't think what she said is necessarily the same as the phrase you cited. It's quite true that Ashley created her own career, and that she's never been a particular favorite either domestically or internationally.

Ashley was referencing her skating career anyway. I didn't interpret her words as being related to anything she will be doing off the ice. Would you have liked it better if Ashley had switched out "most heart" for "most gumption and perseverance," or does that not suit your sensibilities either?

 

[StasiyaGalustyanLove]

Ashley was on Access Hollywood yesterday and they seemed to love her. I think she’d be a great correspondent for any media outlet. I also think she’s going as well in support of Adam.

Yesterday my wife called me into the living room and said that there was a skater on TV, so I got to see this interview with Ashley. I've always admired her skating, and I think she is one of the very few ladies who could pull off a program to "Color of the Night," which Galustyan used two seasons ago. Both ladies have a natural expressiveness on the ice, but Ashley seems to be getting lots of attention and it's exciting! I hope she is excited even though I am sure she is disappointed to not be competing in the Olympics. But at least there wasn't a controversy over the choices for the team like there was four years ago when it was between Ashley and Marai Nagasu!

I hope to see Ashley sharing her thoughts on television during the Olympics. I know that a lot of people like Johnny and Tara, but in my opinion they go on and on and on as if they're trying to fit as many words as possible into the broadcast! I would like to see more meaningful comments, not 700 worlds about sassy badgers. Dick Button is great but I saw him in San Jose and he looked very old and frail.

Ashley could bring fresh air to the coverage and would be better than some amateurs from You Tube or something like that!

 

[mag]

@aftershocks that would not suit my sensibilities. You seem to have missed the point. Ashley neither has the “most heart,” nor does having the most heart mean that “you can make anything happen.” The entire statement is ridiculous. The statement infers that if you didn’t make it happen it was because you didn’t have enough “heart,” whatever the heck “heart” actually is.

Yes, Ashley has made her own career as has pretty much everyone else out there. She has also had a lot of support, a lot of good luck, some bad luck, worked hard, been determined etc etc. It would just be really refreshing for those who have had these amazing opportunities to represent their country to be “refreshingly honest” about a) how much hard work it was, and b) how much luck and good fortune played into their success, and finally c) how much support they have had not just from their family and coaches, but from their governing body, from other skaters, from fans who buy SOI tickets, from agents etc etc. We appear to be living in a sound bite world where silly one line phrases are confused with thoughtfulness and self awareness and it seems to be annoying me much more than it used to.

 

[Carolla5501]

I am willing to give anyone a shot if it will get Tara and Johnny off my television

 

[aftershocks]

@aftershocks that would not suit my sensibilities. You seem to have missed the point. Ashley neither has the “most heart,” nor does having the most heart mean that “you can make anything happen.” The entire statement is ridiculous. The statement infers that if you didn’t make it happen it was because you didn’t have enough “heart,” whatever the heck “heart” actually is.

Yes, Ashley has made her own career as has pretty much everyone else out there. She has also had a lot of support, a lot of good luck, some bad luck, worked hard, been determined etc etc. It would just be really refreshing for those who have had these amazing opportunities to represent their country to be “refreshingly honest” about a) how much hard work it was, and b) how much luck and good fortune played into their success, and finally c) how much support they have had not just from their family and coaches, but from their governing body, from other skaters, from fans who buy SOI tickets, from agents etc etc. We appear to be living in a sound bite world where silly one line phrases are confused with thoughtfulness and self awareness and it seems to be annoying me much more than it used to.

Okay @mag, but I think you are over-analyzing Ashley's comments to the nth degree. It's like over-examining song lyrics: "I left my heart in San Francisco..." 'What do you mean, you loafer!? No one can leave their heart anywhere! And what the heck is meant by heart anyway? It can't make things happen for you if it's not in your body. Go back and get it already."

It seems as if you are taking 'most heart' personally for some reason. I don't believe Ashley intended it as a slam on anyone else not having heart. To each their own semantics. As far as Ashley maybe not having enough heart in recent years, I feel it would be accurate to say she ran out of steam after winning the silver medal at Worlds in 2016. And then she faced other complications physically and mentally. Her desire was still there, but athletes can't always get their bodies to respond the way they'd like in the moment. And, she's never exactly been a darling of U.S. fed.

There's no question that Ashley more than many skaters had to remake her career by taking stock and then deciding what she was willing to do to get to where she wanted to be. She enlisted help from John Nicks and Philip Mills, and later from Raf and Shae-Lynn. But it was Ashley who decided her career wasn't over. It would have been over, if left up to U.S fed. Those are interesting outline points you have noted, but unlike me on many occasions here, Ashley wasn't writing a thesis in her extemporaneous responses to the interviewer!

I think Ashley has worked tremendously hard and in many respects she 'helped make her own luck.' Raf has previously indicated how proud he is of Ashley for the technical strides she made in working with him to further her career. None of what she's accomplished came easy. She has definitely earned the opportunities now coming her way to try and forge a new career off the ice.

 

[Coco]

@mag I believe Ashley was referring to support from a federation. At 2008 Worlds, she had placed highest at Nationals of the three women sent by USFSA, but Meissner was probably promoted the most. She went to 2012 and 2013 Worlds as arguably the #1 US lady, but USFSA probably had to spend a lot of time and energy promoting Czisny and Gold respectively because they would need the benefit of the doubt the most.

So I think that is what she meant by support. I seriously doubt she was referring to her family or coaches. (Although this year, Raf kind of threw her under the bus with his public comments in the fall.)

 

[MacMadame]

I know that a lot of people like Johnny and Tara, but in my opinion they go on and on and on as if they're trying to fit as many words as possible into the broadcast!

The producers prompt them to do this. If someone else was in the broadcast booth, they'd be prompted and pushed to talk a lot too.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Ashley is articulate and honest, as always:
“No matter what happens with my career from here on out, I am proof that you don’t have to be the most talented, you don’t have to be the most graceful, you don’t have to be the most supported, but if you have the most heart, you can make anything happen.”

.... many things, except in venues where most talent and grace counts.... and cardio-vascular research

 

[aftershocks]

.... many things, except in venues where most talent and grace counts.... and cardio-vascular research

^^ Eh, talent and grace ain't nothing without full politicking backing, luck, youth, good looks, beating heart, sass, endurance, the always important hard work, desire, determination, a bit of back-loading maybe, ubiquitous arms overhead, lightning quick rotations, and quite often those vital judges' gifts, no matter the venue.

 

[StasiyaGalustyanLove]

The producers prompt them to do this. If someone else was in the broadcast booth, they'd be prompted and pushed to talk a lot too.

I hope the producers realize that they are causing pain and suffering to skating fans who are watching from home! First we have to listen to horrible lyrics in music in all four types of skating and then we have to hear even more words over the terrible words from Johnny and Tara! Another poster said they were "godless" and the more I think about it, the more I think that is really true.

Just reading this page with long posts is already enough words for me in a day! Maybe the long posts here explain why people want the broadcasters to talk a lot, too.

 

[Tinami Amori]

^^ Eh, talent and grace ain't nothing without full politicking backing, luck, youth, good looks, beating heart, sass, endurance, the always important hard work, desire, determination, a bit of back-loading maybe, ubiquitous arms overhead, lightning quick rotations, and quite often those vital judges' gifts, no matter the venue.

If you want to talk about Westminster Dog Show, take it to OTBT.

 

[aftershocks]

Now @Tinami Amori, tsk tsk, you can just leave precious furbaby digs out of your not so subtle dissing shtick. Or s**t, as it were.

Just reading this page with long posts is already enough words for me in a day! Maybe the long posts here explain why people want the broadcasters to talk a lot, too.

^^ But people don't want the broadcasters to talk a lot. It's NBC network that's afraid of not hearing their commentators regurgitating incessantly. I guess you not only had trouble reading posts in this thread, you also had trouble deciphering?

 

[StasiyaGalustyanLove]

Now @Tinami Amori, tsk tsk, you can just leave precious furbaby digs out of your not so subtle dissing shtick. Or s**t, as it were.



^^ But people don't want the broadcasters to talk a lot. It's NBC network that's afraid of not hearing their commentators regurgitating incessantly. I guess you not only had trouble reading posts in this thread, you also had trouble deciphering?

This post confused me even more than I already was so you're darn right! LOL! I guess my confusion says more about me than it says about what NBC wants.

 

[aftershocks]

^^ Most U.S. sports broadcast networks think silence by commentators might cause viewers to switch the channel. Plus network brass don't understand figure skating, nor how to cover it. You sound so new to figure skating, strangely so.

 

[Erin]

^^ Most U.S. sports broadcast networks think silence by commentators might cause viewers to switch the channel. Plus network brass don't understand figure skating, nor how to cover it. You sound so new to figure skating, strangely so.

@StasiyaGalustyanLove appears to be a pretty hardcore Elvis Stojko fan so I don't think he is as new to skating as you think he is.

 

[aftershocks]

^^ Yay Elvis! Will he be in Pyeongchang to cheer on his Canadian compadres I wonder?

 

[leafygreens]

@Sylvia They're allowed to do that? I thought you were disqualified if you were caught practicing somewhere else once official practices started you were disqualified. Is this only for the lead up to the start of the team event?

You can practice anywhere until the competition starts. For example, if the FS starts at 1:00, you're not allowed to practice anywhere else after 1:00. But prior to 1:00, you could practice anywhere. Official practices are really short and there would not be enough practice time to just do the official practices.

I agree with you spot on about Tara. I always thought she’d make a perfect commentator. However she’s getting more and more irritating. It’s getting less and less about the skaters but more about the Johnny and Tara show.

I think I prefer Ashley and Adam over Tara and Johnny.

I don't know how anyone can think Ashley is less irritating than Tara. Just having Ashley's "gift for gab" doesn't mean you can hop right into prime time commentary at the Olympics you lost a spot for. For one thing, Ashley is completely inexperienced. I guess nobody remembers that Tara and Johnny spent years working their way up in the non-prime-time commentary. I think Tara's commentary has settled down a little bit and is not as hard to listen to anymore. This takes time and experience working in your field. I much prefer Tanith and Ryan anyway. They are top notch, professional commentators.

 

[Rock2]

I think I prefer Ashley and Adam over Tara and Johnny.

....and Tanith and Charlie/Coughlin (or even Weiss) over Ashley and Adam

 

[Winnipeg]

Does Ashley have any experience at this?

 

[Carolla5501]

You can practice anywhere until the competition starts. For example, if the FS starts at 1:00, you're not allowed to practice anywhere else after 1:00. But prior to 1:00, you could practice anywhere. Official practices are really short and there would not be enough practice time to just do the official practices.





I don't know how anyone can think Ashley is less irritating than Tara. Just having Ashley's "gift for gab" doesn't mean you can hop right into prime time commentary at the Olympics you lost a spot for. For one thing, Ashley is completely inexperienced. I guess nobody remembers that Tara and Johnny spent years working their way up in the non-prime-time commentary. I think Tara's commentary has settled down a little bit and is not as hard to listen to anymore. This takes time and experience working in your field. I much prefer Tanith and Ryan anyway. They are top notch, professional commentators.

Tara has actually gotten WORSE IMHO. At the last Olympics I felt like she was trying to become a professional. Now, she's happy with the sideshow act she has going.

If this is "top notch professional" we have reached a new low. Watch some other sports (Heck listen to Tanith!) This is "look at us. aren't we cute" commentary. Top notch professionals don't pick favorites!

 

[mag]

You can practice anywhere until the competition starts. For example, if the FS starts at 1:00, you're not allowed to practice anywhere else after 1:00. But prior to 1:00, you could practice anywhere. Official practices are really short and there would not be enough practice time to just do the official practices.

Totally OT, but this may be correct where you are, but in many places it is not. Generally after you register for a qualifying or ISU event you cannot practice anywhere but on the practices provided. For example, at a Challenger/ Sr B type event, skaters generally arrive day one, practice day two, practice and do SP day three, practice and do LP day four. Obviously this varies somewhat depending on the skater and the distance they need to travel. In some places you must register a minimum of one hour prior to your first official practice or you will be disqualified. The Olympics is a bit different because of the length of the event and the fact that most athletes want to walk in the opening ceremony. I imagine there are still very specific rules about practice.

 

[Sylvia]

leafygreens is referring to USFS qualifying competitions, including Nationals.

The Olympics is a bit different because of the length of the event and the fact that most athletes want to walk in the opening ceremony. I imagine there are still very specific rules about practice.

https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...h-korea-for-the-olympics.103038/#post-5256788

 

[aml78]

I love that people are here trashing Ashley for a job that no one has a announced she has. People are inventing a reality so they can call her unqualified, bash her personality and question her credentials. Is this really happening?

 

[MacMadame]

I love that people are here trashing Ashley for a job that no one has a announced she has. People are inventing a reality so they can call her unqualified, bash her personality and question her credentials. Is this really happening?

And on the other side, people are declaring her a better commentator than Tara when she's never had that job and they have no idea how well she'll do.

What can I say: people like to speculate/gossip.

 

[aml78]

And on the other side, people are declaring her a better commentator than Tara when she's never had that job and they have no idea how well she'll do.

What can I say: people like to speculate/gossip.

Agreed that’s not right either. But I think Tara has given us enough evidence to show that she’s not great (or at least isn’t my cup of tea).

 

[RD]

I don't know how anyone can think Ashley is less irritating than Tara. Just having Ashley's "gift for gab" doesn't mean you can hop right into prime time commentary at the Olympics you lost a spot for. For one thing, Ashley is completely inexperienced.

While I fully agree with this, everyone has to start somewhere. I - we, actually - have no idea whether Wagner wants to be a commentator, interviewer, host, correspondent, writer, researcher, etc. All require different skill sets, and it would depend on what she wants to do, and what she is good at.

Actually, I don't even think we know the media company she is supposedly going to be working for at this point. Maybe that stuff is still in the works. My PERSONAL thought is that based on what I've seen from her, an "Access Hollywood" type of gig seems to be where her persona would fit best...maybe as a host of light, funny, short segments with athletes.

 

[FSWer]

Good.....lets give the girl the respect she deserves.

 

[aml78]

While I fully agree with this, everyone has to start somewhere. I - we, actually - have no idea whether Wagner wants to be a commentator, interviewer, host, correspondent, writer, researcher, etc. All require different skill sets, and it would depend on what she wants to do, and what she is good at.

Actually, I don't even think we know the media company she is supposedly going to be working for at this point. Maybe that stuff is still in the works. My PERSONAL thought is that based on what I've seen from her, an "Access Hollywood" type of gig seems to be where her persona would fit best...maybe as a host of light, funny, short segments with athletes.

I completely agree. I think short personality segments vs full blown commentary seems like it could be a great fit for her. And for all we know that’s what her interest is. She may not even want to be in sports commentary for the long term. Time will tell!

 

[Carolla5501]

And on the other side, people are declaring her a better commentator than Tara when she's never had that job and they have no idea how well she'll do.

What can I say: people like to speculate/gossip.

I am willing to risk it. How much worse could it get?