Johnny also said on-air during the 2010 Worlds that he was 'told to be very pro-American' in the middle of raving about Ksenia Makarova.
This sprung the legendary "I'm just here so I don't get fined."In most professional sports if an athlete chooses NOT to talk to the media there is a penalty. Now I don't believe that's true in college sports, but there is a precedent for athletes being "grilled" (Watch the Super Bowl Sunday for a real life example) As for the couch, this is happening in a lot of Olympic sports. All the ski, snowboard sports come to mind immediately. They even tried something like this for gymnastics individual events. ( I remember at World's last year when Simone finished one of her events the athletes currently in 1, 2 and 3 immediately moved without even waiting on the scores)
That's what Gracie says. She would get the same boring handful of questions over and over and was trained to overcome her lack of filter and just say boring princess stuff. But, at the same time, the mixed zone was really not fun.
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Agree that promoting all of these things is good for the sport, but have we seen that happen? USFS did nothing with Ilia's 4A...what a missed opportunity. And it's not as if Ilia shies away from attention. There is a lot USFS could be promoting on whatever channels to draw in fans. Couch-sitting doesn't need to be (and isn't, IMO) one of them.
I don't see much benefit from it, and I don't think it's healthy for the skaters.
There are lots of dysfunctional moments in athletes' lives. I don't think we're entitled to see them. I think the obvious stress we saw on these teens is a good argument for giving them space. It's not like anything changed as a result of seeing the meltdowns. And if the cameras aren't there for the purpose of witnessing meltdowns, what is the reason for having them? How many sports have cameras backstage?
I don't see that as comparable to backstage in skating. I see that as similar to the 6-minute warm-up or showing the skater just as they are about to be called to the ice or showing skater families cheering on the skaters. What is going on in the bullpen is directly relevant to what is happening or about to happen on the field.
It's funny that in curling, they now have the teams miked up discussing shot strategy. That might not help if you don't understand Czech, Italian, Swedish, German, Russian, Mandarin, etc. though
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I mean literally where the public cannot otherwise see the skaters. That's where the cameras were filming Isabeau after the Nationals long program and what prompted my comment that launched this whole discussion. Rinkside and Kiss and Cry are fair game for cameras to me.
I hear people say "change coaches" constantly. Maybe they can't afford another coach, maybe they don't WANT another coach. Unless you are willing to pay for it, I don't think it's a helpful thing to say.
These days. All of them.
Agree that skaters should be able to have private spaces to have meltdowns off camera. I wasn't bothered by the camera showing Trusova's rinkside meltdown (not that the meltdown was fun to watch) b/c that was in full view of the spectators. I also don't mind cameras showing the skaters walking out for warmup since most of the audience can see the skaters coming through the curtain area. I would favor having a specific, very limited area where cameras can be backstage, leaving plenty of space/rooms for skaters to escape to w/o cameras watching.
I noticed that as well. Not only does she not seem to be mentioned again, Gracie's description of their mother's extreme interest/obsession in her skating and, perhaps to a lesser degree, her twin sister's, made me wonder how this older half sister fit in with all of that. Gracie clearly makes the point they all had roles so what about Kendra?
Gracie mentions that her dad was good with Kendra. Of course, that doesn't mean she always lived with the Gold family. Gracie also doesn't give her last name, so perhaps Kendra prefers to keep a low profile.
My daughter told me yesterday how much she loved Surya as a kid. Did she know from edges? Nope. But she loved the backflip and the attitude. She even remembered Surya’s medal stand tantrum after losing to Yuka and she was all of 7 years old at the time.
Commentators would stand outside reporting on who entered and the decibel level of the screaming. The network would want a camera inside which negates the whole purpose of a rage room.
