The comment about the US not "needing" 3 spots is exactly the kind of pointless commentary they engage in. The spots are not determined based on need; they are earned and are not going to change. If they want to critique the state of US ladies skating, fine. But it has little to do with the state of Japanese ladies skating. Yes, Japan appears stronger. But their failure to gain 3 spots actually improves the US ladies' chances.
Yet...that is also kind of the trajectory of people's comments here from week to week, I guess. Also, I thought that their issue with Frank was that they did not let people be themselves and that it was all cookie cutter, princess packaging?
Exactly, one could also make the argument that Canada does not particularly "need" 3 ladies spots, but the thing is they earned them. It's sad that we won't be able to see the full dept of Japanese ladies and their talent at the Olympics, but they did not earn the spots. With the way their ladies so far have been throwing it down, I could see Marin not making it to these olympics, despite her talent and sparkle. I mean, Wakaba has landed on the Japanese podium for more than a few years now for a reason. And I agree that Dave will probably throw a fit if that happens, but thems the rules, and it has nothing to do with the US ladies. Everything else, yes, Dave will be completely into someone one week and them completely dump them the next week, but that's nothing new, and it is a commentary show. He was all into Karen being the #1 lady and Ashley being past her prime a few weeks ago, then the next week he was "worried" about Karen and thought Polina could make a comeback, and then he didn't think Polina could do anything and was all into Mirai, and now he is saying that Ashley will be US champion again
The only real issue I took with their Mirai comments was Dave saying that her wearing Edea boots meant she was not "going for gold". They're not the prettiest, but I don't think Mirai would have switched brands mid season last year if she didn't have to, which she got into in her nationals post-SP conference last year. I am fine with her wearing Edeas if they do not literally split in half like her other boots did at Nationals and at Worlds, and she also needs something sturdier for the triple axel. Meagan Duhamel also commented on their Facebook page that switching to Edea made some of her foot injury issues go away. It's comments of TSL's like that that make me go
She does. I know some of the guys doing quads wear them too. I think Edeas look fugly, but they clearly work for a lot of skaters.
Technically speaking, Dave is a skater, much the way I am a skater. Started as an adult, has done some testing and competing, but will never know what it feels like to do triples and quads, fast spins with impossible position changes, or intricate footwork with speed, all in front of huge audiences and harsh judges, with the added pressure of the federation and sponsors. The difference, I believe, is that I appreciate what each competitor does, and when I nit-pick about artistry, costuming or music, it's not out there for the general public (usually done with one or two friends over dinner). When a skater falls on a jump on TV, I get mad FOR them, not AT them.
They don't even hide it that's true. On the other hand, when Browning is swept away by the performance he acknowleges it. But he can be very Canadian when he wants. But that is nothing compared to Tarasova when commentating on Russian skaters though. She does have her favourite. I HATED when she spoke out loud about the skaters' weight on live TV, that is crossing a big line. I strongly disliked Weir's and Lipinski commentary... especially about ice dance, they just know when it's time not to talk... and they do (can we have Tanith and Charlie please ? Charlie isn't shy about pointing technical flaws at all).
True. I rarely "hate" or "rip apart" anything. Part of my upbringing I guess.
Me too. I am no saint, that is for sure, but this is our sport, and we should respect the work that goes into to present day figure skating. We can critique with respect. It takes discipline, haha, but it is possible!
