U.S. Ladies [#20]: In a Week, Maybe Two, They'll Make You a Star

[Tinami Amori]

Why? Because as has been stated by many on this board, the international judges are not that positive toward Nagasu or Chen. I would imaging that when one or both of them go splat at the Olympics, the USFSA will come crawling back to Ashley to turn in a solid skate at Worlds to retain the three world team spots. It is highly unlikely that Bell or Wang could turn in the needed solid performance.

I doubt that once a skater is named to the Worlds Team, his/her participation further depends on the placements at the Olympics or 4CC.

 

[mag]

I doubt that once a skater is named to the Worlds Team, his/her participation further depends on the placements at the Olympics or 4CC.

I think we call that the Liam Firus factor

 

[bardtoob]

When were they born? They changed the citizenship laws fairly recently (at least recent for me) because for the longest time the children of Turkish workers did not have citizenship.

And this is an important point because some children literally had no citizenship (stateless) because multiple generations were ineligible for German citizenship despite living in Germany for multiple generations and the child was ineligible for Turkish citizenship because the child was too far removed from Turkey.

 

[Sylvia]

Cross-posting from the Ashley Wagner cheer thread...

Sponsors Sticking By Ashley Wagner After She Fails To Make U.S. Figure Skating Team
http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Da...Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Ashley-Wagner.aspx?

Ashley Wagner's agent and sponsors promise her endorsements are safe after she failed to make the U.S. figure skating team for Pyeongchang following a fourth-place finish at the U.S. nationals on Friday. Wagner, who won a Bronze Medal at the '14 Sochi Games as part of the team competition, is among the most commercially active Olympians in years to miss the team, as she has seven sponsors and a place in NBC's promotional campaign. She has deals with Bridgestone, Dick's Sporting Goods, Nike, Procter & Gamble, Samsung, Toyota and Zico coconut water, according to CAA's Lowell Taub, who reps Wagner. Financial terms of Wagner's deals are not public, but Olympic endorsements almost always include incentive payments for making the team and medaling. Several sponsors noted that Wagner's medal from Sochi gives her value to marketers more permanence, regardless of this year's disappointment. "She is still and will always be an Olympian who has been on the Olympic podium," said Bridgestone Americas VP/Sports & Event Marketing & Training Phil Pacsi. "That is something that should be celebrated, and we have many plans to do just that.” Bridgestone will not pull any current television ads or other creative involving Wagner. Toyota's marketing plans also will not change because of the news, Toyota Marketing Communications Manager Leigh Anne Sessions said. "She has a long and successful history in the Olympics and we selected her to be part of Team Toyota because we believe in her," Sessions said.

 

[Vagabond]

I guess she won't be parking cars or pumping gas any time soon.

 

[bardtoob]

I am happy for Wagner that her sponsors are supporting her. It will give her time to layout her plans for the future

 

[kwanfan1818]

And this is an important point because some children literally had no citizenship (stateless) because multiple generations were ineligible for German citizenship despite living in Germany for multiple generations and the child was ineligible for Turkish citizenship because the child was too far removed from Turkey.

I read in passing that there was pressure to change the law because it was considered a human rights issue.

Germans can hold dual citizenship with certain countries, but not the US and Canada. Van Cleave had to renounce both to get his German citizenship.

 

[Dr.Siouxs]

I guess she won't be parking cars or pumping gas any time soon.

Check back in 5 years

Actually, I wouldn't mind if Ashley replaced that dreadful dullard Tonia Kwaitkowski or even Tara Lipitstain. She certainly has the gift of gab, isn't it time for a change in the commentater booth?

 

[Vagabond]

Check back in 5 years

Calendared.

 

[Deleted member 19433]

Ashley was born on a US military base in Heidelberg where her American-born father was stationed. That does not confer German citizenship, although I believe she speaks German.

I haven't seen any evidence that Ashley would consider skating for Germany, but she wouldn't need to be a citizen to do so in non-Olympic international competition. She would need to reside there for at least one year, per ISU rules, and would have to sit out for 12 months. I remember commentators mentioning that Andrejs Vlascenko wasn't eligible to compete in the Olympics for Germany because he was a Latvian citizen, but he did represent them in other intern. Interestingly, he also was born in Germany to a military family but grew up in (then-Soviet) Latvia, and moved back to Germany as a young adult.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrejs_Vlascenko
http://isu.org/isu-statutes-constit...onstitution-and-general-regulations-2016/file

 

[tylersf]

Nagasu finished 4th in her 1st Olympics in 2010 and Chen finished 4th at Worlds last year (highest US finisher). There is evidence that they can do well at big competitions. None of the US Ladies had a perfect season, but those who rose to the occasion at Nationals were rewarded. Nagasu's efforts in upgrading her content culminated in podium-worthy skates at Nationals. Karen Chen pulled it together at 2018 Nationals. Bradie Tennell has been good all the way up to Nationals.
You've already pre-judged and deemed them failures even before the Games started. In essence, you've presumed them guilty before the trial has begun.

Why? Because as has been stated by many on this board, the international judges are not that positive toward Nagasu or Chen. I would imaging that when one or both of them go splat at the Olympics, the USFSA will come crawling back to Ashley to turn in a solid skate at Worlds to retain the three world team spots. It is highly unlikely that Bell or Wang could turn in the needed solid performance.

 

[pkmnfan]

Also for the past 2 seasons, Mirai had a bunch of URs during the GP season, but skated clean LPs at 4CCs and medalled. She could beat Bradie at the Olympics if she does that again and skates a decent short.

 

[Frida80]

I love to go through possibilities based on variables of each skater and competition. This season, it’s incredible how much you can predict based on just looking at the situation. There’s always the most logical podium. But that logical result is seldom the end result. Trust me when I say, there is a possibility of a shake up at the OG. It all comes down to intangibles and how the dice rolls.

So instead of moping that these ladies won’t make it to the podium, just go in with an open mind. I’ve only seen a few OG where the predictions are right. As can see from the men’s event at US nationals, you never know what will happen in the end.

 

[Areski]

And this is an important point because some children literally had no citizenship (stateless) because multiple generations were ineligible for German citizenship despite living in Germany for multiple generations and the child was ineligible for Turkish citizenship because the child was too far removed from Turkey.

Latvia has over 200 thousands of non-citizens that live there. Most of them are Russian who never obtained Latvian citizenship after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
At the same time they're not officially stateless nor they can be called citizens of any other country.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-citizens_(Latvia)

 

[edwina]

Good for Ashley for making I presume millions out of skating, that's a tough job. It was interesting in TSL recap that she was dumped by usfs due to SA, that no one believed she was injured that bad. Even if that's true, it doesn't matter since she already has had the career to make a living out of it.

 

[Yazmeen]

Good for Ashley for making I presume millions out of skating, that's a tough job. It was interesting in TSL recap that she was dumped by usfs due to SA, that no one believed she was injured that bad. Even if that's true, it doesn't matter since she already has had the career to make a living out of it.

I don't follow TSL because Dave makes my teeth hurt. They have actual PROOF she was "dumped" because of SA?

 

[Areski]

I don't follow TSL because Dave makes my teeth hurt. They have actual PROOF she was "dumped" because of SA?

I hardly follow either but I bet it's just one of his multiple, gossipy assumptions. Actually one of the most harmless ones. Lending any credence to it is moot.

 

[Carolla5501]

Good for Ashley for making I presume millions out of skating, that's a tough job. It was interesting in TSL recap that she was dumped by usfs due to SA, that no one believed she was injured that bad. Even if that's true, it doesn't matter since she already has had the career to make a living out of it.

Really, it's "interesting" that TSL made up gossip to stir people up???? Trash talking should not be rewarded by being considered facts!

 

[bardtoob]

To say Ashley was dumped due to SA is like saying water is wet.

 

[chachacha]

Really, it's "interesting" that TSL made up gossip to stir people up???? Trash talking should not be rewarded by being considered facts!

TSL is like a tabloid in my opinion and I have not watched their recaps for awhile. It is like reading the "Enquirer" Unfortunately people should just stop watching, but I'm sure people will not. TSL really has unfortunately took a nose dive and that is why I'm sure Jenny Kirk stopped being a part of the David Lease bashing of skaters show. It is Bias and I won't give them my view count and others who respect the sport should also not contribute to TSL by watching, but some people just like trash

 

[Coco]

Well, Adam also got injured or re-injured there, kept skating and finished strong.

Who did USFSA stick their neck out for?

That is the takeaway for young skaters, imo.

 

[Wyliefan]

Because as we all know, Ashley was feeling perfectly fine and just decided to stop skating on a whim, like she's done hundreds of times in the past.

 

[berthesghost]

Well, Adam also got injured or re-injured there, kept skating and finished strong.

Who did USFSA stick their neck out for?

That is the takeaway for young skaters, imo.

I doubt it. A bigger takeaway for me personally is the $ fine they gave Flatt for skating injured. But for the sake of argument, let’s stick with the Dickensian idea that kids needs to learn the lesson of working through pain and possibly inciting career ending injury in order to please “the man” who holds all the cards. WTF kind of hunger games type world are we leaving these kids?

 

[Coco]

I don't disagree with you that it's a bad takeaway. I'm just pointing out that it is a takeaway to a young skater who is following the sport.

 

[soogar]

I read in passing that there was pressure to change the law because it was considered a human rights issue.

Germans can hold dual citizenship with certain countries, but not the US and Canada. Van Cleave had to renounce both to get his German citizenship.

Hmm, I hold dual German/US citizenship and did not have to renounce my American citizenship, and German consulate was aware that I was a US citizen when I applied for the German passport. The law is really complicated because there are multiple tiers of people depending on date of birth and how and when the citizenship was acquired. I acquired my citizenship after the US citizenship so technically I did not forfeit German citizenship since I was already a US citizen. I think that it is different for Germans who want to become US citizens that they may forfeit their citizenship if they obtain a US passport.

 

[Yazmeen]

Here's an interesting question and I don't in any way know what Ashley was thinking, but if she managed to get that bronze medal, did she really think she'd be part of the team event? Based on Mirai at least getting credit for rotating the triple axel and Bradie's tech, I would see the team event either using just Bradie, or Mirai in the short, Bradie in the long.

 

[Clutz]

To say Ashley was dumped due to SA is like saying water is wet.

The same thing happened to Todd Eldridge after the 2002 Worlds. Going into the Olympics, he was guaranteed certain competitions and "professional" opportunities for 2002-2003 but then after he failed to medal at Olympics (yes, he medaled at Worlds) they decided to focus their interests on Goebel and Weiss as it seemed at the time that they were the only two who compete in a Quad world.

 

[jiejie]

Here's an interesting question and I don't in any way know what Ashley was thinking, but if she managed to get that bronze medal, did she really think she'd be part of the team event? Based on Mirai at least getting credit for rotating the triple axel and Bradie's tech, I would see the team event either using just Bradie, or Mirai in the short, Bradie in the long.

I think this is exactly how it would have played out. Even if Ashley had won/been awarded an Olympic spot, it's far more likely that Bradie or a Mirai + Bradie combination would have been used for the team event, leaving Ashley in the cheering box only.

 

[Xela M]

I'm heartbroken for Ashley, but if I am completely honest... it's absolutely her own fault. She became too complacent. She just wasn't as hungry as the other girls on the day

 

[baramin]

I think Ashley’s problem has always been that she’s too hungry when it comes to the Olympics. This is the 3rd time she’s finished one spot too low.

The Olympics, weirdly, seem to bring out Mirai’s best. I thought it was interesting that in the press conference, Mirai noted the difference between this year & last year was this year she was prepared to make mistakes in the long & to work around them. It seems like Ashley has never quite managed to get to into that mindset in Oly years—she ends up trying to defend against possible errors, tightening up in the process, rather than attacking to offset any errors with a slew if highlights.