Is Ashley Wagner a Spoiled Sport?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loved her silver World Championship performance.

So I'm no Ashley hater. That being said, girl, get OVER yourself. Your team bronze was not because of you, it was because of Davis and White. Believe it.

Why would it be because of them? They’re ice dancers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loved her silver World Championship performance.

So I'm no Ashley hater. That being said, girl, get OVER yourself. Your team bronze was not because of you, it was because of Davis and White. Believe it.

Why would it be because of them? They’re ice dancers.

Because it was at the Olympic team event, where skaters for each country from each division (Pairs, Dance, Ladies, Mens) compete - similar to the gymnastics team event.


http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/what-figure-skating-team-event

[Anonymous]

The entertainment thread was more appropriate...skating is hardly sports anymore and Wagner was more a kardashian than an olympic athlete.

It was more technical before they got rid of the actual "figure" part of the sport which is not entertaining to watch. I think that happened in 70s. Based on final standings, Wagner wasn't supposed to be on the team in 2014, but they gave her a spot. She shouldn't get a second gimme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The entertainment thread was more appropriate...skating is hardly sports anymore and Wagner was more a kardashian than an olympic athlete.

It was more technical before they got rid of the actual "figure" part of the sport which is not entertaining to watch. I think that happened in 70s. Based on final standings, Wagner wasn't supposed to be on the team in 2014, but they gave her a spot. She shouldn't get a second gimme.

Compulsory figures lasted through 1990 in competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a lot of sympathy for these judging-type sports b/c it is all so subjective. Imagine how tough it would be to be gracious after working your whole life and just missing it.

+1

This is exactly the reason why none of my children, and I have 4, participate in ice skating, basketball, baseball, football or any extra activities that involve a coach or panel that will decide who can and can not make the team. This is especially so true at the high school level and lot of politics and favors with parents. The outcome is often rigged.

Two of my kids play tennis and the other two play golf. In those two sports, team members and seeding is solely based on head to head competition via match play. At the end of the day, those that have the most wins make the team. Those that have the least, good luck next season.

Devil's advocate here but playing sports with a judging element prepared me a lot for the workplace, where bosses already have favorites, promotions are rigged, there are tons of politics/nepotism/favors, and you may not agree with someone else's assessment of you.

And how exactly were you prepared? Did you learn to be sneaky and maneuver into unearned benefits? I don't think any decent parent wants their kid learning such manipulativeness at an early age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a lot of sympathy for these judging-type sports b/c it is all so subjective. Imagine how tough it would be to be gracious after working your whole life and just missing it.

+1

This is exactly the reason why none of my children, and I have 4, participate in ice skating, basketball, baseball, football or any extra activities that involve a coach or panel that will decide who can and can not make the team. This is especially so true at the high school level and lot of politics and favors with parents. The outcome is often rigged.

Two of my kids play tennis and the other two play golf. In those two sports, team members and seeding is solely based on head to head competition via match play. At the end of the day, those that have the most wins make the team. Those that have the least, good luck next season.

Devil's advocate here but playing sports with a judging element prepared me a lot for the workplace, where bosses already have favorites, promotions are rigged, there are tons of politics/nepotism/favors, and you may not agree with someone else's assessment of you.

And how exactly were you prepared? Did you learn to be sneaky and maneuver into unearned benefits? I don't think any decent parent wants their kid learning such manipulativeness at an early age.

I’m not PP, but it sounds to me like she learned to live her life with grace and resilience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She really thought she could phone in a recycled short program and switch to an untested long program in an Olympic year. The silver at World's in 16 really went to her head.

This. I’m really not sure what she was thinking. When she switched back to La La Land she needed to get herself in another competition before nationals. I’m sure she also pissed off USFSA by trying to compete injured through Skate America (and stopping mid way through the free skate) rather than pulling out and letting another skater take her place.

She really lacks self-awareness of her shortcomings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She really thought she could phone in a recycled short program and switch to an untested long program in an Olympic year. The silver at World's in 16 really went to her head.

This. I’m really not sure what she was thinking. When she switched back to La La Land she needed to get herself in another competition before nationals. I’m sure she also pissed off USFSA by trying to compete injured through Skate America (and stopping mid way through the free skate) rather than pulling out and letting another skater take her place.

She really lacks self-awareness of her shortcomings.

If she had put up two clean skates, this would be a completely different thread. Ashley, I was done with you in your first jumping pass of your SP. You're not going to come with a clean combo, after running your mouth for months about how great you are despite injuries and blah blah blah? If she had skated two solid programs, she would have made the team. But you can't dick around and laugh off a shaky SP by saying you're "a long program skater." USFSA is not looking for "a long program skater," they are looking for a team member who can put up a solid SP and a stellar FS at the Olympics. She really believed her own hype. You can't tell me her endorsements and celebrity weren't distractions when she trotted out that tired SP AGAIN and was wishy-washy with her LP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She really thought she could phone in a recycled short program and switch to an untested long program in an Olympic year. The silver at World's in 16 really went to her head.

This. I’m really not sure what she was thinking. When she switched back to La La Land she needed to get herself in another competition before nationals. I’m sure she also pissed off USFSA by trying to compete injured through Skate America (and stopping mid way through the free skate) rather than pulling out and letting another skater take her place.

She really lacks self-awareness of her shortcomings.

If she had put up two clean skates, this would be a completely different thread. Ashley, I was done with you in your first jumping pass of your SP. You're not going to come with a clean combo, after running your mouth for months about how great you are despite injuries and blah blah blah? If she had skated two solid programs, she would have made the team. But you can't dick around and laugh off a shaky SP by saying you're "a long program skater." USFSA is not looking for "a long program skater," they are looking for a team member who can put up a solid SP and a stellar FS at the Olympics. She really believed her own hype. You can't tell me her endorsements and celebrity weren't distractions when she trotted out that tired SP AGAIN and was wishy-washy with her LP.

Bravo. I just can't with Ashley and her whinging. Either put up some good programs or shut it.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy watching figure skating during the Olympics. That’s about it. But I have to say that this thread is fascinating and entertaining. I appreciate the passion and knowledge of folks posting here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I enjoy watching figure skating during the Olympics. That’s about it. But I have to say that this thread is fascinating and entertaining. I appreciate the passion and knowledge of folks posting here.

I just feel like an expert after reading Dick Button's book, "Push Dick's Button," which is by turns insightful, esoteric, brilliant, hilarious, heartwarming, rambling and gossipy. It is so good, but probably best enjoyed if you've watched skating since the 1988 Olympics like I have!

Ashley had her moment at World's in 2016. After that, it just wasn't there for her, and she probably should have started making moves toward what is left of the professional circuit.

[Anonymous]

Pretty girls always expect to win in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty girls always expect to win in life.

What's sad about Ashley is I think she totally knew, going into even the 2017 season, that she didn't have it anymore. So instead of going all-in on her training, her programs, her coaching, etc., she went all-in on her endorsements and celebrity, hoping that being the de facto "face of the 2018 Winter Games" would get her a spot on the team.

In some ways, that was a savvy move, and it almost work. I hope she's been saving her money.

But if she had just skated clean--not at a stellar level, but CLEAN--and gotten two new good programs done, under her belt...she would have gotten bronze, and on the roster. Instead she talked a big game and played around, and now she has the nerve to complain.

Brandie had at least seven clean triples, with combinations. Mirai has a 3A that at least has all of its rotations. Karen Chen fought against illness to put out two solid, classic routines.

Ashley called her performance "laying it down." If that was her best, thank goodness she is not representing the USA this time around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And more than downhill skiing.

Any one of dcum's middle aged housewives could put on a pair of skiis and successfully down hill ski after an hour or two experience. They could ski quite well after a couple of trips to the slope.

To stay on your skates and do even the most basic of figure skating jumps requires a lot of training and athletic ability.

You’re an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Mirai handled the 2012 incident with complete grace, and trained even harder. Good for her. Too bad Ashley can't learn from her fellow competitors, or American veterans like Michelle Kwan.