Debbi Wilkes' column is back

[Artemis]

Only one offering so far, but that will grow with the season.

http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/debbi_wilkes.asp

[zowie]

I agree with Debbi. In with the new!

[Doug]

Ouch. I find the implied slam (particularly B&K) a little harsh. I feel she has oversimplied the situation, making it sound like those injured are so out of greed to grab all available golden rings.

I think with the life span of a skating career what it is, the skaters have every right to make their own decisions about which of those options they wish to pursue, in balance with their own particular goals for where they are in their career.

But to suggest it is primarily greed or ignorance is not entirely fair. Nor is the notion their skating is stale (ie boring) simply because it is no longer in its infancy development. B&K may not be my favorite skaters, but I repect their decison to come back this year to take a stab at a life long goal that may just finally be in their reach.

I think we can give these skaters the respect they deserve (and have earned), AND still be enthused for the new crowd and the excitement they bring.

[FunkyDiva]

I agree that Debbi seems a bit harsh here, particularly having seen Alexei Yagudin's SP this past Monday night. I don't think "stale" or "same old, same old" applies to this program, and he wasn't even at full strength when he skated. As for the other members of the "old" guard, I think it should be entirely up to the skaters to determine when they "go pro."

Kim

[verte76]

Well, I am nervous about all of these injuries. Perhaps there are too many skating competitions. By the same token, if Shae and Vic want another go at a World Championship, let them go for it. I wouldn't mind seeing some fresh blood, though. I wish they'd show more young skaters, like the junior Grand Prix competitors who are moving into seniors.

[Gaela]

I'd didn't get the feeling she was calling anyone greedy, she was just saying that amateur competition was in many ways a preferable life to continual touring.

She's kind of bored with the 'same old' skaters being a shoe in too win, waiting for the next chapter in skating to be written. Sale and Pelletier were not even a team in '98, and look at how they exploded on the world stage. Debbie's saying it's time for something like that too happen. I too am eager to see the next generation. I'm excited that Brian Joubert won Skate America, and I'm way more excited about Skate Canada now that Yagudin is gone.

[Big Guy]

Originally posted by zowie
I agree with Debbi. In with the new!

Out with the old and in with the best I say.
I can’t speak to all disciplines since my experience is mostly with dance.
In dance the mentality that teams are expected to do the time and then at some point in their career if they have waited long enough they may become the next chosen ones. This notion is bunk but I see and hear it at all levels of the discipline. This is a bizarre concept for anyone that believes in sport. Take the senior Canadian teams, at this rate they will be 30 - 32 years old by 2006 if they all continue to wait in hopes of being crowned the next chosen ones. Talk about killing the enthusiasm of youth in armature sport. I give the old teams credit for sticking it out but all teams, young and old, should be judged strictly on ability, not longevity. I think the winds of change are blowing I just hope the judges can feel the breeze. Debbi has a valid point.