My Outrage Spilleth Over

Now that the Worlds are done, I have to stop reading the news articles about them. I get angrier and angrier with each one, and NBC's dreadful coverage of the ladies free skate had already ticked me off to begin with!

I have been watching skating for almost 20 years, on ABC, CBS, FOX, and CBC and CTV (oh, for the days of Canadian coverage! I'd even endure the obnoxious commentators to get that kind of depth again). NBC is, hands down, the worst ever. I have never, ever, ever seen a station cover an international competition and not show every one of its own country's skaters, regardless of their standing. To not show Alissa Czisny last night was a slap in her face, and a horrible letdown for those of us who still love to watch her, despite her poor showing the the short program. She's the national champion, people, you don't just cut her out of coverage because she did not skate in the final two flights! Instead of a long, annoying interview with Michelle Kawn (Michelle who?) during the warmups, they could have shown--should have sown--Alissa's free skate. To not do so is simply outrageous.

And now, NBC and everyone and their brother are looking down their noses at both Rachael Flatt and Alissa for only scoring two berths to the Olympics. "Never since 1994 has the US only been able to send two" they loftily proclaim. If they bother to think, the US didn't do so badly in that Olympics ... Nancy Kerrigan was only a heartbeat away from winning the gold. "Never since 19something has the US not medaled at the ladies event at Olympics." Who says we're not going to medal? Yes, Kim Yu-Na is spectacular. Yes, the Japanese ladies are phenomenal. But the Olympics are a year away ... anything can happen. Before the 2002 Olympics, nobody, but nobody, would have guessed that Sarah Hughes would win the gold medal. It was considered a fight between Kwan and Irinia Slutskaya, with Sasha Cohen an outside chance.

Anything can happen. Don't write our ladies off yet.

And seriously, Michelle and Sasha? Retire already. You've had your chances--many, many chances. It's time to step aside. If you're not willing to put the effort in for the years between Olympics, you don't have any right to try and steal the glory and the chance from those who have. This is Alissa's time, Rachael's time, Mirai and Kimmie and Caroline's time. Don't stand in their way; step aside for the next generation. Please.

Well there. I feel better now! Now hopefully I can go to church without seething all through the sermon.