Hey, everyone, just did a quick write up of an opinion piece that I'm hoping to submit to the student newspaper at my university regarding sending Mirai to worlds. Would love for members of this board to give it a quick read and address any misinformation and make sure that my points and argument are sound - I'll continue to tinker with it as it goes through the editing process. Thanks!
A Case for Mirai Nagasu
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You forgot the part where the Mirai fans are basically demanding that the USFS strip one of the current World team members of their spot - exactly what said Mirai fans were screeching their heads off about in 2014.
You can't have it both ways. If you think what happened in 2014 was wrong/unfair/etc, then you should realise that what you're demanding now is wrong/unfair/etc.
You can't have it both ways. If you think what happened in 2014 was wrong/unfair/etc, then you should realise that what you're demanding now is wrong/unfair/etc.
Valid point, but I actually DON'T think what happened in 2014 was unfair or wrong. I am a Mirai fan, but I completely support the decision they made then and knew that Ashley was the best choice over Mirai and that Polina was an investment in the future. So I'm not guilty of any hypocrisy on that end.
Back to the original question. Are there any fundamental holes or flaws in the article itself for sending Mirai over Mariah or Karen?
Awesome, thank you for the feedback! I'll try to fit it in somewhere (but I think I'm already over word count).
And yeah, I know she won't be there - and I didn't have any illusions that a 20 year old college student's OpEd would change that.
Just thought I should bring up a new talking point on our campus!
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inconsistent perhaps... but not more than the Americans, especially Mirai who is capable of making carrot soup every other program.... i find that a bit much... and if you want to be taken seriously, perhaps it's best to avoid such value judgments on the sport.
policking doesn't exist either... politicking...
I think that whether intentionally or not, the way you've framed Mirai's story ignores that Mirai has also been a highly inconsistent competitor, which no doubt played a factor in the USFSA's decision-making.
Mirai's story is a compelling one -- it's hard not to feel sympathy for her knowing that she has so much untapped potential -- and the current U.S. women's situation does feel pretty dire (that is, if one does care about the U.S. team's quest for 3 spots, which not everyone does). But I think you need to step back and try to figure out what your main point is in this piece. Is it that Mirai deserves to be on the 2017 worlds team? Or is it that the USFSA needs to revise its policy for picking world teams, including the timing of the announcement? If the former, then I think you need to actually address the real issues associated with revising the team roster now (if the USFSA can easily set aside its own rules mid-season, how are athletes supposed to operate within its system and be able to expect that the USFSA will always act in good faith?). If the latter, then I think Mirai's story could make a good lede, but shouldn't be the sole driver of the piece.
(I'd also drop the "robbed of silver" bit either way -- it's a distractor and I'm not sure it's quite fair to Gabby Daleman, who won the SP and placed 3rd, right behind Mirai, in the FS.)
Mirai's story is a compelling one -- it's hard not to feel sympathy for her knowing that she has so much untapped potential -- and the current U.S. women's situation does feel pretty dire (that is, if one does care about the U.S. team's quest for 3 spots, which not everyone does). But I think you need to step back and try to figure out what your main point is in this piece. Is it that Mirai deserves to be on the 2017 worlds team? Or is it that the USFSA needs to revise its policy for picking world teams, including the timing of the announcement? If the former, then I think you need to actually address the real issues associated with revising the team roster now (if the USFSA can easily set aside its own rules mid-season, how are athletes supposed to operate within its system and be able to expect that the USFSA will always act in good faith?). If the latter, then I think Mirai's story could make a good lede, but shouldn't be the sole driver of the piece.
(I'd also drop the "robbed of silver" bit either way -- it's a distractor and I'm not sure it's quite fair to Gabby Daleman, who won the SP and placed 3rd, right behind Mirai, in the FS.)
Oof, thanks for catching that! It's late here and I was being careless. And yeah, I don't think we disagree on anything; my point is that the Osmond (and now Daleman apparently?) seem to be judges favorites and the Americans aren't, so if they skate equally poorly, which is what I imagine might happen, the Canadians will wind up on top. Osmond had a nightmare at 4CC and still scored really well.
Think I'll keep the "value judgments" in, just to stir the pot
- just because I love the sport doesn't necessarily mean I love every aspect about it! (Which is an opinion article for another day)
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Oof, thanks for catching that! It's late here and I was being careless. And yeah, I don't think we disagree on anything; my point is that the Osmond (and now Daleman apparently?) seem to be judges favorites and the Americans aren't, so if they skate equally poorly, which is what I imagine might happen, the Canadians will wind up on top. Osmond had a nightmare at 4CC and still scored really well.
Think I'll keep the "value judgments" in, just to stir the pot
i don't know about how correct your statement is. I doubt Canadians are being propped up.. oh well..
This was phenomenal feedback, thank you so much for this. My point is definitely the latter, with the 2017 world team as just one example of why they should reevaluate how and when they do assignments.
Regarding Mirai being an inconsistent competitor, you are absolutely correct and I'll address this in the piece. I would posit that most of the inconsistency we criticize her for is from her lack of success on the Grand Prix series, and it's quite clear that Mirai is not an early season skater. But generally speaking, she's done well enough at nationals and 4CC for me to think that she skate decently - not necessarily great or well, but decently enough - at worlds too.
Once again, appreciate your feedback!
ETA: do you have a background in journalism? or is "lede" just a part of your daily lexicon?
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Speaking as longtime editor who worked on her university's newspaper: I'm curious as to why this article would be submitted to that publication instead of to a skating site. Usually, the articles on a student paper's op-ed page would concern issues of high interest to many people on campus. I can't see how this would be one of them.
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That was fun to read! Thanks for sharing. I didn't realize that Alissa csizny finished in 22nd place back in 2012 or that Nicole Bobek didn't even make it to the free in 1994!
Could you also add something about what the cost will be i.e. losing 3 spots right before the olympics (our holy grail)? If USFSA were to make an unprecedented decision, it would be to protect its three spots for the ladies event.
Could you also add something about what the cost will be i.e. losing 3 spots right before the olympics (our holy grail)? If USFSA were to make an unprecedented decision, it would be to protect its three spots for the ladies event.
The difference at US Nationals between Mirai and Mariah is minuscule, thus subjected to random judging. This is why at the time I said they should send both to 4CC to get it sorted out. People are talking like Mariah deserves it more. She doesn't. She bombed both phrases of the competition at Nationals. Otherwise she wouldn't have won over Mirai by such a small margin. Had both skated the same way somewhere else, not sure if Mariah would come out on top. This is why it makes sense to keep Mariah at home this year.
2014 was a bad choice. Ashley doesn't have to be at the 2014 Olympics. She had 0 chance of a medal. Why going against the grain for a no chance no deal skater.
This time, the spots are on the line.
2014 was a bad choice. Ashley doesn't have to be at the 2014 Olympics. She had 0 chance of a medal. Why going against the grain for a no chance no deal skater.
This time, the spots are on the line.
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The title of your piece is confusing on multiple levels.
To what does "slippery slope" refer?
I am well aware of the common metaphor of "slippery slope" -- what I am saying is that it is not at all clear what you mean by "slippery slope" in the context of your topic.
If you are making a case for Mirai to replace someone on the 2017 world team, are you saying that it would be a slippery slope for USFS to renege on a previously announced assignment?
I do think that reneging would indeed be a slippery slope ... but it would make no sense to me to have your title undermine your own argument as to why Mirai should be a replacement.
If you are using Mirai only as an example of why you believe USFS should change its policy going forward (but not retroactively), then you are not really making a case for Mirai, so your title does not make sense.
And I have no idea what slippery slope would be associated with changing the policy going forward (but not retroactively).
Have to agree.
The extensive amount of "inside baseball" in your piece is making my eyes glaze over -- and as a member of GS, I even have the advantage of already being familiar with most of it.
I am guessing that many readers of your student newspaper do not have that advantage, and I think the endless details that you have crammed in would be overwhelming to them.
Just one example of what I mean: You're throwing around a lot of names -- and I think it would be hard enough for those who do not already follow skating to keep track of Nagasu, Wagner, Chen, and Bell ... never mind the references to Flatt, Czisny, Bobek, Kostner, Osmond, Daleman.
If you're going to publish this piece in your student newspaper, then I strongly suggest that you simplify/reduce your many explanations of all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle -- while still conveying why the topic "matters." Easier said than done, but I think you have to find a way.
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If Ashley had "0 chance of a medal" in 2014, then Mirai had 000 chance.
And, yes, there indeed were things on the line for USA skating: the team event at Sochi and team spots for 2015, as determined at 2014 Worlds.
It should be noted that in the team selections for 2014, it was never stated that Mirai was dumped in favor of Ashley. In fact, according to the criteria that had been announced the previous summer, Ashley was ahead of everyone (even Gracie) for a place on the team, based on her 2013 showing in GP final, worlds and nationals. And then Gracie was far ahead of everyone else (and got an automatic bid by winning 2014 nationals). It is entirely possible that any discussion involved Polina vs. Mirai, not Ashley vs. Mirai.
Who are "the Mirai fans who want to strip a current World team member" from going?" People--not all "Mirai fans"--can think the USFSA made a mistake who they named to the World team this year without demanding that they change their minds.
I never thought Ashley should have been left off the team in 2014. I do think there was a case for leaving Edmunds off of either the World or Olympic teams--or both.
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Surely there are issues worth writing about that will be of more relevance to your audience?
Mirai should've stepped on the GP series (like Mariah did, or like Ashley did in 2013) or during her LP at Nationals (like Karen did). 4CCs medal? Too little too late.
USFS may decide to change the rules in future seasons, and that might not be a bad thing. However, to renege now and break their own rules and/or pressure a lady to withdraw would be a disaster, not only for the quality of US skating going forward (if they can't trust their own federation, imagine the nerves!) but also from a PR perspective.
Mirai should've stepped on the GP series (like Mariah did, or like Ashley did in 2013) or during her LP at Nationals (like Karen did). 4CCs medal? Too little too late.
USFS may decide to change the rules in future seasons, and that might not be a bad thing. However, to renege now and break their own rules and/or pressure a lady to withdraw would be a disaster, not only for the quality of US skating going forward (if they can't trust their own federation, imagine the nerves!) but also from a PR perspective.
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Also, just want to add:
Senior international experience sure doesn't mean much when first-year seniors are winning world medals.
You fail to acknowledge that Mirai probably has only a slightly more of a chance at placing higher than Mariah/Karen?
The slow death of US ladies skating? Really? The doom and gloom towards the end of your article defies common sense. Even if it were true - Mirai is hardly the savior of the US ladies, as much as we might want her to be.
Senior international experience sure doesn't mean much when first-year seniors are winning world medals.
You fail to acknowledge that Mirai probably has only a slightly more of a chance at placing higher than Mariah/Karen?
The slow death of US ladies skating? Really? The doom and gloom towards the end of your article defies common sense. Even if it were true - Mirai is hardly the savior of the US ladies, as much as we might want her to be.
