Jimmie Santee is Over the Edge

PS Magazine Sept/Oct Beginning with the 2014-2015 skating season, the ISU will allow vocals to be used in both singles and pairs. While I think I am in the minority on this subject, I can’t wait. My mind dreams of Kurt Browning performing his “Singing in the Rain” program. If you’ve never seen it, I would look for it on YouTube. Now I’m not advocating props and rainmakers, etc, but his interpretation of the piece is breath-taking and probably one of the greatest programs EVER! Another excellent example is Robin Cousins or Brian Boitano skating to Andrew Lloyd Webber's, “Music of the Night” . Ilia Kulik’s “Too Darn Hot” , or Michelle Kwan’s, “Fieldsof Gold” are also on YouTube. Search for your favorite skater and you will find many of their greatest programs, vocals and instrumentals alike. Whether allowing vocals will be a good idea or not, I guess we will see; there are obvious pros and cons. Some of the cons that I have heard are that vocals are a distraction and...

PS Magazine July/Aug 2012 Transitions in skating are defined as the varied and/or intricate footwork, positions, movements and holds that link all the elements. In singles, pairs and synchronized skating, this also includes the entrances and exits of all technical elements… transitions are extremely important, but the IJS is not what comes to mind when I think of the word. This past April, NFL star Junior Seau took his life. To say this was a shock to his family and friends, but also to the world of football, is an understatement. More importantly, many questioned not only why, but wondered if it was somehow related to the sport he loved and no longer played. In an article published on May 11, 2012 in USA Today, author Jarrett Bell says a “chorus of former and current players” called for mandatory counseling for athletes transitioning to life away from the game. Interestingly, while I was researching material for the CER course “2 GRO-W Champions”, the idea of transitioning...

PS Magazine May/June 2012 A few weeks ago, an e-mail was forwarded through several people, finally making its way to me. The message stated: I have become aware of several coaches in our area who are flying "under the radar" in regards to the membership, insurance, background check and etc. Looks like it involves the type of coach who justifies it by saying, "I only teach a few hours per week and therefore it doesn't really apply to me". They have been seen coaching at recent test sessions, and are also signing up students for local Basic Skills competitions. Nobody wants to be the bad guy in this situation. The Clubs feel that it is up to the rink management/skating director and vice versa… Amazingly, while 5,104 coaches can follow the rules, it continues to astonish me that some coaches do, in fact, believe they can fly under the radar. As one of the 5,104 compliant coaches, it upsets me to no end that some coaches believe the rules don’t apply to them. ...

Over the Edge Mar/Apr 2012 It seems to be the time of the year when all I read on the internet regarding skating is how IJS has ruined the sport. In an article widely circulated on the web by Monica Friedlander of examiner.com, former Canadian skating star Toller Cranston was quoted as saying, “The way it's judged now, the more you can do the more points you get, so everything is overproduced and generic.” Also quoted in the article, the beloved Janet Lynn, called the IJS “a totalitarian system of measurement that does not breed freedom on the ice or lift the human spirit.” Although Toller and Janet have earned the right to speak out, I respectfully disagree. Had Toller or Janet really been involved in the sport during the challenging transition from 6.0 to IJS, the interview and comments may have sounded a little differently and have more merit. From my perspective, I would say that Alissa Czisney’s Dr. Zhivago program from the 2009 U.S. Championships in Spokane would challenge th...

In the Loop, PSA E-Magazine - Issue 1, February 2012 In my “Over the Edge” editorial in last months PS Magazine, I wrote about abuse in coaching, emphasizing that it is imperative that coaches be diligent in keeping an eye out for suspect or abusive relationships. As it was reported regarding the Penn State fiasco, this was not always the case. Many adults in positions of authority ignored the signs of abuse or simply didn’t report what they saw. While it could be considered a criminal act in some instances, willful tolerance, as it is being called, definitely exposes the observer to civil liability. As I understand the term, willful tolerance is the practice or act of ignoring wrongful deeds. Willful implies intent or purpose. Tolerance implies the allowance or sufferance of conduct with which one is not in accord. My concern is that coaches and club officials, who understand that they have a duty to protect the skaters, do not report abusive situations to the proper authorities, but ...

2012 Jan/Feb PS Magazine Watching Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN 2, Mike Greenburg quoted a line from the movie, A Few Good Men, surmising that the excerpt represents the people that sat by for years and let dozens of children be sexually assaulted by former Penn State coach, Jerry Sandusky. If you recall, the movie is about a group of Marines who following orders, unintentionally kill another soldier and then is covered up by the superiors. At the end of the movie, Judge Randolph finds the accused guilty of conduct unbecoming a US Marine and orders Lance Corporal Dawson and Private Downey to be dishonorably discharged. A bewildered Downey asks Dawson what that means. Downey doesn’t seem to understand that they have done something wrong…they were just following orders. Dawson answers that as Marines, they were to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves and on this occasion, they failed. I agree with Mike and the screen writer; we are here to protect those who can’t protec...