It's all about the figures.

Is it time to put the figures back in figure skating?

Lots of response to last Sunday's column about the demise of figure skating as a major spectator sport, particulary in these United States. And some of it was quite interesting. A couple common themes emerged:

-- Nobody really disputed the central point, that figure skating is not held in the same regard as it once was (whether that regard was deserved or not is another question, for another time.)

-- Many readers from around the country said they don't get the Oxygen Network, to which most of NBC's coverage of the Figure Skating Worlds was relegated last week. And even some people who went out and looked for progamming information couldn't find it. For the record: I had the same experience. No word from NBC's usually alert PR department about where to find the figs. Are they embarrassed to be the current contract holder? Why spend the money to televise something no one can find?

-- Contrary to what I wrote ("nobody is asking for a return to the old scoring system"), it turns out many people are, in fact, asking for a return to the old scoring system. A movement has begun on (where else?) Facebook to lobby the International Skating Union to go back to where things were. Reader Monica says it's called "Bring Back the 6.0 Judging System." And, she notes:

"It currently has more than 1,200 members, including reigning Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko, world champions Debi Thomas, Tai Babilonia, Elaine Zayak, and dozens of other prominent skaters, famous coaches, officials, and fans." (Add to that: Brian Boitano.)

It's a nice effort, but let's be real: Getting the ISU to admit it screwed up that badly by reverting to the old system flies in the face of political realities. I'd argue: Stick with the art of the possible, which is why I suggested altering the Code of Points.

-- Lots of people believe the lack of interest in the winning-is-everything U.S. is more related to the lack of any tangible female American skating pixies than anything else. Clearly, that's part of it, as I indicated. But I don't believe it's the whole story. A lot of fans in other countries don't get, and don't like, the new scoring system, as well.

-- The most interesting responses came independently from people who really know skating -- former skaters, coaches, and parents, who struck a common theme: It's all about the figures.

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