LA Times on Michelle's Test Skate
- Thread starter attyfan
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2003
A couple summary notes..
There is (IMO) minor mention of some of the negative opinions about deciding the Oly team "behind closed doors." And gymnastics is more heavily referenced in the article (again, IMO) than this specific situation.
The article talks about who will be assessing the test skate - the head of the USFSA International Committee (he's the same "known" person who will be on the panel that has been referenced in many other articles - just can't get his name off the tip of my fingers at the moment) along with two judges, a technical specialist, and another athlete - no names yet. "Probably Friday" is mentioned as the date of the skate, which a results announcement expected shortly after.
There are quotes from sponsors such as East-West Bank and Coca Cola in support of Michelle no matter which way the results go at the test skate.
Nothing in here that I would consider new information.
DG
There is (IMO) minor mention of some of the negative opinions about deciding the Oly team "behind closed doors." And gymnastics is more heavily referenced in the article (again, IMO) than this specific situation.
The article talks about who will be assessing the test skate - the head of the USFSA International Committee (he's the same "known" person who will be on the panel that has been referenced in many other articles - just can't get his name off the tip of my fingers at the moment) along with two judges, a technical specialist, and another athlete - no names yet. "Probably Friday" is mentioned as the date of the skate, which a results announcement expected shortly after.
There are quotes from sponsors such as East-West Bank and Coca Cola in support of Michelle no matter which way the results go at the test skate.
Nothing in here that I would consider new information.
DG
No need to use bugmenot -- Helene Elliott's entire article is republished in NY Newsday:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/olymp...69227.story?coll=ny-sports-olympics-headlines
http://www.newsday.com/sports/olymp...69227.story?coll=ny-sports-olympics-headlines
I don't see how she will be fairly evaluated. I have a feeling that even if she doesn't skate well, they will put her on the team and let her build up her performance. A very unfair situation for Emily b/c it's nto as if Emily is going to get a chance to "beat" Michelle's performance while skating at her home rink on ice thatshe is comfortable on.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
One thing about these media reports is that they are not giving her the benefit of any doubt. The hype from the media has been lukewarm to absolute negative.
However, the commercial aspects don't seem to care if she blows it.
Joe
However, the commercial aspects don't seem to care if she blows it.
Joe
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2004
soogar said:
No Emily has had the fortunate chance to train and compete all year round injury (though not illness) free and compete at her national championships where she produced a program that wouldn't challenge for final group and would be luck y to challenge the penultimate group. I'm sure if Michelle had the chance to choose which way she qualifies for the Olympics it would be the injury free competing at nationals way.
Ant
soogar said:
I was thinking just the opposite. Suppose Michelle more than adequately proves herself and they decide it's not good enough?
All Emily had to do was skate a worthy LP at Nats, and she didn't. Four triples in a LP doesn't give you much to bargain with. It's her own fault.
soogar said:
Emily had the chance to earn an Olympic berth by skating well enough to hang on to her 2nd place after the SP. If she had skated a clean, brilliant FS, it may well have been that the committee would have selected her over the injured Kwan. But Emily had a clumsy fall, doubled another jump, and completed only 4 triples. while Kimmie skated smoothly and did 7 triples to clinch HER spot.
I am quite sure that Michelle will complete more than 4 triple jumps in her FS, and she will have no belly-flop falls.
Emily HAD her chance to beat Michelle at Nationals, and she failed.
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What if Kwan's test skates head and should above Emily's Nationals skates, in you mind would it cancel out Michelle skating at home rink advantage?soogar said:
I agree with Joe, there will be no slack cut for Kwan with such a scrutinized medias running around. They (the console of five, and Kamp Kwan) are very SERIOUS about this test skates.
GO the Kween!
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2004
soogar said:
I agree. From what's been reported Michelle just started back skating what a little over a week ago. I find it really hard to believe that she'll be able to do her short and long program with all of the difficult spins, footwork and jumps by Friday. I think it she shows that she can potentially be ready by Turin they'll go ahead and send her. The monitoring session is just to save face, which IMO is unfair to Emily who IS ready to go to Turin.
nymkfan51 said:
And how do you know Michelle will have more than 4 triples? She only had 5 when she won Nationals last year and 5 at worlds LP.
If Michelle is even partially in shape, they will send her to the Olympics. Sponsors and fame figure quite nicely in Michelle's favor (as well as the goodwill she has earned competing under the US system for over 10 years). The decision was made to allow Michelle as much time to heal so they can put her on the team. She can probably skate like she did at Marshalls and they'll put her on. Though at Marshall's, Michelle certainly couldn't beat Emily's 4 triple performance at Nationals.
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