Sasha Cohen's Reaction to Michelle Kwan's Withdrawal

[registered]

After seeing Katie interview Sasha with her Mom at the gellato shoppe the feeling I got from it was "how awkward". Katie seemed to be trying to give SC opportunities to send a get well message to MK. SC seemed intent on keeping the interview about her.

What do you mean by "Katie's been trying to give Sasha opportunities to send a message to MK?" How do you know Sasha did not wish Michelle a speedy recovery personally, since both are in Torino? Why in the world would she put Sasha on camera, just to talk about Michelle, no wonder it looked awkward. What could one expect here, a corny "I like you Michelle" responce from Sasha, while looking directlly into the camera???

"SC seemed intent on keeping the interview about her." Now imagine that, silly Sasha did she expect it to really be about her?

[Piel]

Oh good grief! So some people didn't like Sasha's comments and some did. Big deal! I don't much care for Sasha's public persona (and I really don't care for her skating which is all that matters anyway since I don't hang with her or anything ), but having met her with my family for longer than a quick second, she is a sweet person in private without cameras (well, except for ours of course) and she was very caring while talking to my daughter.

Isn't that why we post our OPINIONS...whether we agree or disagree with something that happens or is said?

IMO this was a chance for Sasha to step up as our National Champion and one of the representatives of our country to the Olympics and show that she has some of the same class that people all over the world have been complimenting Kwan on for the past 36 hours. A lot of times this is what determines if someone becomes a fan of a celebrity...their compassion toward other people.

[SkateFan4Life]

This may possibly be true. However, given that you found my comments about Josee Chouinard not being able to hold Yamaguchi's sports bra to be "nasty," this statement is quite hypocritical.

Sorry, but I still think your statement was nasty. It was nothing but a cheap shot, in my opinion. If you take the time to read through this board, you will read a variety of opinions, and a number of people share my less-than-lofty opinion about Sasha as a person. The woman should have enough class to at least say something compassionate about her Olympic teammate withdrawing from the Olympics. Sadly, that's probably not going to happen.

[Piel]

What do you mean by "Katie's been trying to give Sasha opportunities to send a message to MK?" How do you know Sasha did not wish Michelle a speedy recovery personally, since both are in Torino? Why in the world would she put Sasha on camera, just to talk about Michelle, no wonder it looked awkward. What could one expect here, a corny "I like you Michelle" responce from Sasha, while looking directlly into the camera???

"SC seemed intent on keeping the interview about her." Now imagine that, silly Sasha did she expect it to really be about her?

Well since Katie offered her a door of opportunity about as wide as Italy, IF Sasha wished Kwan well why didn't she take two seconds to say so? By not saying so I got the impression that she did not wish Kwan well. IMO this was bad manners.

[SkateFan4Life]

Like others here, I can't believe the tone of the initial post. What was Cohen supposed to do? Start wailing and rending her garments? I thought what she said — particularly the full-text version someone was kind enough to post, was a perfectly acceptable and gracious reply.

Of course, nobody expects Sasha to "wail and rend her garments". Give me a break. However, many of us would have expected Sasha to shown just the teeniest bit of compassion and express her regret about Michelle's withdrawal. No big deal - just show some heart and some human caring. Is that too much to ask? I think not.

[registered]

Isn't that why we post our OPINIONS...whether we agree or disagree with something that happens or is said?

IMO this was a chance for Sasha to step up as our National Champion and one of the representatives of our country to the Olympics and show that she has some of the same class that people all over the world have been complimenting Kwan on for the past 36 hours. A lot of times this is what determines if someone becomes a fan of a celebrity...their compassion toward other people.

I wouldn't call bumping a teammate out of the Olympics, in hopes she'd be able to skate well enough in time; throwing in a hoopla, that shook up everyone, from skaters to commentators, who had to handle questions, that had nothing to do with their own performance, at Nationals; not expressing a sympathy towards the state of health of a teammates, many of whom were skating, while sick; upstaging a teammate, calling in a press conference, when the other one had her's scheduled -- a show of class, but everyone's entitled to their own opinion.

[SkateFan4Life]

Wow........touchy, touchy!! LOL

I'll I'm saying is that Cohen's PR person should have told her to say something nice and that would be the end of it. Like it or not, Michelle's withdrawing is a huge story. The fact that Katie Couric kept asking questions just goes to show you that the media is looking for comments, etc...from the athletes......particularly her competitors. You don't think they'll be asking Irina the same stuff??? Of course they will. The difference is that Irina will be classy and say something along the lines of how she is disappointed that Michelle won't be competing and wishes her a speedy recovery, etc.

I'm not bashing Sasha........just saying she could have handled things a lot better, and then topics like this one wouldn't even exist.

Thank you! I agree with you. Had Sasha said something kind along the lines of how she is disappointed that Michelle won't be competing and wished her a speedy recovery, I probably would have started a post praising Sasha for her classy reaction to this sad situation.

[R.D.]

Oh goodness. Give it up already. Cohen sounded (to ME) like she didn't really want to answer any more questions about MK. EVERYWHERE she goes, she's asked about MK. I took it she's probably as sick of the hype as many of us are.

OK, MAYBE she could have thrown out a little message or something. But she didn't. Does this make her a bad person? I hardly think so. I mean, even Emily didn't really say too much on that topic. I mean, she's excited to get this opportunity, and she should be! And Cohen is just trying to concentrate on herself. Fielding questions about Kwan doesn't really help, though.

So the message I'm hearing from you guys is: if you don't shed any tears for Kwan or pour out your heart to her, you're selfish, conceited, etc.

And how people conveniently forget little things. What did Kwan say to Hughes after bumping her off the team? She said she knows how she felt, etc. because she was in that position before. No tears, no "I'm really sorry" comment. And that's perfectly fine with me...and OK comment. Nothing different IMO than what Emily or Sasha said about Kwan today. People really need to stop patronizing Michelle.

end of rant...

[SkateFan4Life]

Sasha did say something nice about Michelle which is in all the newspapers. Though I don't blame Sasha for being annoyed about having to answer a questions about Michelle. Sasha is the favorite for gold and is the star of the American team, not some has-been who couldn't skate in Nationals. Plus Sasha always has to answer questions about Michelle for the past 4 years. I bet now that Michelle is out of the picture, Sasha is going to seize the moment and win Olympic gold.

Well, Sasha will have one less competitor to stand between her and the gold medal. I respectfully disagree that she is the "favorite", however. She is definitely a favorite for a medal, but the gold medal favorite still seems to be Irina Slutskaya. However, perhaps Sasha will seize this opportunity and win the gold medal.

[registered]

Well since Katie offered her a door of opportunity about as wide as Italy, IF Sasha wished Kwan well why didn't she take two seconds to say so? By not saying so I got the impression that she did not wish Kwan well. IMO this was bad manners.

I get it now, this time around, it's not what Cohen said, but what she DIDN'T say. Or how she phrased it, or a look on her face that could have been interpreted this way or another.

Unless Katie asked Sasha to send any messeges to Michelle during the interview, Sasha did not have to address Kwan on camera. And I truly hope Curic didn't, or it'll be so tacky and tactless, but maybe she's a Kwan fan?

[SkateFan4Life]

Yes, Math, this is what Skatefan4Life, Frau Muller and Kathleen were using to bash Sasha with. Can you believe it!! I just couldn't believe that these 3 adults could be so mean.

Dee

Well, you're entitled to your opinion, of course, and I am entitled to mine. I have written some posts praising Sasha's skating, so I'm not as mean a person as you consider me to be.

[Dee4707]

Oh, and as for you Dee.........you need to get a grip. I never "bashed" anyone......I just gave my opinion, which I stand by. You are entitled to yours, as I am to mine. No need to get crazy.

First of all what do mean get a grip?? What you said was mean and it wasn't an opinion it was just plain mean. Opinions are OK, meaness is not.

Dee

[Piel]

Maybe we need a couple of group therapy threads so us Kwaniacs can mourn and the those who feel differently can say so, LOL? I think some of you need to take into consideration that some of us have been Kwan fan(atics) for 12 years. She is the main reason I even watch FS. With her not competing it leaves a huge void in the competition for us. We ARE overly sensitive toward anything seen as a snub or dis toward her. Obviously by all of the kind remarks that have been made about her since her withdrawal we Kwaniacs were not misquided in our fandom. The question is will someone else come along who can take her place in our hearts?

[R.D.]

First of all what do mean get a grip?? What you said was mean and it wasn't an opinion it was just plain mean. Opinions are OK, meaness is not.

this thread just reeks of mean-spiritedness IMO

[SkateFan4Life]

Maybe we need a couple of group therapy threads so us Kwaniacs can mourn and the those who feel differently can say so, LOL? I think some of you need to take into consideration that some of us have been Kwan fan(atics) for 12 years. She is the main reason I even watch FS. With her not competing it leaves a huge void in the competition for us. We ARE overly sensitive toward anything seen as a snub or dis toward her. Obviously by all of the kind remarks that have been made about her since her withdrawal we Kwaniacs were not misquided in our fandom. The question is will someone else come along who can take her place in our hearts?

Believe it or not, Michelle Kwan isn't the only figure skater I have admired over the years. Many women skaters have struck a chord with their talent, grace, athleticism, and personality, and Michelle is just one member of this group. The fact that Michelle has been on the national/world stage for so long has just increased the number of people who admire her as a skater and as a person. She first appeared at Nationals in 1993, at the age of 12 (!) and until this year, she had been a fixture at that competition, with nine titles.

I would love to see another skater receive the same wonderful acclaim that Michelle has received; however, she is a hard act to follow. Can another woman fill her shoes (skates) in the hearts of skating fans? Of course. I certainly do not have a crystal ball, but it could happen.