Originally Posted by Dee4707
I agree... there's no reason he shouldn't be top 5...
I agree... there's no reason he shouldn't be top 5...
I really loved watching Matt...totally awesome in both the short and long programs. What a joy!
I didn't have a mens favorite until I saw Matt skate at Nats & olys.
Jane
I loved Matt's program. He is sooo smooth!
This might sound too harsh, but I think if you fall on a move, there should be no points awarded for it.the penalty for falling on jumps needs to be much higher.
He will be missed so badly. I love him SO much.
I agree about rewarding difficulty- BUT I don't think a fall on a quad is worth as much as a clean triple. I could see a two foot or a flip out on landing being higher if they aren't too disruptive but a complete splat does not deserve that much credit.
I thought Matt was great but think he turned in some skates from 99-02 that were actaully better but got no real boost (particularly at US Nationals where I think he was robbed of placements in 99 and 02 in particular.) He was bronze at GPF during one of those years.
I hope he enjoys law school and I really hope he tours- it would pay some bills and expose a lot of fans to true skating and program construction.
I agree -- it should reward risk, but risk successfully completed. This is not a rant about a specific skater but the system in general. As far as I am concerned, a fall is a fall whether it was on a quad or a double. It should get no credit. The system should award points to moves successfully completed or at least close to it (which is where GOE comes in), NOT FALLS.
I think it is a good idea. Why should you get credit for something you bombed out on?This might sound too harsh, but I think if you fall on a move, there should be no points awarded for it.
Last edited by Ogre Mage; 02-17-2006 at 05:36 PM.
Soogar - I understand exactly where you are coming from, OTOH - can't it also be said that having a quad in your arsenal does not indicate having the best overall skating skills? Example: Joubert, Sandhu, Li all have quads yet their overall quality and consistency suffer on a regular basis. We seen these men fall short in competion repeatedly.form Soogar: The men should be doing quads and all the men on the podium at the Games did a quad. The US men need to be taking notes.
Simply having a quad should not be THE single qualifier JMO. I thought Buttle as wonderful as he was did not skate the kind of clean program Evan did, especially with the fall on the quad. Is that what we have to look forward to..... a new sport called figure-skating-while-splatting regularly on quads?!
What do you think? Tenorguy
Matt--what a dream to watch him! He was my favorite of all of the skaters--medal or no. The British Eurosport guys said he reminded them of John Curry; you can't get higher praise than that in my book. He can definitely feel good about how he represented himself and the US. I hope Worlds will be kind to him also....
The 3 guys on the podium are not there just because they had a quad in their program! There were other things in their program of importance and all those points added up...Had Evan skated a better SP, he would have been up there...had Johnny skated a better LP, he would have been up there. I'd rather watch Johhny and Matt, and do clean quadless programs anyday!
I know Matt is going to Law School in the Fall, does anyone know if he is still planning on anything skating? Touring, competing, coaching? Hoping he will havea great short and long at Worlds and get on the podium there...why the judges have been so slow to warm up to him and his exquisite moves, transitions, musicality, etc, I will never know! More Matt please!
eliza88
I am disappointed that Matt wasn't higher in the final standings, but I'm so glad that he finally got to have his Olympic experience. I hope his performances here will give him even more confidence for Worlds next month. I am so happy for him!
He was definitely underscored like he has been for many years in the U.S. It is a shame the USFSA sold him out to buy votes for the overrated Lysacek, rather than let them all skate and give them all the best chance to score as high as they can fairly.
It is great Savoie finally got to a major event though. If he retires he retired on a high note.
Savoie has never been underscored in the US. He has placed several times in the US Nats. Savoie has had trouble pleasing the International judges. I think after this competition in Torino, the international judges will realize their underscoring, and make it up to him in Calgary Worlds. But he must not skate the way he did at 4Cs.
Joe
Matt was great. If he skated for any other country, he would have
higher points if not a medal or two by now.
Evan skated well. I'm distracted by his flailing arms. He needs more polish
and authenticity to his artistry...that which Matt has so naturally.
Johnny didn't skate well for Johnny, but his landings are the best
in the sport of figure skating. He lands his jumps with a whisper and that
is a lot harder than landing forward, on scratchy toe picks.
I was shocked at Plushenko's horrendous "program" and thought he should
have lost so many points on that...it was almost ridiculous.
His short was so fabulous though and I'm usually not a fan of his skating.
Now I'm just in shock re: Belbin and Agosto...I thought they had such a strong
shot at gold...but SIXTH???? I must check out the broadcast...
So long folks...
And don't forget, it wouldn't be Olympics without some controversial
and highly disagreeable judging!
--
Actually- I think Savie should have been on the US podium (and in top 3) in 1999 and 2002. 02 was closer but in 99 he definitely deserved the thrid spot. And before a few problems/an injury he was a GP Final medalist in '01 so I think that shows the international judges had noticed him.
It just seems odd that after almost a decade as a US senior everyone finally notices him when he's had very similar qualities (and possibly a little better consistency) in years past.
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