News of Emily Hughes (and Joey Cheek)

[soogar]

How did Hughes "FOLD" at worlds??!!! Since when was Baby Hughes going into Worlds as a favorite and then "folded"? Emily didn't fold at Worlds anymore than Kimmie folded at the Olympics. Isn't that the whole point of letting the youngsters compete and find their way. Did Michelle "fold" at 1994 Worlds when she finished 8th?

Shizuka is a great skater and it took her years to learn how to compete and to get that "lucky" break. Cut those kids a break. You may find that Kimmie's early win may or may not bode anything for the future. Emily might skate for years and not win anything; and then have the breaks and the skate of her life at the right time to win an OGM. Then would it even matter that Kimmie won a World title on her first try?

[R.D.]

Shizuka is a great skater and it took her years to learn how to compete and to get that "lucky" break. Cut those kids a break. You may find that Kimmie's early win may or may not bode anything for the future. Emily might skate for years and not win anything; and then have the breaks and the skate of her life at the right time to win an OGM. Then would it even matter that Kimmie won a World title on her first try?

That's the thing about skating. Ya just never know, do you.

[euterpe]

How did Hughes "FOLD" at worlds??!!! Since when was Baby Hughes going into Worlds as a favorite and then "folded"?

Emily was 7th at Torino, and two of the top 6 didn't go on to Worlds. If Emily had simply skated as well as she did at Torino, she would have finished 5th. Instead, she fell on the lutz combo in the SP and then had a lackluster FS, and finished 8th. She didn't exactly fold, but she didn't shine either.

Emily didn't fold at Worlds anymore than Kimmie folded at the Olympics.

Kimmie's Olympic performances were her best to that point last season. Emily's best performances of 2006 were at Torino, and her performances at Worlds were not as good. Put it this way: Kimmie skated a B+ at Torino and an A at Worlds. Emily skated a B+ at Torino and a B- at Worlds.

Did Michelle "fold" at 1994 Worlds when she finished 8th?

Michelle was 13 at 2004 Worlds, her first appearance at the Senior Championship level, and as the sole US representative to make it through to the FS (Kerrigan had retired and Bobek bombed the QR), there was heavy pressure on her to finish in the top 10. Her 8th place finish was phenomenal under the circumstances.

Anyway, comparing Emily Hughes to Michelle Kwan is more than a bit ridiculous.


As far as Shizuka is concerned, she had proven she could shine at Worlds 2004. Shizuka's win at Torino was no "lucky break". She regained her 2004 form with hard work and steady practice.

[Joesitz]

This sport needs more attention. And even the negative caonce and a whilen get more people interested - not promoting negative, but I am sick of empty seats.
No more stinking cancellations. I will take Hype if it means more interest.

Right on Seanibu! If all those baseball players can be hyped on a daily basis I see nothing wrong with the occasional hype of a skater. Why some people get all hyped up over hype is beyond me.

Joe

[antmanb]

Emily was 7th at Torino, and two of the top 6 didn't go on to Worlds. If Emily had simply skated as well as she did at Torino, she would have finished 5th. Instead, she fell on the lutz combo in the SP and then had a lackluster FS, and finished 8th. She didn't exactly fold, but she didn't shine either.

No not really - to use that logic, not only would Emily had to have skated as well as she did - everybody would have had to have skated exactly as they did in torino, with people who placed above her skating no worse and people placing below her no better.

Ant

[antmanb]

Right on Seanibu! If all those baseball players can be hyped on a daily basis I see nothing wrong with the occasional hype of a skater. Why some people get all hyped up over hype is beyond me.

Joe

I think its just sometimes the hype in a young skater can result in too much pressure on them such that they never reaslise that potential. Cohen is probably the chief example of that but to a certain extent I think the US having had a such a deep field of Senior ladies is always looking for the next big thing on the basis that it always has been there...now i'm not so sure, others i think have been hyped in the US but i've never even seen skate - Bebe Liang, Czissny (sp?). To my mind its a bit of nationlistic promotion, which is no bad thing, but up until recently this was a sure fire tactic given the depth in the US, i think that mantle has now been passed to Japan.

Ant

[Joesitz]

In the last analysis skaters have to learn to deal with 'pressure'. It's part and parcel of being in competitive sports. If hype brings on pressure, then the skater should deal with it. I'm not so sure it does bring on pressure. I do believe the Competition itself brings on pressure It does for those skaters who are not hyped just as much, if not more. It's scary out their on the ice, alone, and your first element is a 3A.

Joe

[antmanb]

In the last analysis skaters have to learn to deal with 'pressure'. It's part and parcel of being in competitive sports. If hype brings on pressure, then the skater should deal with it. I'm not so sure it does bring on pressure. I do believe the Competition itself brings on pressure It does for those skaters who are not hyped just as much, if not more. It's scary out their on the ice, alone, and your first element is a 3A.

Joe

It is but i would think its even scarier if, because of media hype, the skater is expected to land that 3A no matter what, and anything short of a clean perfect program is looked upon as a failure. Because of hype people will concentrate on you failing to achieve something rather than getting, for example, forth place at your first Olympics and first international senior championship. Winning a silver turns into losing the gold...without the hype the pressure is less surely.

Ant

[SeaniBu]

Although it maybe true that there would be less pressure with out the hype, I don't see as thought there would be any benefit from having less interest in the sport. I have always had bad "stage fright," but performing for just my friends or during practice has not accomplished a music career for me. The same would likely follow suit for a skater that cannot handle the pressure, this would likely = no career.

[Joesitz]

Many people confuse pressure with stage fright. they are too entirely different reactions. The latter being impossible to perform in front of an audience. Anyone who gets stage fright easily and has become a senior has been lucky to get to that level - never mind winning a medal.

Now, If being hyped and I did not know how to deal with it, of course it will affect my skating. At the same time, at the senior level, I should have learned by then how to deal with it. Had I not, why should I still be trying to prove something? There are many things one learns about oneself in sports besides winning or losing medals. You can be sure the gold medalist knew how to handle hype.

Hype is part and parcel of any sport. Deal with it or enjoy a good movie.

Joe

[SeaniBu]

Many people confuse pressure with stage fright. they are too entirely different reactions. The latter being impossible to perform in front of an audience.

I'm not - just using as a comparison where the result might be the same. But thanks Joesitz for pointing that difference out, that is a good thing to note.

[Linny]

Hype sells tickets, promotes sponsorships and brings ad revenue. These are good things for skaters, even pressure accompanies.

Linny