When draw will start? When we will know about GP assigment?
When draw will start? When we will know about GP assigment?
Hardly, as the US has two very strong dance teams who can be counted on to contend for World medals: B/A and D/W. Gregory/Petukhov's best Worlds finish was 9th, in 2006, so they were never a podium contender.Originally Posted by gkelly
It's a very different situation with the Ladies. The US hasn't won a Ladies World medal since 2006, and Sasha was one of the medalists that year.
And regardless of Rules, Sasha goes into SA as the silver medalist of the last Olympics. That has to be a sublime advantage.
My earlier reply: http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/sho...&postcount=341
I think this is a very likely scenario.
Everyone agrees: Cohen, Flat, but who will be the third skater?I think this is a very likely scenario.
Maybe I am blaming the USFSA for the reaction of the general new media. After Sasha's announcement several newpapers ran stories along the lines, thank goodness Sasha is coming back since our present group of ladies is so awful.
As for the USFSA itself, the news stories on the USFS and Icenetwork sites did, in my opinion, give star status to Sasha. David Raith went on about what an attractive addition she would be to any of the Grand Prix events, giving the impression that he was lobbying the other event organizers to support Sasha's bid. The USFSA scheduled a new conference for the big announcement, then moved it up a week when the story was leaked prematurely.
There were no big announcements, newsconferences and quotes in the papers that Alissa Czisny has been offered a spot in Skate America, and she has accepted! Or Rachael Flatt has been offered a place in Skate America, and she has accepted!
Everyone else except Sasha has to wait for the meeting and see how it turns out for them. Or, if they do know something in advance, that news was not released to great fanfare two weeks before the formal draw.
I sure hope it will be the United States Champion, Alissa Czisny.
Last edited by Mathman; 05-28-2009 at 04:35 PM.
It seems with some degree of fairness that Sasha is the one coming out of retirement. Alissa, Rachael or any other active US Lady will have to wait. If that does not seem fair - I don't see that it is so awful either. And as far as I know, SA has also offered an invitaion to Michelle.
Sasha is the reigning Olympic Silver medalist. If Alissa or Rachael ever achieve such a lofty position then they too may be treated with a higher degree of respect.
Or is that "it" factor = $$$. Anyway you cut it I haven't felt this much interest in US Skating since,,,,,,,,,Sasha left.
Don't forget that the U.S. skaters are asked their GP preferences beforehand (though no guarantees they will will get what they want, of course). It's possible that Alissa could have requested 2 GPs other than Skate America (like Skate Canada, which seems to be a good competition for her).
I think that Sasha Cohen is a bigger name to the general public, and therefore to NBC and the rest of the media, than the top US ladies from 2007-2009, and that therefore US Figure Skating is happy to capitalize on her return to promote Skate America and Nationals.
Your post 368 read:
Are we talking about USFS being impressed enough with Rachael and Caroline to name them to the Olympic team if they medal at Nationals? Or being impressed enough to invite them to Skate America? Because medaling at last year's GPF is not "the only thing that matters" in terms of this year's invitations.In fact, I think it is worse than that. As I read the selection criteria, I think the only thing that matters is medalling in the Grand Prix final against strong competion.
We can already see that USFS is not impressed with Rachael's fifth place finish at Worlds and Caroline's fourth place at Four Continents. If that counted for anything, USFS would not be wetting its pants over Sasha's return.
No, I meant not impressed enough to be promoting Rachael and Caroline as enthusiastically as they are promoting Sasha.
"The only thing that matters" remark was in response to speculation about whether doing well in the 2009-2010 Grand Prix would give a skater a leg up in the Olympic selection deliberations. My opinion was that just doing pretty well in the series would not be enough to trigger this bullet (bullet number two in the selection criteria).
To me (reserving the right to be wrong, as always), the stated criteria are very clear.
(1) Placement at 2010 U.S. Nationals (This is the most important by far. Will carry the day all by itself except in unusual circumstances.)
(2) Placement and strength of field in the 2009-2010 Grand Prix Final. To me, this means that just squeaking into the finals is not enough to earn you any brownie points. Rather, you have to place well against a top-notch field.)
My only comment on the selection of athletes for the 2009-2010 Grand Prix was that, according to the ISU rules, Sasha is not eligible for any other assignment except Skate America. But USFS representatives are on record as saying that they hope she gets a second assignment anyway.
Well, as Janetfan pints out, sometimes in life you have to ignore the rules. Perhaps less often in sports. But the question is, is the Return of Sasha Cohen of sufficient urgency that the rules ought to be set aside to accommodate her?
Last edited by Mathman; 05-28-2009 at 05:08 PM.
I thought Hersh was promoting Sasha more than the USFS. I haven/t heard anything further on Sasha since the announcement that she was accepted for SA.
I've not read anything about her or from Lake Placid. They mus be advertising it up there. I know when I went to Atlantic City, they were still advertiising Kwan, who eventually did not show.
Well, if you go to the official Lake Placid site, Belbin and Agosto are the featured skaters. I wonder if they know something that they haven't told the rest of us yet?
http://www.skateamerica2009.com/
Personally, IMHO, USFS showed little respect to the ladies who have stayed in the game or have worked their way up the ranks since 2006, by announcing Cohen prematurely. Everyone should have heard the announcements collectively this coming weekend. For USFS, it's marketing and all about selling tickets. Not much more complicated than that.
Well, if you go to the official Lake Placid site, Belbin and Agosto are the featured skaters. I wonder if they know something that they haven't told the rest of us yet?
http://www.skateamerica2009.com/
Probably not but they skate at Skate America every year!!
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