I remember watching Sasha at the Olympics and fleetingly almost giving up myself. Thank goodness I didn't run into the next room as I wanted to when she stumbled that second time. If I had, I would have missed her magnificent rebound when she picked herself up and just kept going. She made that Olympic performance into one of her most memorable. I can only hope that Mirai develops that capacity.Originally Posted by R.D.
Of course. My point was that if Nagasu continues to give up after mistakes- it will continue to hold her back no matter how much improvement she makes. So much about this new system is maximizing points and you just HAVE to keep milking every point even after you fall.
I had to lock myself up that day so I could watch that event unspoiled. However, once I saw the final group warmup I knew it wasn't going to be good for Cohen. So it was no shocker when she went down the first time. The second time, I was like "uh oh...potential meltdown looming". Somehow she found a way to pull through though- and I think there are several US skaters that could benefit from having that kind of fight in them. Nagasu being the primary target here, of course.
I assume this is one of Frank C's hot buttons since it's one of his former students' hot buttons (one of my coaches) and if that happens with me in practice where I give up on something after a mistake (not so much anymore) the conversation starts with "Frank Carroll always used to tell me..."
Spun, I'm not convinced Frank didn't dump Mirai. We don't know anything about who initiated the split. I don't know how public the end Carroll and Goebbel was - I know that it was Carroll's decision, but did he go out and lambast Goebbel in the media or anything? The reason I'm asking is because I suspect that Frank actually did initiate the end here, but is choosing not to be public about it. And why would he? A public excoriation of Nagasu would likely make it impossible for he to go to another respected coach, and since she is young and could still be a world beater, why throw her under the bus like that?
What struck me about Frank at Nationals after Mirai's LP was the difference in tone from the year previous. In 2011, he was vivid. He called her out when she left the ice. He called her out in the press. When the Flatt fiasco started, he was electrified with anger, boosting Mirai to great heights in words. But after this year.... he was just sad. He was trying to comfort her, but the appearance (in my perception) was of a coach/mentor figure face-to-face with the conclusion that they just can't help anymore. Anyone in that position has got to be frustrated by seeing so much natural talent, but being completely unable to focus it.
That crossed my mind too. But there's no evidence for it, so I'll go by the public version until Mirai or Frank tells us otherwise.
I got the impression Frank told Mirai he would coach her another year, but if and only if she moved to Cathedral City where he would have more control over her training. When she, after discussion with her family, told Frank that wasn't going to happen, that was the end.
Are we sure Mirai and Frank actually split? There's been no articles and Mirai didn't even mention it at Ice Chips, just said that she wasn't currently training in Palm Springs because she wasn't working on programs. Perhaps once she gets new programs, she will resume training with Frank to prepare for next season?
We have Phil Hersh's tweets that say so: https://twitter.com/#!/olyphil
But there isn't much else...I am surprised that Phil hasn't followed up on it. Guess he's busy working on other stories.
It’s odd she hasn’t moved near Carroll if it’s true housing arrangement was offered to her. Maybe something is going on around her or her family is financially challenged in supporting her skating more seriously than I imagined? I wish her the best with the new environment or whatever she choose to pursue, but it’d be unfortunate the talent like hers ends up wasted. I hope it will not be the case with her.
Last edited by lowtherlore; 04-06-2012 at 06:00 AM.
Yes, it was wonderful that Sasha did not give up! It looks to me though that Mirai has a very different personality. If she lacks mental strength and self-discipline, those things cannot be taught, can they?
They can be acquired, imo.
This is actually so true. I'm a musician, not a skater, but I have noticed this pattern in my own performances. In the past several months I've adopted a far more technical mindset about performing- getting the technique right, the notes etc, and trying less to "express myself" while playing- yet it is in the past several months that people have commented that my expressiveness/musicality has increased.
I'm not surprised to hear that Mirai has split with Frank... I just hope that she finds the balance, builds a work ethic, and delivers. It's just such a shame to think that someone with such talent could possibly end her career here
Phil Hersh's article today includes quotes from Yuki Saegusa (Mirai's agent at IMG) and Frank Carroll: : http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...7731525.column
ETA:*Nagasu will be working primarily with Wendy Olson, a coach for more than two decades. She has collaborated in the past with Carroll on the training of several skaters, but he no longer will have a role on Team Mirai.
Trivia: Wendy Olson coached Spencer Howe, age 15, to the Novice Men's bronze medal at 2012 US Nationals in San Jose. Howe, who is the younger brother of ice dancer Roxette Howe, placed 6th in Novice Men at 2011 Nationals.
Last edited by Sylvia; 04-06-2012 at 07:28 PM.
wow, not a very flaterring picture of the skater that they used, and it's not like it was from this season - me thinks it was deliberate. It also sounds like her PR Agent is very much annoyed like the rest of us (saying she wanted Mirai to prove that she means it when it comes to loving to skate). Does no one have faith in this girl on her team?
Last edited by Tonichelle; 04-06-2012 at 07:37 PM.
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