I am so surprised. Surprised, shocked, distressed.
The only surprise here is that it's actually not the week before SkAm.
The timing of the USOC Media Summit - going on now in Park City - likely drove the necessity of making an announcement. Otherwise, he would have been in the position of needing to provide misleading responses that would have only backfired on him if he withdrew just 2 weeks later.
Just like I predicted when his "comeback" was first announced he was never going to actually follow through and compete. This was just about keeping his names in the news before he becomes completely irrelevant for good after the Sochi Olympics. He will not announce the end of his comeback until right before Nationals where he will WD last minute, to milk every last ounce of publicity he can though. I am not criticizing him btw, from a financial standpoint it is very smart on his behalf. Competing where he would place very poorly in todays field (healthy or not) would be the only mistake.
Just like I predicted when his "comeback" was first announced he was never going to actually follow through and compete. This was just about keeping his names in the news before he becomes completely irrelevant for good after the Sochi Olympics. He will not announce the end of his comeback until right before Nationals where he will WD last minute, to milk every last ounce of publicity he can though. I am not criticizing him btw, from a financial standpoint it is very smart on his behalf. Competing where he would place very poorly in todays field (healthy or not) would be the only mistake.
omg, shocking
next thing is to pull out at nationals
lyacek is a joke
omg, shocking
next thing is to pull out at nationals
lyacek is a joke
As CanadianSkaterG said, Sky-fly, it's Not a Joke. He won the OGM in 2010! You don't like him but you have to live with it.
Evan cannot compete in Sochi with a torn labrum. He needs surgery, and with surgery HE CANNOT COMPETE IN SOCHI. It's over, Evan. Time to go on to the next stage in life.
Evan cannot compete in Sochi with a torn labrum. He needs surgery, and with surgery HE CANNOT COMPETE IN SOCHI. It's over, Evan. Time to go on to the next stage in life.
Is there any film of what skating Evan did at Champs' Camp?
Call it what you want but it has panned out exactly as I predicted 2 years ago. The matter of fact is I am pretty much right on everything I have ever predicted. You might not be familiar with me but here is a rundown of my correct predictions in the last few years since I joined this forum:
1. I predicted before the 2010 Olympics Evan would win gold, despite not being a fan of his. Most people said I was crazy, as despite being reigning World Champion he wasnt seen as favorite. I was right.
2. I predicted after Skate Canada 2010 the writing was already on the wall for mens skating the next few years, if not the whole quad, and even if Chan fell 4 or 5 times repeatedly and others skated cleanly he would win practically every event. People said I was being a pesstimistic and exagerrating. In fact I was exactly right and am constantly told on this particular issue "you called it".
3. I predicted in December 2010 that despite her complete lack of artistry and style, and that she wasnt even the jumper she used to be, Miki Ando would by default win her 2nd World title due to the lack of competition, the momentum she was gaining resulting in generous scores, and that Kim would not be fully sharp with Worlds her first event of the season (unlike her 3rd like this past season after a longer layoff). People crowed I was wrong, Kim would come back and easily win, or Czisny was going to win. Once again I was right. Note that this and example #1 show I make positive predictions against the grain even for skaters I dont care for, so unlike most my predictions and assessments are 100% based on realism, not bias and emotions like many others.
4. I predicted after the 2011 Worlds that Savchenko & Szolkowy would remain fierce rivals of Volosozhar & Trankov for the next 2 seasons, when others on this board would predicting they would pull away instantly and dominate. I was right, they have split their meetings 2-2, World titles 1-1, Grand Prix final titles 1-1, and a clean V&T lost to flawed in both programs S&S at the 11/12 season Grand Prix final to boot.
I am now predicting the likely end of this rivalry period, and V&T pulling away to dominate this season and in future seasons, as others are doing so this isnt going out on a limb I concede, but it still doesnt change I was right on the previous 2 seasons, and V&T did not immediately pull away to dominance as others predicted, and in fact were still chasing S&S to the point even a perfect V&T couldnt beat a badly off S&S for awhile (again 2011/2012 GPF example).
5. I predicted Davis & White would take the upper hand in the rivalry with Virtue & Moir this season despite being Canadian and a far bigger V&M fan than D&W. I was right.
6. I predicted Pechalat & Bourzat had their moment in the sun with their home ice career achievement bronze at the 2012 Worlds, and would slide drastically at this years Worlds. Others called me a hater (I actually like P&B) and crazy. Lo and behold 6th place at Worlds, about what I foresaw.
7. I predicted unlike my 2011 predictions that Kim would come back better prepared this time and dominate, win the 2013 Worlds and 2014 Olympics easily. Others were more pesstimistic and said it would be hard for Kim to compete against a so called better than ever Kostner, a revived Asada, all the up and comers. Well so far so good, and likely will continue to be as I called.
8. I predicted that Flatt's 2011 Worlds and her very foolish decision to skate injured rather than WD gracefully, was the end of her completely. Others called me a Flatt hater (again which I am not, a concede to not liking some skaters like Ando and Lysacek, but never had a problem with Flatt) but it turns out like always I was just calling things as they were.
I also predicted right after Nationals 2011 the judges had made a huge mistake placing her above Nagasu with basically equal performances, and would regret it in a big way come Worlds. Check again.
I could on quite awhile longer but you get the idea. As usual my forecast of Evan's comeback from two years ago (he would ultimately probably not even make it to another competition, never mind be competitive) was once again right.
My predictions for this season (which given my history those of you with differing hopes might as well resign yourself to now, as I always end up right on something I feel strongly enough to declare):
1. Despite my thus far perfect prediction of Chan and his 5+ fall margin over the field which has made him the most controversial and hated skating champion in history bar none, his luck has run out, and he will end his career with a 3rd or 4th place finish in Sochi.
2. Weaver & Poje (I even started a thread about this a few months ago) are going to have their best year yet, win the bronze in Sochi and the GPF, win their first ever grand prix assignment, and win a medal at Worlds.
3. Volosozhar & Trankov will not only win everything (admitedly an all too easy prediction) but gain the respect from fans they have not yet gotten in the process. They will also change their mind on their current plans to retire post Sochi and will continue on, despite the OGM.
4. Kim will easily win her 2nd OGM (and no this is not a safe prediction, as there are alot of Asada, Kostner, and Gold homers who seem certain said skater will win instead).
5. Wagner will win a medal at atleast one of the Olympics and Worlds.
6. Ando's comeback will go nowhere, and she will not make the Japanese Olympic team.
Feel free to bump if I even get a single of these wrong. As usual I wont.
(Pay no attention to pangtongfan's long-winded, self-aggrandizing introductory shpiel, SkateFan66. He just really wants to be loved, that's all.)
Don't worry, I read the first paragraph and then read no more. Have better things to do with my time.