U.S. Olympic Committee anounces nominees

**millie** · 01-21-2005, 06:28 PM

U.S. Olympic Committee anounce nominees for 2004 sportman of the year Johnny Weir, sportswoman of the year Sasha Cohen and team of the year, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto. Check out more on U.S. Figure Skating web site. Congratulation to all of them.

**Mathman** · 01-21-2005, 06:48 PM

Thanks for the news, Millie. Congratulations to the nominees. Johnny and B&A have a good chance to earn their first Worlds medals this year, and Sasha might win the world championship. This would give them even stronger credentials for 2005.

In Ladies, figure skaters have won for the last two years (Sarah Hughes in 2002 and Michelle Kwan in 2003).

Here is the complete list of nominees. (Scroll down to "01/21/2005 United States Olympic Committee announces...")

Mathman

**R.D.** · 01-21-2005, 07:13 PM

Sasha might win the world championship.

Can anyone believe this? I SERIOUSLY doubt it. :sheesh:

Kwan has a much better shot even though some posters are forecasting her doom under Cop. I think she'll surprise some people.

**purplecat** · 01-21-2005, 07:24 PM

Congrats to them! They all happen to be favorites of mine!

**Piel** · 01-21-2005, 07:40 PM

Sasha might win the world championship.

RD where does it say this? I guess it wouldn't say much for those doing the nominating if they said something like "Although she can't get through a competition without putting AOI we decided to nominate her anyway".

**R.D.** · 01-21-2005, 07:56 PM

I was quoting MM, who posted above.

**Joesitz** · 01-21-2005, 11:36 PM

Does this mean that Johnny may get to carry the flag on Opening Ceremonies?

Joe

**Mathman** · 01-22-2005, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Piel

RD where does it say this? I guess it wouldn't say much for those doing the nominating if they said something like "Although she can't get through a competition without putting AOI we decided to nominate her anyway".

Originally Posted by Red Dog

I was quoting MM, who posted above

OK, y'all, let me explain.

What I actually wanted to say was, none of these skaters has a chance to win the award because, really, what have they done? Plus, they have to compete against all of the stars of the summer Olympics. Not to mention the fact that figure skating ladies won the last two years, so it is time to give some other sport a chance.

However, that sounded kind of mean. So in my next draft I said, maybe these skaters will win a Worlds medal this year, and then it won't be so unreasonable to consider them for the honor of most outstanding U.S. athlete in all Olympic sports in 2005. But then I thought, well, Sasha did win a medal at Worlds in 2004, so I should mention her case separately. Plus, I didn't want to say anything that might make Millie mad, who was nice enough to start this thread in the first place, plus she likes Sasha the best, and so do I, except for Michelle. And Irina.

Anyway, Sasha might win Worlds. But I am betting on Miki Ando.

Mathman

PS. (SPOILER) But according to what everyone is saying who saw the ladies free state at Canadian Nationals yesterday, there is a new favorite for gold in Moscow and all bets are off!

**R.D.** · 01-22-2005, 11:22 AM

But then I thought, well, Sasha did win a medal at Worlds in 2004, so I should mention her case separately.

Well...so did MK

**gezando** · 01-22-2005, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Mathman

Anyway, Sasha might win Worlds. But I am betting on Miki Ando.

Mathman

I think it will be a tight race b/w Cohen and Rochette, and Cohen will win.

**R.D.** · 01-22-2005, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by gezando

I think it will be a tight race b/w Cohen and Rochette, and Cohen will win.

Hmm...not too sure...she could be the "Arakawa" this year...

**Mathman** · 01-22-2005, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Red Dog

Well...so did MK

I suppose the reasoning went like this. In 2004 Sasha skated five times. She got second at U.S. Nationals, second at Worlds, and 1,3,3 in three cheesefests. She didn't do the Grand Prix.

Michelle got first at Nationals, third at Worlds, and 3,1,2 in cheesefests (no Grand Prix).

So Sasha's world silver was the highest achievement of any U.S. skater that year, so she deserves the recognition.

Unfortunately, now she has to go up against the likes of Carly Patterson (all-around Olympic gold medal in gymnastics), Joanna Hayes (Oly gold and Olympic record in 100 meter hurdles), Kerri Walsh (Oly gold in beach basketball -- plus, she wears a mean speedo), etc.

Just like Johnny Weir has to stack his 5th place worlds finish up against the achievement of Michael Phelps (6 gold medals, plus he wears a mean speedo, plus being Sarah Hughes' boyfriend), or that of Lance Armstrong (last year's winner).

When Michelle won in 2003, she was the world champion in her sport, plus she was her usual sweet and kwanderful self, plus it was an Olympic off-year when the other once-every-four-years sports were on the back burner.

Mathman

**hockeyfan228** · 01-22-2005, 03:08 PM

For the competition Mathman cited, I have to say I was a bit cynical when I heard the nominations in this non-Olympic year. It didn't cost USFS anything to throw Cohen a bone, and who besides Weir could they have chosen?

**Piel** · 01-22-2005, 03:25 PM

Well, with Kwan tying MVO's record you could argue that she deserves it. BTW is anyone else tired of hearing about the "cosmic cinnection", LOL? That and Peter Carruther's "the lady is like a sail in the air" get my vote for the two most overused terms at nationals this year.