Has there ever been a skater with Sasha's degree of competitive success that makes mistakes as consistently as she does?
Yes, there has.............all the skaters.
Dee
Has there ever been a skater with Sasha's degree of competitive success that makes mistakes as consistently as she does?
Hm, I like to root for the veterans. While I like to see one person dominate a competition from beginning to end, it's also very exciting when someone sneaks in from behind-that shows they have the mentality to be a competitor/champion.
I do. I want them to play the METS, my team.Team sports are different. I don't feel sorry for the Red Sox for their current status. If they lose, fine by me!
Shizuka Arakawa (2004 Worlds and 2006 Olys)
I think the only thing unexpected about this win was that Shen survived an injury, but they were favored as the reigning World Champions and Olympic bronze medallists. T/M were not quite slow, but they didn't have the speed they showed by 2004, and "Cotton Club" was a bit perfunctory in presentation, and they improved tremendously when they adopted lyrical long programs, beginning with "Fire on Ice" in 2004.SKATERS WHO UPSET THE APPLE CARTShen/Zhao (2003 Worlds);
(if you don't read anything else in this post, just see what's underlined)
I ended that "nonfan debate" a long time ago when I changed my handle. I figure it really is not worth harping about. It's obvious, I think.
I never used the word "meltdown" unless a skater TRULY "melted down". But I have said that a skater has stumbled, messed up, blew it, etc. I'm really tired of defending myself so let me just be honest again- as soon as I realized that people thought I was a fan of a certain skater that's when I "turned it up" a little on the comments. Still stand by every post 100%, but put a little "edge" into the words, if you know what I mean. Still, that's the main reason I've been cutting down on the compliments- Know how many (more) times I'd be picked on? But really, in order to really feel compelled to give a pure, genuine compliment (to a skater) I have to be WOWED...and that's unfortunately something that hasn't happened since 03.
eta: I also think this is a key difference between me and the die-hard FS fan: Since I don't have the technical know-how that many other posters do I really can't praise (or pick apart) skaters as accurately as others so I have to resort to generalities to get my point across.
Here's the thing that somehow confuses the heck out of me, though. "Quick to say someone blew it with no sympathy?" Is FS really a SPORT? How many times do I have to read in newspapers, hear on Sportscenter, or just hear fellow sportfans do just that...in basketball, football, etc.? Now I don't intend to be mean here, I'm just curious as to why there's a difference.
I respectfully disagree with the idea that total negativity is as enjoyable as total positivity. Ultimately that would mean heaven and hell, or love and hate, are equally valuable. Even the harshest professional critics - take John Simon for a famous example of Red-Dogian "honesty" - have their enthusiasms.I didn't know we had to "keep score". As long as the remarks aren't personally abusive towards the skaters, I don't see the problem. Nobody is forced to agree and disagreeing respectfully can be enjoyable. There are plenty of posters who never say anything even the slightest bit negative, even when it's obvious. It all balances out.
I respectfully disagree with the idea that total negativity is as enjoyable as total positivity. Ultimately that would mean heaven and hell, or love and hate, are equally valuable. Even the harshest professional critics - take John Simon for a famous example of Red-Dogian "honesty" - have their enthusiasms.
Negativity is just unpleasant.
As for the "attacks" on RD, first of all, he can stop them any time he wants simply by refraining from attacking skaters. That's called learning from the feedback you get in life.
Third, I've come to think all this talk about RD is exactly what he wants. For whatever reason, he wants or needs to get attention by being purposely provocative. As others have said, it's pretty boring.
But I wish RD well. And he took a really beautiful photograph of Venice (where I am going in October)!