Can Chan be on the top again?

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

You also missed the part though where Chan actually said "He's earned his spot here. You can't teach experience. He's got what many young skaters don't have." Yes, those snarky/shady comments I don't support, but he does have a point though about Plushenko showing up to Sochi coming as a surprise - with one Olympic spot and Plushenko skating the way he did at Russian nationals, you can't imagine the Russian fed would have sent him. However it really wasn't a surprise at all considering Russian nationals actually made no difference in Plushenko's appearance in Sochi in the long run, as the Russian fed was most definitely going to send him regardless of how he did.

 

[kiara_bleu]

You would think that Patrick learned not to underestimate his opponents after what happened in Sochi.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I disagree with Chan. The men's field was more thrilling this year than last, even without him. I don't think Yuzu and Javi have reached their max potential yet, but that's more of a plus than a minus, since it's exciting watching them progress. We have a lot to look forward to, and it will be a challenge for him to top them.

It was thrilling in that there were no obvious winners. People expected the Japanese men to clean up the Grand Prix when there were several surprises (including Kovtun winning both his GP events). Ten's 4CC performance was also a surprise, how strong he skated. And of course Worlds was a hot mess of an SP for the men, but the LP was okay. Javier's FS was wonderful (even with the fall, he still did 2 quads and an axel), and Brown/Ge/Nguyen were brilliant as well.

Chan will have a very hard time beating Hanyu though, now that Hanyu is essentially scored like him (but with higher BV). CoC silver and even Worlds silver without any clean quad were pretty telling as far as the state of affairs in men's skating. Artistry/PCS is still trumping difficulty and clean skates. So I suppose in that regard, Chan definitely still has a shot because if he skates poorly he'll be bronze at worst and if he skates marginally well he stands to win.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

You would think that Patrick learned not to underestimate his opponents after what happened in Sochi.

I'm fairly certain he knew not to underestimate Hanyu... especially after Hanyu soundly beat him in the team SP. Patrick beat himself in Sochi, and everyone knows that (I would hope Chan himself knows that the most).

 

[Meoima]

Should I say I'd love to see they pair up Trankov and Patrick as a commentary team after both retire?
You know... Trankov with his gossips and Patrick with his remarks.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Should I say I'd love to see they pair up Trankov and Patrick as a commentary team after both retire?
You know... Trankov with his gossips and Patrick with his remarks.

Shoot me now. If I had it my way, neither of them would have a mic ever again.

 

[Meoima]

Shoot me now. If I had it my way, neither of them would have a mic ever again.

Why not? I'd love to see them together as commentators and watch the world burn down on their feet/mouths.

Tara and Johnny move over, Trankov/Patrick will get highest viewership ever for FS.

 

[cruzceleste]

Oh to be able to use a Silencio spell...

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

^^ You also missed the part though where Yuzu was involve in collision at CoC, skating while recovering from injury at NHK, won GPF at ~90% healthy, had bladder surgery in end Dec and followed by ankle injury...going to Worlds with only 3 weeks of training.

I really hope Hanyu is fully healthy next season. Primarily so that he's healthy, but secondarily so that there are no excuses should he happen to put out any bad performances. I wouldn't be surprised if Hanyu has a bad performance next year and people still say he's not fully recovered from CoC. :sarcasm:

Chan has never really had the "luxury" of citing injuries, and his inconsistencies have always been taken at face value.

 

[evangeline]

Won't Chan keep his Chopin FS?
How is that pushing the boundaries for the sport when a lot of people including Yuzuru (whose skating is apparently boring and not worth Chan's time) did really good programs to Chopin?
How is it pushing the boundaries for Chan himself, when he has been skating to Rachmaninov his whole career?
Don't get me wrong, I love Chopin and I love Rachmaninov but these are not groundbreaking choices.

It's even funnier that Chan is criticizing others for not challenging themselves with new music and styles when you remember that Chan skated to a warhorse like Vivaldi's Four Seasons for THREE seasons


I'm fascinated by Chan's thought processes. His apparent lack of filter definitely provides a lot of , and whenever he gives an interview, which isn't something you can say for every skater.

 

[cruzceleste]

I really hope Hanyu is fully healthy next season. Primarily so that he's healthy, but secondarily so that there are no excuses should he happen to put out any bad performances. I wouldn't be surprised if Hanyu has a bad performance next year and people still say he's not fully recovered from CoC. :sarcasm:

Chan has never really had the "luxury" of citing injuries, and his inconsistencies have always been taken at face value.

Well, but he has blame the camara

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Why not? I'd love to see them together as commentators and watch the world burn down on their feet/mouths.

Tara and Johnny move over, Trankov/Patrick will get highest viewership ever for FS.

Tara and Johnny have the right amount of sass and criticism (although Johnny sometimes goes too far). Trankov/Patrick commentating together to me would be like when Elvis commentated for a few competitions... he just sounded bitter and has a very set idea of what a skate should be, and criticizes anything outside of that.

 

[Hanmgse]

this thread is hilarious

 

[Mrs. P]

That comment caught my eye, wondering if he was serious or playing with the interviewer.

Patrick's comments do not surprise me as he does have a bit of foot in the mouth syndrome.
He has made comments that have made me cringe in the past but I believe he is a good guy and
is well liked and respected by other skaters.

Can he be on top again, sure he has the goods but it will be tough with the current crop of skaters
including Jason Brown who imo right know is the one to watch out for. Patrick will be playing catch up
but heck maybe that is what is motivating him.

Actually, that is why I disagree with Patrick's assertion that the men's field is "nothing special." Perhaps they're not SPECIAL with a capital S, yet, but the potential and anticipation is what makes the men's field super special to me. I think what Patrick is misinterpreting as "nothing special" is a field that is working out kinks in the first year of a long Olympic cycle.

I think Patrick is playing catchup, but more in his expectations of the overall men's field, not his overall skills. It sounds like Patrick expects he's going to waltz in and just dominate again, just like the previous quad. I think he has an advantage as far as his foundation, but I think it will diminish over time as the others figure out what they need to do to be competitive. We saw a taste of that in 2014, but I think it will play out in a greater way in the years to come.

 

[StitchMonkey]

Um...did he watch Javier's Black Betty program? That is NOTHING like Chaplin! Or Yuzuru's Chopin Ballade?! It sounds like, using his words, he "skimmed"only the free skates. And it sounds like he only focused on the ones he considered his top competition. No mention of Denis Ten, who had two lovely programs (and had beat him in the FS at Worlds) or the rest of the men's field.

one of the interviews i saw said he just fast forwarded to their jumps. I think he is channeling Plushenko.

I kinda stopped reading when i got to that part. That is something you wait to say for about 10 years. Bite your tongue and have more respect for the sport while you are till in it. Geez you can say you watched the jumps alot, but don't flat out admit to blowing off half the sport.

We should show him our Jump-a-ma-trons. . . seems that is all he is interested in.

 

[alia jackson]

I really hope Hanyu is fully healthy next season. Primarily so that he's healthy, but secondarily so that there are no excuses should he happen to put out any bad performances. I wouldn't be surprised if Hanyu has a bad performance next year and people still say he's not fully recovered from CoC. :sarcasm:

Chan has never really had the "luxury" of citing injuries, and his inconsistencies have always been taken at face value.

You and your thinking . You said it once before in the illness thread. You seemed refused to believe that he had injury, surgery and lack of training last season. Oh well....

Nah, Chan had the "luxury" of blaming the skycam instead @4:27min

 

[silverfoxes]

Well, but he has blame the camara

Even the BESP guys, who are always so positive, ever so subtly imply that they think he was overscored more than once.

"For me, on a couple of occasions, the judges have rescued him..." Just a couple??

 

[alia jackson]

one of the interviews i saw said he just fast forwarded to their jumps. I think he is channeling Plushenko.

I kinda stopped reading when i got to that part. That is something you wait to say for about 10 years. Bite your tongue and have more respect for the sport while you are till in it. Geez you can say you watched the jumps alot, but don't flat out admit to blowing off half the sport.

We should show him our Jump-a-ma-trons. . . seems that is all he is interested in.

The Jump-a-ma-trons videos are awesome, you guys should totally tweet them to him

 

[daphenaxa]

Even the BESP guys, who are always so positive, ever so subtly imply that they think he was overscored more than once.

"For me, on a couple of occasions, the judges have rescued him..." Just a couple??

Yeah it is always kind of funny to hear their comments about him. They were very clear about what they thought at WC12 and 13 but even at other competitions they never go overboard with the compliments. I don't think they like him that much

 

[OS]

It's even funnier that Chan is criticizing others for not challenging themselves with new music and styles when you remember that Chan skated to a warhorse like Vivaldi's Four Seasons for THREE seasons

Well it is called the FOUR Seasons... so one more to go. Hope he keep it.

I am excited for him coming back just for the drama factor. I am still gutted for him at the Olympics. It was a case it was a disaster for everyone, but overall I'd give it to Patrick just for the better program and he received less inflation vs Hanyu who had 2 whirlwind seasons of inflation on a upward momentum and ISU seems desperately want to give it to a Japanese to share the wealth. Patrick should just stick with interviewing in French and Cantonese and hire an English Translator (degree in International Relations) just to 'translate' into PC talk. Who knows... Hanyu may not be such a nice guy... he can't be that perfect May be he just talk babyish with a slight stutter and lisp rather than embellished eloquence that always come from his English fan translated interviews.

Hanyu in Japanese: I like Pooh. Fan Translation: Beautiful Man child in touch with his softer charismatic side and to show his fan appreciation by hugging the orange cushy toy.
Hanyu in Japanese: I like Javi. Fan Translation: Bestest beautiful bromance happened in this sport since.. never!! Romeo and Betty forever!

Personally I welcome Patrick's return just to dampen some of these ridiculous PCS level these youngsters been getting. Just like if Mao returns, it should quash these PCS to something more sensible.