Alexei YAGUDIN: “I’M COMING BACK”

[dlarry1]

The question was, if the Russian Federation invests a lot of effort in the resurrection of Yagudin's and Plushenko's careers, will this hold back the development of the next generation of Russian skaters and hurt Russia's prospects in the long run?

My thought was, let them all skate and the devil take the hindmost.

So you're recommending short term success over long term investment? I can see this in terms of making sure they get back to 3 worlds entries. I guess my concern is, at what point does the RF have to admit it's time to move on.

I wonder how people would react if the US Fed stopped supporting skaters like Mirai, Caroline, Rachel, Ashley etc. and poured all the resources into comebacks for Michelle and Sasha? Probably not a completely valid comparison, but still...

And OF COURSE it's all idle chatter. Gotta talk about something still the season starts. And this seems more productive than all that bashing taking over almost every other thread...

 

[blue dog]

I think the key variable here is 'does he have the backing of his federation?'. In his eligible career I seem to recall that he wasn't their favorite and that he managed to somewhat alienate the Russian public during SLC as well.
Still, the Russian federation is on hard times now and it's hard to imagine them not wanting a 4x world champion and OGM back on the ice. And it's hard for me to imagine $peedy standing firm against a determined Piseev.
I wonder how the Plushenko/Mishin camp would react to the federation actively working to get Yagudin reinstated...

Didn't he at one time say he wanted to skate for the US and have American citizenship? I remember him getting a green card...

I think, still, that Plushenko is more the favoured son (not that Alexei is a redhead stepchild). He never competed in a professional-only competition, so there is no need to reinstate him.

 

[Dodhiyel]

I realized something a little while ago. IIRC, Russian Nationals are not under ISU jurisdiction. Only the international competitions are. RN would be under the Russian Skating Federation's jurisdiction. So, they can test their skaters for themselves, to see what's what, by letting them compete at Nationals.

I like what I have seen of Dobrin's style very much. Some things I recently read online left me wondering. Two different articles quoted Alexei Mishin. In one, he said that Sergei Dobrin had gladdened him at Jaca, Spain, during the training there. In another, he said that if Yevgeny Plyushchenko did not compete eligibly this season, he would work with Lambiel to some extent. I apologize for not presenting the URLs for these things, but I really did read them online. The picture of what will happen keeps changing. Plyushchenko was still doing physical rehabilitation, and therefore was not able to participate in the training camp at Jaca.

 

[Kasey]

Dodhiyel, I have read both of those also, regarding Mishin working with Dobrin and considering work with Lambiel if Plushenko does not compete. It sounds like the idea of Plushenko's "Comeback" is not a done deal yet, as I also recall hearing he had agreed to do the Dancing on Ice series (not sure if it is as a competitor or host, but it was my impression that he would be one of the competitors). Piseev last year was pretty snotty about about Petrova/Tikhonov doing the Stars on Ice show as well as competing...but of course, with Plushenko being an OGM, he might not get into as much a snit if Evgeny wanted to try both. And it was my impression that Yagudin is not looking at a comeback to eligible competition THIS season, but next (as he is hoping that Plushenko will win back two slots for Russian men at worlds this year).

It's a little off-putting that with Plushenko supposedly coming back this season, people are automatically assuming that he will be the chosen one to go to Euros/Worlds. From what I had read, it seemed like he was only working at doing Cup of Russia and/or nationals to see what kind of shape he is in, and then go from there. It is not outside of the realm of possibility that Plushenko will not come back as strongly as he was when he left competition, and that someone like Dobrin, Lutai, Uspenski or Griazev could have the skate of their life at Nationals and beat hiim. (Of course, Piseev would still pick and choose for Euros/Worlds like he always does). I just don't think anything is certain with either of these skaters coming back, that they are going to come back in full winning form.

Will just watch from the sidelines and see how things work out.

 

[Zanzibar]

Yagudin and Morozov, "made up" (for lack of a better phrase) last February, at a tribute show for Tarasova in Moscow. They spoke at the show, and then the following day on his way back to America, Alexei spotted Nikolai's flight at the gate as he sat in his plane, waiting for pushback. They spoke on the phone, and after that started hanging out again, the first time at the Japan Open.

It's not like they were really enemies after the Olympics, and although there was some side-taking after the Tarasova/Morozov coaching split, that dissipated fairly quickly. However, when Alexei began working as a coaching consultant with Brian Joubert - and then Morozov later got involved - Nikolai told Brian there HAD to be a choice - that Brian could not work with both of them at the same time. So, there was some new professional friction, but in personal terms, their paths just didn't cross much, and neither went out of their way to communicate. Nikolai always said to me, "He was one of my best friends ever."

 

[Mathman]

So you're recommending short term success over long term investment?

(?) I am not recommending anything. I am saying, let everyone skate who wants to and let the chips fall as they may. Whoever skates the best in the 2007-08 season goes on to 2008 Worlds. Whoever skates the best in the 2008-09 season goes on to 2009 Worlds. If Yagudin outskates Dobrin, Yagudin goes. If Dobrin outskates Yagudin, Dobrin goes.

This is sports; let it be decided on the playing field, not in the inner sanctum of the federation hierarchy.

I think a federation only outsmarts itself by trying to guess who might step up and who won't. Stand and deliver! JMO.

 

[Dodhiyel]

Yagudin and Morozov, "made up" (for lack of a better phrase) last February, at a tribute show for Tarasova in Moscow..... Nikolai always said to me, "He was one of my best friends ever."

And I remember in the old days, before the misunderstandings, Alexei saying in an interview, that Nikolai Morozov was his best friend.

I think it's great that they are working together again!

 

[Dodhiyel]

Oh, I just remembered something. Fished out my notes. The GP is different this time. Lots of different skaters from some countries. I think that's a good idea. The last time I looked, the ISU GP schedule showed Russia was fielding these people:

RUSSIA:

Sergei Dobrin
Sergei Voronov
Andrei Lutai
Alexander Uspenski
TBA
Andrei Griazev

(The TBA was in Cup of Russia, where it has been announced that Yevgeny Plyushchenko will compete, if he feels ready.) The reason I am posting this, is because it shows that the younger guys will have a chance at high level international competition before their Nationals. I was thrilled when I saw this. I need to check it again soon, for changes, but I made this list from what I found posted on August 02, 2007.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

My thought was, let them all skate and the devil take the hindmost.

But the devil backed you up when some of us were wanting to have Mao in the Torino Olympics, and you wanted to obey the rules. Why should the devil now ok a change in the Rules.?

Further, I don't think anyone has written that Yagudin should not be reinstated so as to become eligible again. They are just questioning it as a change-in-rules? And all I did was bring up the back stage intrigue - nothing to do with reinstatement.

A lot of important players here: Cinquanta, Piseev, Tatiana, Mischin, and the future of Eligible Skating is at stake.

Joe

 

[Dee4707]

I will just remain patient!!

Dee

 

[Ladskater]

Both Pushenko and Yags back in the game? That should be interesting. I wonder if either of these guys are up to it?

If Michelle Kwan joins the roster - it means the Vancouver 2010 games will have a host of skaters from the past trying to make a comeback.

hmm.........not sure if that is a good thing.

 

[blue dog]

Both Pushenko and Yags back in the game? That should be interesting. I wonder if either of these guys are up to it?

If Michelle Kwan joins the roster - it means the Vancouver 2010 games will have a host of skaters from the past trying to make a comeback.

hmm.........not sure if that is a good thing.

It's reminiscent of Lillehammer, that's for sure! We have the dancers (Dubreuil and Lauzon, perhaps the Bulgarians) coming back--perhaps Shen and Zhao, and who knows--Totmianina and Marinin?

Plus these singles skaters...

 

[zephyrskates]

Both Pushenko and Yags back in the game? That should be interesting. I wonder if either of these guys are up to it?

If Michelle Kwan joins the roster - it means the Vancouver 2010 games will have a host of skaters from the past trying to make a comeback.

hmm.........not sure if that is a good thing.

just a matter of time before someone brings up kwan's comeback. this is so passe.

 

[jennylovskt]

Thank you very much, Ptichka!

I am too overwhelmingly surprised by this news. Although I have seen on other board about this topic, I didn't even bother to read through them. I have never taken it seriously. This is the first time that I actually read the whole thing. My first reaction to it was "NO"!

Alexei Yagudin was my number one favorite skater, but I don't want to see him coming back. Plushenko's coming back is realistic, but Yagudin's is not. I don't want to see him finishing off the podium. And he will finish off the podium for sure. I guess he is tired of show skating, and wants to relive the competitive experience again. I believe that there is nothing to do with the intention of raising mother Russia. He does it for himself. He wants to do it and TT will help him any time, any way if he asks. I believe that this time his goal will not be the gold medals, it'll be accomplishment of the triple axels, and maybe even a quad. With artificial hip, if he can do it and satisfy with it, it will be a great accomplishment in deed. Still I need some time to digest the news and adjust my thought and emotion.

 

[Tonichelle]

I will just remain patient!!

Dee

Why do I feel the need to doubt that?

 

[Jaana]

The more competition the merrier. As for Yagudin holding back the development of younger skaters, hey, settle it on the ice.

If Yags wins, well.

If the new guys win, again, well.

That would be okay in a perfect world. Unfortunately figure skating generally or Russian Nationals especially is really far from it and skaters with reputation tend to be overscored or held-up by the judges. JMHO.

About Yagudin, I really wonder if he would be able to make a comeback (in case he would be reinstated) considering that during past five years he has performed only a rather limited selection of triple jumps continuously? His body has changed and also from that reason he has to "relearn" those jumps kind of from the scratch. Also, including the jumping, I really wonder whether his hip will be up to the kind of training it is needed today to be successful in CoP-system. Besides, Yagudin is 27 years old now and would be practically 30 in Vancouver or 34 in Russian Olympics....

 

[blue dog]

Perhaps Yags should try pairs

 

[Dee4707]

Why do I feel the need to doubt that?

Toni, you got my number!! Maybe I should have said, I will TRY and remain patient.

Dee

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I still don't understand why so many posters are only concerned with Yags skating. I am too, but first and foremost I want to know how a rule for eligibility will hold up if a single skater is exempt from the Rule?

I know many of you are not Michael Weiss fans (I am) and if this rule opens the door for non-eligibles to be eligible whenever they want to be, we could have so many skaters as well as Michael coming back since Eligible Skating is dead.

The new Rule will be that there are two segments to the Sport of Figure Skating, one being competitive ,and the other being profit making shows. We won't be saying: She's gone pro anymore. but we will be saying: She's doing a show right now but will be back next year for competition.

Now, if the drama surrounding the drama of Russian Figure Skating (Yagudin, Plushenko, Tatitana, Mischin with final say by Piseev who then must face Cinquanta is resolved (and it is a toughie for Speedy), we should be able to proceed with all merriment of having Yagudin back or saddness if that be the case.

Joe

 

[chuckm]

I'd hate to see Yagudin return if it meant he injured his hip so badly that he would have problems just walking normally again. Hip replacements are a boon to those who have problems getting around, but they were never designed to withstand extreme athletic repetitive movements.

No reputable orthopod would tell Yagudin that he could return to competitive skating after a hip replacement.