Alexei YAGUDIN: “I’M COMING BACK”

[antmanb]

Plush and Yags are really suited for each other (it’s a pity they can’t do pairs).

Imagine that - the 2010 Olympics - the leaders after the Pairs Short program are Yagudin and Pluschenko who are planning SBS triple axels with two throw quads in the free up against the more artistic pairing of Galindo and Weir who will attempt a throw triple axel and throw quad!!!! How will it pan out? !

Ant

 

[Dee4707]

Again, try to be realistic. He never skated the programe with difficult footwork, good spins and intricate choreo.

NEVER......I think you are being unrealistic or just silly.

Dee

 

[NansXOXOX]

NEVER......I think you are being unrealistic or just silly.

Dee

No, just uninformed or biased.

 

[Tonichelle]

...it is a fact that footwork and basic skating is something that skaters keep forever and are more likely to get back up to the elite level than they are jumps and spins - look at Browning.

Ant

I never need a prompting to look at Browning (hey Dee drools over Yags... so why can't I find someone to drool over in this thread? )

 

[Mafke]

Note to self:
Add Niza to the list of posters who can't be taken seriously.

Self:
Done.

 

[Ptichka]

Imagine that - the 2010 Olympics - the leaders after the Pairs Short program are Yagudin and Pluschenko who are planning SBS triple axels with two throw quads in the free up against the more artistic pairing of Galindo and Weir who will attempt a throw triple axel and throw quad!!!! How will it pan out? !

 

[Mathman]

What Ptichka said!

 

[iluvtodd]

I never need a prompting to look at Browning (hey Dee drools over Yags... so why can't I find someone to drool over in this thread? )

Toni, go right ahead and drool all you want over Kurt !

I wonder through all of this discussion. Will Alexei tour (will he be phsically able to) with SOI this season or not?

 

[Tonichelle]

I would think if he is trying to get back into elligble skating, he would sit out this season with SOI (just a guess) considering the ISU really doesn't care for Scott's tour lol

 

[hockeyfan228]

Were he to come back with his jumps, the main issue under CoP would be his spins. Just like Joubert, his spins under 6.0 were simple and perfunctory on the whole. It took Joubert several years to make his spins competitive and to achieve higher levels. In the meantime, there are a group of complete Men's skaters, most with quads, at the top of the ranks.

The other issue is that while his footwork was expressive and unusual for its time, if I'm reading the level requirements correctly, I don't see high levels for his footwork.

Front-loaded programs have not been penalized under PCS, and I don't think he'd have any issue getting spectacular PCS.

But I still think that he's made the announcement to rain on Plushenko's return parade. I hope his surgery is successful so that he does not live every day in pain and will walk like the average 40-year-old when he reaches that age.

Plushenko/Yagudin in pairs: didn't they just do that movie?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

But if there is no-one else who wants to re-instate then who would question the exception rather than a rule change? Legality i think is a strong word - its not they're a public body like a government or police/fire service. They're a private organisation who can change their internal rules as they see fit. Sally Stapleford et al saw what happens if you try to challenge the ISU legally. There is no doubt left in anyone's mind that the ISU do whatever they want, however they want to. Ant

You seem to want to persist with this, even after I implied I was satisfied with Hockeyfan's post.

You got it! There is now no doubt left in anyone's mind that the ISU does what ever it wants. Now can you give an opinion on that or are you afraid that you will get the treatment Sally Stapleford got for objecting to the mob? Be brave and say you object for the ISU to not explain exceptions. Or say you bow to your leader without any question.

From what Hockeyfan said, I am satisfied to realize that the Federations have to explain to the ISU why they are pushing a non eligible skater to get an Exception to the Rules. Sorry, I didn't know that at the beginning but then going through these pages no one said the ISU can do what it wants without explanation, although I asked early on for clarification. (I was never against Yagudin personally.)

Now can you open up and let some of us know how you feel about exceptions to the Eligibility Rules without fear of the Stapleford consequences. I can assure you that they will still let you continue judging.

Joe

 

[GoldMedalist]

Imagine that - the 2010 Olympics - the leaders after the Pairs Short program are Yagudin and Pluschenko who are planning SBS triple axels with two throw quads in the free up against the more artistic pairing of Galindo and Weir who will attempt a throw triple axel and throw quad!!!! How will it pan out? !

Ant

That would be the most amazing thing ever.

MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Were he to come back with his jumps, the main issue under CoP would be his spins. Just like Joubert, his spins under 6.0 were simple and perfunctory on the whole. It took Joubert several years to make his spins competitive and to achieve higher levels. In the meantime, there are a group of complete Men's skaters, most with quads, at the top of the ranks.

The other issue is that while his footwork was expressive and unusual for its time, if I'm reading the level requirements correctly, I don't see high levels for his footwork.

Front-loaded programs have not been penalized under PCS, and I don't think he'd have any issue getting spectacular PCS.

But I still think that he's made the announcement to rain on Plushenko's return parade. I hope his surgery is successful so that he does not live every day in pain and will walk like the average 40-year-old when he reaches that age.

Plushenko/Yagudin in pairs: didn't they just do that movie?

It's hard to believe that skaters with knee surgeries will last indefinitely. I really like Stephane's skating the most, but I am quite weary that he will be able to last to 2010, and I expect to see him faltering in upcoming competitions.

Both Evgeni and Alexei as well as Stephane have been active in Shows which keeps them in shape, not necessarily with new content of program. So much to see in the future.

Meanwhile, an injury free Joubert and Takahashi should rise to the occasion to be top aces for the 2010 Olys. Both those skaters have improved much for CoP. Maybe one of the three faulty-knee-skaters could squeeze on the podium. However, Verner and Lysacek will be pushing for a podium spot if not gold.

As for front loading, both Evgeni and Alexei are noted for that, however, the back loading is also important in CoP.

JMO - Joe

 

[Mathman]

An interesting example of the ISU not allowing an exception to its rules happened at 2006 Worlds. Irina Slutskaya said she did not want to compete, then later changed her mind after the deadline had passed.

It would have been easy, I imagine, for the ISU to come up with some kind of exception clause to allow her to compete anyway, if they had wanted to. But they didn't, citing "a rule is a rule."

I don't know how hard the Russian Federation pushed for this. As I recall, Piseev's comments were perfuctorily in support of Irina, but that was all.

 

[slutskayafan21]

Meanwhile, an injury free Joubert and Takahashi should rise to the occasion to be top aces for the 2010 Olys. Both those skaters have improved much for CoP. Maybe one of the three faulty-knee-skaters could squeeze on the podium. However, Verner and Lysacek will be pushing for a podium spot if not gold.

I doubt you are right on Verner and Lysacek, especialy Lysacek. Evan is vastly overrated by NA skating fans and NA media. I feel strongly he has won his last World medal. Verner might have a medal or two at the World level in the future, but I see more likely medalist at the next Olympics then him.

Lambiel, Joubert, Takahashi, Oda, possibly Plushenko if he returns, will be the top dogs for the next Olympics. The NA men like Lysacek, Weir, Buttle, will be probably filling out the lower part of the top 10 but that is it.

 

[DaveT]

I doubt you are right on Verner and Lysacek, especialy Lysacek. Evan is vastly overrated by NA skating fans and NA media. I feel strongly he has won his last World medal. Verner might have a medal or two at the World level in the future, but I see more likely medalist at the next Olympics then him.

Lambiel, Joubert, Takahashi, Oda, possibly Plushenko if he returns, will be the top dogs for the next Olympics. The NA men like Lysacek, Weir, Buttle, will be probably filling out the lower part of the top 10 but that is it.

Don't rule out lucky. Lysacek could be the last man standing and capture additional medals based on the mistakes of others. Also, if Weir ever delivers, he's immediately in the mix, he's got the goods, just doesn't deliver, the opposite of Lysacek.

 

[Zanzibar]

Good points! Can you imagine a Johnny Weir who brings to competition ice total mental toughness, consistency and a quad? Here's to hoping it happens.

 

[Mathman]

The more I think about it, the more doubtful I become that the ISU will just "do whatever it wants" over the issue of reinstatement.

The ISU had a reason for its eligibility rules in the first place. That reason has not gone away just because Yagudin wants to compete again.

The reason is, the ISU wants to control skating and skaters. If people are allowed to leave the fold and do whatever they like, then later come back expecting to be welcomed with open arms -- ask Jon Jackson and Ron Pfenning how the ISU feels about that.

Plushenko got in serious trouble for wanting to skate an exhibition after withdrawing from the Grand Prix circuit. The ISU said no, absolutley not, and then sent a nasty letter to USFS saying, "and by the way, we're not all that happy with Michelle Kwan, either."

 

[slutskayafan21]

Don't rule out lucky. Lysacek could be the last man standing and capture additional medals based on the mistakes of others. Also, if Weir ever delivers, he's immediately in the mix, he's got the goods, just doesn't deliver, the opposite of Lysacek.

I respectfully disagree. You do have good points and I see what you are saying, Lysacek has the mental toughness, Weir the talent and flair, but I just dont see it happening.

Weir has sunk too deep, there is too much depth of strong skaters over him who have already mastered multiple quads themselves, and are now beating him on everything - PCS, points for spins and footwork, etc....He wont suddenly emerge in the mix again if he delivers, it would take a series of events of great skating with max tech. content, and a bit of luck with problems from others to regain the status and rank where he realisticaly has a chance again.

As for Evan, there is enough talent and depth now I could never see an event poorly enough skated for him to medal again. Now that he has a quad, I dont see any further improvement in his skating, and the mens field is strong enough that even with the maximum sum of problems I could imagine in an event, it would not be enough for him to get in there again. His only real asset is his consistency and mental toughness, but that is not enough anymore.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

To Whom it May Concern. I was not predicting the outcome of the 2010 Olys. That remains to be seen

What I meant, if I was not clear, is that among the top dogs with Quads are Joubert and Takahashi who will be at an ADVANTAGE if they stay serious injury free.

The surgery group: Lambiel (if it still is a bother), Evgeni and Alexei will be very iffy If the surgery was syccessful for skating purposes. (Let's hope so).

The possible quad group: Weir, Lysacek, Buttle, Verner, should be watched in the GPs for confirmation of their quads. I reiterate, the PCS scores will not save anyone without a quad. JMO.

Joe