As I said in my previous post, I'm not hung up on 'rivalries in figure skating,' perceived or otherwise. Plus, Jason and Kolyada are among a group of guys who have fairly equal scoring abilities at any given competition, depending on different factors. I look at them as both having superb, yet uniquely different skating talents. I've never thought to compare them, much less to think of them in terms of being rivals. They are very close competitors in terms of skating talent, but there are a number of other guys who are always in the mix vying for placements with them at major competitions.
My original comment was made offhand. It is your erroneous assumption that I am 'judging rivalries based solely on quads.' LOL That's silly. I'm not interested in the topic of 'rivalries in figure skating.' The topic I was addressing is chiefly about dueling
Schindler's List programs. In that respect, it will be interesting to see how they each perform this current warhorse. We've seen Jason's gorgeous program previously, but he will likely make a few adjustments and enhancements. We'll see.
And please don't get overexcited about my reference to 'dueling
Schindler's List programs.' It's a figure of speech, not a declaration that I think these two will be in some kind of war with each other over the course of the season.
Stats are stats, but I don't bother obsessing over the numbers. Stats can provide some general information. However, there are always many factors involved surrounding stats. You have to look at extenuating circumstances of what was going on at the time of various events. For e.g., Kolyada was out for awhile, and then prior to that, he had a season or so where he was popping jumps a lot and he was a very unreliable competitor (maybe for a variety of reasons, which stats don't tell us). Stats are more important in baseball, IMHO, than in figure skating.
Seriously, it seems like you are taking offense as if you think I'm trying to put Jason down, which is nowhere near the ballpark. I love Jason, and if anything, I'm not happy about the sport's over-focus on quads, which has impacted the course of Jason's brilliant career. I've also pointed out on numerous occasions that Jason was robbed of credit for the quad he landed at 2016 Skate America, in the fp. He landed the quad cleanly, from my viewing, at less than 1/4. The judges blamed lack of good camera angle on their decision, which shouldn't be used as an excuse. That was a crucial turning point for Jason moving ahead with performing quads. By them denying him that jump, it became a set-back in his progress.
As far as rivalries, the skaters themselves surely don't buy into that whole drama aspect. It is mostly a fan obsession and a media-based promotional tool for the sport, or ongoing debate on forums. I'm not into that overdramatized aspect of the sport, except to talk about what draws me to one skater more than another, or to discuss the qualities I like in different skaters. As I said, the skaters are more concerned with what they have control over, which is their own training, preparation, and performances on the ice. In other respects, the chips fall where they may.
In regard to direct rivalries, the one that's most often touted by the media, is obviously between Yuzuru & Nathan. But both guys have great respect for each other, and more than anything feed off their own individual competitive passions, rather than strictly worrying about how they are discussed and pitted against each other in the media and on fan forums.
I see you are hung up on the numbers and on the World standings. Frankly, I am NOT! But thanks for doing that bit of research which is interesting in a strictly numbers-based, statistical way, that for me will never be a primary focus of my figure skating enjoyment. I enjoy the skating of both Mikhail and Jason. I adore and admire them both for so many different reasons, not the least for their strong characters, and their human sensitivities, which frankly overall are qualities more crucial to their lives beyond their athleticism and their sublime artistry.
Agree. The Schindler interpretations from Josh Farris and Satoko Miyahara are among my favorites, but I have enjoyed others too.
I discovered Konstantin Miljukov last season thanks to him skating to the Nutcracker.
