Ladies LP

[shallwedansu]

I think it's most annoying when fans are too nationalistic and only root for skaters of their own nation. Yeah, I get it. American pride! Japanese pride! Korean pride! But it's annoying when fans only root for skaters from their same country.

 

[ks777]

I think it's most annoying when fans are too nationalistic and only root for skaters of their own nation. Yeah, I get it. American pride! Japanese pride! Korean pride! But it's annoying when fans only root for skaters from their same country.

Yep, I agree.

 

[Wrlmy]

Hype just irritates the heck out of me, as it is often generated by the uber-fans that I cannot tolerate. It never makes me want to actually root for the hyped skaters in question.

I guess you never rooted for Michael Phelps, Shawn Johnson, etc.
You don't have to buy into the hype. Just root for whomever you want. No one actually cares even if you don't root for hyped skaters.

 

[bekalc]

I think it is ridiculous. Suppose they have both already peaked? Or suppose one or both gets injured before the Olys? Or finds the pressure to be too much and turns into a basket case? There are just too many scenarios to consider before proclaiming that Yu-Na and Mao, and ONLY Yu-Na and Mao "deserve" to win Oly gold and silver in some order. They deserve it a year from now because none of the other ladies are skating well now? WHoever skates the best at that time deserves it.

Well of course, whoever skates the best deserves to win the Olympics. But it would be awful for both girls if they aren't healthy at the Olympic time. It would just be a symbol of how unfair the age rule is because both girls were ready in 2006 and somewhat healthy then. I'm not saying though that the medal should just be given to them. Of course they have to be the best skaters that night to deserve it.

But it would be a crying shame if they aren't as good a year from now as they are now. And it would become a big rallying cry for the unfairness of the age rules because both girls really were screwed by them. : Maybe they wouldn't have medaled but they were both good enough then to medal, and it's not like any of the other performances were absolutely spectacular.

Besides to me hype implies talking up someone before they've proved it on the big stage. I think both Mao and Yu-na are past "hype". Four years ago they were hyped now they are the best two skaters in the world. So where's the hype?

 

[AwesomeIce]

Well of course, whoever skates the best deserves to win the Olympics. But it would be awful for both girls if they aren't healthy at the Olympic time. It would just be a symbol of how unfair the age rule is because both girls were ready in 2006 and somewhat healthy then. I'm not saying though that the medal should just be given to them. Of course they have to be the best skaters that night to deserve it.

But it would be a crying shame if they aren't as good a year from now as they are now. And it would become a big rallying cry for the unfairness of the age rules because both girls really were screwed by them. : Maybe they wouldn't have medaled but they were both good enough then to medal, and it's not like any of the other performances were absolutely spectacular.

Besides to me hype implies talking up someone before they've proved it on the big stage. I think both Mao and Yu-na are past "hype". Four years ago they were hyped now they are the best two skaters in the world. So where's the hype?

Michelle Kwan was a once in a lifetime skater, and she never won Olympic Gold. Irina Slutskaya battled back from a life threatening illness but had to settle for Olympic bronze. Mao and Yu-Na not winning Oly gold wouldn't be any more unfair or disappointing than Michelle or Irina not getting gold. I still don't think that Mao and Yu-Na "deserve" to win any more than any other skaters.

 

[bekalc]

Michelle Kwan was a once in a lifetime skater, and she never won Olympic Gold. Irina Slutskaya battled back from a life threatening illness but had to settle for Olympic bronze. Mao and Yu-Na not winning Oly gold wouldn't be any more unfair or disappointing than Michelle or Irina not getting gold. I still don't think that Mao and Yu-Na "deserve" to win any more than any other skaters.

Ugh, Michelle and Irina both had two (Michelle) and three Irina opportunites to win Olympic gold (well two for Irina). It's one thing to lose Olympic gold because you didn't skate well enough to win it. And/or because you were injured.

It's another thing to lose out because some big wigs made a discriminatory rule, and you were born three months to late. Two different scenarios. Michelle and Irina lost out because of their own issues, not because they were three months to young.

But I'm just saying that if they are both injured and/or someone comes around whose better than them, I will be quite sad for both of those girls. Because both of them would have had a shot at winning Gold in Torino. I'm sorry if you can't see the difference between the two scenarios (1. Losing out because you didn't skate your best 2. Losing out because adults made a discriminatory rule)

Mao beat the entire freaking Olympic podium that year. She beat Arakawa twice that year as well. Yu-na was skating a blinder and beat Mao, and really that's the healthiest Yu-na has been too. Both girls were screwed by the rule and both could have legitimately won medals (if not won the whole thing) IF they had been given a chance.

They didn't even get the opportunity to skate. That's the difference whereas Irina and Michelle had 2/3 Olympics...

Now if Mao and Yu-na lose out in Vancover because they skated poorly and blew it, than I will feel less sorry for those two. But if they both turn up injured in Vancover, I will be very angry about the age rules.

 

[AwesomeIce]

Ugh, Michelle and Irina both had two (Michelle) and three Irina opportunites to win Olympic gold (well two for Irina). It's one thing to lose Olympic gold because you didn't skate well enough to win it. And/or because you were injured.

It's another thing to lose out because some big wigs made a discriminatory rule, and you were born three months to late. Two different scenarios. Michelle and Irina lost out because of their own issues, not because they were three months to young.

But I'm just saying that if they are both injured and/or someone comes around whose better than them, I will be quite sad for both of those girls. Because both of them would have had a shot at winning Gold in Torino. I'm sorry if you can't see the difference between the two scenarios (1. Losing out because you didn't skate your best 2. Losing out because adults made a discriminatory rule)

Mao beat the entire freaking Olympic podium that year. She beat Arakawa twice that year as well. Yu-na was skating a blinder and beat Mao, and really that's the healthiest Yu-na has been too. Both girls were screwed by the rule and both could have legitimately won medals (if not won the whole thing) IF they had been given a chance.

They didn't even get the opportunity to skate. That's the difference whereas Irina and Michelle had 2/3 Olympics...

Now if Mao and Yu-na lose out in Vancover because they skated poorly and blew it, than I will feel less sorry for those two. But if they both turn up injured in Vancover, I will be very angry about the age rules.

Good gosh, regardless of how they skate, I actually hope that neither Mao or Yu-Na win Oly gold. I hope they both end up off the podium. I am so sick of the "rules are stupid, these girls were robbed, blah blah blah." Mao and Yu-Na were very juniorish skaters and I would have been dismayed to see either of them win in 2006. The age rules are there for a reason. There are plenty of other athletes who "deserve" gold just as much as those two.

 

[bekalc]

Good gosh, regardless of how they skate, I actually hope that neither Mao or Yu-Na win Oly gold. I hope they both end up off the podium. I am so sick of the "rules are stupid, these girls were robbed, blah blah blah." Mao and Yu-Na were very juniorish skaters and I would have been dismayed to see either of them win in 2006. The age rules are there for a reason. There are plenty of other athletes who "deserve" gold just as much as those two.

Whatever. Whoever skates the best deserves the gold. But for a lot of us, we'd happily see Mao and Yu-na with 6 triple performances and 3/3's in the short win medals than the crappy skates that earned Cohen and Irina medals. And Mao and Yu-na were certainly better in 2006 than Zhang, Nagasu, and Flatt are now. And they were better than Meissner was in 2006 too.

 

[Kinga]

How dare you say that?
I bet more people prefer Yu-Na's Sherezade to Michelle's... Worldwide!

What do you mean how do I dare? I guess this is the board to express opinions? And I did expressed mine, I did not speak for everyone else.

 

[Medusa]

Good gosh, regardless of how they skate, I actually hope that neither Mao or Yu-Na win Oly gold. I hope they both end up off the podium. I am so sick of the "rules are stupid, these girls were robbed, blah blah blah." Mao and Yu-Na were very juniorish skaters and I would have been dismayed to see either of them win in 2006. The age rules are there for a reason. There are plenty of other athletes who "deserve" gold just as much as those two.

I am actually a bit happy that they weren't allowed to skate. I really hate it that the ladies win when they are tiny teenagers (Bajul, Lipinski, Hughes - Cohen said she would have done the same if she had won in 2002) with children's bodies and some upbeat "I am such a charming cutie baby princess"-program and then leave the sport for good.

It's one of the things that makes Men's skating so much more appealing to me than the Ladies, you actually see most of them develop into great artists, showmen or/and entertainers, you see them struggle and overcome their difficulties... Of the past 5 or 6 Olympic Champions, only Kulik participated in just one Olympics, Joubert is probably going to participate in 3 (maybe even 4) Olympics - the man won his first medal at Europeans in 2002 and has medaled ever since at Europeans! That's what I want to see. Lambiel took part in 2 Olympics, 7 Worlds and 7 Europeans.

That said - I hope that Kim and Asada can hold it together till 2010 and stay more or less healthy. They will be only 19 then (Arakawa won at 24). Both of them improved so much over the last years, I admire Asada so much for her ability to keep going, to keep improving every part of her skating (I watched the "Sing, Sing, Sing" - exhibition lately and noticed that she was suddenly doing a decent sitspin in that program), she also tries new stuff (the tango and jazz ex she did over the summer), she improved parts of her skating that didn't really matter in 2006 (underrotations, flutz), she won Worlds with a great long after crashing badly 20 seconds into the program on her signature jump. I don't know if we would have been able to see all this if she had won in 2006. And if she can do all of that in 2010 than I am very happy if it is Asada, Olympic Champion in Vancouver 2010. Or if Yu-Na pulls through and can continue on this high level and win against Asada - I will also be very happy.

 

[bekalc]

two.

I am actually a bit happy that they weren't allowed to skate. I really hate it that the ladies win when they are tiny teenagers (Bajul, Lipinski, Hughes - Cohen said she would have done the same if she had won in 2002) with children's bodies and some upbeat "I am such a charming cutie baby princess"-program and then leave the sport for good.

I see your point. BUT, I look at Yu-na and all the health issues she has, and well while she's a much better skater now, maybe she'd have less health issues if she won and then left. In someways I guess it may be why I might prefer Yu-na to win. I think Mao's more likely to make it through four more years than Yu-na could and while Mao has said she wanted to stay if she won gold would she??? But then again who knows if Mao will have four more years.

I'll be happy for whatever girls wins and sad for which ever one doesn't. This is the first time in a rivalry where I've liked both skaters equally.

This being said in all honesty the judges might have given both girls medals but held them down so that they DIDN"T retire right away.

 

[Medusa]

I'll be happy for whatever girls wins and sad for which ever one doesn't. This is the first time in a rivalry where I've liked both skaters equally.

I feel the same, they are so amazing. At every Ladies' competition I am like "Who won, Asada or Kim?". As I said above, I admire Asada's willpower and work ethic, her talent, her technical prowess, her daring programs...

But I also have to admit that Kim is the more natural artist in my opinion, her musicality is just outstanding - it's a shame that her health doesn't allow her to work on more impressive tricks, it doesn't even look as if she managed to fix her Loop.

I can never decide who I want to win, so I guess if the best skater at the competition comes out on top, I just have to be happy that among this often dull Ladies' competition - there are two so outstanding athletes and artists.

 

[woshisunnya]

Good gosh, regardless of how they skate, I actually hope that neither Mao or Yu-Na win Oly gold. I hope they both end up off the podium. I am so sick of the "rules are stupid, these girls were robbed, blah blah blah." Mao and Yu-Na were very juniorish skaters and I would have been dismayed to see either of them win in 2006. The age rules are there for a reason. There are plenty of other athletes who "deserve" gold just as much as those two.

I am always very agreed with the age rules because I think skaters need spend time to mature their basic skating skill and develop the difficult (which no one seems agree these days because everybody just rapidly to add these 3-3 in their programs), and I never feel that Mao or Yuna would finish gold if they were in 2006 Oly.
However, if I looked back to the senior worlds and jonior worlds that year, I felt that Yuna were more mature than Kimmie despite she was the Jr champion. (Nothing aganist Kimmie, I like her and was very very happy about her win that time)

 

[R.D.]

I think it's most annoying when fans are too nationalistic and only root for skaters of their own nation. Yeah, I get it. American pride! Japanese pride! Korean pride! But it's annoying when fans only root for skaters from their same country.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, I do that myself to a certain extent. At the same time, though, I try not to go overboard with it.

 

[shallwedansu]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with cheering for athletes from your own nation. But it's annoying and incredibly jingoistic when fans ONLY root for them while disregarding (and putting down) other athletes who are equally as good, or even better, based on the fact that the other athletes aren't from their country.

It's like some people on this board who can't get behind Asian or European skaters just because they're not from the U.S.

The same goes for Japanese fans who only root for the Japanese skaters and make it their life to trash Yu-Na. And the same goes for Korean fans who only root for Yu-Na and make it their life to trash Mao.

 

[DragonPhoenix]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with cheering for athletes from your own nation. But it's annoying and incredibly jingoistic when fans ONLY root for them while disregarding (and putting down) other athletes who are equally as good, or even better, based on the fact that the other athletes aren't from their country.

It's like some people on this board who can't get behind Asian or European skaters just because they're not from the U.S.

The same goes for Japanese fans who only root for the Japanese skaters and make it their life to trash Yu-Na. And the same goes for Korean fans who only root for Yu-Na and make it their life to trash Mao.

Absolutely agree. I have the same feeling as you.

:agree:

 

[Love_Skate]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with cheering for athletes from your own nation. But it's annoying and incredibly jingoistic when fans ONLY root for them while disregarding (and putting down) other athletes who are equally as good, or even better, based on the fact that the other athletes aren't from their country.

It's like some people on this board who can't get behind Asian or European skaters just because they're not from the U.S.

The same goes for Japanese fans who only root for the Japanese skaters and make it their life to trash Yu-Na. And the same goes for Korean fans who only root for Yu-Na and make it their life to trash Mao.

In this forum, I rarely see someone 'trash' a skater because s/he is a rival of who they love. I think you go too far. Probably you watched too many 'trash' clips in youtube.

 

[R.D.]

In this forum, I rarely see someone 'trash' a skater because s/he is a rival of who they love.

It has gotten better over the years. But it's still around.

 

[bethissoawesome]

I was a bit disappointed to see how much Yuna dominated the field. I really don't want this to be anouther "Mao or Yuna" season... it would be nice to throw another skater into the mix. I remember when Yuna was back in Juniors, a lot of people compared her to Michelle Kwan... but watching her SA LP, I really didn't feel anything from her. Technically, besides the bobbles here and there, it was a great skate for October, but at the same time, it elicited no emotion. Yuna's attempts to "connect" with the music seemed completely artificial, not to mention her movements felt very slow or sluggish compared to the beat of the music (especially during the step sequence)... I REALLY hope they cut out the I-spin from her program, it's hideous and she has much better positions that she could use for ending spin.

LOL I know this is random... but does anyone else find it funny that if a US skater has a bad skate, the video is always removed from Youtube, but if they skate well, the video stays?

 

[R.D.]

I was a bit disappointed to see how much Yuna dominated the field. I really don't want this to be anouther "Mao or Yuna" season... it would be nice to throw another skater into the mix.

:agree: