Who'll Make Men's Olympic Team from the USA

[psycho]

You are all sooooo blind! If anything there going to take talent before the known. If i was to pick my priority would be the skater with the most developed and advanced jumps. Brandon Mroz Can jump better than any of skaters. I think there all to afraid to even try a quad .. To me Brandon is the youngest and loaded with testosterone and is never nervous you can always tell hes trying hard i met him personally and hes extremely smart and well focused. i see him giving figure skating a new look in 2010. In his debut at the senior World Championships, Mroz skated a clean short program to place 8th in that segment of the competition. He placed 13th in the free skate to place 9th overall. His placement, combined with that of World Champion Evan Lysacek, earned the United States the maximum three entries to the 2010 Winter Olympics ...........DUHHHH

Poor Brandon. That couldn't have been fun...

 

[dannyascii]

Poor Brandon. That couldn't have been fun...

 

[Mathman]

Brandon, Brandon, he's our man!
If he can't do it, no-one can! :yes:

 

[mikew]

The Young Gun

Mroz wont give up untill he gets there and wins...that kid is like a never ending bullet.http://i28.tinypic.com/2qa64v4.jpg:clap:

 

[Wicked]

Johnny, Evan, Jeremy. But I wouldn't mind Johnny, Evan, and Adam.

 

[museksk8r]

3). Mroz. He and Evan were the ones to even get us three spots after all with their Worlds performances (even with Mroz far from how he performed at Nationals).

Well, that certainly didn't help Weir's case last season based on his 2008 Worlds finish. Mroz, like everyone else, will have to skate for his place on the team at Nationals. Besides, even without Brandon on the 2009 World team, the USA would have 3 spots for this season with Evan's and Jeremy's combined placements from Worlds.

 

[SamuraiKike]

I'm surprised to see Evan & Johnny with a tie in votes.. The former has a locked spot, the later will have to prove himself worthy over and over during the whole season.

My own analysis :

Lysacek
Status : Locked
Like most people have said; He will have to do terribly (like, I dunno, failing to medal a both GP events and then performing at nationals even worse than Meissner in 2008) for him to not be considered. I think the chances of him missing the team are slim to none.

Abbott
Status : Contender
Great skater. A headcase when it comes to compete. He's the male Czisny. When was the last time the American champ didnt make the top 10 at worlds?? If he has a good GP showing again US judges will be on his side but he can easily bomb and it's too much a risk.. His chances are better than Weir IMO though.

Weir
Status : Contender
The eternal underperformer. He's in a position this year where he has to skate lights out both programs at nationals (plus a very good GP season) to get in, otherwise judges wont hesitate in bury him. We know thats unlikely.


Mroz
Status : Potential Upsetter
He has the jumps. A decent consistency and keeps improving steadily. And I think he's underated artistically. He surprised last year, why not this one too. One or two mistakes from Abbott or Weir and I think he's in..

Rippon
Status : Potential Upsetter
Has he mastered the 3Axel yet? He's in a same situation as Mroz minus the jumps and the former World Team experience..

Carriere
Status : Potential Upsetter
My personal hope but this is a very difficult year for him. He has to step up and do better than the younger kids at the GP (Mroz-Rippon) and bring the house down at Nationals to get back on track. Otherwise he will fall into that sad place called "SeniorB Land" with Pennington, Smith, Rogers, etc. and no one really ever recovers from that.

Bradley :
Status : Dark Horse
Too long overshadowed by all the other top Men. He will have to do better than 2007 nationals. He can do it but is not that likely.


All the Others: (Mahbanoozadeh, Razzano, Rogers, etc) .. Their only option is if the WIN the national title.

 

[PolymerBob]

Carriere
Status : Potential Upsetter
My personal hope but this is a very difficult year for him. He has to step up and do better than the younger kids at the GP (Mroz-Rippon) and bring the house down at Nationals to get back on track. Otherwise he will fall into that sad place called "SeniorB Land" with Pennington, Smith, Rogers, etc. and no one really ever recovers from that.

Well, according to his Wikipedia entry, Jeremy competed in the Finlandia and the Nebelhorn. He seems to have recovered nicely.

 

[SamuraiKike]

Well, according to his Wikipedia entry, Jeremy competed in the Finlandia and the Nebelhorn. He seems to have recovered nicely.

Yeah and Mroz and Carriere are going tho those 2 events this year so that's not really the point :sheesh: What I meant were not actual Senior B competitions rather than your status as a second tier skater. Once the skater goes south in the ranks at Nationals (unlike Jeremy who has been moving up) , they start to lose benefit of doubt in front of judges and hardly get media or international exposure. The only guy this whole decade who was able to recover from lower top 10 ranks to finally sneak himself on the team was Ryan Bradley.

 

[psycho]

SamuraiKike, let me get this straight: Abbott is a "great skater" whereas Weir is an "eternal underperformer"? Last time I checked, Weir's resume slaughters Abbott's, and considering they are almost the same age, that makes Abbott the underperformer.

I am always amused at people acting like Weir's Nationals performance is representative of what he usually delivers, and not a fluky disaster that resulted from something that is easier to fix than, let say, the reason for Abbott's 3 consequtive unexplicable meltdowns. All Weir needs to do is gain back 10 pounds, while Abbott's issues are a riddle wrapped in mystery. But what am I saying, why bring logic into this?

I'm surprised to see Evan & Johnny with a tie in votes.. The former has a locked spot, the later will have to prove himself worthy over and over during the whole season.

No he won't. One good performance at Nationals will be enough. Let's not overstate the gravity of Weir's current situation. And the idea that US judges will "bury" him off the Olympic team is ridiculous . True, they won't give him the title if they at all can help it, but they want him on the team, and won't purposefully keep him off of it.

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

I'm surprised to see Evan & Johnny with a tie in votes.. The former has a locked spot, the later will have to prove himself worthy over and over during the whole season.

Unfortunately, I wasn't clear in my initial comments/instructions. I set this poll up as a multi-vote poll with the idea that we vote for the three men we think will make the team. While I, like you, believe that Lysacek is the only lock, I think that Wier is the top candidate of the remaining men. Both got my vote (with Mroz being the third), even though I don't rank them as equally likely. A ranked poll would be better, admittedly (I think than you'd see a significant difference in Lysacek and Wier's numbers).

 

[SamuraiKike]

SamuraiKike, let me get this straight: Abbott is a "great skater" whereas Weir is an "eternal underperformer"? Last time I checked, Weir's resume slaughters Abbott's, and considering they are almost the same age, that makes Abbott the underperformer.

I am always amused at people acting like Weir's Nationals performance is representative of what he usually delivers, and not a fluky disaster that resulted from something that is easier to fix than, let say, the reason for Abbott's 3 consequtive unexplicable meltdowns. All Weir needs to do is gain back 10 pounds, while Abbott's issues are a riddle wrapped in mystery. But what am I saying, why bring logic into this?


No he won't. One good performance at Nationals will be enough. Let's not overstate the gravity of Weir's current situation. And the idea that US judges will "bury" him off the Olympic team is ridiculous . True, they won't give him the title if they at all can help it, but they want him on the team, and won't purposefully keep him off of it.

Psycho, PLEASE, Do not mix my words and turn them into an Abbott vs Weir fight. Jeremy is a great skater, Weir is too. Never said he isn't. However Weir has lost many opportunities to win major medals or titles over his long carreer. I think even his not so biased fans can admit he should've accomplished much more by now that what he has actually done. That makes him as far as Im concerned a bigger underperformer at the moment than Abbot, who besides terrible inconsistency has been steadily making progress while Weir has not really shined during the last 2-3 seasons. Abbott could end up being a bigger underperformer as the years go by but we'll just have to wait & see.

And how do you know the judges want him on team. Do you know them personally?? I dont think so and me neither so yes its a matter of speculation, like this whole thread about who WE THINK would make the team. and i do believe given Weir's history at nationals that he NEEDS to be more than stellar to get recognized.

Unfortunately, I wasn't clear in my initial comments/instructions. I set this poll up as a multi-vote poll with the idea that we vote for the three men we think will make the team. While I, like you, believe that Lysacek is the only lock, I think that Wier is the top candidate of the remaining men. Both got my vote (with Mroz being the third), even though I don't rank them as equally likely. A ranked poll would be better, admittedly (I think than you'd see a significant difference in Lysacek and Wier's numbers).

OH I see, that's cool. A nice surprise was to see Bradley on 4th place at the moment. An upset by him would be awesome thouh Im not counting on it.

 

[psycho]

. However Weir has lost many opportunities to win major medals or titles over his long carreer. I think even his not so biased fans can admit he should've accomplished much more by now that what he has actually done.

Well, he sure could have accomplished more. But if we are fair, that can be said about just about anyone out there. And if Weir is called out for missed opportunities, what can you say about Abbott? He started skating at 2, compared to Weir's 12, and had the same opportunities as Weir to win at US nationals, and qualify for worlds. And while hot mess Weir was doing that since 2004, Abbott ended up at worlds in 2008 only because Lysacek got hurt. I am not saying Weir hasn't blown some chances, but to suggest that Abbott blew any less is ridiculous, and is what I am objecting to in you argument.

That makes him as far as Im concerned a bigger underperformer at the moment than Abbot, who besides terrible inconsistency has been steadily making progress while Weir has not really shined during the last 2-3 seasons. Abbott could end up being a bigger underperformer as the years go by but we'll just have to wait & see.

Abbott has not been "steadily progressing" at all. Have you missed his 4CC, Worlds and Team Trophy performances? He's been to worlds twice, and never managed to even make the top 10. Where's the steady progress?

And Weir has shined recently. I realize people have short attention spans, but Weir was the only US medal at 2008 worlds, the most consistent US performer at the GP last season, and in fact, he was the only top contender to medal at every event he entered in 2008.

And how do you know the judges want him on team. Do you know them personally?? I dont think so and me neither so yes its a matter of speculation, like this whole thread about who WE THINK would make the team. and i do believe given Weir's history at nationals that he NEEDS to be more than stellar to get recognized.

Based on past history, which is the best predictor of the future (ask any behavioural psychologist) Weir has a better chance than Abbott to medal at the Olympics. That's one. He is also way more popular and in demand by the media than Abbott. That's two. Since USFSA wants ratings, that's important.

And what's wrong with Weir's history at nationals. He's won 3, and almost every season of his career peaks at nationals. He will be recognized if he skates well. I am willing to bet money on that, and I am not a betting person.

 

[SamuraiKike]

Abbott has not been "steadily progressing" at all. Have you missed his 4CC, Worlds and Team Trophy performances? He's been to worlds twice, and never managed to even make the top 10. Where's the steady progress?

And Weir has shined recently. I realize people have short attention spans, but Weir was the only US medal at 2008 worlds, the most consistent US performer at the GP last season, and in fact, he was the only top contender to medal at every event he entered in 2008.

.

Well apparently your attention span only goes back to last February cause you missed Abbott winning his First National Title and becoming the first US man to win the Grand Prix. If that's not a big progress compared to his previous season then I dunno what it is. As for the underperformance thing , among the ladies Sasha Cohen is usually considered the biggest under achiever not because she blew much more oportunities than your regular skater but because she blew the big ones, kinda like Weir and that's why I think Weir takes that spot over Abbott by now. If you're not Ok with it, fine by me.

And frankly I just don't understand the constant need to bring down someone else to make your prefered skater look better. You can defend Weir's accomplishments and believe he has better chances to make olympic team, that's great. but to semi-bash Jeremy in order to do so is a lazy way to do it IMO.

 

[Tonichelle]

what psycho is getting at is that Abbott has had more chances... Johnny's natural talent shot him to the top early, he's now having to fight to keep up there... Abbott, yes, has been fighting all along... but he runs JUST as hot and cold as Johnny, if not more so... I'm not a huge fan of either, I saw Abbott skate as a junior and thought him fantastic, and then he seemed to disappear for a few years after his win (or was it novice I forget)... then he popped up again...

Either way I don't think Johnny will have too much trouble making the team if he does better at nationals. I don't think the judges want to not give him anything (in 2006 I would have given the edge to Evan, but Johnny got the title... he was pretty hot/cold that year.... in 2008 I'd have totally reversed it and had Johnny on top. That being said I don't think it was a decided effort to keep Johnny from first, I really think they were trying to create drama with a close score, and it didn't work out quite right in the end.)

 

[psycho]

As for the underperformance thing , among the ladies Sasha Cohen is usually considered the biggest under achiever not because she blew much more oportunities than your regular skater but because she blew the big ones, kinda like Weir and that's why I think Weir takes that spot over Abbott by now. .

Cohen the biggest underachiever?! Are you serious? That girl has more hardware than I can count! Since when is blowing the "big ones" worse than not even getting to the "big ones" in the first place. I guess I've outperformed both Cohen and Weir, because I've never blown a "big one", sitting here on my *** and all.

As for Abbott's progress: finishing 11th at worlds two years in a row: yep, that's progress. Hey, let's send him to the Olympics, maybe he'll finish eleventh again! Not 5th, like that underperformer Weir.

Thank you Tonichelle for getting what I am trying to say.

 

[SamuraiKike]

Cohen the biggest underachiever?! Are you serious? That girl has more hardware than I can count! Since when is blowing the "big ones" worse than not even getting to the "big ones" in the first place. I guess I've outperformed both Cohen and Weir, because I've never blown a "big one", sitting here on my *** and all.

As for Abbott's progress: finishing 11th at worlds two years in a row: yep, that's progress. Hey, let's send him to the Olympics, maybe he'll finish eleventh again! Not 5th, like that underperformer Weir.

OH yea, chose to ignore all other Abbott results and pick the one where he stayed the same so you can make sarcastic comments about it. That's surely a better way to make across your point.

And yes of course I'm serious, which means we do have 2 different criterias for who is an underachiever and who isn't don't we? But apparently you just can't let that go. Don't worry I'll do it for you :agree: