I'm so sorry but I have to agree with you, I LOVE MK's skating but that decision was the worst thing throughout her career: in my opinion, she should have retired after her 2005 FS at Nationals: she couldn't deal with IJS, her body was done, she had won everything except that Olympic title, well, it's not essential in your life if you're one of the greatest skaters ever! Her 4th place at 2005 Worlds should have been a clear signal for her...
chuckm said:Emily Hughes was a lackluster, mediocre skater. She had an air of entitlement that was to me screeching chalk on a blackboard. She went to the Olympics and finished 7th, more than 20 points out of the medals. She was a USFS darling because of her name only--she got inflated marks to ensure she got whatever she wanted (except the 2007 National title which rightfully went to Meissner).
It isn't 12 days before the competition. It's November 15th in Japan and that's EIGHT days before the competition.
My personal posting philosophy is not to say anything I wouldn't say to that skater/coach/poster's face in person.
Thanks for some hope in an otherwise depressing thread. I would very much like to see one of skating's best artists live at Omaha at least one more time. If I had BillCzisny's comments on her withdrawal from NHK, as tweeted by Philip Hersh @olyphil:
After withdrawing from NHK, Alissa Czisny just texted me: "I have no doubts whatsoever I will be ready and prepared for nationals"
8:48 AM - 14 Nov 12 ·
More from Alissa:"Withdrawal mostly a matter of not being able/wanting to push hip to prepare in time. Absolutely can't risk any setbacks"
8:51 AM - 14 Nov 12
Last bit from Alissa:"We are looking for a competition before nationals (even something local would be helpful)" BTW: Hip surgery was June 6
8:55 AM - 14 Nov 12
(emphasis added)
Thanks for some hope in an otherwise depressing thread. I would very much like to see one of skating's best artists live at Omaha at least one more time. If I had Bill
Gates' money, I would fund a skating invitational where triple triples were banned and artistry was 2/3 of the score.
Olympica, Remember those long beautiful spirals by MK? Now they take up too much time and get not enough points. And look at all the injuries.....I'd sign on for a show like that, Chris!
Olympica, Remember those long beautiful spirals by MK? Now they take up too much time and get not enough points. And look at all the injuries.....
Yeah. Michelle would hold her spiral almost down the length of the rink, and change edges. Splendid. There are probably other skaters who could do that, except that these days there's no benefit to it, so they do all sorts of gyrations and rebalancing instead. Not nearly as musical as Michelle's or Sasha's.
Sasha was never able to do the full-length of the rink change edge spiral that Michelle could do, because with her leg held in that gumby position, she couldn't hold her edge for much of a distance.
She usually lost speed because she wasn't on an edge. I always thought Sasha's spiral was overrated because it was an incredible flexibility move but not a very good skating move.
Have you forgotten that only a few years ago in CoP, all female skaters were required to do a long spiral sequence with 3 position changes? So many complaints: it takes up too much time, choreographically uninteresting, predictable, encumbering, too many spirals, etc. There's no pleasing some people.