Mrs. P:
I don't mind that you're a fan of the Shibs. I like them, too, though probably not so much as you.
Your post above should be a model for fair, objective, rational, and well-written assessment of skaters who are favorites.
I gained an entirely new perspective on them that I would have missed had that been a "Shibu-verse" type of post, wherein you became overly emotional at a perceived slight and proceeded to screech at anyone who dared to disagree.
I'm actually more appreciative of them after reading your post.
Of course, I've ALWAYS been a fan of YOURS!
TontoK:
I must in turn compliment you on your respect for other GS members and on your open-mindedness, as shown in your post to the exemplary :agree: Mrs. P.
Wish that all GS threads had as much civility and goodwill as this one. Kind of fitting that the well-mannered Shibutanis are the subject at hand.
Hope that you had a Happy Father's Day with your son (the new grad), as well as any other children. You are a good role model for him/them -- and for all of us here at GS.
I just find them boring. I think they need more interesting programs and a different look on the ice. They look too young and "innocent" right now. Being brother and sister though, they don't have much to work with, but they could try some more original and unique stuff like the Duchesnays and Kerrs.
We all know what happened with the Shibs, and stop pretending otherwise.
They only won the 2011 World bronze because all the other top teams, who are better than them, screwed up. W/P, P/B, I/K, B/S, etc are much better than the Shibs, and when they screwed up at Worlds, and everyone else did well, they placed where they should have been placed. They never were the absolute 3rd best team in the World; they really are only the 8th or 9th best team, which is where they have been for the last two years. Dance is extremely political - stop trying to pretend that it's not.
We all know what happened with the Shibs, and stop pretending otherwise.
They only won the 2011 World bronze because all the other top teams, who are better than them, screwed up. W/P, P/B, I/K, B/S, etc are much better than the Shibs, and when they screwed up at Worlds, and everyone else did well, they placed where they should have been placed. They never were the absolute 3rd best team in the World; they really are only the 8th or 9th best team, which is where they have been for the last two years. Dance is extremely political - stop trying to pretend that it's not.
Well - this same could be said for ALOT of competitions - particularly the Olympics. And world order is determined by world placement which is determined by how they fare in competition. Favorites screw up all the time and someone else comes in to win - let's see......Sarah Huges or Tara Lipinski, Oksana Baiul....who ever thought going into the Olys that they would have won? That's just skating. When someone screws up someone else takes advantage of it and has a good skate.
I personally think the Shibs are underrated and I apprecated Mrs. P's and TontoK's posts. The Shibs ARE young and have another Olympics besides the next one in them. I think some are judging them a little harshly. I do agree they need to find their identities, stop skating to whimsical music and get something dramatic they can really get in to. I hope they do well this season.
The Shibs are not even certain to quality for THIS Olympics, so how can one be sure they have "another" Olympics to go, when they arent even certain to make this one. Yes they are young, but the comparisions to others their age doesnt hold much water at this point. These others werent World bronze medalists and then down to 9th in the World and 3rd in the U.S in a couple short years. They arent going to suddenly start flying up the ranks again all of the sudden, not likely anyway. Plus there are many teams roughly their age who are already now over them, who used to be behind them.