- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
...but to make doubly sure that the alternate (whomever it is) is ready for the event in the likely case that Cohen withdraws.
Michelle!
...but to make doubly sure that the alternate (whomever it is) is ready for the event in the likely case that Cohen withdraws.
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That said, you are absolutely right that the USFS could still deny Cohen that spot and send her elsewhere in order for Nagasu or Zhang to have a shot. Frankly, I think that would be a mistake. I think the way to do it is to go ahead and offer Cohen that third spot, but to make doubly sure that the alternate (whomever it is) is ready for the event in the likely case that Cohen withdraws.
Please recognize that the USFS cannot "send Sasha elsewhere" other than an obscure "B" International. Sasha would have to receive a GP invitation from another federation, and despite the new rule about returning former seeds, I'm not sure she can qualify as someone who "through no fault of [her] own" sat out competitions since Worlds 2006.
I'm rather put off by Cohen shamelessly angling for that SA spot when she's done zilch in the past 3 1/2 years to promote US figure skating.
And I don't think she'd fill that many seats at Lake Placid, either. LP is very out in the boondocks, expensive to fly to, and is in a region where a heavy November snow is a distinct possibility.
I was hoping to get to SA because Lake P is as close to me as any GP comp will be for a while. And if Sasha is not there, I will still be thrilled to see a live GP competition, whoever's there. Including Becky Bereswill. I thought she did a great job at... whatever it was she won. (Sorry!)There's no denying that Cohen is a bigger name than Flatt or Zhang, but I still don't see her filling that big arena at Lake Placid. It's too hard to get to, and getting there requires driving through what is basically wilderness at a time of year when the going could be very rough.
And with Sasha's record of SA attendance, there's a good chance that she won't even be there after all. People will surely take that into consideration before ordering tickets. It would be a bummer if they expected Sasha and got Becky Bereswill instead.
Interesting post. It all seems like Weir is in the dog house.
I have been to Lake Placid and agreed, it is a beautiful place to go at the end of summer. But in winter, it's a tough sell, given the snowfall in the region.
If Caroline gets SA, she may also be competing against YuNa since Canada will have Joannie for SC and possibly Yukari as well as Rachael.Throw in Mirai and Caroline may go walking. It's all specs, and we have to wait for this secret draw. I like Caroline more than than the others including Sasha but she has to prove herself as unpressured like Kwan. She hasn't quite done that yet.I don't know why Caroline fans think she will have a tougher time at Skate America than at some other GP event. At Skate America her only competition could turn out to be Rachael (whom she can beat) and Miki (whom she might beat.)
If she doesn't go to Skate America, but somewhere else instead, she might end up facing Yu-na Kim, Mao Asada, Carolina Kostner and Yukari Nakano, all at the same competition.
Caroline's been doing well with her publicity so far. To push her ahead of the others would not be fair. Wait for Olys results. As for wheaties, I refuse to eat or buy anything that General Mills makes because the face of Greg Louganis was refused and you know why.Anyway, if I were Shep Goldberg (Caroline's agent) I would be lobbying the uSFSA as hard as I could to get Caroline's face on U.S. television as much as possible between now and the Olympics. It might mean a Wheaties box for her!
Indeed, I believe NBC still holds the best cards in this game, but they want a WINNER, and not Japanese. No?I think the NBC TV situation also needs to be considered. Since they are televising SA, I'm sure USFS will be under SOME pressure to offer Cohen a spot because that would mean she gets TV coverage, which would give NBC something to promote for Nationals and the Olympics, and possibly give SA a small ratings boost, not to mention higher attendance for the event.
I know how much you care for Sasha, but we are talking about the gateway to the Olys. Sasha can get to Vancouver by just getting the ok from the USFS without doing SA. Of course she has to make an impression at Nats unless she wins it. I think it would be a mistake if she does a GP event with the blessing of an exception by the ISU because she is under tremendous pressure as it is. If she loses the GP, she will have to win the Nats - repeat WIN the Nats whereas if she skips SA, she will not have to win the Nats but just make a fantastic showing that she is competitive.The USFS could still deny Cohen that spot and send her elsewhere in order for Nagasu or Zhang to have a shot. Frankly, I think that would be a mistake. I think the way to do it is to go ahead and offer Cohen that third spot, but to make doubly sure that the alternate (whomever it is) is ready for the event in the likely case that Cohen withdraws.
...I will still be thrilled to see a live GP competition, whoever's there. Including Becky Bereswill. I thought she did a great job at... whatever it was she won. (Sorry!)
Bereswill (also) competes in track and cross country races for Episcopal High School, where she is a senior honor student.
Bereswill specializes in the half mile run and 4x800 meter relay. "Running was just something I picked up to help my skating," she said. "Then the track coach recruited me to run."
She medaled at the conference championships in 2007 in the half mile. Last year, Her 4x800-meter relay team won the high school division gold medal at the Texas Relays, setting a school record pace. Her team has won the conference championship two years in a row.
I know how much you care for Sasha, but we are talking about the gateway to the Olys. Sasha can get to Vancouver by just getting the ok from the USFS without doing SA. Of course she has to make an impression at Nats unless she wins it. I think it would be a mistake if she does a GP event with the blessing of an exception by the ISU because she is under tremendous pressure as it is. If she loses the GP, she will have to win the Nats - repeat WIN the Nats whereas if she skips SA, she will not have to win the Nats but just make a fantastic showing that she is competitive.
I think the way to do it is to go ahead and offer Cohen that third spot, but to make doubly sure that the alternate (whomever it is) is ready for the event in the likely case that Cohen withdraws.