2014 Olympics Mens Free Skate

[Layfan]

I am sure Jeremy wants to end his career with a World medal. Given how the men skated here he absolutely can, he just needs to put it together for once already.

I'm torn with disappointment that Jason won't be at worlds after all and being sort of glad that Jeremy is going. I can't help it. If he does do well, it'll give us that Hollywood moment we didn't get from any of the men today.

It feels strange that one of our world competitors won't be Jason Brown. However, that is not Jeremy's fault because he decides to go. The USFA chose not to name the two top finishers to worlds.

 

[dardar1126]

Michael Christian Martinez received a $10,000 bonus from the MVP Sports foundation!

Great news...anything to help him continue training!!

 

[Layfan]

Here is the Washington Post's report on Abbott.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...es-out-at-critics-discusses-olympic-pressure/

LOVE Yuka.

 

[tulosai]

LOVE Yuka.

Maybe next time she can erase everything on his notepad and write "DON'T TALK".

 

[lady_bee]

I am kind of settled now, thanks to 6 hours sleep.

Hanyu said in interview, "I was so nervous, I am sorry. I realized that was the Olympic" at very first. Then "I know I have to be happy to win OGM, but I am disappointed"
So, not blame him anymore, he won't be arrogant, and will be working hard next 4 years, at least.
And remember, how many skaters had clean short program? He was one of few.

I don't want blame Chan, either. It was obvious that he was so shocked with his own performance. The pressure he had was little different with others, I think. He was expected to get rid of “Canadian nightmare”, which must be a kind of trauma for him.
Afterall, even with those failed jumps, he was superior to others.

Takahashi, I have mixed feeling for him. I never liked his Beatles medley because I think four songs are too much and they are poorly connected (for my ears), and his performance was not good as it used be, (though I like “come together” part); however, I wanted him to get on podium on the behalf of Kozuka and Oda.

Now I am looking forward to see our local newspaper next morning. I am expecting to see a huge picture of Hanyu, covering not only front page but also last page together.

 

[Ophelia]

It's really sad when you can't be happy about winning an OGM. Hanyu prob. has so many mixed feelings about his "win".

 

[Layfan]

"I would just hold my middle finger in the air and say a big 'F you' to everyone who has ever said that to me because they have never stood in my shoes.
"They've never had to do what I had to do. Nobody has to stand center ice before a million people and put an entire career on the line for eight minutes of their life when they've been doing it for 20-some years. And if you don't think that that's not hard, you're a damn idiot.
"So some people can handle it better than others, but everyone has that mental struggle, everyone goes through the same doubts. I am not alone. They just come at different times and different moments. Some people have their moment at the Olympics, and some have theirs at the national championships.
"I'm proud to be standing here. I'm a four-time national champion and a two-time Olympian, and no one can take that away from me. So whatever people have to say about me, that's their own problem because I'm freaking proud of what I've done and I'm not going to apologize for any of it."

Heh.

I suppose it would have been more dignified to take it quietly but I find it kind of refreshing. I'm sure all the skaters have at one point wanted to tell it like it is to people who act like they're personally offended by a skater they've never met falling on Olympic ice. I kind understand feeling frustrated and disappointed for a skater and maybe giving up on them as fans but to go on an on with the insults, like the skater did it on purpose or something is beyond ridiculous. Of course, most fans are not like that but the few who are are vocal and it's no wonder that finally a skater gets fed up.

Jeremy sometimes skates like he so wants to please. Maybe his frustration will serve him well at worlds and he'll just finally skate for himself.

 

[kappa_1]

Heh.

I suppose it would have been more dignified to take it quietly but I find it kind of refreshing. I'm sure all the skaters have at one point wanted to tell it like it is to people who act like they're personally offended by a skater they've never met falling on Olympic ice. I kind understand feeling frustrated and disappointed for a skater and maybe giving up on them as fans but to go on an on with the insults, like the skater did it on purpose or something is beyond ridiculous. Of course, most fans are not like that but the few who are are vocal and it's no wonder that finally a skater gets fed up.

Jeremy sometimes skates like he so wants to please. Maybe his frustration will serve him well at worlds and he'll just finally skate for himself.

I agree. Like, do you want him to apologize and say some Hail Mary's in penance? The man does not owe any of us anything. Then, we go on about how skaters nowadays all give boring, PC answers and are robots. He's right, none of you have ever stood in his skates.

 

[Layfan]

He seemed very happy in the aftermath finding out he won. I dont think he was bothered by that it wasnt with his best performance. Maybe years from now when it looks back it will bother him more though. Still an Olympic Gold is an Olympic Gold and he won it with the best mens short program ever and a very good long after the 2 falls. If Chan can be happy about so many of his titles won with way worse performances than that and controversy over him beating someone else in many of those, I am sure Hanyu can be happy with his.

He's so young. Most skaters have trouble getting motivated after winning Olympic gold. (sarah hughes) Maybe this will keep his juices flowing, with the goal of winning a world title with a clean skate and hopefully go to the next Olympics. We all definitely want to see more of him!

 

[dardar1126]

Heh.

I suppose it would have been more dignified to take it quietly but I find it kind of refreshing. I'm sure all the skaters have at one point wanted to tell it like it is to people who act like they're personally offended by a skater they've never met falling on Olympic ice. I kind understand feeling frustrated and disappointed for a skater and maybe giving up on them as fans but to go on an on with the insults, like the skater did it on purpose or something is beyond ridiculous. Of course, most fans are not like that but the few who are are vocal and it's no wonder that finally a skater gets fed up.

Jeremy sometimes skates like he so wants to please. Maybe his frustration will serve him well at worlds and he'll just finally skate for himself.

I think he should have been more diplomatic in the way he phrased his answer; he could have made the same point in a classier way. This feels like bridge-burning to me. If he does plan on going to Worlds, then it would have been better for him to save these words for after Worlds imo.

I understand his frustration. But these words of his have somewhat tarnished his gutsy performances at the Olympics...at least for me. hwell:

 

[Angryyew]

Maybe next time she can erase everything on his notepad and write "DON'T TALK".

Lol! Or maybe "quit while you're ahead."

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

BBC/CBC/Somewhere in Europe or Asia?

He seemed very happy in the aftermath finding out he won. I dont think he was bothered by that it wasnt with his best performance. Maybe years from now when it looks back it will bother him more though. Still an Olympic Gold is an Olympic Gold and he won it with the best mens short program ever and a very good long after the 2 falls. If Chan can be happy about so many of his titles won with way worse performances than that and controversy over him beating someone else in many of those, I am sure Hanyu can be happy with his.

Actually only his 2013 title was won with a worse performance than Hanyu's 2 falls.

 

[moviechick]

That was truly embarrassing. Queen Yuna, please come save us from this mediocrity.

 

[kzarah]

Jason Brown is over. He is going to be the Brandon Mroz of our day. A has been that never was. One thing I hate about his skating is he skates and acts like a girl. His jumps aren't that good. He is as common and ordinary as Johnny Wier wishes he was not. He is done and over and in two year fortunately we will not remember him.

 

[Chemistry66]

Actually only his 2013 title was won with a worse performance than Hanyu's 2 falls.

...was I quoted here for some reason?

 

[ks777]

Does anyone know if Orser will be getting a huge bonus from the Japan federation? I hope he does. Orser is 2 for 2 now.

 

[rollerblade]

Does anyone know if Orser will be getting a huge bonus from the Japan federation? I hope he does. Orser is 2 for 2 now.

Who was the 2nd guy?

 

[Angryyew]

I think he should have been more diplomatic in the way he phrased his answer; he could have made the same point in a classier way. This feels like bridge-burning to me. If he does plan on going to Worlds, then it would have been better for him to save these words for after Worlds imo.

I understand his frustration. But these words of his have somewhat tarnished his gutsy performances at the Olympics...at least for me. hwell:

I think if this was the only kinda d-baggy thing he'd ever said people would be more forgiving. Some people have been really mean in their criticism and I can understand his frustration, but when it comes to big international competitions....he IS a choker. He has had some really good performances at nationals and he has every right to be proud of those, but he has very consistently bombed on the international stage for his entire career.

His skating has a nice quality to it and it's a shame he's never been able to keep it together. His statements are just going to erode whatever goodwill he built up with his comeback SP and "good for him, in that he didn't fall everywhere" LP.

If he goes to Worlds and bombs, particularly if they don't send fan favorite Jason Brown because of it, he better have those fingers ready to work overtime lol.

 

[BrentWolgamott]

2. Jeremy better not go to Worlds. Jason placed ahead of him here, it should be Jason's spot now. Jeremy is retiring, so let Max and Jason fight for the future US spots which affect their future prospects.

I really think, after what Jeremy said in the mixed zone, that he really doesn't care. He wants to give a F.U. to his detractors, a F.U. to all the doubters, and a F.U. to all the people who want him to step aside and let Jason go. Seriously, he would do it just to spite everyone.

And while I'm at it -- THANK YOU NBC PRIMETIME!!!!! Let's see -- yesterday you showed me 5-6 performances in the men's short. And a Plushenko fluff piece, right before he W/D. I laughed when someone here predicted that, and YOU WERE RIGHT!!!!! Then basically showed the 2 Americans, Yuzu and Chan, and someone else. Javi, maybe. Or Dai.

So today, I'm trying HARD TO AVOID SPOILERS. And for some odd reason, you decide to show me DENIS TEN after Abbott. Hmmmmmm...I wonder why.

I was seriously pissed. I had taped Tara and Johnny, but something went wrong with the recording. So I was forced to avoid spoilers all day, and watch Scott and Sandra. When they showed Ten after not speaking of him all week long, I knew he had the bronze. i just knew it. You couldn't have thrown in someone else so I couldn't be sure why you were showing me this, could you???

I hate it when the OG are on the other side of the world. Cause then NBC can edit. Screw them. In Vancouver, they gave us 2 full groups of the last 12 skaters. Here....it's BODE MILLER and women's skeleton. /faceplam My DVR better work with Terry, Tara, and Johnny for the rest of the week.

Rant over.

 

[Frenchie]

Missing him an awful lot and realizing "this was it" made me enjoy Brian Joubert's program a lot, despite the flaws. 10th or 13th won't really make a big difference to him, but if he hadn't wobbled at the beginning of his final spin, he'd have finished 10th instead of 13th.

Here's the moment where it hit him that it's all over now, a reporter asks him about his mom, and he starts to cry.

"I'm pretty happy with these Olympics. The SP was great, and the FS... the beginning was good with 2 quads! But that killed me for the rest of the program. I had nothing left, no more "juice", my legs were shaking. It was pretty tough but I'm really happy."
Q: Emotionally, you're starting the first minutes of the rest of your life as a retiree. When you saluted the crowd, you seemed "elsewhere". What was going through your mind?
-Starts to cry
"I was moved. The Russian public has always been cool with me. I'll see them again in exhibitions, but it'll be different.
And then I think about my family."
- Really difficult for him to keep talking.
"They have always supported me and I say to them "thank you"."
- The reporter sees there's an opening for more tears and mentions his mom who couldn't be here. She gets what she wanted. Really emotional, gutwrenching.
He can't answer.
She asks one last question: "Will we see you again as a pair skater?"
"I need time. I need to rest. I have a character that's not easy. So I don't know if I'd find a good partner." (Philippe Candeloro says "If you want you and me can skate together" - thankfully, I don't think Brian heard it.)
He just ends with "je vous embrasse tous". (I hug you all)

That was emotional, you should all watch it, even if you don't speak french. A great guy leaves the scene.