After Marshall's, What impressions do you have of Sasha Cohen??

[R.D.]

Tough call. But a similar thing happened when Kwan won the Nats title in 04 and 05 only to have 2nd place Cohen beat her at worlds both years. Who was the real US champion those years?

You also have to remember the Olympics- Cohen's 2nd place finish to Kimmie's 6th. Nevertheless, I'm going to go with the American results- Kwan was the champion in 04 and 05 and Cohen was the champ in 06. Don't fear, though, Kimmie will be champ in 07 so this will all be moot.

And those who miss Cohen- I'm sure you will continue to see her in shows and on the screen. Don't despair. It's time to move on in US skating and Kimmie and Emily are the present. (Many posters will argue that this Caroline Zhang is the future as well). I just wish the USFS would stop hanging onto Kwan and Cohen and promote their new stars. I bet Kimmie could do very well as the Spokane headliner and sell tickets if she was showcased properly. She's the reigning world champ for goodness sake!

 

[Fossi]

I'm just joking a little Red Dog because when Sasha placed 2nd at Worlds John Nicks declared it proved she was the best skater in teh US. IIRC, Kwan beat Sasha's LP in '04, but didn't do so hot in '05 under COP, right? But Nicks comment got Sasha lots of flack. I just thought I'd throw some good ol' humour into the board!

 

[R.D.]

Oh, I wasn't aware of that so I didn't get it. But it was Nicks that said it, right? I suppose you really can't put any blame on Cohen for that comment.

But isn't this what Nationals was for? If cohen really was the best US skater in 04 and 05 why couldn't she beat Kwan? *cough*choke*cough*

I'd say this past year Cohen was the best US skater (since Kwan was basically gone) but really bad performances at Worlds allowed Kimmie to upstage her (and even then it took her the performance of her life to do that).

Now Kimmie is the best US skater, and did respectably well in the GP (seriously, the fact she is not in the GPF is a farce). I think good things are in store for her but I wouldn't cry foul if we see a fall and/or a similar mistake at Nationals or even Worlds. I really do think we'll have a Japanese world champion this year.

 

[chuckm]

I think Red Dog is right---Sasha is not a competitor, and after Worlds 2006, she knows it well. That's why we won't see her at Nationals or Worlds this year. Heck, if she couldn't beat Kimmie, she's not going to beat Mao (who beat Sasha last year) and Yu-Na Kim.

I just don't understand why she thinks she can beat them after taking two years off. By then, there will be several others she probably won't be able to beat.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Bottom line is Cohen has been around a good deal longer than Kimmie. that was Kimmie's first Oly. It was Cohen's second and her only medal.

 

[R.D.]

I just don't understand why she thinks she can beat them after taking two years off. By then, there will be several others she probably won't be able to beat.

You know what though, she COULD beat them. She just needs to put in the EFFORT, develop the CONFIDENCE and UNSHAKABLE FEAR and find the DETERMINATION to be a real threat. Ever seen her staring at the ice before competitions, long before it's even her group's turn to skate? I don't think that's someone who's very confident in herself.

But like I said you either have it or you don't. Once 2007 rolls around we should really shelf all discussion of Cohen and focus on Meissner. She's the one to take down the likes of Asada, Kim and the lot

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

RD - I know you would like Sasha to win at least one Worlds (so would I) but I think her time for competitive skating is over. She is and will continue to be for some time, a beautiful skater.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

In fact I was sort of hoping Cohen could pull out the win in 06. But I really had no problem with the result (Kimmie winning)...in fact I think I prefer that result to if Cohen had won. Kimmie to me is a more likeable skater (and a stronger competitior) and just wears the title of "World Champion" better than Cohen would.

I hope Kimmie goes to Worlds 07 and wins world championship #2 (even though deep down inside I know it's not gonna happen, not with Asada and Kim on her tail). And I hope Cohen, with all her side interests, continues to skate in exhibitions and shows because I'm starting to like her show performances more. I was NEVER a fan of her competitive skates, though...she was simply boring (plus she made mistakes).

Yes, her (Cohen's) time is over...she may only face embarassment if she stays in longer than her prime. Kwan tried to do that but I suppose the injury stopped her before too much damage could be done. Kwan does have the stats to back up a highly successful skating career but those stats are miserably lacking an OGM. (Probably won't matter in the long run though.)

Actually, Worlds 2007 could turn out to be the most exciting worlds in a long time. We no longer have the top predictable competitors (Kwan, Slute, Cohen, Arakawa) but a host of newbies and some seasoned veterans. The only old timer I see is Suguri (and with Asada, Ando and Nakano on her tail, who knows if she can even make it) and she also had a good chance at 06 Worlds but mistakes kept her behind Kimmie. The only competitor I'd probably feel "nerves" for, though, is Meissner. (but not nearly as much as I did for Cohen, lol)

 

[Lanie]

Why is everyone acting like a stupid cheesefest is some big indicator of OMG you need to do all the triple jumps and Sasha sucks? She went because she was under contract with the USFSA, as were the others I am sure, and it was for fun. Cheesefest. Not a competition. It was all entertainment. Who the hell cares about the jumps in cheesefests like this when all the programs are exhibitions?

Sasha's done at least for now - she never worked that hard in the first place!

 

[R.D.]

Jumps? Well, Kimmie seemed to care- she did 4 of them in one program and 3 (?) in the other...

 

[Fossi]

Why is everyone acting like a stupid cheesefest is some big indicator of OMG you need to do all the triple jumps and Sasha sucks? She went because she was under contract with the USFSA, as were the others I am sure, and it was for fun. Cheesefest. Not a competition. It was all entertainment. Who the hell cares about the jumps in cheesefests like this when all the programs are exhibitions?

Sasha's done at least for now - she never worked that hard in the first place!

Hello Lanie!
I think the conclusion is based more on her competitive history than just one cheesefest. Funny you mention Sasha not training hard. I remember Nicks saying she would do what she wanted, and then TT hinted to it and so did Robin (who IMO is the BEST coach ever. She coached Sarah Hughes ) I think Sasha expected the same results Robin had with Sarah, but Sasha is no Sarah. (Oh, I am getting way off topic to talk about Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, whom I miss dearly ) My point? You may be correct about Sasha not working hard enough. Robin hinted that Sasha always thought she should've won when she lost and never wanted to work on improving. In short, she thought she was the best and didn't have room for improvement. Thsi may have been Ms. Cohen's downfall at the Olympics by skipping practices, and at Worlds by underestimating the other competitors. But wouldn't it be something if Sarah came back to competitive skating again? I know it won't happen but if she and Cohen could spark up the old rivalry once again? I know Sasha would probably love one more shot at the title vs. Hughes.

 

[R.D.]

To be fair to Cohen, though, I just have to wonder about the hundreds, possibly thousands of times she's heard OTHER people saying she's the best and she can't be beaten. When someone feeds you a lot of bull, over time you tend to believe it. That was Cohen's downfall. If you have people constantly telling you that you can't be beaten when you're on where's the motivation to do better? That said, however, if she wanted whatever titles she wanted *THAT* badly, she would work as hard as she could for them. A real champion strives to be better and better even when he/she is the best in the world.

Let's say that posters are right and Cohen indeed does NOT work hard enough, or as hard as some of the other skaters. Well, she's sure accomplished a lot by being "lazy". (when I say "lazy" I don't mean sitting back in a chair all day, I mean working into a routine and getting off that routine time and time again). But who knows...maybe there are other reasons. Avoiding injury could be one- she seems to be one to get sick/tired very easily.

You really have to love skating at this point. I think she loves skating but not competing. She wants the titles but just doesn't have that edge in jumps to put her over an Irina, a Mao or a Kimmie.
I read an interesting article linked on FSU about Cohen's past history with her coaches (Tarasova, Wagner, Nicks). Since it was a Russian article it focused more on the Tarasova relationship but sheds a lot of light on what could have ended that partnership. I think she definitely tends to go on her own schedule and maybe thinks it's the coach's job to make her a better skater? I think she admitted to this thinking in some interview.

 

[dancindiva03]

To be fair to Cohen, though, I just have to wonder about the hundreds, possibly thousands of times she's heard OTHER people saying she's the best and she can't be beaten. When someone feeds you a lot of bull, over time you tend to believe it. That was Cohen's downfall. If you have people constantly telling you that you can't be beaten when you're on where's the motivation to do better? That said, however, if she wanted whatever titles she wanted *THAT* badly, she would work as hard as she could for them. A real champion strives to be better and better even when he/she is the best in the world.

But Cohen and her people around her started all that "I'm the best" hype. She made her bed and then she had to lie in it, I guess. Perhaps if she had been just a little more modest, and Nicks hadn't been running his mouth about how "unbeatable" Sasha was and how much better she was than other people and of course that ridiculous comment about who the real number one American skare is, people wouldn't have started with all the hype and would take it a little easier on her. I think she brought it all on herself.

 

[R.D.]

I have to agree. She was sure one drama princess back then.

(and who's to say she isn't now...just more subdued)

 

[Fossi]

The Nick's comment about being the best US skater was after 2005 Worlds, so it wasn't so far "back then." JMO but I think Sasha craves the attention and spotlight and hype.

 

[R.D.]

Actually it's not just your opinion. It's a fact- Sasha herself has confirmed many times that she enjoys the media attention.

 

[Misplaced Gymnast]

Peter adores Sasha. He loathes Michelle.


Joe

Really?! Elaborate, please.

 

[Hsuhs]

I'm going to answer the actual question.

I didn't like Sasha's WSS. Two shaky doubles, or what were those jumps again? Everybody knew in advance she was going to win. I was however surprised when I heard what that panel of "judges" had to say about the program. I know their opinions didn't count, but still. I mean, every one of them has a certain reputation in FS.

I liked GBA better. BTW, Sasha's dress for this program is a replica of one of Kristi Yamaguchi's old costumes.

With al that said, I still find Sasha an amazing and unique skater. I don't know whether she works hard enough. I like her personality: it stands out. I'm not sure if she ever said anything worth quoting, she might have, I can't recall, b/c I'm not her biggest fan. I do though enjoy watching her when she's on TV.

 

[MKFSfan]

The Nick's comment about being the best US skater was after 2005 Worlds, so it wasn't so far "back then." JMO but I think Sasha craves the attention and spotlight and hype.

I don't recall exactly what was said way back when in 2000 before Sasha's Nationals debut, but I do remember that before I ever saw Sasha, I was reading an article on upcoming Nationals, sitting in my dentist's office, and thinking,"Hm, this little girl may be the best thing ever!" Truthfully, after the competition was done, after watching her skate 3 programs, I was a bit underwhelmed,"That's it?" Mind you, this was before I discovered the wonderful world of online forums, and was subjected to other people's perspectives on Michelle Vs. Sasha, and even back then I thought Michelle was clearly the better skater, competitor, who could question Sasha could "overthrown the Kween?" OK, at the time it was just Queen...I knew Sasha showed potential, and I figured she would be a contender for the upcoming OG, but there was hype right at the beginning of her Senior career that, IMO, she never fully lived up to.

Point being, I read one article, then browsed online to read more about what Michelle was up to because the article on Sasha hinted Michelle had outside distractions heading to Nationals (college classes) and because I wanted to see if Sasha was the real deal since the year before, the hype was all about NNN serving notice to Michelle her time may be up. The Sasha hype was that she would be the perfect combo of artistry and technical brillance (quad, sequence, 3/3, spins), had all these SashaMovesTM, and was fiesty, hard to control, but still going to be the best skater the US had ever seen.

That was the impression I got!

 

[antmanb]

I liked GBA better. BTW, Sasha's dress for this program is a replica of one of Kristi Yamaguchi's old costumes.

Sasha apparently still hasn't learnt that plunging neckline illusion fabric straight down the middle of your chest makes her look like a prebuescent boy on top...isn't she supposed to be a desinger of her costumes? Learn already!

Ant