Mathman said:Thanks for the link, Red Dog.
I notice that the attendance was only 3400. The December Marshall's show usually gets closer to 10,000. Also interesting that the St. Petersburg show that Lysacek was in was sold out.
Michelle on the CoP:
Kwan agrees with one criticism of the new system. When your muscle memory has completely taken over and is interpreting the feeling the composer sought to convey, with each note vibrating through your body and each fingertip extending to interpret the emotion created by the music, you ascend into a zone where you are not thinking. Your body is completely taken over by, and is a conduit for, the sound. Only a few are able to reach that ultimate "zone" and that has become more unlikely now that your mind must constantly process the more mundane mechanics. You have to add up the seconds the spiral and the spin changes of edge are held. You have to constantly think about racking up the points, and figure out how to compensate for any error. Skating is becoming more of a quantifiable sport under the new system, but the moments when it transcends into a sublime art form will be rarer.
"The music sometimes tells you what to do. The composer didn’t have the precise instructions from the ‘caller’ in mind. The ‘caller’ and the computer see the performance very methodically as opposed to lyrically," Kwan explained.
Sasha on the other hand:
She doesn’t like the 6.0 as much as the new system because, "you don’t know what a mark is for. The new system is really good because you get the break down of exactly what they’ve given you, and you can see what you can work on to get more marks."
She is a gorgeously graceful skater and, despite the mistakes, her Tchaikovsky Nutcracker routine was beautiful. Released from the constraints of the new system, she had time to include her high-kick skid spiral with change of edge.
I guess in any change of judging system you gain something and you lose something.
Mathman
Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Only if he wants to learn. Michelle just does not seem comfortable with the new system. Maybe she will decide it's not worth the effort after all.
Mathman said:True, Red Dog, but it is one thing to say the words, "I know what I have to do and now I am going to do it." Actually doing it is another thing altogether.
Mathman said:Plus, there has to be a tiny little part of her that is saying, "I am the best in the world at skating my way. Let the younger generation worry about 3.2 points for this and 4.9 points for that. In the meantime, I'll just boogie-oogie-oogie."
I do not think that Michelle and RA did not work hard enough but worked on a lot of different things and it was not in muscle memory to make it gel together in time for worlds. Her program or not doing GP was not why she did not medal at worlds but the QR that did it. If she had done at least one international, could she have been better prepared for worlds, maybe, but we will never knkow for sure. As Michelle stated this was a learning experience and I am sure she will be ready next season if she decides to compete.
As for Sasha, which as I've said before, it was her best yet. The second half of her skate was as good as the first half. Little flubs didn't stop her. She carried on to the end smiling and with a joy of skating. I believe the gold medal was not on her mind. She just wanted to enjoy skating. It paid off. Not so much for the medal but for the unspoken statement: 'I've arrived!'.
Red Dog - You should be happy. She's off the podium after 11 years!
We do have faith in her, but the question is didn't the two previous Olys give her a learning experience about the technical aspects of skating? Didn't we say, Michelle will surprise us at whatever competition? Don't we hear constantly that she is working on a triple lutz triple toe?. Didn't she say she will skate her usual without regard to CoP? C'mon. She threw this Worlds away. I think she has become lazy as far as the technical is concerned but will keep in shape for her unique presentation. It's time for her fans to insist she work harder and get a move on. BTW, the 'next season' is not that far away. Will we see her in Atlantic City? or will we make up yet another excuse for her not entering? (Campbells and Marshalls are not true interntional competitions and they use the 6.0 system.)flowjo35 said:As Michelle stated this was a learning experience and I am sure she will be ready next season if she decides to compete.
Oh no, Dog, we can't give up the best soap opera in the sport. Will she or won't she? For me, I hope she wins the gold medal if that's what she really wants. But it would be equally cool if she gave the CoP a pass, did her own thing at the Olympics and exited, stage left, singing,Red Dog said:(Don't tell anyone this, but my secret wish is almost for MK to just give it up and end all discussion and speculation as to what she's gonna do next. )
Red Dog - Indeed the
grin works for you. Michelle is off the podium and although you are not a fan of Sasha (hmmm) you do worry about her.
That's why you should switch over to the men. There were a lot of great moments in the men's division this year, such as Matt Savoie's LP at Nationals.Red Dog said:No performances I can say I enjoyed, at all.