Convince me!

[Kwanford Wife]

Michelle Kwan

After the post I read about her on this thread, I'm still not convinced, and probably never will be. Loads of talent to be sure, but I just don't get the hype...

This one is simple as pie.... watch this clip and then even if you aren't a fan - you'll never be able to say don't get the hype...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvp8noEJmlAyou

She's simply the Greatest of All Time

 

[Kwanford Wife]

needed? I guess I don't understand. Of course you want to get as high a score as you can but did Yale have a cutoff SAT range of 1550? IOW, wouldn't something like 1500 be a strong enough score for consideration?

Those were her sentiments, not mine... But I'd think that being legacy, OGM and the equivalant of an OGM would've blown that really earnest high school newspaper editor's application out of the water... As for me - I didn't take the SAT because my guidance teacher felt that I'd perform better on the ACT which didn't have the math focus... I received a 31 and Harvard didn't even send me a cataloge... the nerve... I shoulda stuck with ice skating and left high school journalism alone...

 

[silverlining]

Do you mean Yuna and her mom let her fans visit her at home and Yuna drives them home?

A very legitimate yet funny question, which I read was well answered.

Yu-Na has confessed on several occasions that one of the most difficult things was the usual public attention that comes with fame. You can imagine people asking her to sign their Tshirts while she is having dinner, asking her to take pictures with them, and heaven knows what else.

But I must say that Yu-Na has dealt with those kind of things amazingly well for a girl her age. Of course, it does help her a lot that she now resides in Toronto. I don't know if it's athletic training that matured her like that, but she seems really in control of herself.

 

[JaeJ]

Oh, I hate to say it, but Sasha Cohen. I tried really really hard for many years to like her, but will now admit that she just never convinced me she had two-back-to-back great performances in her.

 

[paralegalmkfan]

I assume you mean 1600 (which was the perfect score at the time, now it's 2400 or something like that).

This may sound mean/snarky/whatever, but here goes...I know education is valued, but I'm really tired of it being rubbed in my face by the Hughes'- and to be fair to them it's not totally their fault, it's mostly the media's for continuing to trumpet it time and time again, as well as posters who need to say it again and again (I don't mean to single you out KW, it's just a general statement).

They aren't the only skaters going to college, BTW. So many seem to forget that.

Thank you

 

[paralegalmkfan]

Michelle Kwan

After the post I read about her on this thread, I'm still not convinced, and probably never will be. Loads of talent to be sure, but I just don't get the hype...

Well, I'm sure her 9 national titles, 5 world titles, 2 olympic medals, the most SA wins, the most perfect marks in history, having a trophy named after her, the most wins in American skating history has absolutely nothing to do with the hype. The shame of it all!

 

[paralegalmkfan]

Yes! Her non-jumping element score was actually higher than Sasha's. Shizuke Arakawa, IMO, has the best skating skill. The way she glides on the ice is just magnificient. Soft and flawless. I'm just glad that we finally had a graceful, mature olympic champion!

Amen to that!

 

[yelyoh]

It's so hard to just name one so I won't.

Tiny-Jump Tara
Nothing but jumps Yoshie
Pasha ne Oksana (ice dancer)
early Weiss (though later I liked him)

 

[sillylionlove]

I think that Michael Weiss has come into his own during Stars on Ice. Some skaters, while great competitors, are much better doing "show" type pieces.

 

[nubka]

This one is simple as pie.... watch this clip and then even if you aren't a fan - you'll never be able to say don't get the hype...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvp8noEJmlAyou

She's simply the Greatest of All Time

The link didn't work, but I've seen most of her programs many times. Which program were you thinking about?

 

[nubka]

Well, I'm sure her 9 national titles, 5 world titles, 2 olympic medals, the most SA wins, the most perfect marks in history, having a trophy named after her, the most wins in American skating history has absolutely nothing to do with the hype. The shame of it all!

Oh, there's a lot of hype surrounding her, no doubt about it. It still doesn't convince me that I should like her skating, though.

I enjoy programs with lots of content and interesting transitions.

 

[DragonPhoenix]

Oh, there's a lot of hype surrounding her, no doubt about it. It still doesn't convince me that I should like her skating, though.

I enjoy programs with lots of content and interesting transitions.

I feel the same way.

I do respect Michelle's determination and hard work.
But hype and popularity and how many medals are won, don't convince me of anything. I either enjoy a skaters performance, their program, and find it interesting, original and unique, or I don't.

 

[DragonPhoenix]

I've no desire to convince anybody on Miki. (To keep her only to her fans ?)
I can only confess my heart; but it's so embarassing to put it into straight words, so I'll sing.

Why, I, love, My Mikitty Miki
Is not, her, quad, the jump so tricky
She looks, so, lonely, though cute and pretty
Trapped, in, fate, the queen so risky

When, she's, bashed, she'll take them all
And shed, her, tears, through her blades
To step, up, more, howev-er small
She strives, for, us, that's why An-do!

Wonderful song, Sorcerer !!!

I love it !!!

Go Miki !!!!!!!!

 

[Kwanford Wife]

The link didn't work, but I've seen most of her programs many times. Which program were you thinking about?

So sorry the link didn't work... It was her Worlds 2000 Red Violin Program... Now, I'm an uber Kwan fan (obviously) but even by her spectacular standards Red Violin was a masterpiece - high technical, wonderful cheorography and those transitions you speak of so often... Simply cool. I'd even go so far as to say that in terms of CoP (which I simply loath and detest...) its as close to what the system would determine as a "worthy program." Right up there with Irina's 05 Worlds performance.

Having said that, however, I don't understand the CoP system nearly well enough to break it down element by element - its just as complete a program as I've seen...

As for your not being a fan - I can only say that while I respect your decision and opinion - I still believe that nonKwan fans are smokin' crack...

Michelle Kwan is simply the Greatest of All Time

 

[Cal Girl]

All the skaters mentioned have so much to offer the sport. Whether it be pure athleticism of Surya Bonaly, who's skating I never enjoyed but who's athleticism was so pure, to Jenny Kirk's grace and natural beauty, to Michelle Kwans dominance, to Irina's push into 3/3 and a combination of athleticism and competitive juice. They all bring so much that I cant pick one person who I dont like enough to appreciate.
Tara's mental toughness, Johnny's Russian style in an American package, Tanith's kindness to my own daughter
Love them all for all different reasons

 

[Mathman]

...even by her spectacular standards Red Violin was a masterpiece...

But within the category of spectacular Red Violin performances, it was the version performed at 1999 Worlds exhibitions that melted the stoniest heart and gave us poor earthbound sinners a glimpse of heaven. :agree:

 

[krenseby]

But within the category of spectacular Red Violin performances, it was the version performed at 1999 Worlds exhibitions that melted the stoniest heart and gave us poor earthbound sinners a glimpse of heaven. :agree:

Yeah, that program was great: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P06NFFMn7Hs&feature=related

 

[ks777]

Here's another:

Michael Weiss

I love Michael Weiss. He might not have been many people's favorite but he is truely a champion to me. He has given so much back to this sport after turning professional. I don't know where all these up and coming skaters would be without MWF Scholarships. Mirai Nagasu was one of the reciepients. Even if all the pro shows fade away, I hope we can support his MWF shows every year.

One of the things I really like about America is that people are so giving. If something happens, people would step up and help others, send money, donate foods, clothing etc.. That's something I never saw in Japan.

I just have so much respect for him for doing all the work he does for the sport.

 

[TCAngel18]

Irina is one of the greatest women jumpers in history, she was the first women to do a triple lutz-triple toe, triple salchow-triple loop-double toe, and triple salchow-triple loop.

Actually, I'm not sure if that is accurate. If it was ratified, Kristi Yamaguchi was the first woman to land the triple lutz-triple toe combination, in the '92 Albertville LP. Perhaps do you mean the triple lutz-triple loop combo?

Now this is a complete lie, I absolutely love the next skater, but a lot of others don't, and I'm curious to see someone else defend her....

Maria Butyrskaya.

 

[ks777]

Yeah, Irina wasn't the first to land a 3lutz/3toe in a competiton. I think it was Kristi Yamaguchi. As for a 3salcow/3loop/2toe, I am not sure about that one either. It might have been Shizuka Arakawa who often landed so many different 3/3s. Miki Ando landed a 3lutz/3loop/2toe or loop wich is so much harder than a 3sal/3loop/2toe and Miki landed that before Irina landed 3sal/3loop/2toe.
I