- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
There's a very very pretty picture of her on cover of IFS.
Joe
Joe
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Figure skater Meissner accepts criticism, but can her fans? (Hersh article)
- Thread starter visaliakid
- Start date
Hersh's bashing aside, something in the recent IFS article about Kimmie had me alarmed. It's quite a positive, upbeat article, but her coach was quoted saying this: “She feels good about herself and she is enjoying skating again," apparently after SA. That implies for some time before SA, Kimmie wasn't enjoying skating.
That did sound to me like a motivation problem.
That did sound to me like a motivation problem.
Well, I can't really blame her much for that because she's already won a world championship and national title. Easier to chase your way to the top than to struggle to stay there.
I'm sure all skaters hit that point sooner or later, though. You're not going to enjoy it ALL the time, but in general you do, otherwise you wouldn't do it (assuming your parents didn't push you into it)
I think Hersh makes some good points, but I do agree that they're a little biased against her. (Selective facts, as another poster said.)
I'm sure all skaters hit that point sooner or later, though. You're not going to enjoy it ALL the time, but in general you do, otherwise you wouldn't do it (assuming your parents didn't push you into it)
I think Hersh makes some good points, but I do agree that they're a little biased against her. (Selective facts, as another poster said.)
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Hoping Kimmie does her best in the Nats
ITA with Mathman.
Hersh doesn't seem to handle emails (including Kimmie's ?) properly.
To add, when Hersh's main message seems to be, in his own words
"It's do-or-die time for Meissner. The clock is ticking.",
I'd like to say to him that:
1. it would be much better for Kimmie to take the coming Nats as her fresh start, than to take it as her "do-or-die" last chance. (That goes the same with Miki.) Kimmie is a year younger than Miki, both young enough to expect more to come in their next season. One gets better concentration with less worries in mind, no? So don't make them worry about Worlds at this moment.
2. he's right in saying "promoting the sport and helping build a skater's confidence are not part of my job", but what he's doing is threatning Kimmie's confidence which is also not part of his job. Providing unknown information and impressive insights are his job which he didn't in these two columns.
3. his clock is old. Contemporary clocks don't tick anymore. His way of expectations seems old too, IMO.
ITA with Mathman.
Hersh doesn't seem to handle emails (including Kimmie's ?) properly.
To add, when Hersh's main message seems to be, in his own words
"It's do-or-die time for Meissner. The clock is ticking.",
I'd like to say to him that:
1. it would be much better for Kimmie to take the coming Nats as her fresh start, than to take it as her "do-or-die" last chance. (That goes the same with Miki.) Kimmie is a year younger than Miki, both young enough to expect more to come in their next season. One gets better concentration with less worries in mind, no? So don't make them worry about Worlds at this moment.
2. he's right in saying "promoting the sport and helping build a skater's confidence are not part of my job", but what he's doing is threatning Kimmie's confidence which is also not part of his job. Providing unknown information and impressive insights are his job which he didn't in these two columns.
3. his clock is old. Contemporary clocks don't tick anymore. His way of expectations seems old too, IMO.
Kimmie
Hersh isn't wrong and skating is in decline (but for other reasons). Kimmie should go to college. She will rarely, if ever, be at the top of the international skating heap. The post-competitve skating world has also changed with the collapse of the skating shows. I just think it's a future loaded with frusturation for her. All in all, I wish it were otherwise because I think she is a really nice kid.
Hersh isn't wrong and skating is in decline (but for other reasons). Kimmie should go to college. She will rarely, if ever, be at the top of the international skating heap. The post-competitve skating world has also changed with the collapse of the skating shows. I just think it's a future loaded with frusturation for her. All in all, I wish it were otherwise because I think she is a really nice kid.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2004
Yes! We just got our latest issue yesterday.
I can't wait to read this article about Kimmie. 
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
not liking his writing style, i have to agree that kimmie has not really improved since 2006, and i don't just mean jump inconsistancies. I think that the best is in the past for miss meissner.
yeah.. i will propably eat my words somtime but that is my opinon for now.
yeah.. i will propably eat my words somtime but that is my opinon for now.
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2007
Well, I'm not a member of the Meissner family, nor am I a friend, and I live clear across the country from her, but I'm a huge fan.
My problem with the first article was he seemed to almost be implying laziness on Meissner's part. I've never heard anything about Kimmie having a bad work ethic; quite the opposite in fact. If he'd written an article stating that Kimmie was struggling or going through a slump, I wouldn't have minded. But to imply that she's not trying, that bugged me. (Does he have information that we don't, and if so, why not explain it instead of simply ragging on her?) I'm sure Kimmie knows better than anyone that her recent results aren't what she wanted. I'm sure she's working her butt off trying to get through the slump.
I'm rooting for her and hope she can tough it out till her body/jumps settle back in. I just don't think motivation is her problem.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
With the exception of the above post, I believe all the plus posts about Kimmie are ones from non fans like me, who don't think she deserves such dishing The minus posts are far more in the majority from this forum.
I reiterate, she does not have the multitude of fans that some posters think. I have never been to her website nor do I care to go. What I learned from websites in the past was that everything is beautiful and sugary. What else could they be?
And Fan sites are what one expects them to be; 70% positive; 30% negative and with the same fans posting all the time. What else could they be?
Joe
I reiterate, she does not have the multitude of fans that some posters think. I have never been to her website nor do I care to go. What I learned from websites in the past was that everything is beautiful and sugary. What else could they be?
And Fan sites are what one expects them to be; 70% positive; 30% negative and with the same fans posting all the time. What else could they be?
Joe
Of course Kimmie doesn't have the multitude of fans that Kwan (and Cohen to some degree) had. However, I think she gets much respect from fans and non-fans alike because of her non-diva persona. For now, she's likeable as a person but her skating is a different story in itself.
As for Hersh, I happen to think he brings up some valid points. Meissner has steadily fallen in the standings and I think it's a combination of her struggles and other competitors rising from the junior ranks and suddenly giving her a run for her money. I think she couldn't have chosen a better time to peak...right at a World championship where the young ones were too young to go, and the favorites struggled after a tiring Olympic run. Her career isn't over by any means (it depends on what she does with this season and the next) but I think she can't expect more than bronze medals at worlds and Olys now even at her very best- and that's with the favorites faltering, because it seems now that the Asians can make mistakes and still place way ahead of everyone else.
As for Hersh, I happen to think he brings up some valid points. Meissner has steadily fallen in the standings and I think it's a combination of her struggles and other competitors rising from the junior ranks and suddenly giving her a run for her money. I think she couldn't have chosen a better time to peak...right at a World championship where the young ones were too young to go, and the favorites struggled after a tiring Olympic run. Her career isn't over by any means (it depends on what she does with this season and the next) but I think she can't expect more than bronze medals at worlds and Olys now even at her very best- and that's with the favorites faltering, because it seems now that the Asians can make mistakes and still place way ahead of everyone else.
i think we might have missed the point. back when Michelle skated the press criticized Michelle mistakes and made fun of her if she didn't get on the podium.
Michelle's fans hollered but that didn't stop the media, they kept it up.
Michelle skated to shut the media up. i remember on a couple of occasions she said she was glad she shut up the media. i also remember when they tried to criticized Sasha , Sarah, Tara, -the fans, skating community complained so they stop criticizing them.
i think he knows Kimmie is strong enough to handle the media-but Hersh has pointed out that the fans can't handle it. it is proven by this post reply. if you want to back your skater fine, but make sure you can handle the criticism by the media, other figure skating fans, and other people in general.
like the old saying goes. IF YOU CAN"T TAKE THE HEAT, STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
or if you can't talk the talk, don't walk the walk. in others words if you don't want to be complained about, talk about fan or otherwise, don't talk, complain, or post.
Michelle's fans hollered but that didn't stop the media, they kept it up.
Michelle skated to shut the media up. i remember on a couple of occasions she said she was glad she shut up the media. i also remember when they tried to criticized Sasha , Sarah, Tara, -the fans, skating community complained so they stop criticizing them.
i think he knows Kimmie is strong enough to handle the media-but Hersh has pointed out that the fans can't handle it. it is proven by this post reply. if you want to back your skater fine, but make sure you can handle the criticism by the media, other figure skating fans, and other people in general.
like the old saying goes. IF YOU CAN"T TAKE THE HEAT, STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
or if you can't talk the talk, don't walk the walk. in others words if you don't want to be complained about, talk about fan or otherwise, don't talk, complain, or post.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
The way I understand the topic is that it is pointed more at Meissner's fans than it is about Hersch. Hersch has his opinions - and should. It's his job. Do they provoke Meissner's fans? Not as much as her non-fans agree with him. She doesn't have that many fans.
Now about the validity of Hersch's points which is not the topic but apparently the concern of some posters. He basically says she is losing her skating ability. He may be correct. She had her problems at GPF and was not particularly outstanding at SA and TEB, true. So how were the other skaters at SA? and TEB where Kimmie got Gold and Silver? (Not a bad haul for someone on her way out.) Of course, there was the GPF which resulted in a complete meltdown. The question is: will that skate be a permanent state of being?
It seems as if Hersch thinks it is quite possible that she may be out of the running which if correct causes me to believe that there will be no 3 gals in 2009 Worlds. Although his gloom and doom did not spell that out, he did not mention anything about Emilie picking up the required 13 points (which means a bronze at 2008 Worlds). In my view, there are more skaters that can fill that bronze place than Emilie.
Let's check out the US Nats and see what Team USA becomes.
Joe
Now about the validity of Hersch's points which is not the topic but apparently the concern of some posters. He basically says she is losing her skating ability. He may be correct. She had her problems at GPF and was not particularly outstanding at SA and TEB, true. So how were the other skaters at SA? and TEB where Kimmie got Gold and Silver? (Not a bad haul for someone on her way out.) Of course, there was the GPF which resulted in a complete meltdown. The question is: will that skate be a permanent state of being?
It seems as if Hersch thinks it is quite possible that she may be out of the running which if correct causes me to believe that there will be no 3 gals in 2009 Worlds. Although his gloom and doom did not spell that out, he did not mention anything about Emilie picking up the required 13 points (which means a bronze at 2008 Worlds). In my view, there are more skaters that can fill that bronze place than Emilie.
Let's check out the US Nats and see what Team USA becomes.
Joe
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
Indeed. That has been discussed ad infinitum with Kimmie as part of the top 2 skaters' performances. But we are talking Hersch here who sees Kimmie out of skating abilities.
So who would be the combination of gals to get 13 points without Ms. Meissner?
Most of the posters seem to agree with Hersch.
Joe
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2004
Sure he can criticize skaters and skating all he wants, but he should be able to take it if he can dish it out. Skating fans also have a right to criticize him for his shoddy "journalism" skills. He's been coasting on these types of negative articles for years.
I can't stand Hersh's writing when it comes to figure skating. It's so terribly gloomy and negatively slanted that it's hard to imagine that he's an actual fan of the sport. How is he even a journalist? His writing is so biased and negatively twisted.... "DEAD last in a field of 6"... "Worst field in 25 years"... "A non factor" after placing third in the free skate...
I don't believe him when he says he "forgot" to mention Meissner win at Four Continents this year. It's funny how he researched her competition results enough to rip all of them apart and make light of everything she's done, but failed to mention one of the best wins of her career. He can try to put down the Four Continents win all he wants, but Kimmie skated a great long program there and a 120 in the free skate is highly competitive anywhere and against anyone.
I don't believe him when he says he "forgot" to mention Meissner win at Four Continents this year. It's funny how he researched her competition results enough to rip all of them apart and make light of everything she's done, but failed to mention one of the best wins of her career. He can try to put down the Four Continents win all he wants, but Kimmie skated a great long program there and a 120 in the free skate is highly competitive anywhere and against anyone.
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- Joined
- Feb 17, 2006
Do you all think Kimmie could benefit from a coaching change?
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
If you believe that coaches cause skaters to fall and it isnot the skater's moment of weakness, yes. Otherwise, it is the skater who actually causes the fall - not the coach.
However, I do think a change of scenery could help skaters. I'm not sure how they did with Sasha, and Bobek. But Orso is doing just fine with YuNa as Mao is doing with Arutunian.
Joe
let's wait and ask that question (if it is necessary) AFTER the season is over.
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2007
About the coaching change for Kimmie, I would think a change OR simply bringing in outside help might be in order IF her current coaches are unable to help her pinpoint why she's having trouble landing her jumps -- and also how to change that so she can land them again.
If they can't help her figure what she needs to do differently, then she might need to look elsewhere. But I don't think she'd want to change her primary coach if she stills finds the UDel folks are able to help her in other ways, like staying motivated, overseeing her overall condition and preparation, etc.
But I do wonder if she's getting the type of help she needs to get the jumps back.
If they can't help her figure what she needs to do differently, then she might need to look elsewhere. But I don't think she'd want to change her primary coach if she stills finds the UDel folks are able to help her in other ways, like staying motivated, overseeing her overall condition and preparation, etc.
But I do wonder if she's getting the type of help she needs to get the jumps back.
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