Red Dog said:
No, I dig reading your (long) posts...I think you make a lot of interesting comments. As with this topic, I agree with a lot of what you said. However, the tone of this article makes it seem like Wagner wasn't happy with Cohen (not to say that she really was, because I doubt it) and, in a way, is glad she doesn't have her anymore (but wishes her luck). She comes across as very frustrated with her. It makes me think that this article may be the most in-depth look at what happens with Cohen and her coaches that we'll see.
But, to be more fair to Cohen I really think asking someone to perform at their maximum potential consistently (that is, for a long period of time) is asking WAY too much of them. I don't think it's really fair to expect that from her. I mean, she hasn't done it in the past, where does this expectation come from? (Besides the hype and media). At least Kwan has been a consistent champion, you'd expect that kind of standard from her. But from a skater who hasn't proved herself? hmm...
Thanks, Red Dog. I do try. To be long-winded, that is.
As for the Hersh article, I agree it has the most quotes from Cohen and Wagner, and you definitely get Hersh's anti-Cohen tone. But I don't think that makes an article in-depth, although it's true that it may be the most in-depth article we'll ever get on the subject. To me, the author of an in-depth article not only interviews the main parties involved, but also other people around and involved in the situation, both pro and con to one side or the other. This is a slanted piece, which is fine, but there's nothing about it that makes me think, "Hey, I didn't know that" or "Hmm, I hadn't thought of it that way" or reconsider any of the views I had after I'd read the first few resports. I like articles that make me think I'm wrong about my original views, even if I come back to them in the end. Hersh's article might as well been entitled, "More Reasons Why I Think Sasha Cohen Sucks."
One thing that did strike me, perhaps because I was also able to hear Robin Wagner say it on the ESPN broadcast piece, was the part you also mentioned about Wagner complaining that Sasha did not return to summer training "as physically or mentally fit as when I had left her." The timeline isn't quite clear, ie, is Wagner talking about returning to training after the summer tours or after a 4 to 6 week break after Worlds?
In any case, if Wagner did expect Cohen to return to training in the summer in peak condition, especially given the '03-'04 season Cohen had had, I have my doubts about Wagner's understanding of the physiology of training. Rest is as important a part of training as activity. You mentioned Michelle and IMO, Michelle is the best example of the success of what is technically known as "training periodization." Basically it's planning to hills and valleys in your training intensity throughout the year relative to important competitive events as well as working at non-event training. For example, if you're a shot putter, you'd spend two or three months of the year never even touching a shot put, but instead playing basketball, swimming, running, etc. Usually three or four different activities done exclusively for several weeks at a time.
Michelle has been very open about the importance of taking time off for both her physical and mental well being. For example, at each Campbell's competition since it started three years ago, Michelle has not been in top shape, she's only included three or four jumps in her program, and though she won the first year, she's come in second the last two years. I call this being brilliant. Michelle has been touring most of the summer; she vacations in August; and wants to peak for Nationals and Worlds. With Campbell's scheduled for late September or early October, it does nothing for her to cut short her well-deserved and much needed vacation in order to get a 6 or 7-triple new LP ready, do all the off-ice weight lifting and other training; and work up to being on the ice four to six hours a day just for one competition that is very low on her list of priorities.
Sure Michelle maintains at least a certain minimum of conditioning even during vacation, but it's probably focused on things like stretching, swimming, and jogging -- things that maintain muscle tone but are not hard on the joints. IMO, her self-described "lazy" approach has been the key to her lack of injuries (knock on wood!).
In contrast, in '03-'04, Sasha skated in every single competition she could, one when she was sick and another, a week later, when she was still recovering. She skated a demanding short and new LP, the latter of which Tarasova changed prior to every GP competition, with only a week or two's time for Cohen to learn and try to perfect the changes. Then Wagner completely changed "Swan Lake" for Worlds. There's all the physical stress you need to order up an injury right there. Add the mental stress of changing coaches and the picture I get is (a) a physically and mentally exhausted Cohen, and (b) Wagner not being able to see the forest for the trees.
Wagner used the phrase "we couldn't get on the same page" several times and I think that as overused as that phrase has become, it probably describes the problems between Sasha and Robin very well. They do seem to genuinely like each other, but it really did seem as if even though they were both working from the theoretical book "How to Become a Figure Skating Champion," Robin was in the chapter about peak conditioning and training whereas Sasha was in the one about how to recover from an overly stressful and ultimately disappointing season. The chapters are both in the same book, they're both critical to elite training, but Robin and Sasha weren't at the same place at the same time.
To perhaps oversimplify it, it's as if Robin said to Sasha, "I'll see you at the rink this afternoon and we'll do an easy runthrough of your LP," meaning afternoon to be 12:15 PM and an "easy runthrough of your LP" to be a runthrough with jumps, but at only 75% energy. Sasha may understand "afternoon" to be 2:00 PM and "an easy runthrough" to be marking her LP without jumps. Robin thinks she's being clear and Sasha thinks she understands what Robin means, but obviously, there's a problem.
Finally, and though this may seem like a joke I mean it in all seriousness, Sasha is a SoCal girl and Robin lives just outside New York City. I've lived in both places and at least in my experience, time flows very differently in each place.
Lack of communication. Big freakin' news, lol.
Hopefully Nicks and Cohen will not only be on the same page, but also working from the right book. Because even if (big IF) Sasha had every valid reason in the world for leaving Tarasova and Wagner, she's yet to consistently deliver on the ice. The closest she came was her run of four winning, but still flawed, performances from '03 Campbell's through '03 Trophee Lalique. Until she delivers consistently in competition, talk about why she left which coach will be just that: talk. Still, I wish her the best. For me it's sad to see all that potential close to becoming fulfilled but remaining ultimately not.
Rgirl
