- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
Can you substantiate Kwan's standards or are you just speculating again?Red Dog said:
Joe
If Michelle competes next year....
- Thread starter heyang
- Start date
Joe
OT- someone else said it too but I like the fact I'm the only one questioned about it. It makes me feel special. :yes:
I don't have to spell it out- when you're on top for a long time, you're expected to win all the time, and anything less than that is (perceived as) a failure. Like it or not, there it is. Just read the newspapers.
I don't have to spell it out- when you're on top for a long time, you're expected to win all the time, and anything less than that is (perceived as) a failure. Like it or not, there it is. Just read the newspapers.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
Red Dog said:
I guess two of you set up Kwan's standards. That's very compelling.
- old joke!
I think if Michelle comes back next season, getting on the podium would be great after the injuries this year. She probably would not be considered the favorite. I hope she can end her career on a high note, if not she has plenty going for her in the future. Good luck Michelle.
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- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
Betty Grable supposedly had her legs insured by Lloyds of London for $1,000,000 (a publicity stunt so her promoters could call her the girl with the million dollar legs). Fred Astaire's legs were also insured, and Jimmie Durante's nose.
I guess if Michelle had her legs insured she could collect a whopping settlement if they gave out and made her fall on a triple Lutz.
I guess if Michelle had her legs insured she could collect a whopping settlement if they gave out and made her fall on a triple Lutz.
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- Jul 11, 2003
I doubt the ENTIRE press corps would be interested in setting up a Kwan standard. They judge her by her accomplishments not by speculation. And their interest is only if she remains in the public eye. Should she decide to skate Nationals, the press interest will be high as well as the interest in her multitude of fans. She will get a standing ovation (which the Press will report) from the audience at that arena for 5 minutes when she takes the ice and 20 minutes after she finishes skating. It's not a question of winning, as you seem to be speculating on. It's just Michelle that matters. Not unlike the many sports greats who make appearances later in life.Red Dog said:not two of us. Try telling that to the entire press and some other fans as well. I'm sure they will be willing to listen to you disprove them.
Joe
Theatregirl1122 said:
I agree that not winning is not what Michelle would want; what I was interested in finding out was what you think the public reaction might be if she had a strong skate, medaled, but didn't win -- "yay, she's healthy again, and on the comeback trail" or "she's past it"? I would think a strong skate would make people accept the former view (with strong expectations for 2008), even if she retires after '07.
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- Dec 29, 2004
I might be in the minority here, but do you really think that Michelle Kwan, the hard core competitor that she is, would be happy with anything less than 10 National Titles? Strong skate aside, because if she's healthy after the summer I think that's a given~espcially at Nationals, what else would motivate her to even show up if she didn't think she'd win the whole sha-bang? If she doesn't know that she has the tools to win, I doubt if she'll show up.
I also doubt that the press (and probably not even the fans...) reaction would have alot of impact on her decision. She skates to win, not to entertain or to say good-bye. JMO.
I also doubt that the press (and probably not even the fans...) reaction would have alot of impact on her decision. She skates to win, not to entertain or to say good-bye. JMO.
I have to question whether there are people who don't want to see Vinson-Owens record broken. It depends on how many people who knew her are still in positions of authority. Some people think Kwan deserves the OGM based on her past skates. They would have awarded it to her, even if she had fallen 6 times and doubled everything. I am sure Vinson-Owens' legend, tragic end, and Memorial Fund packs a wallop with some too. It might be a stretch, I admit, but I wonder about the politics of the situation.
I think it's only sensible to question the COP worthiness of Kwan's programs. It's not like she didn't have a few years worth of crossover packed and jump/spin only programs. Some blame the COP system for causing her injuries. How much of that kind of program can she do and not be too injured to compete? Can she train a top notch COP program and stay healthy? She might try to eke out a 10th title by going back to the tried and true, but I don't think she has the "politics" strongly on her side and she'll need it.
It's true that she placed 4th under COP. Unfortunately, she didn't place 4th in style. Her skating ranged from horrible to fairly decent. In other words, she didn't skate like someone on the way up. She hasn't competed enough to erase that image. Everyone, including the judges, has more experience with COP programs now. That might make them a lot pickier. It's not like Bolero was a COP dream.
I think it's only sensible to question the COP worthiness of Kwan's programs. It's not like she didn't have a few years worth of crossover packed and jump/spin only programs. Some blame the COP system for causing her injuries. How much of that kind of program can she do and not be too injured to compete? Can she train a top notch COP program and stay healthy? She might try to eke out a 10th title by going back to the tried and true, but I don't think she has the "politics" strongly on her side and she'll need it.
It's true that she placed 4th under COP. Unfortunately, she didn't place 4th in style. Her skating ranged from horrible to fairly decent. In other words, she didn't skate like someone on the way up. She hasn't competed enough to erase that image. Everyone, including the judges, has more experience with COP programs now. That might make them a lot pickier. It's not like Bolero was a COP dream.
I don't think CoP is what cause her injury. She has been skating at brink of seveer injury for 3 years. So she had to cut back competetion schedule with a reduced trainning schedule. What she needs to do now, IMO, is like Plushen or Lambial, take care of her injury (if something need surgery repaired/removed) now and rest up her body (but I doubt she has time now that she is scheduled for COI tour, which last longer than last year). Once the pain gone, she can train as much as she wants to.....But all these are depend on how much she wanted this 10th title. But I for one hate to see these two TT choreographed programs got wasted. Especially the SP.
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2004
While I see your point concerning the political side of US skating and also the Vinson-Owens' legend I cannot see how it would benefit the USFSA to see The Face go out with a wimper vs. a bang.
Further, to say tht Kwan isn't CoP ready is silly because the Queen of the CoP pulled together both her programs and we have no reason to believe that Kwan wasn't obtaining the levels reported at her test skate.
Look, injuries happen in sports. Kwan's been nursing her body for at least three years, if not more. I don't think CoP would've changed her injury plagued season. She's been pounding those hips & back for years ~ it was time for her to rest & it sucked that it was in an olympic year, but what can you do?
If she comes back, it will be to win. I, for one, can't wait to see what'll happen.
Further, to say tht Kwan isn't CoP ready is silly because the Queen of the CoP pulled together both her programs and we have no reason to believe that Kwan wasn't obtaining the levels reported at her test skate.
Look, injuries happen in sports. Kwan's been nursing her body for at least three years, if not more. I don't think CoP would've changed her injury plagued season. She's been pounding those hips & back for years ~ it was time for her to rest & it sucked that it was in an olympic year, but what can you do?
If she comes back, it will be to win. I, for one, can't wait to see what'll happen.
Exactly! COP will only make it worse!
About the whimper- is it in the USFSA's long term best interests to back someone on the way up or someone on the way out? A lot depends on Kimmie, Emily, and Katy. Beating the Mighty Kwan at Nationals would give them a wonderful start!
Added: I am sure Kwan knows what a COP friendly program is. I am positive that Tarasova knows too. I am saying there is a big difference between knowing and doing.
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2006-2007 would be the perfect time for Kwan to return to do her swan song. Neither Kimmie nor Katy is ready to rule on the World front. They both need seasoning and a tad more maturity in their programs and skating. Emily is often a trainwreck with her uncontrolled power. I don't think she will be around after next season, anyway, as she will most likely take off for college, just as Sarah did.
Kwan is quite capable of beating the younguns next season, and I think she will medal at Worlds as well before riding off into the sunset on a zamboni.
Kwan is quite capable of beating the younguns next season, and I think she will medal at Worlds as well before riding off into the sunset on a zamboni.
Am I the only one who thinks Kwan's competitive days are truly over?
If she goes back into heavy training she might re-injure herself. But show skating would still be good for her.
Even if she does come back, it will be really tough for her since she's been off the ice for so long.
If she goes back into heavy training she might re-injure herself. But show skating would still be good for her.
Even if she does come back, it will be really tough for her since she's been off the ice for so long.
if I were her, I know I would want to go for it just to break the record. But I'm not her, so I don't know.
But as much as she may WANT to do it, will her body LET her do it? If she had to pull out of 06 Nationals for that chance, and the OLYMPICS for that matter, it has to be THAT bad.
But as much as she may WANT to do it, will her body LET her do it? If she had to pull out of 06 Nationals for that chance, and the OLYMPICS for that matter, it has to be THAT bad.
Odd question for those 'in the know'. Is Kwan's hip condition one that would improve with surgery (ie- she'd lose a year but be able to return to full training)? I've assumed its degenerative as opposed to a one time thing because she's mentioned the hip in past years as reason for cutting back on 3/3 training.
If its the former, maybe she should have surgery, heal and think about a one year return. I think going back to Nationals in '08 after being out for 06 and 07 would be the mother of all sports stories.
If its the former, maybe she should have surgery, heal and think about a one year return. I think going back to Nationals in '08 after being out for 06 and 07 would be the mother of all sports stories.
