LA Times on Michelle's Test Skate

[JOHIO2]

Michelle will have to do better. It would be an embarrassment if she skates at the Olympics like she did at 2005 Worlds.

soogar,

if Michelle skates like she did at the 2005 Worlds, she'd be on the podium and a three-time Olympic medalist. There are no qualifying rounds at the Os and that's where she started so far behind. Based on her sp and fp scores, she'd be on the podium.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

C'mon people! You know Kwan will be ready with a decent showing for her test skate. You know she's going to Turin. You also know that regardless of how certain 3rd / 4th place skaters did at their respective Nationals they were gonna be bumped for the big guns... Why all the drama about Kwan??

Other countries NOT sending their 3rd / 4th place finishers...

Russia - Irinia skipped her nationals, but was placed on the Olympic team. In my very humble opinion, her bye is worse than Kwan's because she simply made the choice not to skate. Who was bumped for her? Isn't that unfair to that skater? And please don't go on to me about Irina being sick. I will treat her like she's sick when she behaves like she's sick... Her & my 8 year old have that in common. And that is said with the utmost respect for Irina.

Japan - Miki Ando finished in what? 6th? Nakano was 4th? And beat Miki at the GPF. Now she was seriously screwed, but outside of Soogar discussing the media implications, I don't remember this being such an outrage...

USA - These girls knew the deal. If they wanted to go to Turin, they would have to make a strong case for themselves or understand that it was a fight for the third spot. Kimmie got it done & Emily, who was cute as a dumpling during the short, choked during the long. It happens. It's happened to Sasha, Kwan, Irina, Fumie, etc. She will be a better skater for it... Sarah is the only skater I can think of who never had a serious obestical to overcome - and no, Robin doesn't count.

 

[ranjake]

If she were a lesser skater like Rochette, she would have been buried in the QR for that crappy LP with what, 3 triples? Her clean SP would have received similar scores to Rochette and that LP was garbage. Lots of holding up based on prior achievements.

god! you're so MEAN!!!!! come on, tell us what you really think!!!!

 

[Mathman]

The committee members are: "U.S. Figure Skating international committee chairman Bob Horen, technical controller Charlie Cyr, world judge Paula Naughton, international judge Lorrie Parker, and athlete representative Brittney Bottoms."

Brittney McConn finished 7th at U.S. nationals in 1997. In 1998 she finished fourth in the LP (behind Kwan, Lipinski and Bobek), but again 7th overall because of a low placement in the SP. She now coaches in Atlanta.

I think a World Judge (same as an "ISU Judge") is a higher designation than an "International Judge" (as Attyfan reports in her last post). There are two separate categories in the ISU list of qualified judges, but I don't know exactly what the distinction is.

Paula Naughton was a judge for ladies at Europeans this year.

Both Naughton and Lorrie Parker were judges at U.S. Nationals. Incidentally, for this reason they both recused themselves from the original vote of the International Committee.

Personally, I don't expect anything earth-shattering to come out of this test skate. I think Michelle will run through her programs, deliver a couple of triples, promise a couple more, and the committee will say, well, she's coming along.

That will give everyone another three-week breather. I think Michelle is hoping for a miracle. If it doesn't happen, she can always say she re-aggravated her injury and withdraw at the last minute. I am sure that Emily is aware of this possibility and is training like crazy to be ready if her number is called.

MM

 

[Doggygirl]

C'mon people! You know Kwan will be ready with a decent showing for her test skate. You know she's going to Turin. You also know that regardless of how certain 3rd / 4th place skaters did at their respective Nationals they were gonna be bumped for the big guns... Why all the drama about Kwan??

Other countries NOT sending their 3rd / 4th place finishers...

Russia - Irinia skipped her nationals, but was placed on the Olympic team. In my very humble opinion, her bye is worse than Kwan's because she simply made the choice not to skate. Who was bumped for her? Isn't that unfair to that skater? And please don't go on to me about Irina being sick. I will treat her like she's sick when she behaves like she's sick... Her & my 8 year old have that in common. And that is said with the utmost respect for Irina.

Japan - Miki Ando finished in what? 6th? Nakano was 4th? And beat Miki at the GPF. Now she was seriously screwed, but outside of Soogar discussing the media implications, I don't remember this being such an outrage...

USA - These girls knew the deal. If they wanted to go to Turin, they would have to make a strong case for themselves or understand that it was a fight for the third spot. Kimmie got it done & Emily, who was cute as a dumpling during the short, choked during the long. It happens. It's happened to Sasha, Kwan, Irina, Fumie, etc. She will be a better skater for it... Sarah is the only skater I can think of who never had a serious obestical to overcome - and no, Robin doesn't count.

I agree with you, I think. I think both the Russian and USA Ladies had it a WHOLE lot easier than the Japanese ladies did. I believe all 3 groups "knew their deal" in terms of their individual Federations' Oly selection processes. I think the Japan Federation puts their skater's under more pressure in their process, as they define it, than Russia or USA does.

I would love to be a fly on Emily Hughes's wall. I bet she's THRILLED to be selected as the alternate to the Oly team at her age and level of experience. I can't speak for her...I only know that I would be thrilled to be in that position at her age/experience. She has a bright future, and for whatever it's worth, she is a skater who I "get" more now after seeing her live than I ever did on TV. That doesn't mean a hill of beans either, but I choose to view her as a possible star for the future - not anyone who mite-b-robbed here. (I don't think she's being robbed at all, and I'd be disappointed if she thought so).

DG

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Her russian coach Rafael was the reason she did not end up fifth or sixth in moscow

He's Armenian and probably American now like so many others from Eastern Europe still holding on to the motherland.

Joe

 

[rob43]

Well I think If Kwan can skate 3 clean triples and avoid falls she'll put up #s to beat Hughes LP. And that's really all that matters at this point. This is assuming the rest of her content is in order. I think we're forgetting Tarasova's ability to crank point based content into a program.

I think Cohen, Alissa and Michelle are the only 3 US women with a shot at that podium (although a clean Kimmie coud benefit if other women falter.) That said Alissa's a no go and Cohen and Meisner have their tickets. So the US officials have the opportunity to put a probable 10th place finisher on the team or take a crapshoot with someone who could go top 3 or not make it.

And my final pet peeve about this- their are many sports that require Oly qualifying times- and trials winners who don't make that time are replaced with lesser finishers who have at sanctioned comps. That is what may happen with this test- if Kwan is close to Hughes they go with Kwan cause she's been able to reach a level Hughes hasn't.

 

[Doggygirl]

According to a poster on FSU, a world judge can judge at ISU championship events, including Worlds and Olys. The tech specialist is also a World judge. International judges can judge at lesser ISU events. I also read on another board that Cyr didn't like the idea of a bye to begin with, but I do not know if this is or is not true.

Thanks Attyfan. I'm staying the course in terms of trusting the process. Selfishly, I hope we get to hear some "real" opinion following the test skate - regardless of what that opinion is. I respect MK's right to privacy, but jeez - are we starving yet??? I hope the news is honest, and also good.

DG

 

[Piel]

Brittney McConn finished 7th at U.S. nationals in 1997. In 1998 she finished fourth in the LP (behind Kwan, Lipinski and Bobek), but again 7th overall because of a low placement in the SP. She now coaches in Atlanta.

Since she has competed against Kwan should she be making this decision?

 

[R.D.]

"if Kwan is close to Hughes they go with Kwan cause she's been able to reach a level Hughes hasn't."

And the question is...do you think this is fair?

 

[Mathman]

Since she has competed against Kwan should she be making this decision?

Sure. She likes Michelle. It's that brat Tara and that skank Nicole she can't abide.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

"if Kwan is close to Hughes they go with Kwan cause she's been able to reach a level Hughes hasn't."

And the question is...do you think this is fair?

Life isn't fair... The fact remains, Emily is awesome but she's no Kwan... And I'd feel the same way if Sasha had been injured. hwell:

 

[Mathman]

And the question is...do you think this is fair?

Fair or not, RD, you and I can still sign up for the Michelle Kwan Excellence Club at the East-West Bank of California.

All we have to do is open an account with a $10,000 deposit and we get a free ticket to skate at Michelle's rink, an official Michelle Kwan blanket, and a special Visa card with Michelle's picture on it!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

OH all that vitriol.

IMO, MK will skate for the panel or tell them she is not ready. If she skates and she should not like the skate, she will bow out of the Olys. If she skates and the panel deems she is not ready, that'll clinch the whole test.

If she skates well and the panel is pleased as she is then the numerous commercial enterprises will feel better.

As for Emilie, Michael, Orser/Lucash, and Morgan/Max all will be delighted to be the alternate with a possible entry into the competition. Michelle too, was in that position some years ago. Although it didn't happen for Michelle, it still could happen to the aboved named.

 

[Piel]

"if Kwan is close to Hughes they go with Kwan cause she's been able to reach a level Hughes hasn't."

And the question is...do you think this is fair?

If Kwan's test skate is equal to Emily's skates at Nationals, sure I would send Kwan. If the skating is equal then you would weigh in other factors to determine who has the potential to best represent the U.S.A. in Turino. Kwan wins.

That Kwan has reached a level that Hughes II has not answers the question for you.

 

[Doggygirl]

"if Kwan is close to Hughes they go with Kwan cause she's been able to reach a level Hughes hasn't."

And the question is...do you think this is fair?

MY question is this. Who wouldn't want to be Emily right now!!??!! She's a teenager, and she just got named as an alternate to the Oly team - right behind Michelle Kwan. If Emily ISN'T in seventh heaven right now over her FS accomplishments so far in her life, then something is really, really wrong.

I bet we could all count on one hand, with no fingers, the number of times Emily (or her team) have thought to themselves....."Is Emily better than Michelle?" I think Emily is a bright star for the future. I hope and suspect her and her team (inc. family, inc. Sarah) have that in a good perspective. At least I hope so. She is an awesome young talent. She is not Michelle, and I've never seen anything from her suggesting she thinks she is better than Michelle.

I say give this youngster a break. And if for some reason (Friday or Mid-February) MK /team decides MK can't skate the Oly's, then give this youngster the opportunity of a lifetime. I don't see Emily as a "loser" anywhere near this situation.

DG

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

If Kwan's test skate is equal to Emily's skates at Nationals, sure I would send Kwan. If the skating is equal then you would weigh in other factors to determine who has the potential to best represent the U.S.A. in Turino. Kwan wins.

That Kwan has reached a level that Hughes II has not answers the question for you.

I agree, but the comparison with Emily's LP which imo was very poor but her SP was especially good, I would think MK should skate better than Emily very easily if she is ready. I thought all the immaturity and heaviness of Emily showed in her LP.

Joe

 

[mzheng]

Life isn't fair... The fact remains, Emily is awesome but she's no Kwan... And I'd feel the same way if Sasha had been injured. hwell:

Me too. If Sasha had been injured. SC and MK are the best that SUFSA has to offer. If they both health by the time Olympics come around. (check out )

 

[rob43]

"if Kwan is close to Hughes they go with Kwan cause she's been able to reach a level Hughes hasn't."

And the question is...do you think this is fair?

Is it fair in the sense of some universal justice? Who knows.

But in terms of a person entering a competition and competing for a spot on a team I think it is very fair. All the girls went in knowing that to gain a spot on the team they had to shoot for Cohen and try to put out a performance that made a Kwan recovery moot. Sasha came very close to skating clean (if a little uninspired but who is with the flu.) and Kimmie put together 10 clean triples and a set of double axels over two nights (if not for a few extra steps in her combo attempt in the SP and a fall on a jump element she didn't need in the long she would have far outpaced the others looking for spot 2 regardless of artistry.)

Unfortunately for Hughes, BeBe, Czisney and the others they didn't bring anything compelling to the plate that really said- no way can Kwan match this with 7 weeks practice.

So they didn't meet the performance that was necessary and were *provisionaly* bumped for Kwan who was reigning US champ and top 3 in the SP/FS at the most recent worlds. That's why I made the analogy to timed/qualifying time dependent sports. The selection criteria listed a half dozen criteria for selection and regardless of nationals placement the real argument would be between their 06 Nats scores and Kwans 05 Worlds score & placement. The girls knew this and when the chips fell they hadn't met the total.

 

[antmanb]

Michelle will have to do better. It would be an embarrassment if she skates at the Olympics like she did at 2005 Worlds.

It would be an embarassment if she came fourth???? I think that would be rather a good result and one that i don't think Emily would match, not least because I doubt the international judges wold put an "unkown" like Emily in such a high postion.

Well hell why bother sending anyone to the Olympics if the only thing that counts is who lands on the podium!

Ant