Michelle

[Kwanford Wife]

What do you people mean...."names"?

Sashasplat??? LOL....you all are upset about that? If I wanted to call Sasha or Michelle an actual name with the intent to "hurt their feelings" or yours, there are many other things that come to mind than Sashasplat or LooplessKwan LOL. I just won't say them on here.

You all need to chill. Now, if someone was to refer to Sasha or Michelle by a term that would need to be bleeped out or symbolled(%^$#^....you get what I'm saying), then I would see a reason for your concern. But Sashasplat?? Come on....I doubt Sasha cares, so why do you?

Stop it... you should know that there is no logic is skateland during an olympic year!

 

[R.D.]

Calling a skater names, no matter what it is, is not a good thing especially when emotions are running high. I don't lose any sleep over them, but other people may have a gut reaction to their favorite being called a not-so-complimentary name. (Can one see how a Sasha fan would react to her favorite constantly being called "Sashasplat" or "Splasha"? )

 

[mzheng]

What do you people mean...."names"?

Sashasplat??? LOL....you all are upset about that? If I wanted to call Sasha or Michelle an actual name with the intent to "hurt their feelings" or yours, there are many other things that come to mind than Sashasplat or LooplessKwan LOL. I just won't say them on here.

You all need to chill. Now, if someone was to refer to Sasha or Michelle by a term that would need to be bleeped out or symbolled(%^$#^....you get what I'm saying), then I would see a reason for your concern. But Sashasplat?? Come on....I doubt Sasha cares, so why do you?

Thank you.

 

[millie]

Or a certain skater is "Over the Hill" -- "All spun out" -- "All washed up" ---
Who can think of more names.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Or a certain skater is "Over the Hill" -- "All spun out" -- "All washed up" ---
Who can think of more names.

"Has Been That Never Was" "Icy Buns" "Walking Stick on Ice" "Silver Belles"

 

[mzheng]

"Has Been That Never Was" "Icy Buns" "Walking Stick on Ice" "Silver Belles"

 

[soogar]

I totally agree with what you said. I literally have tears in my eyes right now. I don't want to see Michelle suffer physically or emotionally. I hated to see her subjected to the comments from the "judges." I just don't want her subjected to any crap from anyone because she may not be able to skate well this season. Part of me really wants her to pull out Nymkfan51. But she is a fighter and I know she is going to keep on trying to compete unless she simply can't do it. She has given this sport so much and I don't want people to remember her this way. I am hoping for a miracle.

What nasty comments were made toward Michelle? Unfortunately this thing aired at midnight in my area and after reading all the comments about Peter being an a$$hat, I paid close attention his comments at the broadcast. He didn't say anything wrong or nasty toward Michelle. Michelle didn't skate her usual b/c of injury and he noted that. He didn't say that she sucked but he also didn't give praise either. Why should he praise her to the skies if she didn't skate well. She knew she didn't skate well and any praise would have seemed fake. Even Dick and Peggy only commented that she skated with a lot of heart. Sasha had great skates and *all* the judges praised her accordingly.

I think Peter gets way too much grief on this board (not necessarily you but other posters). He was a skater as well (and a darn good one as he won a silver medal in the Olympics) and he understands injuries. Just because he's not going to give Michelle false praise (which is worse than no praise IMO) doesn't mean that he doesn't repect her or hate the Kwans or whatever everyone thinks about his,

And Michelle is a big girl. She wanted to skate in this event , probably to get in front of an audience before Nationals. I don't get the Sturm und Drang about Michelle's skating. She skated well despite her injury (so I was wrong about that) and I enjoyed both of her programs. I don't see how she's not going to get better in time for Nationals. But of course there's has to be so much drama around Kwan :sheesh:

 

[Jimmy Hoffa]

Kwan looks as if she is still in pain, but nothing is over until it's over. What is it she said years ago? "If I can walk, I can skate"? Well now we know that she could hardly walk a little while ago, so she is doing good. I don't think I'll call the grave diggers just yet. Don't be mad.

 

[Mathman]

Oh ye of little faith! Abandon Michelle in her darkest hour?

Many a new day will dawn…♪
Many a red sun will set…♫
Many a blue moon will shine
BEFORE I DO!!! ♫♪

 

[Mathman]

it is apparent seeing michelle today, that after months of mystery and speculation -

that michelle is mere shadow of her former self.

it is best that she retires now, before she tarnishes her legacy, her best elegible days are behind her.

quite frankly, michelle kwan, sadly, is OVER

Michelle appreciates your concern and thanks you for being among the 66,500 people who voted for her.

Poor Taan. He never posts except when Michelle has a bad performance. His post are few and far between. His last post was about the qualifying round at 2005 worlds, IIRC.

Mathman

 

[Kathy]

Mathman is that a true figure - 66,500. Where did you read that. If its true that is amazing I didn't think 66,000 people were watching.

 

[kyla2]

Nymkfan51, Kwanford, Soogar

First, Nymkfan51 thanks for your words of support regarding my comments. You got my intent exactly right.
Kwanford, I don't want Michelle to abandon figure skating this year just because I say so. I mean, giveth me a break. But she IS hurting and she acknowledged that, after the skate, during an interview. I could see it and others could see it. I don't want to see her end up like Tara-needing major hip surgery just to make us happy. It is just plain awful seeing her skate like that because it clearly caused her pain literally and figuratively. She wasn't ready from what I could see, and I wonder if people were pushing her to compete or she felt like she had to for whatever reason. She has sustained a significant injury. We are not talking chopped liver here. It isn't over till it's over, but to say I think she is having one h---l of a time with her hip is an understatement.
Soogar, I didn't think Peter was especially awful at all, but I sure don't like Michelle being talked about to her face like she was furniture on the floor. It was very demeaning to me. Maybe I am super sensitive about this, but it was in front of a packed arena and many t.v. viewers. I wasn't happy at all. She is special in this sport and I just didn't like it. Period.

 

[R.D.]

Soogar, I didn't think Peter was especially awful at all, but I sure don't like Michelle being talked about to her face like she was furniture on the floor. It was very demeaning to me. Maybe I am super sensitive about this, but it was in front of a packed arena and many t.v. viewers. I wasn't happy at all. She is special in this sport and I just didn't like it. Period.

Huh? I thought the "judges" went out of their way to say that MK has "given a lot to the sport", but overall they preferred Cohen's performance. Plus, Kwan got the fan vote anyway.

 

[kyla2]

Don't Like.....

It boils down to this, I think the format is demeaning in general, but especially to someone like Michelle Kwan. What they should have said is: "Thank you so much for coming Michelle. We have really missed you and we appreciate the effort you made to come."

 

[soogar]

Soogar, I didn't think Peter was especially awful at all, but I sure don't like Michelle being talked about to her face like she was furniture on the floor. It was very demeaning to me. Maybe I am super sensitive about this, but it was in front of a packed arena and many t.v. viewers. I wasn't happy at all. She is special in this sport and I just didn't like it. Period.

Well to be fair, that was the format of the event. The judges spoke to every skater "like a piece of furniture." Dick even told Alissa that her program wasn't very good but he understood b/c she was a busy girl who was going to the GP final. Michelle isn't a god and if she didn't like the format she could have pulled out of this event. Michelle certainly didn't look upset with the "commentary" and looked like she was enjoying herself immensely so lighten up.

 

[soogar]

It boils down to this, I think the format is demeaning in general, but especially to someone like Michelle Kwan. What they should have said is: "Thank you so much for coming Michelle. We have really missed you and we appreciate the effort you made to come."

They did say things to that effect.

 

[kyla2]

Soogar

But that's ALL they should have said. I don't like the format for any of the skaters. I think it's demeaning to them all. You thought she enjoyed it?????? I thought she looked extremely uncomfortable (but poised as always).

 

[millie]

I would persume that the skaters did not go into this competition with blinders on. They probably knew the format when they went into the competition. I would guess it was explained to them beforehand how it was going to work and that the judges were going to pass comments as judges but their votes were not going to count--same as "Dancing with the Stars"- same format. They knew when they entered this competition that it wasn't your ordinary skating competition, that it was a cheesy cheesefest and they were skating for money. They knew that their skating was going to critiqued by the judges-the judges were honest in their opinions plus the skaters knew themselves the mistakes in which they made. You could see the disappointment in their faces after some of them finished their programs. It wasn't the judges fault that Michelle was coming of an injury and not completely healed and probably doing herself more harm than good by skating in this show. I think that she knew what the judges were saying was true. So don't blame it on the judges and hauling them through the mud.

 

[soogar]

But that's ALL they should have said. I don't like the format for any of the skaters. I think it's demeaning to them all. You thought she enjoyed it?????? I thought she looked extremely uncomfortable (but poised as always).

All the skaters looked somewhat uncomfortable. It could be that they were standing in front of that huge jumbotron of their faces, or that they had to stand still and listen with everyone watching them. No one looked uncomfortable about what was being said about them, not even Alissa who was told she had a bad program. I think her sister choreographed that program for her so I imagine if anything made her feel uncomfortable, that would.

 

[kyla2]

Soogar, Millie

Yes, I agree about Alissa-felt bad about that too. Millie, I agree they came for the money partly. But I don't think anyone had any idea how demeaning this would be until they were there facing the judges. Besides which, Sasha skated the best and didn't win. I felt terrible for her because basically what the people who voted were saying to her was, "We like Michelle better whether she is the best at this particular time or not." That's demeaning because it was turned into a popularity contest on nationwide t.v. They are all world class athletes and IMO they shouldn't be involved in this kind of declasse silliness. But they all handled it with as much poise and grace as was possible.