Yeah. I understand, bekalc, that you find the current incarnation of S/Z a little overrated and think they're ascension in the pantheon of great pairs teams is unearned, but it's hard not to look at it as a fairytale ending for them. Their first Olympic experience wasn't particularly noteworthy, exception as an indication of things to come. They were good in 2002 and undeniably deserved the bronze, but their estimable achievement was overshadowed by the controversy (and even tainted a little). They could've been contenders in Turin, but that injury largely took them out of contention and they got a bronze (while seeing their teammates score a questionable silver, and I do think if another team had been third or fourth - ie, from another nation, we would've seen a complaint made). So in my mind, they never got the Olympics they deserved True, three world championship gold medals along with one of the most memorable long programs of the decade (2003, Washington) is a lot for any career, but who can blame them for wanting more?
Now, I know you think S/S are getting the shaft here, and that they should be experiencing a coronation now, but I don't think that's especially true. I've never particularly loved the German team, and had resigned myself to them winning in Vancouver - no one really deserved it, in my mind. We had great teams that could be proud of a silver medal or bronze, but gold? I was one of those who felt T/M were a step down from B/S, and B/S a step down from M/D and G/G. But I found myself wishing for them, or a team of their caliber to come. And it wasn't like the Germans were undeserving or anything - just completely underwhelming. So Shen/Zhao were just a kick to get back. And it seemed to revitalize the whole season. We saw Pang/Tong rid themselves of those pesky URs that kept them off the podium in the past. We saw M/T skate a clean long, which seemed a pipe dream before. And we saw S/S display competitive grit at Skate Canada, bouncing back with a gorgeous LP after the disaster in TEB. This pairs season to me is the best of the quadrennial, and I can't help but being so glad that Shen/Zhao are part of it (the season and the reason why).
So yeah, I hope they skate lights out tonight and win. I hope the Germans skate lights out and earn whatever medal they earn (and if it's gold, yeah, I'll be happy, because that program is a beauty). I hope Dube/Davison give the long program of their lives and redeem themselves after that short program. I hope Evora and Ladwig scoff at John Baldwin in the Kiss and Cry after acing their long. I hope M/T (sorry, I can never spell her name) have a clean long program and are happier, because his look of devastation ripped my heart out and I don't even care for this team. I hope Pang and Tong nail their Man of La Mancha LP because I love it too. I hope.... for an unforgettable night of figure skating leading to a clean result that we all agree on.
Yeah, I like my pipe dreams. What of it?
