Psyching out competitors?

[yoy_mama]

It could be just me but It seems like both Michelle and Sasha are trying to pshyc out everyone before the Olympics
It could be just me, and probably is just me.. but It just seems odd to me Michelle and Sasha are hurt is kinda weird
Im not sayin the arent hurt.. but u know what I am saying??

 

[Mathman]

Um, no, not exactly. Are you saying that you think they aren't hurt, or that they are?

MM

 

[mzheng]

"Psyching out competitors? " by withdrawing from competetion?:scratch:

 

[CDMM1991]

Hmmmm I'm not sure I quite followed that thought process. How is being injured, or supposedly in your case, a psych-out? Do you mean they are trying to make their competitors think that they are out of the game when they really aren't?:scratch:

 

[Piel]

I believe it has been reported that both have been examined by doctors. Do you think that two different docs would risk losing their license to practice medicine for a little game of "Let's Psych Out the Competition"? I guess Sasha just conjured up that laceration?:sheesh: :sheesh: :sheesh:

 

[soogar]

I think both of these girls are using what they can to pull out of the GP and save their legs for the Olympics while their competitors (who need the money) slog on in the GP and wear themselves out.

 

[R.D.]

It could be just me but It seems like both Michelle and Sasha are trying to pshyc out everyone before the Olympics
It could be just me, and probably is just me.. but It just seems odd to me Michelle and Sasha are hurt is kinda weird
Im not sayin the arent hurt.. but u know what I am saying??

I don't think this theory makes any sense at all. I will agree with one thing and that is the timing is really suspect (I mean, MK and SC get injured so close to these competitions it's like one could think they're trying to skip them). But I honestly think both ladies are injured. It really would be STUPID of them to skip competitions on purpose because every chance they can get to prove themselves and to gain confidence out there would be squandered. That's why I don't quite get this argument...

 

[julietvalcouer]

While there's a certain degree of logic to it (here's how I figure that--pull out by exagerating an injury, making your competition think they can relax and don't have to try as hard to win) it suffers from the problem that they're not training at competition-level, either, and are losing experience by not competing. Not a totally off-the-wall theory, but now. I suspect both really are injured.

 

[R.D.]

I would say that is a fairly risky move however. There certainly are trade-offs involved. Now, I'm not COMPLETELY discounting that the injury might be exaggerated but I think about it this way: Isn't it better that you lay low NOW and let the injury heal fully, rather than compete through mild pain only to find it getting worse, and all of a sudden you find yourself having to sit out the Olys?

 

[soogar]

I don't think this theory makes any sense at all. I will agree with one thing and that is the timing is really suspect (I mean, MK and SC get injured so close to these competitions it's like one could think they're trying to skip them). But I honestly think both ladies are injured. It really would be STUPID of them to skip competitions on purpose because every chance they can get to prove themselves and to gain confidence out there would be squandered. That's why I don't quite get this argument...

What exactly are they going to prove? Sasha doesn't need to compete in the GP to pull the big scores at the Olympics. She has made her reputation through her years of competing. Do you think competing at SA for an easy win is going to do anything for Sasha at this point in her career? Kwan is a different story as she has been slipping in the standings over the past few years, however Michelle hasn't felt the need to compete the GP for the past two years so why would this year be any different for her?

I believe that Sasha was injured last season, however she did very well when she didn't compete in the GP. I think that she wants to repeat that success. Plus in skating, all these girls are training for a peak. No one really wants to win everything in sight and then slump when the Olympics come around. I think Sasha has decided that Campbell's provided enough feedback and she's going to pace herself for the year. She'll probably compete her second GP event because it will give her more time to perfect her program. On the other hand, I will be surprised if Michelle competed COC. Just my observation from afar, but MIchelle reminds me of that person who puts off studying for the last minute and then does well on the exam. Only this time, I think her procrastination (and I think her "injury" is more about not feeling ready than anything) is going to severely hurt her.

 

[R.D.]

Do you think competing at SA for an easy win is going to do anything for Sasha at this point in her career?

Remember that it's not the 6.0 system any more. She could go to SA and try to beat her Campbell's score. That would give her more confidence and experience out there. Believe me, I think ANY sort of confidence booster is important for a skater like Sasha.

As for Kwan, if she really is injured, which I think she is, then get well soon. If she isn't, she knows what's coming. In either case, less experience=fewer chances to succeed under the Cop system. I think this might have either a REALLY positive or a REALLY negative impact on her.

 

[Piel]

Soogar, you are calling Kwan, Cohen, and two (at least) doctors liars. Can you give me a reason why YOU are more credible than they are? Why stop with these two maybe Irina imagined her illness to get a years rest.

 

[Mathman]

Soogar, sometimes I think you should sign up for a course on evidence, LOL. Then again, having just seen William Shatner summing up on Boston Legal, what does evidence have to do with anything when you have an unsupported opinion to promote?

Here's the best way to psych out your opponents. Enter everything you can, win everything you enter. That way, when the Olympics roll around, everyone else will be shaking in their boots and you will win in a walk!

MM

 

[attyfan]

If Kwan and Cohen were going to play games, then they both would have done SA and skipped the long flights to TEB and CoC. They might be out of the cheesefests (especially if Michelle can't do CoC), even though the timing may be as critical for Sasha as it is for Michelle (CoC is set for Nov. 10, where Michelle would have a maximum of ten days post injury rehab and training and the cheesefest, according to a post on the USFSA board, is set for December 11, which is outside the month maximum that was reported she would need for rehab.) Both skaters also lose the chance for CoP feedback -- especially on the SP. Furthermore, I doubt that this will "psyche out" anyone, least of all Irina, who has been competing against all sorts for years -- especially Michelle. I can't believe that either skater is faking it; it is simply too stupid a thing to do. I think that both skaters (and especially Sasha) are simply taking good care they don't face the Olys with an injury. Since hip pain is often connected to back pain/back injury, Sasha would be extra careful when she started hurting.

 

[Mathman]

I think Cup of China is scheduled for Nov. 3-6, so Michelle would not have any time at all to prepare.

The Marshall's event on December 11 is quite realistic for both Michelle and Sasha, it seems to me. Plus, it is after the official "Grand Prix Period," so they would not run afoul of any ISU regulations if they skipped the GP but did the cheesefest.

MM

 

[Vash01]

I think they are being cautious by taking time off and not aggravating the injury. Even if the injury is not serious, if it is not taken care of, it could become serious at the most inopportune time (Jan./Feb.). Both MK and Sasha are doing what they should be doing.

 

[millie]

Soogar, you are calling Kwan, Cohen, and two (at least) doctors liars. Can you give me a reason why YOU are more credible than they are? Why stop with these two maybe Irina imagined her illness to get a years rest.

Please dont't take this out of perspective, I am not saying that Sasha and Michelle are not injured. Let's hope that they get well soon, we miss them both.

But, doctors ar e not the liars, the fact is that when a patient visits a doctor's office and say that I have pain in my back or my hip and asked to be excused from work for a couple of weeks, the doctor then gives them a note and off they go. With injuries to the muscles, it sometimes hard for the doctor to detect it and they take the word of the patient that he or she is experiencing pain. A patient may go to a doctor and say that I am stressed out at work, the doctor then talks to them gives them a note and off they go. The employer has to take the word of the doctor that the employee is sick. Fact.

 

[R.D.]

Please dont't take this out of perspective, I am not saying that Sasha and Michelle are not injured. Let's hope that they get well soon, we miss them both.

Millie- this post was directed at soogar, not you

 

[swannanoa54]

Please dont't take this out of perspective, I am not saying that Sasha and Michelle are not injured. Let's hope that they get well soon, we miss them both.

But, doctors ar e not the liars, the fact is that when a patient visits a doctor's office and say that I have pain in my back or my hip and asked to be excused from work for a couple of weeks, the doctor then gives them a note and off they go. With injuries to the muscles, it sometimes hard for the doctor to detect it and they take the word of the patient that he or she is experiencing pain. A patient may go to a doctor and say that I am stressed out at work, the doctor then talks to them gives them a note and off they go. The employer has to take the word of the doctor that the employee is sick. Fact.

Could you please tell me where this doctor is because mine won't do that. I mean, seriously. I've never had a doctor who would excuse me from work and/or school if he thought there was a chance I could do just fine or was not contagious. I've had sciatica nerve problems and back problems for years. I am very rarely given a note from my doctor saying I can't work. However, he will give instructions to my employer on what I can/cannot do for however long it takes the problem to work itself out. And if I'm sick, I'd best be running a fever.

So, I'd really like to know where the doctors are who will give out notes based on a person experiencing pain. And I get stressed out at work, so I really need to see this doctor.

I think they're both injured. How severely-who knows? I choose to believe their doctors and them. Psyching out their competitors by being injured is a whole new ballgame for me. Wow, I'll have to try that when I'm playing tennis sometime. Limp around the court, psyche 'em out, then serve aces at 'em. Woohoo!

 

[Mathman]

Michelle, for one, would certainly have no need to play sick to get out of the Grand Prix. She could just say, as she did the last two years, "I'm not going to do the Grand Prix and I'm not going to tell you why."

This is pretty much what Plushenko is doing this year.

MM