Kuchana said:
All 3 of her coaches did that to a certain degree. After she left Nicks, he disclosed that Cohen fulfilled the financial obligation (in the contract). He joked about English mafia?
Tarasova and Cohen's mom each took turn with interviews in the Russian press, and Galina Cohen whined about Tarasova taking their $$$, but took on charity cases, and gave those charity cases time that should be dedicated to little Sasha.
The latest Tarasova interview with Russian press a week ago was long and detailed. If a poster here wonders why Cohen bothers to get up in the morning or even train b/c the press is so cruel to her. Tarasova interesting shed light on that. Some days Cohen stayed up all night baking cookies, and there went the training the next day. Cohen loves to take Paris shopping trips, there goes some training time. Tarasova made the remark that American top skaters should be coached by American coaches. In this lattest interview she said the ideal coach for Cohen is someone who is totally 100% dedicated to her and expects no gratitiude in return. The same article mentioned that Cohen asked Audrey twice, and was twice turned down. Tarasova touched on the accusation that she demands her students to do what she tells them to do, and she said no different from e.g. the Japanese coaches who demand total obedience
In Robin's case, I think she wants to tell her side of the story. She aired more than Cohen had aired. OTOH Cohen wasn't completely silent about the split either.
Last edited:
gezando said:
Yup. That's what her coaches think of her. And the press thinks of her. She certainly doesn't have the best reputation in the skating world
Add that to her performances, and you get one COLD feeling skater :yes: And that's why she never appeals to me.(Sorry to any Sasha fans)
Last edited:
Red Dog said:Yup. That's what her coaches think of her. And the press thinks of her. She certainly doesn't have the best reputation in the skating world
(Sorry to any Sasha fans)
Well her reputation IMO is neutral. I doubt an average tv watcher knows what TT said to the Russian press. She does not have Harding's reputation. OTOH she does not have the kind of status Arakawa enjoys in Japan either
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2004
Kuchana said:
Hi,
I believe that Ms. Cohen has not been given fair coverage in the press, and that saying alot from someone who thinks Robin Wagner is the greatest coach in all sport.
I believe that Cohen's training outside of California not only made her technically better, but has matured her beyond her years. I believe that she realizes that she can train with whomever she wants, where ever she wants and it all comes down to herself. She owns her own preformance and nobody else.
I was down on her when she left Robin. I was wrong. In reality the steps she has taken is the greatest tribute to Robin she can give.
Cohen is going to be better than anyone anticipates. That's because she now realizes that the only person she can rely on is herself.
I am sure this is causing a terrible family battle, but thats all a part of maturing, growing pains, cutting the cord.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
Quote:Cohen is going to be better than anyone anticipates. That's because she now realizes that the only person she can rely on is herself.
That's sad.
That's sad.
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2004
Joesitz said:
Why is that sad?
Sarah Hughes had the same mindset in 2002.
I think it's great.
I remember taking the CPA exam some yeats ago. All these companies advertise that I need to take thier course to pass the exam. In reality, all I needed to do, on my third attempt, was sit in a library by myself and study.
Kudos to Cohen.
One caveat: Sasha says the only person she can rely on is herself. That sounds really good, but it's best to remember that she said this in an interview, for the media. It's good PR to take responsibility for your actions.
But Sasha says lots of things, and then downstream she says things that are often the opposite of what she's said before. Read some of her journal entries. Sasha said how much fun it was to work with first TT, then with Robin. She also said how much she loved living in NYC only a couple of weeks before she left to go back to California, at which point she said she was leaving Robin because she was homesick.
If Sasha is really convinced that she is the only one who is responsible for what happens on the ice, she wouldn't need to change coaches as if they were costumes, and she wouldn't need to justify herself to the media.
But Sasha says lots of things, and then downstream she says things that are often the opposite of what she's said before. Read some of her journal entries. Sasha said how much fun it was to work with first TT, then with Robin. She also said how much she loved living in NYC only a couple of weeks before she left to go back to California, at which point she said she was leaving Robin because she was homesick.
If Sasha is really convinced that she is the only one who is responsible for what happens on the ice, she wouldn't need to change coaches as if they were costumes, and she wouldn't need to justify herself to the media.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
But even Blanche said she had to rely on the kindness of strangers.distantvoice said:
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
Well, Sasha is the whipping boy du jour. But a gold medal at Moscow will do a lot toward making people think she is a nice girl after all.
I can see the headlines now:
Phil Hersh: "Brilliant skater overcomes adversity to win the World Championship, making her the favorite for the Olympic gold medal in Torino!"
Christine Brennan: "Cohen's incandescent yet charming personality translates into on-ice perfection!"
NY Times: "Cohen graciously credits her coaches past and present for her new-found consistency!"
LA Times: "Evil has-been Michelle Kwan cuts off Sasha during practice!"
MM
I can see the headlines now:
Phil Hersh: "Brilliant skater overcomes adversity to win the World Championship, making her the favorite for the Olympic gold medal in Torino!"
Christine Brennan: "Cohen's incandescent yet charming personality translates into on-ice perfection!"
NY Times: "Cohen graciously credits her coaches past and present for her new-found consistency!"
LA Times: "Evil has-been Michelle Kwan cuts off Sasha during practice!"
MM
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2003
Mathman said:Well, Sasha is the whipping boy du jour. But a gold medal at Moscow will do a lot toward making people think she is a nice girl after all.
I can see the headlines now:
Phil Hersh: "Brilliant skater overcomes adversity to win the World Championship, making her the favorite for the Olympic gold medal in Torino!"
Christine Brennan: "Cohen's incandescent yet charming personality translates into on-ice perfection!"
NY Times: "Cohen graciously credits her coaches past and present for her new-found consistency!"
LA Times: "Evil has-been Michelle Kwan cuts off Sasha during practice!"
MM
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2003
My goodness. Some Sasha fans have VERY short memories. From 2000 to early 2004, the coverage of Sasha has been kind to gushing by mainstream media. Much of it was generated by Team Cohen themselves, and the press ran with it. I still :sheesh: when I remember a journalist who labeled Cohen in 2002 the "quad queen". Didn't let the fact that Sasha never landed one in competition distract her. I have watched with utter amazement at the red carpet media coverage that Sasha has enjoyed despite falling short many times. Few skaters have been given the benefit of the doubt more than Cohen
Now the honeymoon - the very LONG honeymoon - is over. Now the coverage will be more balanced - good when she does good, and critical when she falls short. Her moves and decisions will be scrutinized. I'm sure such treatment is a shock to Cohen fans. But it's the nature of the beast. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. As a Kwan fan, I long remember the criticisms by the media of her playing it safe, her going coachless, her choice of Olympic LP music as unpatriotic, etc. And I recognize the many glowing articles about Kwan. That's balanced coverage.
Now the honeymoon - the very LONG honeymoon - is over. Now the coverage will be more balanced - good when she does good, and critical when she falls short. Her moves and decisions will be scrutinized. I'm sure such treatment is a shock to Cohen fans. But it's the nature of the beast. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. As a Kwan fan, I long remember the criticisms by the media of her playing it safe, her going coachless, her choice of Olympic LP music as unpatriotic, etc. And I recognize the many glowing articles about Kwan. That's balanced coverage.
S
SkateFan4Life
Guest
Sasha Cohen is reminding me more and more of Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 knee bashing. Kerrigan was a beautiful skater and had powerful jumps, but like Cohen, she continually made at least one or two major mistakes at Nationals, Worlds, and the Olympics. IMHO, she darned lucky to win bronze at the 1992 Olympics, given the way that she practically melted down in her long program. Nancy really blew her 1993 Worlds long program and dropped from first, after the short, to fifth overall. Egads! Enter sports psychologists and intensive training on positive thinking, imaging, and visualizing the perfect program.
Frankly, at this stage of the game, Sasha needs to work with a sports psychologist to see if she can improve herself, mentally. Clearly, IMHO, the problem isn't physical, it's mental. Sasha has to believe that she can win before she actually does win.
IMHO, of course.
Frankly, at this stage of the game, Sasha needs to work with a sports psychologist to see if she can improve herself, mentally. Clearly, IMHO, the problem isn't physical, it's mental. Sasha has to believe that she can win before she actually does win.
IMHO, of course.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Before, during and after the US Nationals all one heard was should Michelle Kwan win her ninth title she would tie with Mirabel Vincent Owen. I would imagine Sasha heard this all week as well. Seriously, though in all fairness to Sasha, I think she just felt all the attention was on Kwan. One could see the disappointment in her face.
Personally, I think she is a lovely skater and should be on the top of the podium - one day. Maybe, the new judging system will sort it out for her.
Personally, I think she is a lovely skater and should be on the top of the podium - one day. Maybe, the new judging system will sort it out for her.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2003
Ladskater said:
And that tells me a lot about Sasha. Where's the fire? Where's the drive? ALL the pressure was on Michelle (who was definitely feeling it). All of it. I've never seen such pressure heaped on one skater - not since 2002 Olympics. This is the first Nationals over the past 3 years that Sasha has had low expectations placed on her. Another type of skater would have seen the mega-Kwan coverate as an opportunity to rise to the occasion and steal Kwan's thunder.
Truely time goes by and Sasha only remains the second US skater and no more than an outsider for the world title. I actually have difficulty figuring out she is 20 now. She still looks the same as she did as a young teenager a few years ago, same flat chest and narrow hips, it's just like time is not going by for her, and unfortunately, the same can be said for her performances. For her defense, let us say that it must be immensely difficult when you compete against Michelle to believe in your chances for first place, you know that you have to give your absolute best and even then, if Michelle does not make one or two major mistakes, it won't be enough. That's something that has often be said about judging, and that is worth saying again, whan a skater has come on top of the world and stayed there some time, he/she only have to land his/her elements, even though there might be nothing more than crossovers between them, and the judges will give him/her the edge over opponents that may be far more creative.
Ladskater said:
Before and during US Nationals 2003 and 2004, all one heard in the media was that Sasha Cohen was poised to win her first US Championship. After Sasha won the Nationals SP in 2004, the pre-FS hype was at fever pitch, and it was the same at Worlds 2004. All the attention was on Sasha. Kwan didn't let it bother her and just did her thing, but Sasha couldn't handle the pressure and failed in the FS at both events.
This year, the media wasn't behind Sasha at all because her performances at two cheesefests had been disappointing. So it seems it doesn't matter whether Cohen is hyped or ignored, because the real pressure comes from inside herself.
Maybe Sasha's mistakes at Nationals really were due to lack of training, and she will improve a lot for Worlds. But the pressure will still be there.
Similar threads
