Sasha Cohen - A Bridesmaid Again

[chuckm]

Michelle has Sasha pushing her to improve, but the problem is this year Sasha hasn't been much of a competitor. Sasha came thisclose to winning Nationals 2004 because Michelle stumbled in the SP while Sasha's SP was terrific. Kwan came back in the FS and was literally on fire.

I think maybe Kwan's FS was somewhat disappointing even to those of us who root for her, because after Sasha's mistakes, Kwan had only to stay on her feet to win. The fire wasn't there, partly because of the lack of challenge, and partially due to Kwan having to wait almost an hour after the warmup to skate.

 

[mzheng]

I think if she skated clean this year she would have won but certainly not last year. Michelle was on fire and nothing would have topped it because while Sasha was good she didn't skate with spark.

But this year MK skated again after Sasha. If she heard the cheering or scores for Sasha (like last nationals), you don't know what she will deliver.

Actually she was more prepared this year than last year Nationals. Last year a few weeks before Nationals Camp Kwan diddn't even decide which program to use at National -- a whole 'scramble mess' that I heard after the last National.

Maybe 'too prepared' is one of the causes of lack that spark?

Considering all being through, I think Sasha was doing really well at this Nationals. Actually I was surpprised to see she was doing so well. I'm really happy Michelle winning the #9, but I'm not thrilled with her performance at all. I know she can do much better thant this Technically and Performance wide.

 

[lavender]

I agree. I think Sasha normally pushes Michelle but not this season. On the other side, I didn't see that fire from Sasha to beat Michelle this season. Usually that's her focus but not now.

 

[lavender]

But this year MK skated again after Sasha. If she heard the cheering or scores for Sasha (like last nationals), you don't know what she will deliver.

Actually she was more prepared this year than last year Nationals. Last year a few weeks before Nationals Camp Kwan diddn't even decide which program to use at National -- a whole 'scramble mess' that I heard after the last National.

Maybe 'too prepared' is one of the cause of lack that spark?

IMO it doesn't matter whether Michelle skates before or after Sasha.

Like Evan said sometimes you can be too prepared so you have to just relax. This is what Frank said to Evan and that's what I think Michelle needed to do.

 

[mzheng]

IMO it doesn't matter whether Michelle skates before or after Sasha.
.

I think it dose matter in this perticular situation. Last year MK said after Sasha skated she heard the 6.0 mark. So she knew she would need to skated all out to win. She just did that. So if Shasha skated clean in this National got some 6.0s, I don't know what MK will do, but my bet she would've skated differently.

And some posters at SkateFan reported that the version MK skated at LP night was not the version she practiced in the practice sessions.

And according the practice reports reported in MKFs she hadn't do complete runthrough of her LP at least 3 days from the SP day, and the last skating order. That's way off of her usually rythm back at her home rink. Back at home rink she usually starts the session with 7 min warmup, then LP runthrough then immediately SP runthough. IMHO, this might be one of the reason threw her off the music in LP. The internet words are you have to be exactly on the musics to make Dean's choreography works. So I think this could be another reason the program seemed so lackluster.

 

[lavender]

And some posters at SkateFan reported that the version MK skated at LP night was not the version she practiced in the practice sessions.

Wow how many versions does she have? No wonder she got thrown off.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I don't think either MK or SC are pushing each other. Their styles are so different - pushing doesn't really matter. Where pushing does matter for them, is in the technical and neither has anything to show for it for the past two years.
I'm not impressed and I will go on to say that the season of the Olys will be too late for them because there will be skaters who have already topped them in the technical and their presentation is more than adequate. I'm thinking Bebe, Kimmie and Katy. Outside of the US, there will be a more seasoned Rochette, and of course, the Japanes gals.

IMO, I wish SC and MK would push each other more. But they don't.

Joe

 

[Doggygirl]

I don't think either MK or SC are pushing each other. Their styles are so different - pushing doesn't really matter. Where pushing does matter for them, is in the technical and neither has anything to show for it for the past two years.
I'm not impressed and I will go on to say that the season of the Olys will be too late for them because there will be skaters who have already topped them in the technical and their presentation is more than adequate. I'm thinking Bebe, Kimmie and Katy. Outside of the US, there will be a more seasoned Rochette, and of course, the Japanes gals.

IMO, I wish SC and MK would push each other more. But they don't.

Joe

One or both of them skipping all international comps except the Cheesefests perpetuates that. Maybe both really were too injured to skate and if so, that's that. But when they don't compete against each other AND don't compete against the other top skaters throughout the year, that sets them both back IMO.

DG

 

[attyfan]

Weren't Shizuka and Miki both at Campbell's, and Irina at Marshall's? I think, though, that in seasons past, it seemed to me that they pushed each other more than they have been doing this year, but this year seems to be an off year for both of them.

 

[Kathy]

You should have seen MK in practice. The added muscle in her legs looks like 3/3 preparation to me. He jumps were huge with great ice coverage and run out. Her 3lutz look like she had time for another revolution. She didn't fall ever during practice. Only one jump was doubled during practice and warm up all week and that's when she first got on the ice to warm up. Out of all the jumps she did only 2 "scratchy" landings and they were on the "bad ice" in the secondary practice arena. She was so fast - well she looked like a speed skater warming up, doing this stroking differently than anyone did. Compared to the practices of all the other ladies she looked like a "skater from another planet." She was so much more prepared than at Nationals last year, when she was falling repeatedly on her 3 lutz. And she skated the parts of her programs with a wild abandon that was not evident in either the actual performances. During practice the foot work in her SP was wildly big and fast, as it was during the LP warm up. She skated very conservatively during the performance, but her ability to skate both programs full out is already there. Given that its Kwan and that she doesn't usually leave her performance on the practice ice, I have no doubt she can do this in a performance, and if she can up the technical ante just a bit there is no doubt in my mind she'll be a contender for gold in Moscow.

 

[Lucy25]

I wish I could find the article, maybe the Golden Skate one? Anyway, one of the post LP articles has Sasha quoted as saying that it is a priorty of hers to land all her jumps now, so she is going to keep them all in the front of the program. I didn't time it, but is it right that her jumps were done by the 2:30 mark? Won't this really hurt her under COP?

 

[Lucy25]

Given that its Kwan and that she doesn't usually leave her performance on the practice ice, I have no doubt she can do this in a performance, and if she can up the technical ante just a bit there is no doubt in my mind she'll be a contender for gold in Moscow.

You know what? I have started thinking the same thing. I just have this feeling that Michelle knows more than she is letting on and we are in for a big surprise at Worlds. Not to mention that she is going in as an underdog. I just have a better feeling about Worlds now that I have seen what condition she is in at this point, how steady her jumps are, and have read quotes from her as to what she needs to do for Worlds. She just seems to be in a really good place and mind set. I don't really even care if she wins silver to Irina's gold, I think she is going to be awesome at Worlds, or at least show everyone she is very serious about being competative for the Olympics.

 

[lavender]

I wish I could find the article, maybe the Golden Skate one? Anyway, one of the post LP articles has Sasha quoted as saying that it is a priorty of hers to land all her jumps now, so she is going to keep them all in the front of the program. I didn't time it, but is it right that her jumps were done by the 2:30 mark? Won't this really hurt her under COP?

Here's the link..


http://www.oregonlive.com/skating/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/110596664048890.xml

She feels it's better to just land the jumps than where they are placed. She will get her points for the spins and spirals.

 

[mzheng]

You should have seen MK in practice. The added muscle in her legs looks like 3/3 preparation to me. He jumps were huge with great ice coverage and run out. Her 3lutz look like she had time for another revolution. She didn't fall ever during practice. Only one jump was doubled during practice and warm up all week and that's when she first got on the ice to warm up. Out of all the jumps she did only 2 "scratchy" landings and they were on the "bad ice" in the secondary practice arena. She was so fast - well she looked like a speed skater warming up, doing this stroking differently than anyone did. Compared to the practices of all the other ladies she looked like a "skater from another planet." She was so much more prepared than at Nationals last year, when she was falling repeatedly on her 3 lutz. And she skated the parts of her programs with a wild abandon that was not evident in either the actual performances. During practice the foot work in her SP was wildly big and fast, as it was during the LP warm up. She skated very conservatively during the performance, but her ability to skate both programs full out is already there. Given that its Kwan and that she doesn't usually leave her performance on the practice ice, I have no doubt she can do this in a performance, and if she can up the technical ante just a bit there is no doubt in my mind she'll be a contender for gold in Moscow.

Kathy, I'm glad you notice that different stroking. I heard Rafael had her practice new stronking EVERY day. And your report just back confirmed what I've being hearing all along from MSS.

And from what I heard that how **soon** she can **defrozen** her 3/3s. And her response to the audience with "cheer me up. I'm off to Mosco". I have no doubt she'll go all out at Worlds.

I do think Sasha had not pushed her enough this season. Rumor as early as Campbell that I heard they had 3/3 planned at Nationals and Worlds. But she bagged/pulled out that 3/3 from her LP again. I believe technical difficult she just planned the elements what she needs to win, but she DID want to give a blaster performance at Nationals.

I'll wait for Worlds.

 

[Mathman]

Kathy, thanks for the inside look. Great post!

MM

 

[kyla2]

Hmmmm.......

First, Michelle wasn't as boring as some of you make her performance out to be. Yes, it lacked the spark of last years Nationals but she skated a fairly compelling performance for the first 3/4's. If she hadn't doubled the lutz and skated pasted the ending, most of you would be saying it was great. As far as Sasha goes, no the crowd's support of Michelle isn't why she lost. But it has to affect her morale to some degree, particularly after the horrendous season she has had. It all adds up, the change of a coach, blistering media commentary and remarks from former coaches, which I maintain are declasse. She paid these coaches for their services, and for them to go PUBLIC with advice that they gave to her, and to comment and characterize their relationship for public consumption, is poor form. She showed more class than they did. Everyone knows Sasha is having confidence and training issues, it was unnecessary for Robin to elaborate.

 

[ChiSk8Fan]

This is all routine

:indiff: :indiff:

First, Michelle wasn't as boring as some of you make her performance out to be. Yes, it lacked the spark of last years Nationals but she skated a fairly compelling performance for the first 3/4's. If she hadn't doubled the lutz and skated pasted the ending, most of you would be saying it was great. As far as Sasha goes, no the crowd's support of Michelle isn't why she lost. But it has to affect her morale to some degree, particularly after the horrendous season she has had. It all adds up, the change of a coach, blistering media commentary and remarks from former coaches, which I maintain are declasse. She paid these coaches for their services, and for them to go PUBLIC with advice that they gave to her, and to comment and characterize their relationship for public consumption, is poor form. She showed more class than they did. Everyone knows Sasha is having confidence and training issues, it was unnecessary for Robin to elaborate.

I don't understand how any skating fan or sporting fan can not expect these types of interviews and elaborations within the sporting media. In other sports, basketball, as well as tennis, baseball and football, coaches and managers are interviewed extensively about their relationships with athletes. There are numerous examples including Phil Jackson-Shaq O'Neal and Koby Bryant; Joe Torre and numerous members of the Yankees; the Williams sisters and their father in tennis, and on and on and on the list goes including all types of sport in all countries and levels. Bela Karolyi always elaborated on how his champions and students trained, and his relationships with them, is another well known example.

Coaches are not therapists, lawyers or accountants bound by any special code of silence or confidentiality. If they are interviewed, or the media wants to know, it seems fairly routine for them to elaborate, and even get paid for their efforts. It is the world of sport.

It all seems pretty routine to me. The Sporting Media is not about gushing and reporting victories, it is about sporting news, events, inside information and reporting in depth.

:indiff: hwell:

It is not declasse for these interviews to have this content, it is the world of sport.

 

[Kuchana]

Well what I've learned basically is not to expect too much from Sasha. I figure I'll get surprised if I do. She really has so much potential and it's just sad that she hasn't fulfilled it....yet. Who knows we may see it in the near future I hope. It would be nice for her to have some great skates than she's having.

Once she's finally able to balance it out, I believe she'll be able to find what she's looking for. She has it in her so let's hope that we'll see it someday.

 

[mzheng]

It all adds up, the change of a coach, blistering media commentary and remarks from former coaches, which I maintain are declasse. She paid these coaches for their services, and for them to go PUBLIC with advice that they gave to her, and to comment and characterize their relationship for public consumption, is poor form. She showed more class than they did. Everyone knows Sasha is having confidence and training issues, it was unnecessary for Robin to elaborate.

I'd say Sasha did pretty good for herself at Nationals. And Nicks did really good job on picking Sasha's spirit up.

Robin shown really no profesional. That woman simply no classy. But come to think that two of her (actually all of her) elite skaters leave her on an unhappy note this is not a coincident. It speaks volumn of her characters.

 

[Kuchana]

Why did Robin air out her dirty laundry??? I was surprised (ok maybe I shouldn't be since ABC can do it for publicity) but I was a little taken aback to see the little piece between her and Sasha.