Sasha Cohen - Premature Crowning?

[soogar]

I wonder if Sasha is losing interest in competing? I know these are all rumors but she's in So Cal visiting friends and possibly working with Nicks, she doesn't seem to have a good rapport with Robin, then she's getting shuttled to Weisiger to work on jump technique. It seems so late in the game to be doing all of this stuff and I wonder what's going on in her head. Sasha never struck me as someone who really loves to compete and I don't get the impression that she's allowed to feel good about her accomplishments. She's won Grand Prix events, medalled at Nats, medalled at Worlds last year and still everyone is on her for not skating two perfect programs. I don't think any other skater is held to this kind of standard that everything needs to be perfect. In fact, of all the World Class skaters in this triple laden era, only MK has consistently performed clean programs year in and year out (and still not at every event she's entered in). It's not as if Nancy Kerrigan ever performed clean programs other than the one triple allowed SP in her career (other than her Olympic LP). Even Kristi Yamaguchi hasn't performed programs to the consistency that MK has.

Maybe I'm ranting here but Sasha seems like a really sensitive person (not that I know her). From my outside impressions, she seems to be someone who just gets close to a dew people and internalizes a lot of things. Yes she has fire and spark, but she has so much expectation on her that it seems to have taken a lot out of her.

 

[Kuchana]

I wonder if Sasha is losing interest in competing? I know these are all rumors but she's in So Cal visiting friends and possibly working with Nicks, she doesn't seem to have a good rapport with Robin, then she's getting shuttled to Weisiger to work on jump technique. It seems so late in the game to be doing all of this stuff and I wonder what's going on in her head. Sasha never struck me as someone who really loves to compete and I don't get the impression that she's allowed to feel good about her accomplishments. She's won Grand Prix events, medalled at Nats, medalled at Worlds last year and still everyone is on her for not skating two perfect programs. I don't think any other skater is held to this kind of standard that everything needs to be perfect. In fact, of all the World Class skaters in this triple laden era, only MK has consistently performed clean programs year in and year out (and still not at every event she's entered in). It's not as if Nancy Kerrigan ever performed clean programs other than the one triple allowed SP in her career (other than her Olympic LP). Even Kristi Yamaguchi hasn't performed programs to the consistency that MK has.

Maybe I'm ranting here but Sasha seems like a really sensitive person (not that I know her). From my outside impressions, she seems to be someone who just gets close to a dew people and internalizes a lot of things. Yes she has fire and spark, but she has so much expectation on her that it seems to have taken a lot out of her.

Even though I don't know Sasha, from my own perception, it seems that she's a determined lady. You can just feel it when you look at her. However, that determination doesn't carry her through her program in pulling off a consistent program. But I don't get how she kicks butt in qualifying and short but she unravels in the long? Why is she so inconsistent? I mean true skaters can be inconsistent but she's gone way beyond that. Sure the media's hyped her and we expect a lot from her as she does herself, but in reality it all comes down to the skater's mentality and it just doesn't seem like she has a full grasp on that to pull off the big one. It's just sad to see such talent like that not developed to the potential as it should be.

Is it true she's had only one clean long program? I just want to make sure of this.

 

[soogar]

For Sasha or Nancy Kerrigan?

Sasha had only one clean program.

Nancy Kerrigan in all of her Nats, 1992 Olympics, and Worlds never had a clean LP. Back then , the ladies could only do one triple jump in the SP (that was the limit) so I don't count clean SPs. Nancy FINALLY had a clean program in 1994.

 

[R.D.]

I'll think the US judges will put her on the world team unless she falls on EVERY jump, along with a few stumbles on elements.

This one will be a walk in the park for MK.

I have not seen the marshall's performances yet (I taped it though), but it's looking more like SC may have had her peak last year, and a series of unfortunate events seems to be keeping her from doing well this season.

 

[Kuchana]

For Sasha or Nancy Kerrigan?

Sasha had only one clean program.

Nancy Kerrigan in all of her Nats, 1992 Olympics, and Worlds never had a clean LP. Back then , the ladies could only do one triple jump in the SP (that was the limit) so I don't count clean SPs. Nancy FINALLY had a clean program in 1994.

Sorry I meant Sasha. Wow only one clean long program for her? Ok even for her I'm just floored by that.

 

[R.D.]

On the bright side, this was only a "cheesefest" as you all like to call it. She still has a chance to bounce back (although not a very big one) at Big Nats, and if she makes it, worlds. This is someone else's chance to shine and take over the "spotlight", more than ever.

 

[Mathman]

Well, if Sasha's "crowning" is premature, I think rumors of her demise are. too.

Still, like Red Dog says, wouldn't it be cool to see a Kimmie Meisser or Alissa Czisny step up to the plate this year? Like Naomi Nari Nam in 1999, or like Sasha in 2000, when they each won the short program and threw a scare into Michelle fans everywhere, LOL.

Mathman

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I'm with everyone else who is not into Sasha's mindset. I don't know her and so much about her, imo, is hype and rumor. What I got from the hype and rumor is that she was a very determined young lady to win the 2002 Olympics as did Tara in 1998. I kind of think she would like to get over this desire and get on with the 2006 Olys. She probably finds these itty bitty competitions just nothing to get worked up about.

She has spoken about the US Nationals being a premier competition. I think it will be this competition that will get her back into the right mindset to skate flawlessly or I think it will leave her all the more 'bored' while waiting for 2006.

Let's check out that US Nats for her inspiration.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

She has spoken about the US Nationals being a premier competition. I think it will be this competition that will get her back into the right mindset to skate flawlessly or I think it will leave her all the more 'bored' while waiting for 2006.

Let's check out that US Nats for her inspiration.

And here's me, thinking now that she hasn't had a great season, the pressure would be off of her. I guess not. Those expectations just keep on coming. :sheesh:

 

[gezando]

Some Sasha fans have been talking down expectations for months. Now they turn others well wishing into this huge pressure that Cohen has to bear.

I don't think expectation is out of proportion to some of the self (or Cohen's agents) promotion. If they keep feeding the press that Cohen is trying to be the first woman to land a quad in competition (as late as 10/03, a year after Ando officially landed a quad sal in competitiion, the Reading press at Skate America were reporting that) etc, then the public (not well informed skating fans) will have an expectation that she will accomplish some of the things that her agents said she will do.

 

[shanilia]

With all due respect to Sasha Cohen, I really wonder why the media gives her so much attention and why she is featured first and foremost on the USFSA website as the "star American skater". True, this lady has a great deal of talent, but it's talent that has not yet been tuned to greatness, IMHO.

Cohen has won a number of GP competitions with watered-down rosters of competitors, and she has blown several chances to win both the US and World titles, as well as an Olympic medal. The US and World titles were hers for the taking last year, yet she made several mistakes in both of her long programs and was relegated to second place (again).

I am quite dismayed to see so much press coverage on this girl. It's as if the media has already decided who is going to win the 2006 Olympic gold medal.
IMHO, they are really getting ahead of themselves. Sasha has yet to prove herself to be a champion. She's still a wannabee, IMHO.

Because sport is no fun without rivalry. Right now, there is no one that comes close to Michelle's level; she has been the #1 American skater for years now. When it was Michelle against Tara, it was fun to watch. Now that Tara is gone, the media needs to find someone to rival Michelle again, so they chose Sasha. Rivalry makes for great interest and talk.

 

[shanilia]

As someone who gets ALL the major fashion mags, Sasha has more visibility than MK. I don't think she gets that b.c she's Asian.

Yes, I agree. Sasha is easy on the eyes; she's very pretty, but Michelle is only so-so, and because she's Asian too.

 

[gezando]

She has spoken about the US Nationals being a premier competition. I think it will be this competition that will get her back into the right mindset to skate flawlessly or I think it will leave her all the more 'bored' while waiting for 2006.

Let's check out that US Nats for her inspiration.

Joe

I think your general well wishing could be easily extended to other skaters, the she can be applied to Jenny Kirk or Angela

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think your general well wishing could be easily extended to other skaters, the she can be applied to Jenny Kirk or Angela

Of course and to ALL the competitors, but the topic was Sasha and I was paraphrasing a quote made by her. I never heard that Jenny or Angela said the US Nats was a premier event.

Joe

 

[gezando]

Of course and to ALL the competitors, but the topic was Sasha and I was paraphrasing a quote made by her. I never heard that Jenny or Angela said the US Nats was a premier event.

Joe

To me it does not matter whether it applies ot Sasha or Jenny. I understood your message as one of well wishing to the skater, and not one of putting pressure on the skaters.

 

[jesslily]

Sasha was very determined at 2000 National which was her first senior national. She was only 15 and she won the silver medal. She was also very driven and confident during 2002. Back then her jumps were more technically right. After switching to TT for a year and half and then Robin Wagner, maybe her edges are a little better, but her jumps have been worse and worse, at this latest Cheesefest, the lutz she landed is heavely flutzed. I feel her jumps I mean flip and lutz are gradually more look like Sarah Hughes'. No wonder she went back to John Nicks for some lessons. Basically she does not show that confidence she had when she was taking from Nicks. If Mr. Nicks is willing to take her back(many coaches do take formal students back.), I wish Sasha does not miss the chance.

 

[gezando]

Nicks and Weisiger, one on the west coast, the other east. Oh my, those frequent mileages

 

[Mathman]

Yes, I agree. Sasha is easy on the eyes; she's very pretty, but Michelle is only so-so...

Eye of the beholder, Shan, eye of the beholder, LOL.

Again, it's a question of marketing image, not to mention photographers' skills. Sasha's people go for the glamour look:

http://www.sashacohen.com/photos/BLADESCOVER.jpg

http://www.sashacohen.com/photos/sashacalendar.gif

Michelle? Less glamour, more Michelle:

http://everyschool.org/u/global/rdcurry/kwan_m_mug.jpg

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/ligans/bookclub/august03/kwan_head.jpg

Of course there was that fluff piece on makeup that Michelle did for the recent Marshall's telecast, LOL.

Mathman

 

[SkateFan4Life]

And as Marshalls was judged on a 6.0 judging scale, Nationals will be as well. With that, I believe that even if Sasha messes up (although I don't think she's going to have 3 falls at Nationals), I still think the judges will put her on the podium simply because of the fact they love her. I mean goodness, take for example one of the U.S. judges that gave her a 6.0 even with a mistake last year! Given that was one judge of course but it seems the U.S. judges and Worlds are reluctant to mark her lower.

If the judges at US Nationals place Sasha Cohen on the podium (at least second or third) and give her a place on the 2005 World Team "simply because they love her", and Cohen skates a program as miserable as the program she skated at Marshalls - three falls, one stumble, and only two clean triples - AND at least three of the US women clearly outskate Cohen at Nationals, then, IMHO, Heaven help U.S. skating! American skating - or at least the judges - will become a laughingstock

 

[R.D.]

If the judges at US Nationals place Sasha Cohen on the podium (at least second or third) and give her a place on the 2005 World Team "simply because they love her", and Cohen skates a program as miserable as the program she skated at Marshalls - three falls, one stumble, and only two clean triples - AND at least three of the US women clearly outskate Cohen at Nationals

I don't think she'll have a performance quite like that, although I can "guarantee" two things:

1) She'll make the world team and
2) She WON'T win.

What'll have to happen for the U.S. to "lose" a spot on the World team?