Sasha. Comeback. Believe it.

[chuckm]

If Sasha DOES come back it will only be for the Olympics. So I wouldn't blame the other US ladies if they resent her presence at Skate America and 2010 Nationals. She's not really returning to eligible competition, she just wants that OGM and one last chance for the biggest limelight of them all.

It's all about Sasha, not about the sport.

 

[R.D.]

If Sasha DOES come back it will only be for the Olympics. So I wouldn't blame the other US ladies if they resent her presence at Skate America and 2010 Nationals. She's not really returning to eligible competition, she just wants that OGM and one last chance for the biggest limelight of them all.

It's all about Sasha, not about the sport.

To play DA:

They may resent her presence but (assuming Cohen brings it at a level higher than them) it will (hopefully) make them raise their game, which will make them more competitive internationally as well.

However, I do question her motive and agree that's it's more about the attention and glory of the Games than it is about truly loving to compete. She could have gone in as NBC analyst for that Olympic ice show, or even as a spectator.

 

[feraina]

They may resent her presence but (assuming Cohen brings it at a level higher than them) it will (hopefully) make them raise their game, which will make them more competitive internationally as well.

Any inspiration for the young US skaters to raise their level of skating is a good thing. Although I do wish that there were at least three Olympic spots to fight over instead of two. *sigh*

Caroline said she read about Cohen's comeback on Icenetworks and thinks that it's "cool". So here's at least one young lady who's relishing the challenge.

 

[Particle Man]

I like how when Red Dog says he is playing devil's advocate, it is to create a hypothetical POSITIVE scenario.

 

[psycho]

I'd love for Sasha to come back. If she does, I'll finally have a lady skater to look forward to, because as of right now, all of them are so zzzzzz. However, I am not buying it. Come on, people, this time last year Buttle and Stephane were choreographing their new programs. Buttle was promising quads and Stephane was changing coaches. And by October, they were both retired. She can change her mind any time, I wouldn't get too excited.

 

[Andalusia]

I can only imagine what Caroline, Mirai, Ashley, Racheal, Alissa and Kimmie are say right now. I am sure they are not words that could be printed here.

I'm guessing not much. The others besides Caroline and Rachael are question marks, but considering that those two reel off 6 to 7-triple LPs like nobody's business, if anyone is doing any cussing, it'd be Sasha.

And I never doubted for a second that Sasha would make a comeback, or, at least, would want to. I just highly doubt that she'd ever make the Olympic team or the Olympic podium. I think the chances for her making the team would've been much higher had the U.S. gotten those 3 spots, but that's all water under the bridge now.

I still won't believe the comeback is actually happening until I see Sasha on the ice at SA. There'll be a lot of talk from now until the new season begins, but those old, familiar excuses have a tendency to pop up, too. I feel the same way about Michelle, although in her case I think it's even less likely that she'll be returning.

 

[R.D.]

However, I am not buying [Cohen's comeback announcement]. Come on, people, this time last year Buttle and Stephane were choreographing their new programs. Buttle was promising quads and Stephane was changing coaches. And by October, they were both retired. She can change her mind any time, I wouldn't get too excited.

An announcement is just that, an announcement. Didn't Plushenko also announce a comeback? I'll believe it when I see them both. What the announcement tells me is that they're both serious about it, and are attempting to see if they can measure up to the Olympic stress again. It absolutely does not mean they will actually appear at a competition again. I'm reading GS and other boards and it's amazing to me how many people are getting super-excited, suddenly deciding they will try to make it to SA, etc. when no guarantees have been made yet.

I had a feeling that the early GP decision process this year forced Cohen to just say, OK, let me announce it now so that at least when I actually DO decide, the option of competing at SA and/or another GP is there. Or she could do SA, not do as well as she hoped, and then retire before Nationals. Assuming injury doesn't take her out, of course.

That said, I don't think she would have announced this if she had even a single doubt in her mind that she could do it. She really believes that it can happen, apparently. That said, once she re-immerses herself in the rigors of Olympic-level training, perspectives can definitely change.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

I'm very happy Sasha is for real about her comeback! I just hope (and pray) she stays healthy up to and after the Games, gets into top form and hopefully knock wood Rafael will help her improve her edging, and jumps by a LOT! I have no fear on the artistic side-it's only her jump consistency, and flutzing that worries me. I just read Richard Callahan watched her do a triple lutz-triple combo-that is just awesome but was it a true lutz Richard or a Sasha flutz? Just wondering..

Anyway-Welcome back Sasha! You go girl!

 

[feraina]

I don't know how I feel about this announcement. I just rewatched some classic Michelle & Sasha performances, and it just reminded how much passion and fire they both were able to emanate through their skating, something which *none* of the current skaters are really capable of. Mao has amazing skating skills, Joannie speed and power, Alissa elegance, Caroline flexibility. Yu-na comes closest, but somehow her clear commitment to her choreography/skating in the last two seasons only leaves me feeling slightly cold (as opposed to her Lark Ascending program, which was ethereal if not passionate). Maybe it's because she never completely lets herself go, the way that Michelle did, and Sasha did, too in her later years.

On the other hand, I don't really want to see a disappointing comeback for either Sasha or Michelle, and really there is more room to be disappointed than not, because both have already achieved so much. Plus, they are going to have to be significantly *better* than they were at their prime to compete with the best now, with the new CoP system and the success the top skaters are having in this system. And that's just probably not going to happen, much though I'd like to see.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Wah, wah, wah...

Are you for real? :scratch:

Indeed. I actually could not understand fairly4's point-I got lost after the first couple of paragraphs of that long rambling post. :scratch:

 

[antmanb]

For you mathematically minded COP experts out there, exactly how much will the flutz hurt Sasha?

It seems to me I've heard people say recently that Mao can avoid her problems with the (f)lutz by simply leaving it out.

I think the main reason Mao can avoid the Lutz is because she had two triple axels planned in her LP to make up for it. Don't forget that not only is the triple axel a jump that fwe women do - it also received a boost to its score along with the quads so while the other jumps tend to increase by 0.5 points as the jump get's harder, there's over a two point leap (i think the 3A is worth 8.3 or so?) to the triple axel, and Mao hopes to land two equating to more than a 5 point advantage (or the equivalent of a base value triple loop).

Ant

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I don't have a problem with Sasha doing an SA nor do I have a problem with Plushy doing a COR. It'll be their feedbacks before they face their Nats and stay with the decision or call it quits.

 

[Dee4707]

I like how when Red Dog says he is playing devil's advocate, it is to create a hypothetical POSITIVE scenario.

Why do we have to play anything??? There are so many highly intelligent figure skating fans on this board that I would think I was putting them down if I thought I had to lend them another way to look at a situation.

State your position and be over and done with it.

 

[Spun Silver]

Oh Dee. It does try the patience. Another cycle of bashing (and pseudo-bashing) the most artistic, most beautiful, most sensitive skater in the whole entire history of figure skating has begun. (Tee hee, Kwanford.) Those of us who recognize her superiority will just have to support each other.

My husband already agreed to take me to SA! When will we know if USFS says yes to Sasha?

 

[viv]

There was an announcement about Sahsas comeback in todays Neue Zürcher Zeitung. It also stated that she played in an episode of CSI. Does anybody know anything about it? What was the title, and in which season was it? I love CSI, but I apparently have missed this one.

 

[R.D.]

The GP selection is at the end of May, so we'll know by then if she will get a spot.


I think Sasha's fans misunderstand the skeptics' points. I never knew saying that "given her competitive history, and being out 3.5 years, I don't think she'll be able to withstand Olympic training without getting hurt" would qualify as "bashing". Lighten up folks!!

 

[Mathman]

There was an announcement about Sahsas comeback in todays Neue Zürcher Zeitung. It also stated that she played in an episode of CSI. Does anybody know anything about it? What was the title, and in which season was it? I love CSI, but I apparently have missed this one.

Yeah, that totally rocked! I think the episode was called "Silent Night" and it was on around Christmas time of 2006.

In Sasha's scene she is in a bar or nightclub, and one of the police detectives comes in, recognizes her as the big skating star, and strikes up a conversation. Then the guy's friends (or girlfriend?) come in, so he persuades Sasha to get all flirty with him to impress his buddies (or to make his girlfriend jealous, or something like that.)

I believe there is also some skating footage. Maybe the idea was that Sasha was performing at the club or something. (?)

I tried to look it up on You Tube, but..."removed for copyright violations." hwell:

I thought she did really well in the scene.

She also had a supporting role in a movie about a girl and her horse (Sasha was the bad rich girl that picked on the heroine. )

 

[Spun Silver]

The GP selection is at the end of May, so we'll know by then if she will get a spot.

I think Sasha's fans misunderstand the skeptics' points. I never knew saying that "given her competitive history, and being out 3.5 years, I don't think she'll be able to withstand Olympic training without getting hurt" would qualify as "bashing". Lighten up folks!!

You're right. I'm reliving the traumatic bashing of the past.
But we'll be watching.

 

[chuckm]

I'm just wondering...if Sasha goes to SA and doesn't medal or finishes below at least one US lady, then withdraws from 2010 Nationals due to injury, will she petition the USFS for an Olympic berth? And if she does, with the USFS grant her petition?

 

[Wrlmy]

You're right. I'm reliving the traumatic bashing of the past.
But we'll be watching.

Does this mean we newbies finally get to see how the elders play?arty: