What's your vote on Sasha's move?

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Irina was mad at everyone because she didn't win the OGM. The sunny, happy Irina was nowhere to be found the rest of that season until she won gold at Worlds.

Irina, imo and most other opinions, was that she did not skate well that night. In fact, many thought Kwan was robbed because she had only one fault and that was the flip fall. Irina was uncustomarily slow and hesitant. The would be Tara repeat Sasha did not fare well in the LP. I think that independent fans agree that it was Sarah's night and this is the proof that the winner is the skater who skates the best THAT night without recorse to previous skates.

The Irina fans will not agree. The Kwan fans will not agree. The anyone-but-Kwan fans are somewhat satisfied that Kwan didn't win but they would have preferred someone else than Sarah.

And this is the way it was, imo.

Joe

 

[chuckm]

I think it's more like 4 clean programs in her competitive LIFE. Last season, she had a clean QR at Worlds 2004, Marshall's 2004 and maybe 2003 Campbell's. Her 2003 Worlds QR was fairly clean. Those are the only ones I can think of that were clean or close to it.

 

[mzheng]

The Irina fans will not agree. The Kwan fans will not agree. The anyone-but-Kwan fans are somewhat satisfied that Kwan didn't win but they would have preferred someone else than Sarah.

Joe

Words of wit.

Oh, about the competetors be friendly to each other. I heard Angela and Michelle are in a real friendly term. They do small girl talks at the rink.

 

[Mathman]

Angela is friendly with Sasha, too. Maybe she can play matchmaker!

MM

 

[gezando]

And? What's your point? I think you're jumping the gun here. What if it wasn't Michelle but Sasha who wasn't making the friendly gestures? Just because Michelle is older she has to be one who's supposed to be friendly? What if she already is? From my own perception, I think Michelle is more courteous and friendly to other skaters as has been shown towards Irina but that's another thread altogether.

Kuchana, ITA. According to die hard Cohen fan Sasha always says nice things about other skaters during interviews, IMO almost all US skaters do that. Cohen allowed an article to be post at her offical website stating Fumie won the bronze medal in worlds 03 b/c Fumie was in the easier QR. How nice of Cohen.

IIRC Sarah mentioned an incident post SA 2001( she was placed behind MK ,in the same competition Cohen was human zamboning all over the place) Sarah was embarassed by Cohen who told her (in the locker room) that she thought Sarah wuz robbed, and Michelle was present. Sarah felt embarassed for herself and MK. How nice of Cohen.

 

[chuckm]

IMO, Sasha simply cannot be friends with another skater who is in any way a threat to her supremacy in the sport. That's because she sees a competition as Sasha beating other skaters, not as Sasha skating the best she can.

Sasha wants to be #1 and take Kwan's place as the icon of figure skating in the US and the world. Kwan is said to be an easy-going, friendly person, but there is no reason for Michelle to try to force a 'friendship' on a skater who sees Kwan with a target on her back.

Kwan and Slutskaya are friends off the ice because when they are not on the ice, they are not competing, and they come from two different countries, in which each is the premier skater. Each does her thing on the ice, without reference to what the other is doing.


At Worlds 2004, Kwan was delighted with her bronze medal after the difficulties in the QR and SP. Irina was delighted to be able to compete at Worlds and finish in the top 10 after being sidelined with a serious illness. They were both pleased with their performances and happy with their results. Sasha beat both Kwan and Slutskaya, and finished the highest she ever had at Worlds, with her first World medal, and was miserable because she didn't win.

 

[R.D.]

At Worlds 2004, Kwan was delighted with her bronze medal after the difficulties in the QR and SP. Irina was delighted to be able to compete at Worlds and finish in the top 10 after being sidelined with a serious illness. They were both pleased with their performances and happy with their results. Sasha beat both Kwan and Slutskaya, and finished the highest she ever had at Worlds, with her first World medal, and was miserable because she didn't win.

I think this speaks volumes as to where they stand now.

 

[Linny]

Speaks volumes

Me, too, I think it speaks volumes. Irina and Michelle and many, many other skaters bring a spirit to the ice that shows in their joy, regardless of their placements. Sasha brings flexibility to the ice.
Linny

 

[Fossi]

After SLC Irina WAS mean towards Sarah. She whined to every Russian reporter she could that she "wuz robbed" of HER gold at the Olympics. She called Americans "stupid," And she told anyone she could that Sarah cheated her jumps. Sarah turned the other cheek and didn't respond to Irina's instigations.
I like Irina, but after SLC she was like a bitter old woman. She really thought the gold medal was hers and she couldn't understand how anyone could've beaten her. I didn't and don't understand her logic.
Did Irina ever comment on her own cheated 3/3's that were ratified? I think Sarahs' were fully rotated at SLC.
AHH!!! I get so upset about that, but I'm over it after writing this post.

 

[Mathman]

OK, but then, too, I don't see anything wrong with Sasha -- or any athlete --wanting to win, or wanting to beat her main rival. Just because this is figure skating and not wrestling, doesn't mean the athletes don't want to win.

Michigan lost the Rose Bowl to Texas, 37 to 38. None of the Michigan players sat around afterward saying, gee, we scored four lovely touchdows and three excellent field goals (one in the fourth quarter for extra credit), a personal best.

Mathman

 

[Piel]

Michigan lost the Rose Bowl to Texas, 37 to 38. None of the Michigan players sat around afterward saying, gee, we scored four lovely touchdows and three excellent field goals (one in the fourth quarter for extra credit), a personal best.

Mathman

My guys could have gone with the "wuz robbed" mentality. "We only missed that field goal and those extra points by 10 feet, BEFORE screwing up the fake field goal and THEN having a total meltdown. BUT....we would have won if it hadn't been for "block officiating" by those eville Conference U.S.A. refs!"

Seriously, if the skaters weren't in this to win titles wouldn't they be doing Disney on ice instead?

 

[gezando]

we scored four lovely touchdows and three excellent field goals (one in the fourth quarter for extra credit), a personal best.

Mathman

But those were Cohen's amost exact words from her post junior world 2000. She was crowned ahead as the gold medalist, and end in 6th. In the interview she said, "I skated the best for myself"

 

[jesslily]

I recently just watched 2000 junior world long programs. Sasha skated pretty well, and she did not fall on any jump. Her artistry and in betweens were a lot better than some Europen girls who placed ahead of Sasha. You can tell she was in a way better than the gold and silver medalists.

Sometimes she is little over confident. I don't know when and where she said she's going to beat Michelle Kwan at nationals. It's not a smart approach, and I really hope she can set her mind on that she is going to skate her personal best.

 

[Vash01]

At Worlds 2004, Kwan was delighted with her bronze medal after the difficulties in the QR and SP. Irina was delighted to be able to compete at Worlds and finish in the top 10 after being sidelined with a serious illness. They were both pleased with their performances and happy with their results. Sasha beat both Kwan and Slutskaya, and finished the highest she ever had at Worlds, with her first World medal, and was miserable because she didn't win.

Actually in the interview Sasha said that she was happy with her first worlds medal. She looked disappointed for letting the gold slip out of her hands, which was natural. However, I would not say she was miserable. I thought she was quite gracious in that interview and on the podium.

Vash

 

[mzheng]

Actually in the interview Sasha said that she was happy with her first worlds medal. She looked disappointed for letting the gold slip out of her hands, which was natural. However, I would not say she was miserable. I thought she was quite gracious in that interview and on the podium.

Vash

But when she sit at the K&C when the score and placement came out, she looked quite dissapointed, at the same time Robin was obviously trying to comfort her and cheer her up. That's the first impression she gave out in front of TV camera, and what I remembered. The interview and podium were afterwards. I always thought the first reaction she shown as the genuine feeling at the matter. Not the afterwards one which could be coached.

 

[euterpe]

Sasha smiled on the podium, but the smile was forced and never reached her eyes.

 

[Vash01]

It is quite understandable if a skater is disappointed about a loss, particularly when she had a real chance to win. It was all her doing, but still it is a natural feeling. Different people have different ways of dealing with it. I am not a Sasha fan (although I think she is a very talented and beautiful skater), but on this point I disagree.

 

[shdotz]

Sasha

It is quite understandable if a skater is disappointed about a loss, particularly when she had a real chance to win. It was all her doing, but still it is a natural feeling. Different people have different ways of dealing with it. I am not a Sasha fan (although I think she is a very talented and beautiful skater), but on this point I disagree.

When I listen to all the "hype" about Sasha on TV - and this is fropm the TV commentations, before and during the competition - I think that she's got a lot to live up to; that is, if she's that good then she has to win. That's a tough load and handle.

That same thing has been done to MK during the Olympics.

There are few performers who are absolutely certain of a win. It is a competition and anything and everything can happen - and does. We even have cheating judges who sour the competitions. So let's give our favorites a real break and just cheer them on instead of putting our 2 cents of knowledge in writing.

None of us knows what is really going on - not even the skaters. Consider the emotions of Alexi Y. after his wins. And he IS GOOD! One of my favorites!

I know that a couple of days ago I wrote about B&S being past their prime for amateur skating, and I think they are; I think they've "peaked" - as well, they're now professional - aren't they?

Support - Support - Support!!!

Sasha's just another human being who's trying to capture the gold, as is MK and IS and others. We all have our favorites.

sh

 

[Piel]

Sasha smiled on the podium, but the smile was forced and never reached her eyes.

Could it be that she had made the world podium for the first time and was a wee bit nervous? How do you KNOW it was forced? Unless Sasha told you it was that is pure speculation on your part. Maybe she had a headache...who knows. These type of comments that are not backed up by facts are how rumors get started, IMO.

 

[Fossi]

Sasha has stood on top the podium many times. This is the moment she has waited for. I doubt she'd be nervous on the World podium. I know if it was something I worked hard for I would have a grin from ear to ear.