More comments later ... right now, I'm just too bummed to say much. Why am I doomed to like the best skater in the world who just can't win the gold? I liked figure skating some as a kid, watched Dorothy Hamill and followed the interesting rivalry between Charlie Tickner, Jan Hoffman, and Robin Cousins (remember those three?). But while I was in college and living abroad, I didn't watch it much at all. Kurt Browning sparked my interest again. Wow, that guy moved like a cat on the ice. I thought he was the best skater of his era. But he just couldn't do it at the Olympics.

Now it's deja vu all over again. Yet again, the best skater in the world, my absolute favorite, didn't do it at the Olympics. Yet again, Michelle is bumped aside by a teenage jumping phenom. Don't get me wrong; Sarah definitely deserved to win tonight. But still, I am so damn depressed.



[ February 21, 2002: Message edited by: BoSoxRudy ]

WoW! I can't believe Sarah won. Now THAT was a come from behind! I am so dissapointed that Michelle lost but Im glad Sarah took it instead of Irina.

Sarah deserved it. I'm extremely sad though. When people discuss figure skating in the future, they better include Michelle Kwan in the all-time greats. Why should people like Tara Lipinski, Oksana Baiul, Dorothy Hamil, and even Kristi Yamaguchi be eternally remembered for one win, when someone like Michelle changed the sport. She's figure skating's greatest artist. Ever.

It was very sad to see Michelle fall victim to another tight Olympic long program. Yet, if she had not touched down on her triple flip, she may still have won the day. Four judges (I think) still rated her above Irina.

Nevertheless, I thought the finishing order was correct given the skates. Michelle was not on the top of her skate, and Sarah was amazing!! And (as far as I am concerned) was much more deserving than Tara Lapinski. She skated a magnificent program with great energy. I am glad she won, but sad for Michelle.

I do wonder what the four judges who ranked Irina first in the long program were smoking. There was really no comparison between the two. Yet, by a vote of 5-4, Sarah hung on for the big win. The judging thing definitely needs to figured out.

I now wonder if Michelle will have any desire to skate at Worlds. They are next month in Nagano. A long plane ride, but perhaps one more chance to dazzle the world with her amazing grace.

[quote]Originally posted by charliecstl:
I now wonder if Michelle will have any desire to skate at Worlds. They are next month in Nagano. A long plane ride, but perhaps one more chance to dazzle the world with her amazing grace.

---

She still hasn't skated a perfect program. She's due for one each year. I expect it to be in Nagano next month.

You guys are too emotional about Michelle; face it her long program was dull; even Sasha's program was better, unique and more athletic.

You know I'm bumming right about now. Congrats to Sarah though. She was awesome. I don't think anyone will complain about that result. But I hope Michelle will skate at worlds and go out on a good note. I can't imagine what she is feeling right now.

What a dreary night for women's figure skating. Slutskaya deserved to be 2nd in the free-skate, but it was a pretty mediocre performance. Aside from Hughes, the last six were uninspiring. I think I would have picked Sasha Cohen over Kwan--there were more problems with her program than just the fall. I'd like to take another look at Fumie Suguri's program--I wonder if she could have been as high as third if she'd skated in that last group.

The judging of the long program made me a believer that things CAN go right. I thought Sarah did the best program and when she finished I thought she might move up to bronze or silver, but it was quite a shocker how poorly the top three skated. I was quite pleased because on that one specific night, she was the best in the world, hands down. She has beaten both Kwan and Slutskaya before and she picked the right night to do it again. My heart breaks for Michelle. I met her and her mother once at Nationals in a gift shop. She is very charming and personable. So sad to see her not meet the challenge.

As if the Olympic circus were not bad enough. The Russian Federation has now filed a formal protest about the women's program last night. They state that Irina was the clear winner of the competition and should be awarded a "second" gold-medal like the Canadian pairs team. Clearly they looked at last night's skating a little differently.

This leads me to wonder if my feelings that they are being poor sports are influenced by my being American? I am sure the Russian Federation thought the Canadian team's request for a second pairs gold was equally ridiculous. Is it really that difficult to be objective?

Nonetheless, I think the pairs controversy was a true controversy. I think this is just trying to stir the pot and point out the danger of opening the door to revisiting results. On top of their threat to depart the Games today and forfeit their remaining events, it makes the Russian Federation look awfully frustrated with their team's less than stellar performance.

Oh god. Trust me. No one, even the Russians like Mr. Piseev. He's a punk. They are just trying to get back at us for the pairs result. Sarah deserved to win. It was the right call. Actually, I think Michelle was better than Irina so Maybe Michelle should have gotten the silver.

To those saddened by MK not getting gold, we'll get over it and be hyped up about Worlds next month in no time. She only has a few ytears left on the amateur circuit I imagine so lets enjoy it while it lasts.

Thank you OSUFAN for calling some of these guys out on this love fest with kwon – makes me want to puke. I was extremely happy for Hughes because like most said she was by far the best skater last night. Slutskaya deserved the silver medal also my only problem was that somehow kwon beat out cohen for the bronze. The two programs were extremely close in my eyes but the edge would have been given to Cohen on the artistry – she just seemed to have more pazazz in her skating, I thought she sold her program. Of course Cohen has a shot to once again skate in the next olympics (she would be 21) and this was kwon last dance as they say.

Did anyone else get a pit PO’ed by the coverage last night. The one major issue I had was right after Cohen skated and kwon took the ice it was as if Cohen had never even skated. Not one mention was made of her program. The story automatically switched to kwon and the same crap we have been made to watch for the last week and a half. Give Sasha some credit for christ sakes – granted her program wasn’t the best thing ever but she did do some absolutely wonderful elements that were worth a second and third mention. As a cohen supporter and fan I was very upset over the love affair with kwon especially when it interferes with other worthy performances by other skaters. Very low class by NBC and yes I have sent an email expressing my concerns on this fact.

What pissed me off about the coverage was that NBC never broke down exactly how Hughes won. They had 30 minutes after she was declared the winner to detail how the judging broke down and by what criteria she won. I had to read the paper today to get the full story. NBC whiffed, big-time.

As someone who follows skating only every four years, I can't believe only Hughes escaped without mistakes. All the top skaters making errors during their ultimate moment in the sun? What's up with that? Four years of practice, etc., and all that training only to be tired after just three minutes of skating and unable to pull out that final minute? They may be beautiful and artistic and terribly talented but they sure don't have the endurance that most elite athletes have...

Hughes won because she was perfect. Sasha was close to perfect except that one fluff - Kwan was lovely as always, but her mistakes looked sloppy - Irina, for all her great power in the air, looked really choppy and unnatural in her attempt at artistry - I would have chosen Kwan or Sasha over her - the Russian judges have started crying and they just won't stop..but they're wrong...

Sparty, I think you have a good point. I was so devastated by Michelle's performance that I didn't even think to compare her Sasha. I haven't reviewed the tape (still too painful), but I seem to remember that Michelle's program never came to life. At Nationals she really started to fly in the 2nd half of the program, but her performance last night lacked that spark. Sasha, on the other hand, did have that spark -- definitely more speed and more "attack" than Michelle had.

Everyone questioned Michelle's decision to fire her coach and choreographer. Switching choreographers is one thing, but to go into the Olympics coach-less is unheard of. Maybe she did need to part ways with Frank Carroll, but not hiring another coach? I wonder if Michelle's questioning her decision too. By the way, Kwan isn't necessarily done. I've heard rumors that she plans to keep her eligibility through 2006, when she'll still only be 25. That's a bit "mature" in ladies figure skating, but Nancy Kerrigan hit her peak at 25, and Midori Ito was still hitting triple axels at that age.

I don't agree with the Russian Federation's protest, but I can understand it. Irina arguably should have placed first in the short, and Sarah inarguably should have placed fifth. If one or the other had happened, the gold would be Irina's. That said, tough cookies, Russkies. The panel of 9 saw it otherwise, and since no evidence of pressuring or vote trading has surfaced, the decision stands.

Jim, I realize you're not a figure skating fan, but those of us who are have known for a looooooooong time that Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic are horrible commentators. Also, I'm almost grateful the FS event is over, if for no other reason than I no longer have to listen to Sandra Bezic talk to the viewers like we were kindergarteners.

Sandra: Could. you. talk. any. damn. slower?

I would have picked Slutskaya 1st in the short and 2nd in the long, which would have given her the gold. But I can't escape feeling that Slutskaya simply did not give a gold medal-worthy performance in the long program, so I can't feel badly about Sarah Hughes winning. Slutskaya was apparently unhappy with her artistic impression marks, but I thought she really looked choppy and uncomfortable. A lot of the papers are describing her skate as "cautious", but the problem with Slutskaya's program was not that she had removed her most difficult elements. Yagudin's long program was slightly cautious but immaculate and stylish, Irina's was just sloppy.

The exhibition was nice, but way too emotional. Michelle Kwan skating to Eva Cassidy's cover of "Fields of Gold" in tears. It just ripped my heart out.

Michelle has said she'd stay til 2010! I hope she does because I think the pro circuit is on its death bed. THough I hope she doesnt go in as the favorite if there is a next time and just goes in like the position Chen Lu was in 98 with a great performance but no expectations.

[ February 23, 2002: Message edited by: savvy ]

Michelle will need to upgrade her technical components a little. She had what she needed to pull it off this year, but in four years, she will need to toss in a 3lutz/3toe and maybe something like Sarah 3toe/3loop. I would think that would be a meaty enough goal to keep her working hard until 2006 when the games will be held in lovely northern Italy. Might be able to convince myself to attend there.

[quote]Originally posted by charliecstl:
Michelle will need to upgrade her technical components a little. She had what she needed to pull it off this year, but in four years, she will need to toss in a 3lutz/3toe and maybe something like Sarah 3toe/3loop. I would think that would be a meaty enough goal to keep her working hard until 2006 when the games will be held in lovely northern Italy. Might be able to convince myself to attend there.

---

She doesn't need two 3/3 combos. Just one really good one. And then if the field is more difficult in the future, she will have that 3toe/3toe put in as a second combo. But do you think she can stay at the top for another 4 years? I'm kind of wishing she goes away the next couple of years and then comes back rejuvenated. But then again, if she takes a break, she might lose some of her skating ability forever.

But I'm not going to wait for her. I felt like Ive emotionally invested 4 years since Nagano to see her get the gold only to see the plans fall apart. Although it was bittersweet because luckily Sarah got the gold. If it was Sasha, I'd barf. If Irina, I'd have to go through years of how much better a skater she is than Michelle on different message boards.

I also hope that if she is at Turin, she skates to a Lori Nichol program. I'm still not convinced with Scheherezade and I probably will never be even if she skates perfect at Worlds next year. And let Lori choose the music as well!!! And she should get a coach!

But just for fun, can you imagine if Michelle won GOld in 2006 as an underdog?

With all due respect for Frank Carroll who did shape Michelle into one of (if not the) greatest skaters ever, I wonder what she would have looked it if she had been coached by the late Carlo Fassi, the man who coached Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamil, and John Curry to Olympic golds. And if maybe with his influence she would have placed better in Olympic competition.

Apparently he had approached Linda Fratianne before the 1980 Olympics and tried to persuade her to fire Carroll and switch to him, because he had enough prestige with the judges to overcome the Cold War bloc (or thought he did) and he told her so. Fratianne refused and got the silver.

Not that I'm saying it was Cold War blocs that stopped Michelle from getting gold, but maybe he could have helped her nerves or wahtever it was.

[ February 24, 2002: Message edited by: Lev Stone ]