Where is Micheal Weiss, and what are his plans?

[Lark]

I really like Weiss, and I swear that he has the goods, if not the consistancy, to beat Plushenko.

Is he planning on carrying on after 2006? Any news?

[stardust skies]

Haha...the goods to beat Plushenko! Good one. Weiss wasn't even on the U.S. podium this year, so he doesn't even have the goods to get SENT to the Olympics as of right now. Weiss does not have the "goods". In fact, all Weiss has is big talk of a quad lutz he never landed, a bunch of cheated jumps, an unreliable triple axel, his stupid freedom blades and his "heel spread eagle" that should be banned from competition, and patriotic programs which he hopes will put the judges on his side.

Weiss had a good, respectable run. But he's done now, and he should have probably realized this by now.

[SkateFan123]

Haha...the goods to beat Plushenko! Good one. Weiss wasn't even on the U.S. podium this year, so he doesn't even have the goods to get SENT to the Olympics as of right now. Weiss does not have the "goods". In fact, all Weiss has is big talk of a quad lutz he never landed, a bunch of cheated jumps, an unreliable triple axel, his stupid freedom blades and his "heel spread eagle" that should be banned from competition, and patriotic programs which he hopes will put the judges on his side.

Weiss had a good, respectable run. But he's done now, and he should have probably realized this by now.

Actually, although you may think that, Michael is planning on competing this season.

[Lark]

all Weiss has is big talk of a quad lutz he never landed, a bunch of cheated jumps, an unreliable triple axel,

I think you are pretty much reiterating exactly what I said, just more nastily.

Plushenko himself has said that Weiss was awe inspiring during some of his practices. That is where my lack of "consistancy" comment comes from. Weiss has trouble bringing it when he needs to.

And to attack Weiss for never landing a certain jump is rediculous. How many folks on here would love to see other skaters at least attempt different things?

Good for Mike for trying.
He might be past his prime, but he still has a chance, IMO.

[SkateFan123]

I think you are pretty much reiterating exactly what I said, just more nastily.

Plushenko himself has said that Weiss was awe inspiring during some of his practices. That is where my lack of "consistancy" comment comes from. Weiss has trouble bringing it when he needs to.

And to attack Weiss for never landing a certain jump is rediculous. How many folks on here would love to see other skaters at least attempt different things?

Good for Mike for trying.
He might be past his prime, but he still has a chance, IMO.

Michael and his PR team are very good at throwing out hype about his "quad". Michael has been consistently trying a quad for years but consistently two footing the landing or worse. Dick Button once said, "He two footed the quad but so what! We've come to expect that from Michael!"

While he may be past his prime, we are in an era of skating where athletes have more money to train longer. The incentive to retire to the professional world no longer exists. He has as much right as anyone to stick around and not be forced into retirement.

It will be interesting to see if he makes the Olympic team this year after his poor performance at Nationals in Portland.

I did see Mike skate in Tampa during the spring cheesefest and he did a great job! It seems the competitive stress gets the best of him.

[jazzpants]

Michael and his PR team are very good at throwing out hype about his "quad". Michael has been consistently trying a quad for years but consistently two footing the landing or worse. Dick Button once said, "He two footed the quad but so what! We've come to expect that from Michael!"I think Mikey should FIRE his PR team for them hyping a quad lutz... What were they thinking!?!?! 8O :roll: Best thing to do is to "let his skatin' do the talkin'..."

In any case, the guy's very nice... at least via email anyway. Of course, I had to go thru a good layer of PR people (Mike's manager...) to get to him. "But so what? I've come to expect that from Micheal!" :twisted: (before anyone slams me, I meant someone who's been a competitive figure skater on TV a few times.)

[stardust skies]

Well, I don't condemn him for trying the quad lutz, not at all. I condemn him for being arrogant (I remember him being pissed off at Johnny Weir for beating him a couple of years ago, saying his skating was so "Juniorish", even though you know, he won the Senior event...) and for over-estimating his own capabilities. If he didn't say "oh yeah, I HAVE the quad lutz", then I wouldn't care that he can't land it in competition. It's the attitude that irritates me, just like all the open shirts during exhibition (I just don't wanna see that...) and those DAMN freedom blade spread eagles. Oh, and the "Mike Pike", which he named even though it already had a name: SHOOT THE DUCK.

As others said, let the skating do the talking. I can't stand people who a) talk big and can't back it up and b) trash other competitors for beating them fair and square.

And of course he's got the "right" to stick around, I just think that if he wants to be on top of his sport ever again, he needs to get a new choreographer, perhaps a new coach (though I really don't know how his coach is working for him), a new schtick (drop the patriotic act), and train harder so that he's as good as his competitors once again. Between his triple axel problems and his two-footed quads, he just doesn't have a shot right now. That's just being objective. People give Michelle Kwan so much crap for staying in, but she's younger than Mike, and she's doing the same things technically as at least her U.S. counterparts. But people don't give Mike crap. Why? Cause he can't win anymore and thus isn't "hogging" the top spot? IMO that's a better reason to think he should retire than the argument against Kwan.

[Darrell H]

Whether you like a skater, or not, shouldn't they be allowed to skate if they qualify? Not just step aside so others can compete. I personally am not a fan of his, but if he can still be competitive, let him do so.

[SkateFan123]

Whether you like a skater, or not, shouldn't they be allowed to skate if they qualify? Not just step aside so others can compete. I personally am not a fan of his, but if he can still be competitive, let him do so.

I agree!!! It's his choice, not the fans choice, to compete or not. The same is true about Michelle Kwan!

[stardust skies]

Whether you like a skater, or not, shouldn't they be allowed to skate if they qualify? Not just step aside so others can compete. I personally am not a fan of his, but if he can still be competitive, let him do so.

That is pretty much exactly what I said, if you were replying to me. My only argument was that he's not exactly competitive anymore. Of course, we can let the competition results indicate that, but I thought that's what they pretty much said last year. All I'm saying is I wouldn't be surprised if they said the same this year. And the next, and the one after that. And that to CHANGE these results and be competitive again, he'd have to clean up his jumps and become more COP friendly. If he wants to devote the next however many years doing so...good for him. But his skating ain't cutting it anymore, and it's not me saying so- it's the judges.

I think it's great he's still trying. I don't know where you read otherwise. I'm just saying it's pointless if he doesn't at least attempt to improve. Kwan gets dissed for not trying harder jumps, but at least she's kept the ones she has now clean. Mike needs to at least upkeep- which lately he hasn't been so good at doing.

[Nicki]

According to the website www.michaelweiss.org, Michael will be in Michigan next week to work with Todd Eldredge on getting some extra motivation for the olympic season. It will be interesting to see if this will make a difference in Michael's skating.

[Lark]

That is cool that Mike and Todd are friends.
But how exactly can someone else motivate you to give your best?
If you are not into it anymore, what can someone else do?

[alfongsucks]

stick a fork in him................he's done.

[Nicki]

Michael's website now has a short update about his training sessions with Todd.
He feels that he and Todd take a similar approach to skating and that it was time well spent. He also says he hopes to work with Todd again later on in the season.

[Chico]

ugh.... This skater drives me nuts. He is NOT like Todd.

[NoVa Sk8r]

His music:
SP: “La Donna e Mobile” by Verdi
LP: “5th Symphony, Moonlight Sonata, and 9th Symphony” by Beethoven