Philip Hersh

[GSK8]

The sportswriter from the Chicago Tribune answers (http://goldenskate.com/articles/2001/082002.shtml) questions from his readers.

[Debbie S]

I find it interesting that he seems to have made a 180-degree turn from his stance on the Oly pairs comp at the time. He also suggests (as others have) that the N. Am. media fueled the controversy. Of course, he appeared on the Today show a few days later (as part of the N. Am. media) and said he would have given B/S a 5.8/5.9 and S/P a 5.9/5.9. Her certainly didn't say "Love Story" was "recycled hokum" then. Sigh - come on Phil, at least offer your readers an explanation of your change of heart instead of looking like you jumped on a bandwagon.

As far as his comments about Michelle - well, it's true that she hasn't improved technically since 1996 in terms of her overall capabilities (except the 3Z/2L), but she didn't land a 3/3 at Worlds until 2000, and then again in 2001. She's also added the split-falling leaf pretty regularly - I know she's done it for years, but it hasn't always been a regular part of her competitive programs - and she came up w/ a "new" layback spin (and improved her turnout). When she tried to expand artistically - w/ the "Rush" SP that Hersh mentioned - the judges told her to go back to the "classics", as Hersh would say. I beg to differ w/ his comment that she hasn't grown artistically since 1998. I guess his reference is whether she's received more than 8 6.0's for a program? "Scheherazade" aside, I do think she's a better skater than she was 4 years ago - just look at FOG.

He's right that Michelle does suffer from being so good at such a young age. I do think that many times she's judged against what the judges expect to see from her rather than what MK and the other skaters actually do.

Interesting that Hersh thinks MK should have been ahead of IS in the Oly LP, and that Sasha should have been 2nd. I think the Russian judge was the only judge to put Sasha ahead of MK, with Hersh's SH/IS placements flip-flopped, of course.

[rack]

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to ask Mr. Hersh questions. I got a kick out of seeing mine (and reading his response).:)

[Patty]

Rack-
Which was your question?

[rack]

My question (which was one of approximately eighty two about Michelle Kwan) was the one about how her season might have been affected by not having Frank Carroll as a coach.

If you look it up, I will lose my secret identity!:cry:

[Halo girl]

Lotsa questions focusing on just Michelle. I would have preferred more about skating in general, but I guess he had to answer to what asked.

Although I think Michelle is beautiful to watch, I think he is correct in saying she hasn't grown much over the years. How many times has she skated to Eden now? There is a lot more music out there to try besides that one, yet Michelle keeps doing it year after year. I remember in 98, watching her skating and being wowed, yet from then on, I've just been bored. To me ***and this is just my opinion***, all her programs just look the same. Michelle in a different dress but skating to the same program. I think she really needs to try other things, and I thought the Rush SP was a really good change for her. I know people expect certain things from her, which is why she needed to get out of that rut before she got pegged as "just" a classic music skater. I think some people including the judges will never think any other kind of program will be "good enough" for her. After people expect certain things, it takes time to open their eyes, and I hope that Michelle will take that time. I think she's still got the potential to wow people again if she'd just try something new.

[Jack]

How come no one asked Phil if he got a boob job??

[adrianchew]

Originally posted by Jack

How come no one asked Phil if he got a boob job??

:arrow: Please refrain from making such statements in the future - it is not appropriate here. Thanks. ~adrianchew~

[momslovelove]

I think it would be revealing to put in tapes of all skaters, now Turn off the Sound and walla you will see all the skaters do the same program and only a different dress. I found this interesting but true. Irina does the same program as do the rest. Open your eyes and believe them. I think you will change your tune.

[Candyy]

halo girl, Michelle never skated to east of eden in 1998.

[Ellyn]

In fall 1998 (the 1998-99 season) when she was doing all the pro-ams instead of the GP series, Kwan skated an interpretive free program to East of Eden.

[quarkiki2]

Yes, in 1998 she used East of Eden an interpretive free. And it was GORGEOUS, especially at World Pros. Wow! What a performance that was!

[flippet]

Originally posted by quarkiki2
Yes, in 1998 she used East of Eden an interpretive free. And it was GORGEOUS, especially at World Pros. Wow! What a performance that was!

You can say that again! That's the performance that moves me to tears. Other performances, even that same year, are flat and dull in comparison. There was simply magic in the air that night. :)

[Patty]

Halo Girl-
Michelle isn't the only skater who repeats programs or tends to use the same style of music. Victor Petrenko, Maria B., Todd, Elvis, AP, S&P, P&T I&Z are just some of many who have repeated competition programs. Sarah kept Fosse as an exhibition program for two seasons.

IIRC, Sarah has always used classical music for her competitive programs. Skaters who skate with Callaghan usually use soundtracks for competitive programs. So, almost all of Tara's and Todd's competitive programs were to soundtracks. IIRC, I don't think I have ever seen either Tara or Todd skate to a genuine classical music piece.

While most of Michelle's competitive programs have been to classical music, some haven't, such as Rush and A Day in the Life, and none of her exhibition programs have been. So, maybe some are bored with Michelle's tendency for lyrical, flowing music that tends to be slow. But, Michelle has done some programs that aren't as lyrical and flowing, such as Red Violin, Miraculous Manderin (sp?), A Day In The Life, This Time Around, The World Is Not Enough.

So, Michelle has used different kinds of music, but maybe they just haven't been vastly different enough. I didn't care for Rush because, I found that the music went no place and thus, was boring. But, I would love to see Michelle try jazz, (like Vanessa G.) musical theatre, and lighter- more upbeat classical for her competitive programs; and R&B and uptempo pop for her exhibition programs.