Hersh on Sasha

[Debbie S]

His take on Sasha's coaching change, with some tongue-in-cheek comments from Nicks at the end. It raises the same issues we've been discussing - Sasha's need for jumping help, why her whole family's moving, exactly where she'll be training, etc. Also mentions the political infuence aspects.

Personally, I think his comments about the family's situation sound similar to the ones he made about Michelle Kwan when he found out she wasn't living in the dorms anymore. Sarcasm on: gee Phil, they obviously should have consulted you first. OK, sarcasm over.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/international/cs-0208230254aug23.story?coll=cs%2Dinternational%2Dpr int

Edited to add that many people were equally baffled that Angela N went to work with Elena T, who also had a background in dance and choreo, but not the tech aspects, and the switch worked out well for her. Of course, I think she had different needs. We'll just have to wait and see whether Sasha's change turns out to be the best thing for her.

[Louis]

On the whole, I think the article is fair, but Hersh failed to mention that Tarasova was actually a PAIRS skater-- same as John Nicks! Her background isn't just in ice dance/theatre.

[Mariposa]

BA HA HA HA! I love that comment John Nicks makes about the English mafia at the end. However I agree with you about the overall tone of the article--CONDESCENDING!!!

[Mazurka Girl]

I don't think it's condescending. Fans need to get beyond taking every single word as a swipe against their skater. There are a lot of conflicting ideas in skating, this is simply another article that includes some of it about a skater of current interest.

[Yazmeen]

THANK YOU Mazurka Girl!!! I have recently exhausted myself on that same issue on another forum (namely not taking everthing said about a skater as a swipe against them). Sportswriters do have the right to their opinions, even if we don't agree with them.

Phil makes some good points, and I also don't think the tone was condescending. TT has made her name as someone who tends to take skaters with technical consistency and bring out the artist in them. Sasha is fabulously artistic, but needs more technical consistency. It will be interesting to see how she develops with TT.

And just like with Michelle, we may never know the complete story about why she left her first coach. And that is her business anyway, not ours. Good luck to Sasha.

[rack]

There's a contradictory tone to the piece. On the one hand, Sasha is a skater who has never skated a clean long program at a major international competition. On the other hand she is displaying disloyalty to her longtime coach.

Nothing against John Nicks, but maybe Sasha needs a new coach to be able to skate clean long programs at major international competitions.

[Dragonlady]

Everybody changes coaches at some point in their career. The list of top skaters in the last 20 years who haven't changed coaches at some point is a very short list. As long as the parties involved are respectful of one another and handle the business nicieties in a professional way, they don't really owe us any further explanations.

A coach is an employee of the skater and when the skater feels the need to move on, they don't owe us a detailed or even reasonable explanation as to why. Sasha has shown nothing but respect for John Nicks in her parting remarks. It seems Mr. Nicks is a little hurt but he's not dissing Sasha either. It's not like it's his first time losing a top student to another coach.

These are business and professional decisions. The coach is hired on a professional basis and while friendship and mutual respect are often a by-product of that professional relationship, the decision to make a switch should be made for professional reasons, as it appears this one has been.

As for the Cohens owing Sasha's fans or the press a full, detailed explanation of the reasons behind the move, I don't think so.

[duane]

i found the article quite interesting.

[hoptoad]

I found the agent part interesting:
*quote*
Cohen, yet to win a significant national or international skating event, now has two high-powered agents instead of one: the William Morris Agency and Collins-Marshall Management.

"Lee [Marshall] is my manager, and William Morris is my agent," Cohen said.

Nicks said he had no problem with the William Morris arrangement but insists he represent his athletes in skating deals. He still has a contract with Cohen.
*end quote*

Does anyone know what contractual obligations Sasha has with John Nicks? I think there is some general public knowledge about Nicks's role as an agent. Whatever it is, it obviously doesn't stop her from changing coachs. Will he continue to get a cut of her endorsemensts or prize money?

[AxelAnnie22]

Hey guys - I am a die hard Sasha fan. I don't see a single word in that article to take issue with.
Everything is true and accurate (except where he says she has a problem with inconsistency I am sure he meant to say she has a problem with CONSISTENCY LOL!

I have such a different take on Sasha. I don't really think she has a problem with her jumps. I think she has a problem with her mind. When you do your own choreography, and when you are always tinkering and changing your program (as Shasha does) then every option is up for debate....even while you are skating. I think Sasha's jumps are fine, and that what she needs is for someone to say "HERE IS YOUR PROGRAM...go skate!" Would you argue with TT? I don't think even Sasha would!

[lisabelle]

axelannie, i kind of agree with you. i think sasha does have problems with inconsistency on her jumps, but i think that also comes from her changing things around and always doing what she wants. all the talk about sash and nick arguing might be kind of interesting, but it seems like what sasha needs is discipline in her training, and programs that are not going to change every single time she performs them. i dont see Tarasova as a miracle worker with sasha's skating, but i do see her imposing discipline, which could be just what sasha needs!

i didn't find the article to be condescending either. and anyway, it's his opinion, and he has every right to express it. hersh is a columnists, he writes opinionated columns, that is a job. if he was supposed to be writing press releases then there would be a problem :)

besides, i like what he says in his interview at goldenskate, it's HIS opinions and HIS name is on it. we all know who he is, what paper he works for, his identity is no real secret. totally different than some unknown making snarky comments :)

[loveskating]

I didn't see any big problem in the article...hardly a gushing article like some he has written, but I don't like those much anyway,:D

There are some inaccuracies and lapses...Tarasova has a pairs background...with no less than Irina Rodnina; she has also successfully coached two singles men to the top of the sport, including Olympic golds in the recent past, namely Kulik and Yagudin...both after they had already achieved international status...similarly as to Sasha now so she is hardly a stranger to singles skating.

Not sure Sasha has been called a "dancer on ice", I wouldn't call her that at all.

[lrng to skt]

I think the coach change was a really good idea. But have to admit I have reservations about how it will go with her technical. Then again this is a girl who CAN do quads and wonderful spirals, but needs edge and footwork which TT should certainly be able to give her.

I feel Sasha came back from her injuries so fast (and impressively) that it is hard to tell at this point exactly where her weaknesses are. To me, she has barely had a season of getting out there and competing and it got her to the Olympics with a very decent showing - I find that pretty impressive. I expected it would take her at least another year to get to that level...g

edited for spelling :oops: