Nationals: Michelle's tribute?

[kittie067]

I'll probably get yelled at for saying this, but the tribute to Michelle Kwan in the beginning was so dramatic, that I was like, "I knew she was sick, but did she die or something?"

I just wondered what everyone else's reaction was.
~kittie

[crayonskater]

I thought it was a bit over the top, with the whole career retrospective and all, (oh, shadows, lights, carefully lacing skates, looking pensive into the middle distance) but then they did the same thing with Sasha before the free skate. I'm not so sure it was motivated by Michelle's injury (since most of it was filmed beforehand) as it was 'Oh, last chance for Olympic Gold' sort of fluff.

It makes it hard to treat figure skating as a sport when the criterion for stardom is 'can you look like a sex kitten when surrounded by twinkle lights?'

[crayonskater]

I think it hurts somewhat because that's all we see of figure skating combined with the fact that it is a sport with a large subjective component.

Sure, there's montages of Eli Manning or drama about Texas, montages of Apolo Anton Ono; but with figure skating it seems that everyone has to have fluff time (Taylor & her Hummer?). Football isn't decided by who can look the prettiest, though, so there's not as much chance for damage.

Given that it is an artistic sport, it seems all the more careful to tone down some of the glamour shots. (Especially given the relationship between 'perceived glamour' and 'artistic component score being higher.') Sasha Cohen is a great skater and artist due to her talent on the ice, not because of off-ice pouts and fashion advice, but with all the focus on the fluff, I wonder if the more casual fan sees figure skating as just a fashion show.

[Tapper]

The tribute upset me. It seemed like a farewell tribute.

[jazzpants]

Lol, well, there is a difference between injured and sick. Irina was sick, she could have died, and she deserved moving fluff pieces discussing coming back from that. Michelle was injured which is unfortunate but not quite the emotional story (and really, if anyone accuses me of hate for this comment they need perspective.)True, but then again, Irina is NOT an American. MK and Sasha are Americans!!!

Given that... I'm very disgusted with ABC's tribute to Kwan. Geez, Louise! MK is INJURED, NOT DEAD!!! She's still competing! She has not announced her retirement. If it were me, a better tribute to Kwan would be on her recovery and what she's working to try to recover from this injury. Show her doing rehab on her injuries! Show her walking thru her footwork for her program or something. I'd rather see THAT, NOT this eulogy crap that ABC put on!!! So disappointed!!! :x

[coskater64]

Isn't the company that does these pieces overseen by none other than Dick Button? That's what I heard but it could be hearsay... I tend to go get snacks during the fluff even though the thing about Katy Taylor and the pink hummer...eh gads :roll:

I just wish they would skip the fluff and show more of the upcoming talent, the shorts of the top 3 in novice, and jr would be nice during the the fs events and the od of the dancers. You could see them and maybe track the future stars of skating a little easier.

It always seems that the pieces on the women have to accentuate their physical beauty rather than their incredible strength and tenacity, could we please show how demanding the sport is and the massive set of skills it takes to master it. Who cares if she pretty....just mho.

la

[Terri C]

I just wish they would skip the fluff and show more of the upcoming talent, the shorts of the top 3 in novice, and jr would be nice during the the fs events and the od of the dancers. You could see them and maybe track the future stars of skating a little easier.

la


WORD!!! I'm tired of the Pink Hummer, the tributes, etc.

[NoVa Sk8r]

WORD!!! I'm tired of the Pink Hummer, the tributes, etc.Seriously!
And if I see that darn microwave French fry (http://oreida.com/varieties/easyfries.aspx) commercial one more time -- arrghhh! I went to the grcery store tonight, passed by the frozen food section, and there they were. Run away!!! :P

[jazzpants]

Seriously!
And if I see that darn microwave French fry (http://oreida.com/varieties/easyfries.aspx) commercial one more time -- arrghhh! I went to the grcery store tonight, passed by the frozen food section, and there they were. Run away!!! :PMmmmm... give me some of those overly chemically processed frozen microwaved French Fries! YUM YUM!!! :yum: :twisted:

(Yes, I'm being sarcastic...)

HUMMERS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE PINK!!! :evil:

[Kevin Callahan]

Completely unnecessary.

I'm sorry, I didn't start out as a Kwan hater, but her career looks like a fish out of water. Sure, the flopping around is interesting to watch, but it's also painful. I thought the fluff was undeserved. Luckily, I remembered I could fast forward and did so. I'm very displeased with the nominations. That third spot should go to Emily Hughes. I'm sorry if Michelle feels like it's deja vu with Sarah all over again, but Emily deserves her chance to shine. Michelle seems to be grasping at straws, and frankly, it looks pretty darn pathetic.

[Terri C]

Seriously!
And if I see that darn microwave French fry (http://oreida.com/varieties/easyfries.aspx) commercial one more time -- arrghhh! I went to the grcery store tonight, passed by the frozen food section, and there they were. Run away!!! :P

Hey, I can get some for us to munch on at NYI!!! :lol:
Just kidding!

[jazzpants]

Seriously!
And if I see that darn microwave French fry (http://oreida.com/varieties/easyfries.aspx) commercial one more time -- arrghhh! I went to the grcery store tonight, passed by the frozen food section, and there they were. Run away!!! :P
Hey, I can get some for us to munch on at NYI!!! :lol:
Just kidding! Yeah, and wash those fries down with some of that Welch's grape juice too!!! Mmmmm, mmm!!! :yum: :lol:

[kittie067]

Yeah, and wash those fries down with some of that Welch's grape juice too!!! Mmmmm, mmm!!! :yum: :lol:

Oh my gosh! that french fry commericial me and my sis (who also skates) want to kill them. You know the sister in the commercial? She's just watching, I would have been grabbing those fries!!!
And where's the ketchup???? :D ;)
~kittie

[Artemis]

The tribute upset me. It seemed like a farewell tribute.

Well ... isn't it highly likely that this was a farewell to Michelle, at least in terms of Nationals?

I didn't see the tribute itself so can't comment on its content. But in terms of having a tribute to longtime leader in the sport who is retiring that year ... nothing wrong with that at all.

But of course if she hasn't officially announced that this will be her last season, then yes, silly to do a tribute.

[SkateFan123]

Well ... isn't it highly likely that this was a farewell to Michelle, at least in terms of Nationals?

I didn't see the tribute itself so can't comment on its content. But in terms of having a tribute to longtime leader in the sport who is retiring that year ... nothing wrong with that at all.

But of course if she hasn't officially announced that this will be her last season, then yes, silly to do a tribute.

I wouldn't count Michelle out. She may very well return for #10!

[Kevin Callahan]

I wouldn't count Michelle out. She may very well return for #10!

Righto. Whether we want her to or not. :roll:

[MQSeries]

Righto. Whether we want her to or not. :roll:

You mean whenever Michelle skates, someone physically chain you to a chair with padlocks, clamp your eyelids open and force you to watch Michelle?

[dietcoke]

I thought it was a bit over the top, with the whole career retrospective and all, (oh, shadows, lights, carefully lacing skates, looking pensive into the middle distance) but then they did the same thing with Sasha before the free skate. I'm not so sure it was motivated by Michelle's injury (since most of it was filmed beforehand) as it was 'Oh, last chance for Olympic Gold' sort of fluff.

Hi, I'm new here! :P

What I didn't like about the Sasha piece, was the footage of her falling that they showed over and over and over...I thought that was kind of a cheap shot on their part. :??

[dietcoke]

Is o.k. to post in color around here? I just sort of noticed that no one else is doing it... :?: