Cohen's announcement about the future

[Schmeck]

From her journal:

http://www.sashacohen.com/journal.shtml

I guess the acting bug died?

[Debbie S]

Or maybe SOI didn't give her the money she wanted? Or maybe Tom Collins sweetened the pot to get her to stay with his tour and ensure SOI wouldn't get her? And then maybe she decided that if she's going to be doing COI, she might as well continue to compete b/c she'll be available during the competition season. Personally, I think that unless SOI was faced with some outrageous demand, Scott H and Co. would be crazy not to do everything in their power to sign Sasha. They desperately need a leading female singles skater, and while I like Yuka Sato and Jennifer Robinson, they just don't fill the role, at least not in the U.S. Who knows, maybe SOI signed Shizuka and/or Irina, but I doubt it - Shizuka seems to want to stay in Japan as much as she can and Irina seems a bit averse to long U.S. tours as well (usually COI is only a month or 2; SOI is at least 3, plus fall rehearsals in CT and Lake Placid).

I noticed that Sasha says she'll decide after COI how many comps she's going to enter next year. If she does really stay eligible, I suspect she'll do what Michelle did and skip the GP series, except that as a seeded skater, I think she has to (rule change?) unless she's injured (although she's (legitimately) injured now, so that may carry over to next season).

But I wonder if maybe this announcement is designed by her agent to give her more negotiating leverage. After all, if it looks like Sasha can "take it or leave it" as far as pro skating offers, then those making the offers might be motivated to sweeten the pot to get her to choose their route. But if that happens and Sasha has a "sudden" change of heart over the summer, she's probably going to get some backlash after making such a grand announcement in April.

I'm really hoping to see Sasha in SOI, though. I feel like for the past few years, that show has been missing something (and I'm a big fan of most of the skaters there). And I'd also like to see MK, Sasha, Irina, Mike W, Tim, etc. revive pro skating.

[LauraLa]

And I'd also like to see MK, Sasha, Irina, Mike W, Tim, etc. revive pro skating.
That would be nice, but I thought that the ISU basically killed off pro skating by making it possible for the top skaters to stay eligible and make as much money as they do. There's no reason for anyone who has any drive at all to get an Olympic Gold medal to ever leave the eligible ranks of the sport until they just can't cut it at the qualifying competitions any more, or decide they no longer want to do what it takes to go after that medal.

Still, I miss the old Landover competition. That was some skating.

[Schmeck]

SOI could really use Cohen, I agree, although I met Jen Robinson, and she's a sweetheart! Yuka Sato is a favorite of mine, so I could watch her skate singles all day, as I love her deep edges and flow. She looks a bit nervous doing pairs with her hubby though! I would think SOI would be a perfect fit for Cohen, as she has mentioned how much she likes acting, and they do a bit of play-acting in SOI, at least more so than COI!

As to her injuries, yes, I could see her sitting out the GP series in order to heal completely, although she tends to do better at the beginning of the season, during the GP, doesn't she? Maybe she'd peak later if she skipped it? Makes for a long ,speculative summer, doesn't it?

[Sydney]

I agree that SOI's appeal would skyrocket with her there. Sigh. They really need some good ladies skaters. There are plenty out there - they're just not signed! I like Yuka a lot though.

I'm happy we'll get the chance to see more of Sasha' competitive programs. She's the only one who always holds my interest.

[Schmeck]

You might not get to see 'more' of them - she might not do the GP, so it'd just be Nats and Worlds. She has the tendency to repeat programs, so we might get just one new one as well.

[Moto Guzzi]

From today's Hartford Courant:
http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-cohen0420.artapr20,0,5725700.story

"While on a bus between Champions on Ice tour stops, Cohen said Wednesday that her competitive schedule for next season is still undecided, but it will probably have to be abbreviated."

"I probably wouldn't do the Grand Prix events, but that still leaves me half the season to compete."

[Scarlett21]

Do you really think that the next Olys she will be able to be among the three best? It's impssible! She isn't worth beeng a queen:lol:

[ildah]

IMO (and I am not a Sasha or Michelle fan, they are both great, and I'm a casual observer compared to most of you on this board) Sasha isn't coping well with the reduced status that FSkating has as a spectator sport, compared to 10 years ago. Her ideas for "modelling" or "acting" show that she hoped all her hard work would get her celebrity status as a skater, and this is not going to happen as a Pro skater, and especially as a Pro who failed to win the Gold. I think it shows she doesn't really have a passion for skating, she has a passion for being well-known. Ergo, she sees that Michelle got brand name recognition status from being in the competetive ranks for SUCH a long time, and she knows that would be a good way for her to stay in the public eye (and...once they forget you, it's over!) However, I think that's the only reason she wants to stay competetive, to be in the public eye. It's a double edged sword, not enough people watching her if she goes pro, but then again you actually have to go through the pain of training and performing if you want to stay competetive and risk falling in the ranks as new young skaters come along.

I don't think she knows what to do and it shows in her ambivalence.

[Debbie S]

I think it shows she doesn't really have a passion for skating, she has a passion for being well-known. I agree that Sasha seems pretty ambivalent, and IMO, she should just say she's undecided and stop making all these announcements about what she's going to do until she's 100% sure. But I disagree with the notion that she, or any other elite skater, doesn't have a passion for skating. Getting to her level takes years and years of grueling work (sure, natural talent is part of it, but it won't take you everywhere). According to what has been said and written, she gets up early in the morning, skates and works out until dinnertime, and is in bed by 9 or 10, even on her 21st b-day. She, Michelle, and the other top skaters spent their entire childhoods and teenage years working their butts off to reach their skating goals. You don't go through all of that, plus the injuries and all the daily aches and pains, and all of the media and fan scrutiny, unless you are passionate about the skating itself.

Sure, Sasha may other goals and sees an opportunity to use her name recognition to enter another field, but so what? She (and Michelle, who's also mentioned going into acting, sportscasting, and such) is perfectly entitled, in my book, to seek out other opportunities - hey, no one can skate forever.

[Laetitia_Hubert]

I think I saw a promo for the show "Las Vegas", which will air next Friday, in which Sasha has a guest role. So it looks like she already has one foot already in the "hollywood" door and it's obvious the stars are in her eyes.

I personally don't see her competing as much as she used to at this point and we all know that if she's unable to get gold with all the continuous time she has dedicated to the sport as of now her chances are extremely slim if she plans to focus more on acting/schmoozing for the future.

[loveskating]

Well, perhaps there is no professional world to go to by now?

Apparently SOI and COI are both cutting back on tour dates, or so I've read?

I've seen posts discussing articles from other places claiming SOI is in danger of bankruptcy although I do not necessarily believe this.

Still, they must be hard hit since oil prices must be driving venue services and travel and hotel type services through the roof as high oil prices affect the entire power industry. Of course, any rise in basic necessity prices of this magnitude reduces disposable income choices for consumers drastically -- they have to spend unexpected amounts of their disposable money on gasoline and home heating.

Finally, I've read that Yagudin has returned to Russia and it appears his contract with SOI is not renewed.

[mike4444]

She and Michelle will complete one more season, after this i don't know what will happen. There could take a season off and come back.

I think we need a senior senior level or something for those 20 and oldier.