The latest from Hersh...

[spiralsrfun]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/international/cs-0210230297oct23,0,4179405.story?coll=cs%2Dinternat ional%2Dprint

You know, like Michelle or not, like Hersh or not...it's quite obvious that the only intention of this article was to denigrate Michelle, and that's very sad.

Robin and Sarah's comments were very nice and respectful...good for them. :)

[adrianchew]

Hersh at least was a little more considerate than GQ and ESPN...


Choke is an unduly harsh way to characterize what Kwan did--or did not do--in Salt Lake City. Her downfall was in not rising to the occasion, the way great champions do.


And what he says is the harsh reality, like it or not.

[Emanfan]

Somehow Adrian you always manage to find the least flattering "Michelle" quotes.

[Blue Ridge]

"She has presented herself as a champion at all times and has been someone for Sarah to look up to. Michelle doesn't have an Olympic gold, and I'm sure that's a place that always will feel empty. But she has had an unbelievable career, and it isn't diminished by not having the gold."
--Robin Wagner.

[Hannahclear]

Here's reality according to another source:

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=102302&ID=s1240286&cat=section.sports

Can anyone name the LEGIONS of skaters who have used Michelle's music?

[spiralsrfun]

And what he says is the harsh reality, like it or not.
That's a matter of opinion Adrian, isn't it?

My point is, what's his motivation behind the article, this is a denigrate Michelle article...why? That's where I'm coming from. I have no problem of critical talk about any skaters, but this was unusual for even him.

[adrianchew]

Aranjuez is not as overused as Hersh makes it out to be... Kadavy, Duschenays, Chack. Neither is Scheherazade really overused. You can never underestimate Hersh's ability to make more out of something than it really is at times. ;)

spiralsfun - good point, but you underestimate Hersh. Fun to read at times, and there's always some truths, but it can never be taken for at face value. Same goes for Brennan. Skating reporters almost invariably have an angle of their own, and don't just report the facts.

[spiralsrfun]

Very true...

His music comment about Michelle really gave me the biggest "HUH" response.

[Hannahclear]

I agree Adrian, Hersh loves to bellow and this is just another example of that. Some of the comments regarding the Olympics are justified, I don't mind them, but I would like him to acknowledge that Michelle is trying to do things differently, hiring a coach, skating to peppier music etc.

To use a crude expression: who peed in his cornflakes?

Edited to add: ITA about Brennan. Skating reporters in general. maybe all the histronics come from the fact that skating is such a dramatic sport, inherently.

[hydro]

Hersh said:
"The one thing that counts most."

in his opinion.

and honestly, what was the motivation for writing this? he criticizes Michelle for using old music, and then praises Sarah for her Olympic LP. well, wasn't Sarah's winning Olympic LP to jaded "muzak" music in the skating world? how many times have we see Rach piano concerto used? come Hersh, you're digging a little deep to find fault now, aren't you?

first Michelle is criticized (by Hersh) for using inaccessible music, then she's criticized (by Hersh again) for using familiar music. gee, anyone sense a pattern here? that Michelle's critics will probably never be happy.

its just Hersh's opinion, and he's entitled to it, but it doesn't sound like very informed or respectable opinion to me. although, i do have to give him credit for his consistency in his sheer and utter dislike of all things Michelle Kwan, much more consistent than other figure skating journalists (ie Brennan, Elliot). but being consistently bad about expressing uninformed opinions doesn't amount to much.

[Louis]

There's such an overdose of fluff and sensationalistic nationally biased skating "journalism" that I nearly always find Hersh refreshingly different. I can't think of a top skater whose fans haven't been furious with him at some point or another. Sure, he's cynical, contrary, and occasionally over the top, but every sport/organization NEEDS someone like that. A lot of times, I think Hersh says what many people-- both insiders and fans-- are thinking but too afraid to say themselves.

Skating isn't all about clouds, angels, and judging scandals, and Hersh is one of the few journalists who seems to have a true appreciation of the sport. When Chrissy Lipscomb was practicing quad salchows at Skate Detroit, Hersh wrote about it. Another year, Hersh traveled to Cup of Russia and mock-judged the ladies event. Unless there was a judging scandal, neither of those events would have fallen on the radar map for most skating journalists.

[Trillian]

And if Kwan had chosen a really original piece of music, Hersh would've been ranting about it being too unusual. Like some internet posters, he seems to think it's his duty in life to point out that Kwan isn't perfect, so he'll pick at anything he can. Yeah, thanks, we get it.

I agree with Louis that Hersh has written about some interesting topics--so why does he feel the need to write another "This is what's wrong with Michelle Kwan" piece when there are plenty of other newsworthy things going on at Skate America this week? I'm a Kwan fan but I'm sick of articles about her, positive OR negative. He needs a new pet topic; this one is getting tired.

[AxelAnnie22]

IMO, what Hersh had to say was dead on accurate. Both the wonderfully positive comments about what made Michelle great, and the difficult-to-hear criticisms. I much prefer a "balanced" look at a skater to a gush gush.

[adrianchew]

Here's another article on Michelle (from SF Chronicle)...

Kwan not ready to bronze her career (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2002/10/23/SP89799.DTL)

[spiralsrfun]

And if Kwan had chosen a really original piece of music, Hersh would've been ranting about it being too unusual. Like some internet posters, he seems to think it's his duty in life to point out that Kwan isn't perfect, so he'll pick at anything he can. Yeah, thanks, we get it.

I agree with Louis that Hersh has written about some interesting topics--so why does he feel the need to write another "This is what's wrong with Michelle Kwan" piece when there are plenty of other newsworthy things going on at Skate America this week? I'm a Kwan fan but I'm sick of articles about her, positive OR negative. He needs a new pet topic; this one is getting tired.
Trillian, excellent post, I completely agree.

[Mel On Ice]

I usually respect what Hersh says, but no one can hold a candle to JoAnn Barnas from the Detroit Free Press for accuracy, entertaining and unbiased figure skating reporting.

[A.H.Black]

I just think Hersh is a grouch. He's been grouchy for several years. He wasn't particularly kind to Sarah either. Like Trillian I think he makes fans of a lot of skaters angry at one time or another.

He knew he was going to have to write a Michelle article at some point this week. I think he's just getting it over with. He didn't want to write it so he was a grouch.

Many of the reporters I know feel the same about covering skating or any other sport. They get tired. They don't know what to write that will be different or new so they complain, they get cynical, or they get grouchy. That's the good ones who try. The others just write to a formula and more or less restate the press release. They all have to fight with their editors to get decent space and decent placing (not on the back page) and the fight goes on all the time - yes Hersh too. Then they have impossible deadlines that are often before the competition is over so they find themselves prewriting their articles. Then they all meet at 3:00 AM at Dennys or the Hotel bar to complain to each other. Oh, and then there's those stupid unwritten rules that they can't applaud.

I, at least, find Hersh interesting to read. Not many other skating reporters get regular mention on these boards. I used to love reading Mike Penner in the L.A.Times but he doesn't write about skating anymore. I also like John Powers at the Boston Globe from time to time.

[bmcc102]

I agree with Trillian. Hersh needs to get something new to write about... (even if I do agree with what he has to say most of the time). This is getting about as obviously biased as Christine Brennan's dislike of Tara and the rest of the Lipinski camp. Very tacky to compare Kwan to Hughes. Putting Hughes in a perfect light, while putting down Kwan is unneccessary. (And like I said, it is all too familiar-- Brennan "vs." Tara.)

These skaters are athletes and they make decisions, good and bad. Kwan has proven herself many times over and over again. If Hersh wants her out of competitive skating then that's too bad. I say, wait for the judges to send the message to Kwan, not some journalist.

-Liam

(Who is looking forward to Skate America!! )
:P

[Badams]

well...i really couldn't care less what other people such as hersh and all of michelle's non-fans think. i like skaters because they appeal to ME! why else would i be a fan of weiss?:lol: and i try my hardest to not critique the competition or stay blindly devoted to one skater so much that i can't appreciate others. i think that's a problem that a lot of "skating fans" have. i mean, i like michelle the most, but that doesn't mean i can't appreciate irina because she's been her toughest competitor so far! and i can still appreciate all that sarah has accomplished, even though i would have rather michelle won olympic gold! also, i'm not angry at michelle for not winning the gold in '98 or '02! that would just be stupid! if people got mad at me for every goal of mine that i haven't reached...there would be a ton of people mad at me! :lol: it's really sad when a professional journalist such as hersh can't separate his emotions from his profession. like michelle or not, there's no denying that she's one of the greatest in the history of the sport. and like sarah or not, there's no denying what she has done! why do some people feel the need to pit them against eachother?

[donnamarie]

I didn't really see anything wrong with the article. Hersch says a lot of complimentary things about Michelle too, including that she's one of the best skaters ever, and that Sarah might never equal her over the long haul. Although he criticized this year's music choice, he praised several other music choices in past years.

I agree with A.H. -- reporters have to come up with a story. The last line, especially, about the Olympic gold medal being the most important medal of all, is partly true, and partly reflects the need for a snappy or dramatic last line for the story.

[Mayra]

Realistic comments or not, you can only go at someone for so long before it starts getting stale. IMO

Funny enough though, some criticised her for using music to obscure for the audience and judges, and now they are criticising her for using music that is a little to familiar. Go figure! :P

[Mazurka Girl]

Doesn't matter to me if he likes MK or not. But, the Rodrigo piece isn't one I would consider overplayed compared to some others. Just because a piece of music is more obscure doesn't make it a better work or necessarily more creative. It's more like he obssesses on his everyman off the street opinion & has to hammer it home. And hammer & hammer.

IMO the problem with MK's new program is not the music. It's the choreography & timing that need work. Nothing wrong with the music from Scheherezade either, but the parts she chose for her program were not the strongest parts of the piece & the weakness was in the editing not the musical selection.

[JDC1]

I concur with one of Phil's points and that it is I lament the loss of Michelle choosing more "obscure" music, I loved Miraculous Mandarin!! I think the article is okay what I thought was wonderful were Robyn Wagners comments and Sarah's comments. No Michelle does not have one thing she always wanted but no one gets everything they want in life. He does seem to be covering some of the old "Kwan's washed up" territory but I don't really sweat him and his opinion.

[spiralsrfun]

LOL, this about says it all...very clever and true

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SkateFans/message/101168

[duane]

the article seems outdated to me. the Olympics occurred in February, and while reading the article, i found myself saying "been there. already read that--many months ago!"

[Mayra]

Originally posted by spiralsrfun
LOL, this about says it all...very clever and true

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SkateFans/message/101168

PML @ the last few lines!!!!!!!!

:P

[Maximillian]

I'm usually a fan of his, but this article is really just grasping at straws. There's nothing to it. Same old, same old. I wonder how much control he has over the topics he can write about, I think that, as another poster mentioned, he may be required to write a Kwan piece as she is the headliner of the event. At least, I hope that's the case.

The music argument is just silly for reasons pointed out by other posters. Personally, I think that it's a pretty brave move for her to skate to more standard skating music, if only because she's made her reputation by skating to more avant garde pieces and it's rather bold of her to show that she can skate to any kind of music (I think Michelle's style lends itself the best to pieces along the lines of The Red Violin etc, than say Rodrigo) be it an old workhorse or something completely out there.

Really this article is nothing new, but rather Hersh trying to make waves with no water.

[KJD]

Not to mention that if he wants to cover really overused music in skating, try the music from the movie Chocolat - every competitive level, multiple skaters, all year long from what I could tell.

[NorthernLite]

Originally posted by hydro

he criticizes Michelle for using old music, and then praises Sarah for her Olympic LP. well, wasn't Sarah's winning Olympic LP to jaded "muzak" music in the skating world? how many times have we see Rach piano concerto used?

Huh? The Olympic version of Sarah's LP contained very little of the Rach. It was almost entirely Daphnis, a piece rarely if ever used by skaters.
I've said elsewhere that after seeing Bayadere, I feel like it is Sarah/Robin who are making the slightly more offbeat choices these days while Michelle chooses the warhorses/chestnuts.

As someone with a classical music background, there are certain pieces I'm just tired of because I've heard and/or played them a zillion times. Schez is one, the Rodrigo concerto happens to be another. Perhaps that's just how Phil feels too.
I don't always agree with Hersh -- sometimes he cracks me up, sometimes I think he's cracked. And I don't know how I feel about this article -- except that I guess I'd prefer the media use its limited coverage of figure skating to focus on the judging scandal.

[rack]

The most logical reason I can come up with for why Mr. Hersh wrote the column is because he missed hearing from his pals at the MKForum.:lol:

[kwanette]

A member of the MKF did e-mail Hersh and he replied quickly . She pointed out the overused music of other skaters and Hersh admitted that Michelle is held to a different standard.

He made sure he brought up GQ's and ESPN's "choker" list, but then he covered himself by saying that that was harsh.

Interesting in the SF Chronicle article, Sasha is called the "most athletic of the American ladies". I think Sarah might have something to say about that.

Robin's comments were gracious.

[lBrokenAnkle]

I agree with Rack, this article was meant to provoke, which is a pretty standard sports journalist ploy. I was trying to remember if Hersh was also wrote the article that said Michelle had not progress artistically since Salome. If so, why is he now praising her choices of Red Violin and MM which came considerably after Salome.

LOL at the skatefans parody, it is right on the money!

Laura

[kwanette]

Hersh said that Michelle had not grown technically since Salome and artistically since Lyra Angelica. he said that in an article, but he also said it in an e-mail to me...which I have right here...I had written to him in early 00 because of some less-than-kind things he has had to say about her..

[Mistyeyed]

he quoted, "Old, reliable Michelle" (OH GAG!) I hate that expression ORwhoever........at least Hughes had the grace and decency to answer this guys questions with humble and not at all puffed up answers. I am sorry MK didn't win the gold but hey, I don't think someone of her caliber in skating should suddenly be labeled like this. Janet Lynn never won anything significant but she was always thought of as great and to this day she is not forgotten. I know who she is and that was way before my time. I will always feel rotten that MK didn't get the gold but I can never think of her in any less a fashion as a skater. I will always see/remember her as one of the greats. Hey, even though she doesn't have a gold in Olympics. I see her as up their with them on the same level.

[lynlei]

In a very ironic way, I think people talk about Michelle more since she did not get gold at Olys.
You know, had she won gold it would have been "great! she did it!" happy ending, period.

We as human being, we have to keep on progressing, sometimes we succeed and other times we fail. That's the nature.

Michelle did not get Gold like a storybook heroin. Did she quit? Noooo.
I believe she is taking a step by step to see which direction she wants to go on. That's why I admire her not only as a skater but also as a person. We all can learn from her attitude!

Her decision to leave long time coach, choreographer, going without a coach, getting a new coach, using not so unfamiliar music, etc....
those are all part of her progression.

I think it is time for Mr. Hersh's to get a different perspective :p

[momslovelove]

With Hersh consider the source and remember what he says changes as need be. I think the oly gold is great. We have a few one skate wonders. SOOOOOOOOOOOO, like the speed skater who won his gold because all the other skaters got knocked down it doesnt mean the skater is a great skater just lucky in a one 4 min program. Now not all skaters have a oly gold but are remembered when the oly winners are forgotten real quick. I remember the great in all sports and their performance and longevity is what puts them in the hall of fame and they are long loved and held in high esteem. Get over the oly gold being the be all. Look real close at the last few , where are they now? What have they done? Sorry most people I know dont even know at this point who they are. One hit wonders are forgotten real fast. Lots of good skaters out there and the next oly gold will be another 15/16 yr old who can jump. Thats the way it is.

[rack]

This isn't in defense of Hersh's choice of subject matter (frankly if I were doing a skating column this week it would be about drug testing), but he did casually discuss something which I had never thought about.

The Olympic press coverage was pretty much: Sarah wins; Michelle loses. I think if Irina had gotten gold and Michelle silver, the press coverage would have been: Michelle loses; Irina wins.

Not all that important 8 months later, but at least a different perspective for me.

[coco]

Well, when I saw the headline, I thought it would be about her approach to the technical aspect of the sport during competition and I was all set to agree. But music choices? Bah - who cares... how unique can anyone be, ALL THE TIME? Even w/the same songs, there are different arrangements that bring out totally different aspects of the music. Whatever...perhaps he needs a vacation.

[CMc]

What Sarah said sounded dead on--"It was set up perfectly for her to win, but things don't always just go to people."
Good take on the way the media tries to build up these events.

[Trillian]

Originally posted by momslovelove
Lots of good skaters out there and the next oly gold will be another 15/16 yr old who can jump.

If I'm wrong you can throw this back in my face a few years from now, but I highly doubt the next champion will be 15 or 16 years old. A 15-year-old would have never been to worlds under the new age rules; a 16-year-old would have been once at most. With the exception of Baiul, who was the product of a highly unusual situation anyway (only two years between Olympic events), IIRC every Olympic champ of the "modern" (post WW2) age has been to worlds at least twice prior to the Olympics--even in the post-figures era. There are some pretty promising 14/15 year olds out there now and maybe one of them will pull it off, but at any rate, I'm guessing the next Olympic champ will be at least 17 or 18 with at least two trips to worlds behind her.

[Maximillian]

...the last two Olympic Champions had plenty of International seasoning by the time the Olympics came around. Also, they had worked out the perceived flaws in their skating that really only come with a few years of Sr. experience. It really takes a few years of being in front of the judges to find out what they expect of you. In the Jrs. presentation is less of an asset and you can pretty much win if you've got all the jumps. That's something that both Hughes and Lipinski had to learn as Hughes finished 7th in her first Worlds and Lipinski 14th or so. It's something that Kirk is doing right now and many other jumpers with Jr. success have had to do in the past.

I think the best bets for the next Olympics would be the group of girls we have on the JGP right now-Donovan, DeSanctis (though she's really young), Liang etc. Girls who will all have had a couple of years Sr. experience by the time Turin rolls around.

[Helena]

There are some pretty promising 14/15 year olds out there now and maybe one of them will pull it off, but at any rate, I'm guessing the next Olympic champ will be at least 17 or 18 with at least two trips to worlds behind her.
I would like to agree wholeheartedly. As it stands, Sarah was on the far side of 16 and much more physically mature than the previous two (or three) Olympic champions. I choose to believe this just might signal the end of the kiddie corps era of "Ladies" figure skating. Of course, we heard that in '99 with Butyrskaya's win at Worlds, and again with Slutskaya's domination of the past couple of seasons. Unfortunately toddlers with triple axels are still getting the buzz, and I am not at all confident that Cinquanta's new judging scheme is going to discourage 'Figure Skating for Dummies' judging (when in doubt, count the jumps).

[loveskating]

The article's taking off point is Kwan's unexpected participation in Skate America -- that's the fact of the matter, isn't it? That's how Mr. Hirsch, formerly of "Team Kwan" wrote it. Once you say that, you are into the rest of it by necessity.

Its hardly a matter of opinion that Michelle choked at SLC...or how else would anyone like to explain her two footing the first of an attempted 3/3 toe loop and turning it into a 3/2; then falling on her flip jump plus other smaller mistakes? That was not typically how Michelle Kwan skated the LP in important competitions. What should he have called it?

Its not a matter of opinion that Kwan fired her choreographer, then her coach last season either...those are facts acknowleged by everyone, and referenced in the article, specifically by Robin Wagner. Its a fact that Sarah won the gold medal.

But what does it all mean? That's were opinion and speculation comes in and the future is not written. But Kwan's participation is a bit of the anti-climax variety...and I guess we will see how it plays and how it is hyped.

In any case, its once again Michelle Kwan that is in the news, that is the subject of the discussion and controversey, for which all her fans should be grateful.

Personally, I don't care about the music...he makes too much of the music, which is more about Lori Nichol than Michelle in any case, I bet.

[olivia]

Originally posted by loveskating


But what does it all mean? That's were opinion and speculation comes in and the future is not written. But Kwan's participation is a bit of the anti-climax variety...and I guess we will see how it plays and how it is hyped.

Exactly. That's why Hersh should have steered away from this topic as his "Skate America" editorial. There are other things to discuss that do not involve Michelle Kwan and her participation in this event. And, yes, while Hersh does state facts about the Olympics, those facts have been discussed ad nausem in the past 8 plus months. It's high time Hersh finds something else to write about. A new season has begun amidst injury and controversy. I wouldn't think it's all that difficult to find something to write about.

O-

[spiralsrfun]

ITA olivia

[nits]

It's obvious that if you dislike Michelle Kwan, you'll agree with every criticism or negative satements out there. If you like Michelle, you'll disagree. It's the same with any skater...some get upset with the smallest critcism of Sarah, Irina, Sasha etc.......
The skating season has just started. I'm waiting for the critical articles Hersh will start writing about other skaters. ;)

[loveskating]

It's obvious that if you dislike Michelle Kwan, you'll agree with every criticism or negative satements out there. If you like Michelle, you'll disagree. It's the same with any skater...some get upset with the smallest critcism of Sarah, Irina, Sasha etc.......

Well, I honestly don't agree...I think most things are much more complex and interesting than that, and worthy of more complex discussion.

If one wants Kwan at the center of things, which Hirsch obviously does, then the article he wrote is basically what a professional would have to write, although I think the music issue was a cheap shot.

As a professional, not merely a fan, he would have to write more or less about sports NEWS, not merely praising Kwan like a fan.

For instance, he could have chosen to write an article about A.P. McDonaugh. He didn't.

You can't have it both ways: you can't have Kwan the star of Skate America and then refuse to acknowledge the lead up to this event. You can't say its ok for the USFSA to ask her to skate to be the draw and to win, and then pretend last season never happened. Sure, a lot has been written about it...but its still the intro to Skate America, and any article about any skater in that position would deal with the NEWS about that skater.

Or, I guess, he could have written about Kwan's summer? Somehow, I don't think so.

[kwanette]

When was Hersh a member of Team Kwan?


Of course last season would have to be mentioned.....but in such detail? Give it a rest, please....Mr. Hersh......

[Badams]

really loveskating...i think that nits was saying that if you are not a michelle fan you will agree with every critisism that hersh has. and fans of any other skater would be upset if he were critisising any that skater. not that hersh wasn't a michelle fan. really....:roll:

[nits]

That was exactly my point. Thanks Badams...I'm glad someone understood my post ;)

[Sean]

Hersh has already written this article earlier in the season. What I find interesting, that no one has picked up on, is that Hersh has a soft spot for Michelle. He wants her to do well and he seems frustrated by the decisions she's made over the course of the last year. First it was her coaching decision which didn't "give her a champion's confidence when she needed it" and now it's her EXTREMELY safe music choice.

I like Michelle and think she should win competitions but only when she deserves to. She is capable of much more creatively than she is putting out right now (though at least she's still competing). Now is not the time to be SAFE. I enjoy Hersh's articles and hope that he has something more to say in his next one.

[bunghodog]

Michelle is not a choker, she's just not perfect, like every other skater out there, some fall on jumps and others screw up on spins, I woulden't call them chokers. The article was a waste of reading time, it wasn't as bad as what people made it out to be. Its funny how right after that he writes more positive article about kwan. I wonder who will be writing about next?

[adrianchew]

The dictionary seems to support the usage of choker in this context...

to lose one's composure and fail to perform effectively in a critical situation

The Olympics are critical as critical as it gets in the sport, and Kwan is certainly capable of winning, but she lost her composure and skated nowhere near the maximum of her abilities. That is what the Olympics is about - a few minutes of extreme high pressure competition, which makes or breaks years of effort and training. Some excel, others choke. That's life - we all should move on! ;)

[Hannahclear]

Hersh just wrote a new article: CONTAINS SPOILERS***

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/international/cs-0210260079oct26,0,5424593.story?coll=cs%2Dinternat ional%2Dprint

Evidently, he likes the new program too!







8O

[bunghodog]

michelle has proven herself time and time again, i hope she keeps competing so hersh writes some more articles about her, good or bad.

[Amidala]

I sense that some figure skating fans would prefer if Hersh dropped the whole "analysis of MK" thing, and instead just write about something/someone else-unless he decides to write "flatering" things about MK. Truth is, MK is the biggest superstar athlete in the world of figureskating(oly gold or not), she is the one that most people know-of by name, she's the legend here. That being said, of course Hersh (and others) will write articles that are: critical, compare/contrast, and show where MK has "been" in her career & where she is "going" w/ it now. Michelle Kwan is no fresh-faced young, up & coming skater to this sport, she's been around for a while now, and her decisions to become more "independent"(be it that they are "her" decisions & "her" right), were basically not smart business decisions on her part. Hersh pointed this out, and as a journalist, he has that right-just like MK has the right to call all the shots now on her career. But, when you're a big time athlete/celebrity, "you" (or your internet fans) cannot go around w/ the attitude of: "how dare that Hersh write that smack, she's a proven competitor". Yes, she may be proven, and yes, she's not the only skater who has changed coaches/choreographers-but she represents the current standard of figureskating, and therefore Hersh should be completely entitled to question a few things about how MK is running her own "show".

[Hannahclear]

Sure, he can write whatever he wants, that's his right, and it's also the right of MK's fans to stick up for her if they want to. I grant you that yes, some take it too seriously, but you could argue the same about Hersh.....

[Kharyzmaticka]

blah. don't like him, don't read him! simple as that. in fact, here's a concept: don't read skating articles, at all! it's easier on the heart, that way, trust me.

:D

[bleu]

I take your advise regarding not reading Hersh's article really seriously.

[nits]

I think that MK fans are entitled to write letters if they feel fit, just as certain posters feel they are entitled to go to other skaters forums and defend their favorite skater if they want to.

[pilgrimsoul]

As angry as I get at Hersh for being so hard on Michelle, I look at it this way. As long as sportswriters like Phil Hersh are still writing articles about Michelle, good or bad, it means she still impacts this sport. And I am hoping that continues for a very long time. It's when the articles stop coming that it's time to worry.

[SlitherDumpling]

Hersch is a hypocrite. First he thinks Michelle's music is too obscure then he thinks its over used. I have never noticed him taking any other skater to task for their music selections before. Sorry but its stretching. As for him writing some great skating articles in the past, of course he has, but this was not one of them. Michelle once again came in the last minute and saved a competition from obscurity, Skate America 98 anyone? She did it at the 94 Worlds, 98 Worlds and 2002 Worlds where the other U.S. medalists chose not to skate. If not for her the U.S would not have qualified 3 skaters the next years. That is what she should be complimented for. But she should be taken to task for her lack of technical growth. That's where Phil missed the boat, her presentation is fine and her music selection is trivial at this point.

Furthermore, he should be writing about the judging system, not another Michelle article. She is a great skater but its boring already.

[hiliairyh]

Hersh flip flops too often for me to take him seriously.