Great MK, Sasha, and Sarah Article

[tvdragon]

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/wessler/g140753a.html

Sarah Hughes is a fine skater, and she beat Kwan in the last Olympics fair and square. But Hughes looks like she's working at it. Sasha Cohen is a dervish and commands your attention with the precision of her artistry. But she looks choreographed.

Kwan is Kwan. There is only one, and I'd pay to watch her.

TV

[DancerFan]

AWESOME article -- read the whole article - it's so worth it!! :)

[Giselle]

I'm sorry but I don't like the way he dismissed the other skaters. It's insulting. Sarah and Sasha may be nothing special to him but he doesn't have to talk about them that way.

[skatingfan3]

Amen to that, Giselle!!

Deborah

[lrng to skt]

I agree Giselle - Kwan is without a doubt the most experienced and seasoned BUT Sarah certainly did not look like she "was working at it" in her Olympic performance and Sasha certainly does not usually "look choreographed".

He takes Kwan at her best possible and Hughes and Cohen at their sub standard and compares. Hardly reasonable...g

[HeatherC]

Thanx for the article. I thought it was great! :)

Two things though. One, he was talking about last night, not the Olys when he said that Sarah looked like she was working on it. She didn't look like herself last night IMO. She was good, but she can be better. Sarah did win the Olys fairly, and he said so too. Two, after ALL the crap I have read for like two years about Michelle, her skating, and her life in general in the papers and press, it is fine time IMO that someone finally gets it. Michelle has IT on the ice, the crowds love her, and they always come out to see her. I don't think he said anything really bad about the other skaters. They are all fine skaters, but by this guy admitting that he would pay money to just watch MK skate, he is simply stating that MK has won him over completely. And to compare the three by their performances last night IS fair. It was a competition. There are always comparisons. I am just happy that Michelle came out on top for this one time.....8O I know it won't happen again for like, ever, so I am going to just enjoy it! LOL :D

Just MO of course though...;)

[CMc]

I'd love to see Mr. Wessler "work at it" the way Sarah does and see how long he lasts.

[duane]

personally, i'd pay to watch michelle, sarah, sasha, and a great many others.

[nits]

Thanks for a wonderful article. It's nice to see MK finally getting the praise and respect she deserves.

[somechick]

why is it an article that praises Michelle and tears down her competitors is considered "so true" but an article that shows the tiniest criticism of Michelle, even if perfectly true or warranted, creates an upheavel? Michelle won that competition rightfully so I see no reason to go on bashing spree of her competitors. This is usually the case with this source. Michelle's talent and acomplishment should stand on its own merits without degrading others. I find it very sad and disheartening that others are so supportive of this.:(

[duane]

Originally posted by somechick
why is it an article that praises Michelle and tears down her competitors is considered "so true" but an article that shows the tiniest criticism of Michelle, even if perfectly true or warranted, creates an upheavel?

come on, somechick. surely you know the answer to this. when a skater has no flaws--like michelle--any criticism is unwarranted. however, her imperfect competitors are fair game, and pointing out the many, many flaws in their skating is perfectly ok.

:roll:

[proam]

Originally posted by duane
come on, somechick. surely you know the answer to this. when a skater has no flaws--like michelle--any criticism is unwarranted. however, her imperfect competitors are fair game, and pointing out the many, many flaws in their skating is perfectly ok.

:roll:

Sarcasm on- absolutely, perfection (read Goddess) never has flaws or imperfections. :roll: :roll:

Good one Duane, you summed up the agenda of this thread with great humor and irony. :bow:

[nits]

I don't think there was an "agenda" to this thread. I wasn't thinking of the other skaters..my bad. I was only thrilled to finally see something nice and postitive about Michelle being written for once. Leading up to Nationals the articles have suggested she should just give it up etc...this was a nice change.
No agenda for me. Just happy to see MK getting postitive press for a change.

[KMK0902]

In my opinion the article is about greatness - the icon's of their sports and the worth of a dollar. I agree completely, I would love to be able to go back in time and see #99 at his prime in Edmonton playing with his opponents, turning them into pilons. I would love to be able to "hear" Nolan Ryan's fastball. And I would love to see Michelle skate. With her 7 national titles and 4 worlds she is an icon!! When Sarah or Sasha can show that many titles I believe they will be in the same category. They are both outstanding skaters, but have not (yet ) shown the world their outstanding class for more than a couple of seasons.

I enjoy all three skaters, but in my book both Sarah and Sasha has a far way to go until they reach the "icon" stage. When they can be compared to Gretzky, Larry Bird, Nolan Ryan etc etc

Just my two cents....

Kat

[RobinA]

Yep, it's about greatness. I started attending skating events in 1995, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have seen Michelle live a bunch of times at Nationals, one SkateAmerica and COI. I hope to see her win a World title this March in D.C. I'll probably be in a wheel chair when the next skater comes around who can challenge her record of skating achievement, so I am savoring every moment of the fact that I was able to attend so many performances of someone who will become a legend in the sport. Michelle's going down as one of the greats in this sport, if not THE great so far in this sport, and I am there to see it. I couldn't be more thrilled.

[boudicca]

I think it should be noted that this article is in the "Opinion" section and is written as such. I, too, winced at the seeming dig at Sarah and Sasha and always hate to see a skater praised by negative comparisons. But since his opinions about Michelle so completely express what a multitude of people feel, it's an otherwise lovely article and goes straight to the heart.

[kwanlover]

I agree Robin, about Michelle going down in history as a great in the sport of figure skating...but I also think she will be known as one of the greatest female athletes of all time. Everyone will know who Michelle Kwan was.

[Panther2000]

I am sorry, but i Find nothing wrong with this article. Frankly, I have been saying the samething for about 2 years now. Sarah gave a great performance at the Olympics, it was light, free, & happy. She derserved & won the Gold. But, to me & many many others when trying a program that has depth or soul. She tries to act it out. She does not feel it & it shows. It is not a bash. Just an observation. Sasha has great presence on the ice, with Great positions. But again, even with the wonderful imporvement with TT she still looks like the program was put together eventhough, she skates it great. Great programs that they are. Not bashing. Just an observation. Michellle is an icon. & Even an Icon can have a bad year. Last year was michelles. All except the GPF( Talk about getting cheated) & Nationals, Michelle looked flat last season & was thinking tooo much & was stiff. But, even with that she still has a great presence on the ice. And you could see the differecence at the Campbells skate & SA at the start of the season, she had new life. The renewed energy & The speed the freeness of her soul & the pressure. For me, i don't see nothing wrong. But, then again he is a critic/report. They flip on a dime & I usually give very little credit to them.

[md2be]

HeatherC I agree. Dont let the others here spoil you.

Michelle deserves all the praise she gets. She is the real deal, a breath of fresh air in this sport. The others are talented, certainly, and no one begrudes them that, but there is only one Michelle Kwan.
She is the Michael Jordan of skating. The Shaqs and Barkleys exist, but there is only one michael jordan. those who deny kwan this status have some personal vendetta against her.

[Badams]

Originally posted by duane
come on, somechick. surely you know the answer to this. when a skater has no flaws--like michelle--any criticism is unwarranted. however, her imperfect competitors are fair game, and pointing out the many, many flaws in their skating is perfectly ok.

:roll:

you're right. michelle never gets critisized EVER! :roll:

[duane]

Originally posted by Badams
you're right. michelle never gets critisized EVER!

no where does my post claim that michelle never gets criticized. i think you missed the point.

[loveskating]

According to this article, Sasha is a "dervish" and Sarah "looks like she is working at it" -- while Kwan is "priceless" in reference to the "priceless" advertisements in which motherhood, love, togetherness etc. is embodied....quite a stretch on all counts, I'd say.

THis is a little hypefest and bashing fest because no skater, ever, could even dream of occupying that territory in the human heart! Its facially absurd! The day I love or spend time relative to ANY skater more than my own child or mother or husband will NEVER come, not even CLOSE, never debatable!

What is more interesting is the fact that he could have written that Kwan delivered the "magic" of the evening, like Sarah did at SLC, or Sasha did at Skate Canada and left it at that...why he chose not to do so is extremely interesting. I mean, when the press merely said that Kwan choked at SLC, this was, we were told, a terrible bash of Michelle Kwan, ever the victim. Relative to this article, one can see that merely claiming a skater choked, which is what happened to Sasha, is a great compliment...because it presumes a certain level of skating IF one does not choke....instead, he chose to make very broad generalizations about Sasha, Sarah .....and Kwan!

[adrianchew]

Originally posted by md2be

those who deny kwan this status have some personal vendetta against her.

State your point, but do not attack others by making such inferrences. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Consider this a warning. ~adrianchew~

[proam]

I have no problem with the columnist’s gush of Michelle, it is nice to have our favorite skater praised for all to read, the problem is with the subject title that this is a great Kwan, Hughes and Cohen article.

The subject should have been “A great Kwan article” because as I see it a sentence dismissing Sarah and Sasha’s skating is hardly great for them.

My question would be why even mention Sarah or Sasha since the article is not about them and both were mentioned in passing in the column, of course I have an opinion as to why, but I won’t fan the flames.

[Excidra]

The article is all about Michelle, I don't know where Sasha and Sarah come in, they were mentioned but the article was about one skater.

For the people who actually think this article is not taking digs at Michelle's rivals, then just erase Michelle's name and in place put Sasha's name. I bet a lot of kwan fans wouldn't be happy. I certinaly wouldn't like it, if an article is praising Irina but taking cheap jabs at her rivals.

Hey kirk, did you ever think maybe some people would pay more than an admission fee to see Sarah/Sasha.

[mzheng]

Yha, for that night it would take Sahra/Sasha both to beat MK. Namely Sahra's consistance/edge/speed + Sasha's prensence/posture/position (may be + Mok's 3L)

So you and Kirk are both right!

[adrianchew]

Originally posted by mzheng

Yha, for that night it would take Sahra/Sasha both to beat MK. Namely Sahra's consistance/edge/speed + Sasha's prensence/posture/position (may be + Mok's 3L)

Its spelled Sarah - remember it and use it next time, please. Thanks.

[zippy]

8O

Not everyone here speaks English or uses the Roman alphabet as their first language!

[adrianchew]

Originally posted by zippy

8O

Not everyone here speaks English or uses the Roman alphabet as their first language!

True - but please try to get at least names spelt right. Thanks.

[Emanfan]

Originally posted by zippy
Not everyone here speaks English or uses the Roman alphabet as their first language!

Very true and I imagine if you asked Sarah if she minded her name being spelled incorrectly by someone whose language was not english, she would say of course not.

We should be more tolerant of others and grateful that they at least try to speak and write our language. Sorry Adrian, I think your comment was a little harsh.

[adrianchew]

Originally posted by Emanfan

Sorry Adrian, I think your comment was a little harsh.

My main concern is with name calling and nicknames meant as putdowns. There's been some of that lately unfortunately - so there was a need for what I did. I can understand it was probably an honest mistake in this case though.

If people don't like the harshness at times, they're more than welcome to leave the boards.