I am one very proud-to-call-her-a-So-Cal-gal after last night's short program. And thrilled that she is in first place right now. Personally, after some of the statements by the NBC commentators, I was looking for the artistic component in the Russian gal's program vs Sasha ... and I honestly believe (absolutely no American bias here ) that Sasha's program was far superior ... not just .03 points worth of better. Sasha had NO flaws, NO glitches, NO slips or mistakes, and who can raise their leg that high off the ground with a skate on nonetheless? Her execution was flawless.
And what in the world were those judges thinking when the gal from Japan finished as high as she did? She fell, she ran into the wall for crying out loud ... I thought Kimmie's performance was much better. And again ... no American bias here at all.
By the way, how perky and cute is Emily Hughes? Did her parents clone her from Sarah?
Anyway, I know that some of the men here at HSBBW don't think that figure skating is a sport or even athletic ... it requires a judge for crying out loud ... but who could deny that these young ladies are awesome athletes?
Also, as far as the 'judging' element is concerned, if the guys think there is no room for 'artistic' interpretations, that could easily be taken out of the judging and the required elements ... similar to theold 'compulsories' that were done before the short program ... evaluated based on a standard ... could even use a computer to view the movements, the height, etc. ... to make it more objective. I guess those men don't think diving should be in the summer Olympics either ...
The USA finished with 3 of the top 7 last night ... GO U S A !!!!
Oh yes, in closing ... the Russian gal is 27 years old ... shouldn't she be far superior to the very young Americans?
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
I agree with you FBM....Sasha Cohen was absolutely beautiful and brilliant. I have ALWAYS liked that girl's skating...she has more artistry in her little finger than the majority of her competition. Ho9pefully she'll skate to her potential and have another perfect performance tomorrow nigh t!
Posts: 2634 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: December 30, 2002
I loved seeing Kimmiee, Emily and Sasha do so well in the short program last night, particularly since I got to see all three of them in person here this winter. My son's girlfriend is a devoted synchronized skater and they invited me and her mom to go with them to a competition in St. Paul in October. I've always been more of a hockey fan than skating, but it is definitely growing on me!
Posts: 3617 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: January 04, 2003
Yes, definitely agree, all three American girls did extremely well. Hope they keep it up and do as equally well (or better) tomorrow night. Way to go girls!
"How bad do you want it? How bad do you need it? Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming with that one thing on your mind? How bad do you want it? How bad do you need it? Cause if you want it all You've got to lay it all out on the line" ~ performed by Tim McGraw written by Jim Collins/Bill Luther
Posts: 204 | Location: Georgia | Registered: June 28, 2005
Sorry FBM, I wished you would have started this topic in another forum. But since I am here....
Sasha Cohen is fabulous. She has always been a precocius talent imho. The only thing that has held her back from winning everything she competes in is that she tends to fall at least one time in the long program.
Does that lower her talent in my eyes? Not in the least bit. At the figuring skating championships leading up to these Olympics, her performance was breathtaking. She is the epitome of art on ice.
Well, I wanted to start the thread in the Men's Room but ... no one would have read it there because it would probably have been deleted before anyone read it
I agree with you ref Sasha being the epitome of art on ice. At my "tender" age, I have watched a lot of Olympic ice skating ... not an expert by any means ... but I think she is absolutely one of the best American Olympic athletes I can recall seeing. I love her style and think she is even better than some of the past classic beauties like Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamil (spelling?).
Hopefully her confidence will carry her tomorrow ... I know she will be getting an extra prayer from the O C tomorrow night (tho by the time we see it, the result will already be history.)
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
Thanks for keeping the estrogen level down by NOT posting in the locker room. BTW--we are all passing the hat to by CD a couple quarts of testosterone--he is obviously running low.
JT
Posts: 3519 | Location: Lynchburg, VA | Registered: January 15, 2003
Sasha.... she is great on the ice. I haven't ever wanted to watch figure skating until the other night. She is a talent.
JT, I am going to get CD's testosterone level back up. Just watch the "Men's Only" forum. I have founf a pic of Sasha that should make it go through the roof.
Posts: 1130 | Location: KY USA | Registered: October 27, 2003
I know who won ~ but I'll stay quiet until after airtime ~ wouldn't want to spoil the suspense!
"How bad do you want it? How bad do you need it? Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming with that one thing on your mind? How bad do you want it? How bad do you need it? Cause if you want it all You've got to lay it all out on the line" ~ performed by Tim McGraw written by Jim Collins/Bill Luther
Posts: 204 | Location: Georgia | Registered: June 28, 2005
What I liked about Sasha is the confidence she had from the get go. Kind of like a pitcher, you can tell from the start their frame of mind. I was very excited to see her. Missed the others but look forward to watching tonight. How high did you have to place to do the long program?
Posts: 197 | Location: West Coast | Registered: December 01, 2005
Alas and alack ... Sasha took a big fall at the beginning of her long program, and had another slip where she was able to avoid landing on her bottom ... she managed to hold on for the Silver and I am thrilled that she got a medal. Am sure she will have many many fans greet her upon her return.
I hope she can come back in 4 years and take it all ... there are some wonderful young skaters out there and hopefully the USA can contend in '10 (does that sound as far away to everybody as it does to me?)
Congrats to all our USA skaters who did a very nice job ... looking forward to their future appearances.
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
Gosh....did the writer for the LA Times not get down right mean about Cohen? Bill Plaschke of the Times.....he states she lost the gold because she didn't want to be there....and goes on, and on....to prove his point.
New to SoCal....so not sure if this is his standard prose....but Sasha got a terrible write up from him....hope she does come back in four years.....and certainly she wanted to be there this year!
"A house stays in one place. A home is where the heart leads........"
Posts: 1571 | Location: NorthCarolina | Registered: June 16, 2004
We stopped our subscription to the LA Times several years ago for several reasons ... I think one of the 'problems' he may have with Sasha is that she is from the OC and he probably was/is upset that the LA County girl (Michele Kwan) had to drop out.
I have followed stories on Sasha for the past couple of years, finding it interesting that she changed her coach a few times and is now back with Nicks, her first coach. There was a time that I thought she was a prima donna, but I have changed my mind about her 180 degrees in the past few months. If I remember correctly, she expressed a desire previously that Michele Kwan be permitted to attend the Olympics this year despite not participating in the national qualifier ... I believe she wanted to show that she was sufficiently qualified to be there competing against Michele (there were comments in the OC Register that perhaps Sasha would not have finished first in the Olympic qualifying tournament had Michele been healthy).
I think the Times reporter is way way off base ... and I think Sasha needs to keep going out there to prove herself against the best. It would be sweet indeed if her long program would become her signature rather than her short. Hope she is back in '10.
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
Agree! How anyone can say that an Olympian doesn't want to be there.....competing.....makes no sense...don't know if you saw the article...but it was really subjective.....and too critical.....but....as you say.....2010!
"A house stays in one place. A home is where the heart leads........"
Posts: 1571 | Location: NorthCarolina | Registered: June 16, 2004
) that Sasha's program was far superior ... not just .03 points worth of better. Sasha had NO flaws, NO glitches, NO slips or mistakes, and who can raise their leg that high off the ground with a skate on nonetheless? Her execution was flawless. 
t!
