On 31 May 2005 23:52:43 -0000 SkateFans@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>
> Message: 3
>    Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 13:03:19 -0000
>    From: "capcomgr" <capcomop@...>
> Subject: Re: Kwan says yes
>
> --- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Leigh Meydrech <meydrech@x> wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, 30 May 2005, Trudi Marrapodi wrote:
> >
> > > On May 30, 2005, at 9:37 AM, lbo3@a... wrote:
> > >
> > > > In a message dated 5/29/2005 10:30:49 AM Mountain Daylight
> Time,
> > > > meydrech@x... writes:
> > > > Wow, aren't you nice. A credit to Michelle
> > > > ------
> > > > Well, no.  Skaters aren't responsible for the peculiarities of
> their
> > > > fans,
> > > > and the quality of a particular fan as a human being is no
> reflection
> > > > on the skater.
> > > >
> > > > The same skater can have as fans a wonderful, rational,
> reasonable,
> > > > knowldedgable, tactful, humorous person AND a biased, tactless,
> > > > irrational,
> > > > ill-informed, cruel person.   there's no explaining it.   And
> neither
> > > > the good nor bad
> > > > characteristics of any of the fans are necessarily those of
> the skater.
> > > >
> > > >      janet
> > >
> > > Hear, hear.
> > >
> > > It never ceases to amaze me how skaters, and all other kinds of
> > > celebrities, get blamed for the weirdnesses of their fans.
> > >
> > > It's absurd.
> > >
> > > Celebrities can't pick and choose who is going to like them.
> They can't
> > > help it that, no matter what kind of celebrity you are, chances
> are
> > > you're going to become a weirdness magnet, as well as a magnet
> for some
> > > really decent people. It's one of the pitfalls of celebrityhood.
> People
> > > will be attracted to you for reasons good, reasons bad, and
> reasons
> > > pathetic. It comes with the territory.
> > >
> > > The unfortunate thing is that many people still do pass judgment
> on
> > > celebrities for how their fans, or even just some, of their fans
> > > behave. I really, really wish they didn't do this.
> >
> > No, I'm just saying that Michelle is a nice person and would
> probably be
> > embaressed by the fighting that goes on in her name, and I would
> think
> > that her fans would realize that and base their conduct according.
> >
> > I know that skaters can't control their fans.
> Assuming that the person you are referring to IS a Kwan fa. We have
> known more than one poster to throw bombs in just to stir the pot
> and see what kind of reaction he/she can get! I find it is almost as
> dangerous to assume things about posters as it is to assume things
> about skaters most of us never met ;-)!

Yes, I am a Kwan fan, but I don't see what that has to do with anything. 
However, I don't attempt to speak for her or her other fans or to be a "credit"
to anyone. (whatever that means)  I only speak for myself.

I don't know what some people have chosen to get themselves so bent out of shape
about anyway.  I was just stating my opinion just like Susan was stating hers.

Meredith

About 3 weeks ago I heard from a "always very well informed source" that Barbara
Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio were returning to eligible competition to
compete in Turin. This news really surprised me but my source said it was true
and that they even had a press conference over a month ago in Italy where they
announced their intentions. Shockingly, I haven't seen one word about this
anywhere on the internet!! Considering that the Italians were just Olympic
bronze medalists in 2002 I would have thought that there would have been a lot
of buzz about this, but so far nothing!! So does anyone know anything more about
this? My source tells me, like Drobiazko/Vanagas, that F-P/M didn't receive any
GP assignments cause no host federation invited them and they don't have an ISU
ranking since they haven't competed since 02.

Again, anyone know anything else?


David Forberg, who personally thinks D/V and F-P/M are crazy to come back if
they really think that medals are a possibility

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, "Ben Currie" <ncurrie40@y...> wrote:
>
one of the rare times
> where all things considereed the judges could have gone either way  -
-
>  at least by my lights --- and not been "wrong."
>
> Ben Currie

I do wish Figure skating allowed ties.  Let's be frank sometimes that
is the only right decision.

Antoinette

I posted about Matt Savoie at Worlds in Dortmund:

"Savoie was very annoying in Dortmund skating to a 16th place finish and
complained constantly to anyone who would listen about all his problems."

Correction: Actually Matt only spoke to a few people in Dortmund. As most
skating fans know Matt is a very shy and introverted person and is not the type
to go around talking to just anyone.


David Forberg






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The National Judges I have met (many, and I know some of them pretty
well) don't care at all about who skated in what competition and
certainly don't care what Tom Collins thinks. If Mike Weiss skates
better than all but 2 of the entrants at Nationals, I believe they
will place him 3rd (or 2nd, or 1st if appropriate). If you think Rudy
Galindo was a popular (politically correct) choice when he won, you
are dreaming.  He skated the best, he deserved to win, and that is
where he placed.

Unlike some federations, the USFSA does not instruct the judges on
where to place skaters (if someone at headquarters was silly enough to
do so, the judges would ignore them).  While there are politics
aplenty in the USFSA (like any organization) once you have become a
National Judge if you don't call them as you see them, you will lose
the respect of the other judges and the Referees.

In the USFSA, the judges may not always behave "correctly" in some
person's opinion.  I do not believe there is any evidence that they
colude to achieve a predetermined result.

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Sandra Loosemore <sandra@f...> wrote:
> FWIW, I'm under the impression that Weiss didn't do the cheesefests
> last season because he chose to do the Disson shows for NBC instead.
> (Disson is Weiss's agent now.)  In the past, the USFSA has refused
> permission for US skaters who were under contract to do the
> cheesefests for ABC to appear in made-for-TV shows on other networks
> on the grounds that ABC considered it a conflict of interest.
> Frankly, I think this was a smart move for Weiss, given the USFSA
> eliminating appearance fees at the cheesefests, and the fact that
he'd
> never done all that well at them anyway so he couldn't rely on
getting
> a bunch of prize money, either.
>
> -Sandra the cynic

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/47446.htm

Sorry, I forgot that the New York Post now requires registration.  I
registered because I can't resist the headlines.  There are no ordinary
criminals; they're all "fiends" and "pervs;" Mayor Bloomberg is "Bloomy" and
any woman over 22 years of age is a "Granny."  However, I've never seen a
man referred to as "Grandpa" as in "Grandpa captures burgler."

Barbara
---
"Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night."
  Child's answer in Bible study quiz

In a message dated 5/31/2005 7:57:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,
SkateFans@yahoogroups.com writes:

I don't  think she was a freak. She was a nervous mom. That's all.
  I agree. I'm a big Kentucky basketball fan. Even though I don't  personally
know any of the players, I can't watch them play. It makes me too  nervous.
But I know when the game should end so I only watch the last 2-3  minutes.

Allen in Kentucky






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 5/31/2005 6:37:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,
skatefan@... writes:
This kid's mom is such a freak that
   she literally melts down during every competition and paces
   the halls rather than watch the kid compete.
Although I could not access this and read the whole article, I honestly do
not see how this qualifies as a "freak".  My daughter competes in both singles
and synchronized skating and I am a "nervous wreck" every time she competes, as
are all the other parents around me watching their children.  I am also
nervous when my kids are pitching during their softball and baseball games and
playing goalie during soccer.  I think it is a normal parental reaction to be
become extremely nervous when your child is at the center of attention during a
sport, even for just a minute or two.  I am sure parents of children who play an
instrument are very nervous during recitals as well.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Trudi:

>> So "Yellow River Concerto" doesn't have enough rhythm or emotion. Oh well, it
was good enough for Michelle Kwan years ago. <<

And good enough for Shen and Zhao themselves!  Pretty sure this was the music
for their 1996 long program, the year they first made people notice them at
Worlds.

--Sarah




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At 8:14 PM -0400 5/31/05, revjoelle@... wrote:
>
>There have been a few times when I had to avert my eyes when my daughter  was
>going for a jump that was iffy for her to land.  It's hard to explain  how
>nervous you get for your kid.   But then again, my daughter is  always calling
>me a freak :-)
>
>
>Joelle

My daughter only skated for tests, but I was too nervous to watch as
well. Plus I even like to know the results in advance before I watch
a favorite skater at nationals or worlds. It's too stressful to watch
in real time.

Suzanne

In a message dated 5/31/2005 6:33:44 P.M. Central Standard Time,
icevice2003@... writes:

BTW The  Hughes get too nervous to watch their children compete. And I recall
a story  that Kristi Y's mom almost got up and left the arena at one Worlds.
I guess  they're freak shows too?




There have been a few times when I had to avert my eyes when my daughter  was
going for a jump that was iffy for her to land.  It's hard to explain  how
nervous you get for your kid.   But then again, my daughter is  always calling
me a freak :-)

Joelle


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On May 31, 2005, at 7:31 PM, icevice2003 wrote:

> --- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, "Bubbles" <skatefan@e...> wrote:
>> http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/47446.htm
>> "This kid's mom is such a freak that
>>   she literally melts down during every competition and paces
>>   the halls rather than watch the kid compete. I mean, I wouldn't
>>   want to see my son in sequined pants and bolero jackets either
>>   . . . but still...
>
> I can't access the whole story. But, Le sigh. Parental units, this is
> why if you had come to SkateFans seeking advice, we would have hit you
> over the head to keep you from doing this show.
>
> And gawd forbid your kid should ever wear a costume. This reviewer's
> "manly"  little son is probably doing 6 to 10 for assault. :P
>
> BTW The Hughes get too nervous to watch their children compete. And I
> recall a story that Kristi Y's mom almost got up and left the arena at
> one Worlds. I guess they're freak shows too?
> AmyP

Ultimate freak show, in that case: Jo-Anne Orser. Camera guys actually
used to train themselves on her so they could follow her departure from
the arena and into the ladies' room just before Brian skated. Then when
he was done and she finally came out, she'd stand on the concourse
watching the marks on a monitor rather than going back into the arena.

I don't think she was a freak. She was a nervous mom. That's all.

Trudi

On May 30, 2005, at 10:26 PM, Don wrote:

> Sarah wrote:
>>>> In their estimation, the judges don't "get" music by Chinese
> composers.  I'm not saying it's necessarily true, just that it's what
> they've said.>>>
>
> Their coach said they had originally picked "The Yellow River" concerto
> (not exactly groundbreaking either), but felt that it lacked rhythm and
> didn't have enough emotion.

[snip]

So "Yellow River Concerto" doesn't have enough rhythm or emotion. Oh
well, it was good enough for Michelle Kwan years ago.
>
Trudi

On May 30, 2005, at 9:54 PM, Don wrote:

> So, I read that their short, already choreo'ed by Lori Nichol, is going
> to be "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini".  They arrived at this
> selection
> after listening to 1,000 pieces of music!  God, can it get anymore
> predictable than this, considering that their long is to "Madame
> Butterfly" (gag)?  I really don't understand S&Z's decision lately to
> skate to the most hackneyed Western music imaginable ("Nut Cracker"
> last
> time).  Couldn't they have come up with something more original,
> perhaps
> by a Chinese composer?

This is a bit disappointing. One can only conclude that they were
inspired by the 2003-04 season, when everyone BUT them in the pairs
seemed to be using that music for either their short or long program...

*sigh*

Trudi

On May 30, 2005, at 9:21 PM, Leigh Meydrech wrote:

>
> On Mon, 30 May 2005, Trudi Marrapodi wrote:
>
>> On May 30, 2005, at 9:37 AM, lbo3@... wrote:
>>
>>> In a message dated 5/29/2005 10:30:49 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
>>> meydrech@... writes:
>>> Wow, aren't you nice. A credit to Michelle
>>> ------
>>> Well, no.  Skaters aren't responsible for the peculiarities of their
>>> fans,
>>> and the quality of a particular fan as a human being is no reflection
>>> on the skater.
>>>
>>> The same skater can have as fans a wonderful, rational, reasonable,
>>> knowldedgable, tactful, humorous person AND a biased, tactless,
>>> irrational,
>>> ill-informed, cruel person.   there's no explaining it.   And neither
>>> the good nor bad
>>> characteristics of any of the fans are necessarily those of the
>>> skater.
>>>
>>>      janet
>>
>> Hear, hear.
>>
>> It never ceases to amaze me how skaters, and all other kinds of
>> celebrities, get blamed for the weirdnesses of their fans.
>>
>> It's absurd.
>>
>> Celebrities can't pick and choose who is going to like them. They
>> can't
>> help it that, no matter what kind of celebrity you are, chances are
>> you're going to become a weirdness magnet, as well as a magnet for
>> some
>> really decent people. It's one of the pitfalls of celebrityhood.
>> People
>> will be attracted to you for reasons good, reasons bad, and reasons
>> pathetic. It comes with the territory.
>>
>> The unfortunate thing is that many people still do pass judgment on
>> celebrities for how their fans, or even just some, of their fans
>> behave. I really, really wish they didn't do this.
>
> No, I'm just saying that Michelle is a nice person and would probably
> be
> embaressed by the fighting that goes on in her name, and I would think
> that her fans would realize that and base their conduct according.
>
> I know that skaters can't control their fans.
>
Wishful thinking, I'm afraid. Some fans turn their brains off and never
allow it to occur to them whether or not the celebrity in question
would like the kind of stuff they do in his or her name.

Trudi

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, "Bubbles" <skatefan@e...> wrote:
> http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/47446.htm
> "This kid's mom is such a freak that
>   she literally melts down during every competition and paces
>   the halls rather than watch the kid compete. I mean, I wouldn't
>   want to see my son in sequined pants and bolero jackets either
>   . . . but still...

I can't access the whole story. But, Le sigh. Parental units, this is why if you
had come to SkateFans seeking advice, we would have hit you over the head to
keep you from doing this show.

And gawd forbid your kid should ever wear a costume. This reviewer's "manly" 
little son is probably doing 6 to 10 for assault. :P

BTW The Hughes get too nervous to watch their children compete. And I recall a
story that Kristi Y's mom almost got up and left the arena at one Worlds. I
guess they're freak shows too?
AmyP

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/47446.htm

"The other parent-kid pairings - such as the 16-year-old male
   ice skater - are no better. This kid's mom is such a freak that
   she literally melts down during every competition and paces
   the halls rather than watch the kid compete. I mean, I wouldn't
   want to see my son in sequined pants and bolero jackets either
   . . . but still...

Barbara
---
"Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night."
  Child's answer in Bible study quiz

Let us hope that the variation of Rhap. on a Theme of Paganini is the
one I&Z used for their 2001-2002 season. The previous variation they
used (I believe for two seasons!)forced me to hit the mute button it
was so irritating.

I always thought that Lori Nichols best creations were for Kwan (and
the Love Story lp for S&P). Plus, she knows what to do with a
skater's arms.

Ann/NoVA

>
> Well....to be completely fair,Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is
> quite long (around 40 minutes) and there are some WONDERFUL
portions
> of it that have never been skated to.  That being said, no doubt
> they're going to head straight for the 18th variation.

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, david.forberg@c... wrote:
> We do enough bashing of the various organizing cmt's who have
hosted Nationals over the years I thought I would do a "kudos" to the
2006 St. Louis org. cmt for helping my friend out. Said friend paid
for an expensive all-event ticket over 2 years ago when they first
went on sale. Now my friend has gotten ill and in all likelihood
won't be able to attend Nationals like they had once hoped. The St.
Louis org. cmt actually refunded my friend's money that they had put
out for the all-event ticket. Not cheap. They probably didn't have to
do that but it makes for a nice story that they did. I hope that the
fan friendly atmosphere created here continues as we approach
Nationals.
>
>
> David Forberg


David,

Additionally, I would like to say that St Louis did change the venues
on us since we purchased tickets.  However, for those that purchased
before the change, they are making arrangements to give you a free
bus pass.  That's great customer service!

When I spoke to their reps in Portland and pointed out the
overlapping of events and the importance of adding extra buses at
peak times to transport people during those few days where the
schedule is an issue. They took good notes.  I'm real hopeful that
they'll do a good job!

I'm really please they refunded the money for someone ill and unable
to attend.

I'm really looking forward to going to St Louis!

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Kathy Godfrey <kgodfrey@b...> wrote:

"....  Paul Wylie's interviews indicate that the personal vindication
of having a clean competition at the 1992 Olympics was as important
as the silver medal he earned for it. "

> Kathy Godfrey

It was a great program ... one of 3 or 4 over the years that has made
me cry watching it .... but it wasn't clean. He stumble stepped a bit
out of one of the TAs .... (Doubling a planned Triple Lutz towards
the end of the program doesn't count, but he needed it badly so its a
glitch)

The key was: even with some minor little mistakes the program built
tremendously accumulating an artistic force like a growing ocean
wave ...

I think one maybe two judges put it first ... it could have won ...
but even though its likely the judges voted for Petrenko on
reputation, his skate was wholly comparable ... one of the rare times
where all things considereed the judges could have gone either way  --
  at least by my lights --- and not been "wrong."

Ben Currie

At 03:50 PM 5/31/2005, marco925 wrote:
>Exactly. What happened to training hard and fighting for your spot and
>feeling great for having deservedly earned it?

As Trudi (?) said, this is a sport.  Even for those who don't make
it to the Nationals podium, there are competitive goals:
competing/performing/placing better than last year, or
making a cut you didn't make last year (e.g., getting from regionals
to sectionals, or getting into the final group), or even
placing ahead of someone who's always beaten you in the past.
And if that person were made to go away because they've been
around "too long," how would you ever know whether you could have
beaten him or her?

Should the Yankees have been forced to sit out some playoffs
back in 1939 to "give other teams a chance"
because they'd won the last 3 straight World
Series, and won the 1938 Series in straight games?

Some skater at Regionals who finally skates clean in competition
while doing all the planned technical content may have achieved a goal
more personally fulfilling than whether or not that gets him to
Sectionals.  (Paul Wylie's interviews indicate that the personal
vindication of having a clean competition at the 1992 Olympics
was as important as the silver medal he earned for it.)

  >>Kathy Godfrey
    kgodfrey@...

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, "capcomgr" <capcomop@c...> wrote:
> Since she seems to be the focus of the pity party...how about ole'
> Amber Corwin. Does anyone really think that her sitting on the
> athlete's advisory committee hasn't earned her a few brownie
points???
> She has been plugging away at Nats for how many years? Her outcome
has
> been??? What young lady that could have become the next amazing
skater
> has been held down by Amber ALWAYS taking a spot to Nats? What young
> skater has missed her heart warming, life changing shot at Nats so
that
> Amber can eek out a spot in the top ten, AGAIN. Who knows how little
> Sally Skater would have made out her one chance to experience Nats,
but
> big ole' bad Amber just keeps taking her spot. Calling Susan..
>
> If Kwan is to be mocked for her determination and dreams then Susan
> needs to take a LONG list and start a mocking!!!!!

Exactly. What happened to training hard and fighting for your spot and
feeling great for having deservedly earned it?

Too bad S&Z isn't going to keep their fantastic SP from this past
season. The Song Sisters is a great LP too, but I don't miss it.

Oh yes, The Song Sisters is Chinese music.

About Lori Nichol, is Fumie Suguri her star client or is she just on
and off? I refuse to believe that she choreographed those great
programs for Fumie (which are also very COP friendly) and yet came
up with those let-downs for Goebel and Kirk.

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Sarah Ramer <sramer@p...> wrote:
> Don:
>
> >> Couldn't they have come up with something more original,
perhaps by a Chinese composer? <<
>
> In their estimation, the judges don't "get" music by Chinese
composers.  I'm not saying it's necessarily true, just that it's
what they've said.  Anyway, so they lean towards overused music.
That puts them among the ranks of American, Canadian, Russian, etc.
pairs.  What surprises me is that Lori Nichol would choreograph
to "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini."  Didn't she used to be fierce
about finding unusual music?
>
> --Sarah
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

FWIW, I'm under the impression that Weiss didn't do the cheesefests
last season because he chose to do the Disson shows for NBC instead.
(Disson is Weiss's agent now.)  In the past, the USFSA has refused
permission for US skaters who were under contract to do the
cheesefests for ABC to appear in made-for-TV shows on other networks
on the grounds that ABC considered it a conflict of interest.
Frankly, I think this was a smart move for Weiss, given the USFSA
eliminating appearance fees at the cheesefests, and the fact that he'd
never done all that well at them anyway so he couldn't rely on getting
a bunch of prize money, either.

-Sandra the cynic

At 01:37 PM 5/31/2005, naomipaiss wrote:
>If this is how the USFSA treats its past multiple champions, and
>both Todd and Mike sure did their stints, bringing home world
>medals.

The COI/SOI issue aside (since I have no idea how valid that
suspicion is), I've gotten the sense from recent years that
the USFSA has gotten the attitude that once you've won
a World medal, if you don't continue to succeed at that
level, you're not as worthy of attention as continuing
success stories or up-and-comers.  ("What have you done
for us lately?")  If Goebel goes another season without
medalling at Olympics or Worlds, he may also become less
interesting to the USFSA, particularly if Weir does medal,
and especially if Lysacek continues to improve.  I'm sure
Goebel knows his work is cut out for him.  (After all,
his placement at Worlds this year was lower than any of
Weiss'.)

The US men's field is currently deep enough that Weiss can
skate substantially better than he may have in the past to
win Nationals, and not even medal.  This is great news
for the US men's program, and a motivation for all the
competitors.  If Weiss' iffy axel technique means he
doesn't get on the World/Olympic team, that's fair enough,
but if he gets put behind some other skater because
of SOI/COI politics, that's just stupid.

  >>Kathy Godfrey
    kgodfrey@...

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, David Forberg <david.forberg@m...>
wrote:
> >
>
> I would hope but unfortunately that ain't gonna happen. The USFSA
has all
> but officially divorced themselves from Michael Weiss. After his
falling out
> with Tom Collins and his signing with SOI meant the deathbed to
any chance
> Michael might have had to make another US world team. The USFSA is
furious
> with him over the Collins issue but that was Tom Collins choice and
> Michael's decision was the right one to make all things
considered. Since
> the USFSA is soooo tied to COI and the Collins money making
machine if you
> have a fallout with COI then you also have a fallout with the
USFSA. Sad but
> true. Did anyone notice how Michael wasn't at the last cheesefest
even
> though supposedly it was for the top 6 skaters at Nationals? Gee,
I wonder
> why that happened!!

Your loyalty to Mike is admirable, David -- but as much as I think
Weiss is really past it, I also think that using Tom Collins as the
tenth judge for the U.S. just reeks. Didn't something like this
happen with Todd when he joined SOI, or did the falling-out happen
first, then the jump to SOI?

If this is how the USFSA treats its past multiple champions, and
both Todd and Mike sure did their stints, bringing home world
medals, then no wonder we have a shortage of good men in singles,
pairs and dance. First there's the sissy problem, then the problem
that in the U.S. ladies are always the most popular, then the USFSA
dissing its own. Although I wouldn't know how apparent that last
factor is to kids and their parents still at the club level.

Naomi

In a message dated 5/31/2005 12:19:50 PM Eastern Standard Time,
david.forberg@... writes:
"Put it this way: if you cannot beat a 29 has-been like Michael Weiss,
who cannot land a Quad or a completely clean TA/TT combo *in
competition*, then you don't deserve to be on the team."


: )

  I wonder about the US men.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sandra writes about Michael Weiss last year at US Nationals:



"Weiss finished 5th at Nationals last year, not 4th; and I think his
placement had more to do with not skating well than the judges playing
politics."



He certainly didn't deserve a top 3 finish but he most definitely should
have been 4th ahead of Matt Savoie who was very disappointing in the LP.



Then Sandra adds:



"But I imagine that if next year he skates
better, he'll still be right in the thick of things."



I would hope but unfortunately that ain't gonna happen. The USFSA has all
but officially divorced themselves from Michael Weiss. After his falling out
with Tom Collins and his signing with SOI meant the deathbed to any chance
Michael might have had to make another US world team. The USFSA is furious
with him over the Collins issue but that was Tom Collins choice and
Michael's decision was the right one to make all things considered. Since
the USFSA is soooo tied to COI and the Collins money making machine if you
have a fallout with COI then you also have a fallout with the USFSA. Sad but
true. Did anyone notice how Michael wasn't at the last cheesefest even
though supposedly it was for the top 6 skaters at Nationals? Gee, I wonder
why that happened!!



Naomi writes about who she liked to see be the 3rd US man for the Olympic
team:



"But please, oh please, anybody but Weiss. He's had his two Olys, and
yes if he can beat everyone else he "deserves" the third spot, but
I'll be rooting for Ryan, Matt, Shawn, anyone! to get the chance in
his place."



Sorry but I really don't want to see either Savoie or Jahnke make the team.
Both of had their share of opportunities and haven't produced like their
sometimes capable of. Savoie was very annoying in Dortmund skating to a 16th
place finish and complained constantly to anyone who would listen about all
his problems. Jahnke more often than not is a mess and is just not a good
competitor. He bombed in the LP at worlds in 2003 and he bombed big time at
Nationals this past season. These instances aren't the only times Ryan has
been a poor competitor. Why send him? Personally I would hope for Jordan
Brauninger but since the international cmt has just placed him on the Jr. GP
series for yet another year he won't be given a look this year to make the
Olympic team which could have been a possibility for him (remembering what
the USFSA did with Don/Hunt in 2003).



Lastly Ben writes:



"Put it this way: if you cannot beat a 29 has-been like Michael Weiss,
who cannot land a Quad or a completely clean TA/TT combo *in
competition*, then you don't deserve to be on the team."



Sheesh, another wonderful post about Michael..NOT! You know, Weiss may not
be the skater he once was but his worst showing at worlds (7th in 97) is
still a lot better than anything Savoie, Jahnke, or most others have ever
given the U.S.



Personally I would love to Michael make another Olympic team but
unfortunately because of the fallout with the USFSA that ain't gonna happen.
As long as Goebel can land at least one quad he should be the 3rd man for
the U.S. behind Weir & Lysacek. If Goebel can't land any quads than the only
other alternative is probably Matt Savoie.





David Forberg







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As part of my spring cleaning, I've decided to part with my collection of
skating magazines.  I have IFS, Blades on Ice and Spotlight on Skating
stretching from 1995 forward.  I am selling each issue at $5, plus mailing
costs.  If interested, email me privately at jennifer_riskind@....

The lists are as follows: (this is a long post!)

Blades on Ice:

Nov/Dec. 1994:  Cover is Todd Eldredge - Goodwill Games
May 1995: Cover is Usova & Zhulin
July 1995: Cover is Phillipe Candoloro
Dec. 1995:  Cover is Jill Trenary (2 copies of this issue)
April 1996:  Cover is Denise Beilman
June 1996:  Cover is Meno & Sand
Oct. 1996: Cover is Brian Boitano - Superhunks issue
Feb. 1996: Cover is Lu Chen
Dec. 1996:  Cover is Kurt Browning
Feb. 1998: Cover is Todd Eldredge (2 copies of this issue)
April 1998: Cover is Kristi Yamaguchi
June 1998: Cover is Kwan, Lipinski, Chen - Olympic podium shot
Aug. 1998: Cover is Tara Lipinski (2 copies of this issue)
Oct. 1998: Cover is Usova & Platov
Dec. 1998:  Cover is Scott Hamilton
Aug. 1999: Cover is Maria Butyrskaya
Oct. 1999: Cover is Tourville & Dean
Dec. 2000: Cover is Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton & Roz Sumners
Feb. 2001: Cover is Todd Eldredge
April 2001: Cover is Bourne & Kratz
June 2001: Cover is Elena & Anton
Aug. 2001: Cover is Tara Lipinski
Dec. 2001: Cover is Ilia Kulik
Feb. 2002: Cover is Kristi Yamaguchi
April 2002: Cover is Lang & Tchernyshev
June 2002: Cover is Sarah Hughes Olympic cover
Aug. 2002: Cover is Katia Gordeeva
Dec. 2002: Oksana Baiul
Feb. 2003: Cover is Tim Goebel
April 2003: Cover is Ina & Zimmerman
Oct. 2003: Cover is Slutskaya
June 2003: Cover is Michelle Kwan
August 2003: Cover is Josee Chouinard
Dec. 2003: Cover is Evgeni Plushenko
Feb. 2004: Cover is Sasha Cohen
June 2004: Cover is Kristi Yamaguchi & Clay Aiken
Aug. 2004: Cover is COI cast
Oct. 2004: Cover is Shae Lynn Bourne & Peter Tchernyshev
Dec. 2004: Cover is Brian Boitano
Feb. 2005: Cover is Sarah Hughes
June 2005: Cover is Evan Lysacek

IFS

Aug. 1996: Cover is Todd Eldredge
Feb. 1998: Cover is Michelle Kwan
Dec. 1998: Cover is Lu Chen
Dec. 1999: Cover is Tonia Kwiatkowski (wedding pic)
Feb. 2001: Cover is Maria Butyrskaya
April 2001: Cover is Alexei Yagudin
June 2001: Cover is Nancy Kerrigan
Aug. 2001: Cover is Sale & Pelletier
Oct. 2001: Cover is Irina Slutskaya
Dec. 2001: Cover is Cinquatta
Feb. 2002: Cover is Michelle Kwan
June 2002: Cover is Sarah Hughes
Aug. 2002: Cover is Tim Goebel
Oct. 2002: Cover is Alexei Yagudin
Dec. 2002: Cover is Bourne & Kratz
Feb. 2003: Cover is Kristi Yamaguchi
June 2003: Cover is Katarina Witt
Aug. 2003: Cover is Yuka Sato
Oct. 2003: Cover is Oksana Baiul
Dec. 2003: Cover is John Zimmerman & Silvia Fontana (wedding shot)
Feb. 2004: Cover is Brian Orser, Scott Hamilton & Joseph Sabovcik
April 2004: Sasha Cohen
June 2004: Shen & Zhao
Aug. 2004: Nancy Kerrigan
Oct. 2004: Shizuka Arakawa
Dec. 2004: Johnny Weir
Feb. 2005: Michelle Kwan
April 2005: Evgeni Plushenko
June 2005: Belbin & Agosto

Spotlight on Skating

Dec. 2002: Cover is Sale & Pelletier
Feb. 2003: Cover is Todd Eldredge
May 2003: Cover is Bourne & Kratz
July 2003: Cover is Alexei Yagudin, David Pelletier, & Kurt Browning (men of
csoi issue)
Oct. 2003: Cover is Ina & Zimmerman
April 2003: Cover is Irina Slutskaya
Dec. 2004: Cover is Brian Joubert
March 2005: Joannie Rochette

I also have for sale the 2003, 25th anniversary program for the COI tour.

Jen




















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Don,

This has been a quest for a number of years.  Apparently they never found
anything that had the right kind of climax to get the kind of reaction that
their
programs to western music did.  I would imagine they are more disappointed
than we are. ;)

> I really don't understand S&Z's decision lately to
> skate to the most hackneyed Western music imaginable ("Nut Cracker" last
> time).  Couldn't they have come up with something more original, perhaps
> by a Chinese composer?
>

Renee
still a bit skating obsessed, but it's legal
also a proud participant in SkateFAIR


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