What do you think of Sandra Bezic's commentary?

[iloveskating]

Is sandra Bezic managing to irritate anyone besides me? First, the fact that she dissed FS 4 years ago after the controversy which she instigated, and now had returned to cash in on commentating is bad enough. But now I feel like she is plugging herself as a choreo b/c she disses everyone's choreo. Is she trying to find some work or what?

[synnabun]

I just wish she'd shut up! I like listening w/o commentary. And I'm pretty sure this belongs in skating chat. :)

[eventerbess]

She is making me crazy, mainly because I am not sure if she even knows what a choreographer is, yet she is blabbing constantly about it. To wit, I rarely like pieces she has set. I will not say choreographed.

[LouAphn]

I think she was good for Chen Lu as a choreographer

But, I just don't like her commentating. period.
I know others don't like her commentating as well.

[rda]

She's driving me nuts just with her tone of voice and... elocution (?). The way she says things is just so affected and snobbish and unnatural. Not to mention what she's saying. It's like she thinks being nasty and meanspirited is how to be intelligent and insightful. I wish they'd drop her. NOW. Between her and Scott Hamiltons overexcited exclamations.....Thank God Uncle Dick is there to balance them....and give her a smackdown or two here and there!

[MKalltheway]

skating chat???

[iceman]

I think she needs to take Dorothy Sarnoff's class in speech cosmetics--if Dorothy is still around--if she wants to continue commentating (is that a word? lol). That being said I find her comments very insightful . It's hard to dislike her when I recall the high praise and complete analysis she gave of Michelle's performance of Arianne (?) at the World Pro Competition.

[Dream Again]

I think she needs paxil or some sort of good mood pill . . . she's so darn negative . . . a real see-you-next-Tuesday!

[berthesghost]

She is making me crazy, mainly because I am not sure if she even knows what a choreographer is, yet she is blabbing constantly about it. To wit, I rarely like pieces she has set. I will not say choreographed.
Both of Boitano's programs in Calgary, Krsit's 91 worlds lp and 92 Oly LP, Kurt's Casablanca LP for 93 and 94, Josee American in Paris LP from 94, Lulu's Rach2 from 96 and Butterfly lovers from 98....all masterpieces IMHO. Even if you don't like her, she's probably THE most succesful choreographer of all time, so saying she doesn't even know waht it is is just hate.

And p.s, if you disagree with Sandra and think that Jubert's idiotic Sp wasn't "trite" and that his barebones Lp was beautifully choreographed, they it is YOU who probably has no idea what choreograpahy is. JMHO.

[iloveskating]

Thank God Uncle Dick is there to balance them.ITA :bow :bow Dick is saving this Olys!

[synnabun]

skating chat???

This was in MK Fan Chat a bit ago... but a mod already moved it.


I think she needs paxil or some sort of good mood pill . . . she's so darn negative . . . a real see-you-next-Tuesday!

:eek You didn't! lol! Yes, she is quite negative... and highly biased, though I don't know who she's actually in favor of?


ITA :bow :bow Dick is saving this Olys!

Oh my goodness... yes he his! Thank goodness for him! I love Scott most of the time... but I just can't take Sandra at all. Dick balances things out.

[KwansPrayerWarrior]

That's why I wish Sandra would stick to choreograph, and not commentate :D

[Shallah]

because of bad judging. I guess a nice paycheck from NBC got her over her revulsion :rolleyes

While I did agree with her about Jourberts programs it was quite funny to hear her praise Plushenko for saving himself by not doing choreography when Joubert had more content. Bad content but more than swatting clouds of flies or stroke stroke JUMP stroke stroke JUMP stroke stroke JUMP!!!

[AZSkateFan]

Sandra Bezic reminds me somewhat of like a substitute teacher. Although she has no real purpose, she is there for the sake of being there.

(Sorry to anyone who is a substitute teacher. When I was in high school, a lot of our subs got fired for doing bad things--or letting my classmates do even worse things.)

[MKalltheway]

Sandra Bezic reminds me somewhat of like a substitute teacher. Although she has no real purpose, she is there for the sake of being there.

(Sorry to anyone who is a substitute teacher. When I was in high school, a lot of our subs got fired for doing bad things--or letting my classmates do even worse things.)

OUCH...to the subs:P

[lasaslav]

I kind of like her (maybe it's because I'm biased because of all the great things she has said about Michelle in the past). I think her commentary is usually pretty much on the mark, and she has said many nice things about some of the other choreographers out there (mainly the Canadians, but still). She could be A LOT worse, imho.

[HipSoCalGuy]

Both of Boitano's programs in Calgary, Krsit's 91 worlds lp and 92 Oly LP, Kurt's Casablanca LP for 93 and 94, Josee American in Paris LP from 94, Lulu's Rach2 from 96 and Butterfly lovers from 98....all masterpieces IMHO. Even if you don't like her, she's probably THE most succesful choreographer of all time, so saying she doesn't even know waht it is is just hate.

And p.s, if you disagree with Sandra and think that Jubert's idiotic Sp wasn't "trite" and that his barebones Lp was beautifully choreographed, they it is YOU who probably has no idea what choreograpahy is. JMHO.


What I don't like is the conflict of interest. Yes, she's choreographed these programs, but didn't she also do commentary for some of these as well? I swear she called Kristi's 1991 worlds competition.

[Rene1999]

I don't remember her commentary getting on my nerves in earlier years like they do now. The only thing positive I can say is that she at least speaks her mind, even if it's irritating.

I really wish they would explain things a bit better to the "every 4 years" crowd. I have to go to work and explain to my co-workers and clients why the Zhangs didn't win etc.

They also believe that Emily Hughes has a chance for a gold medal.

[AllenIsVerbose]

Personally, I enjoy and, rather, prefer Sandra Bezic over Dick Button any day.

Also, Sandra probably has the most impressive resume of choreographed programs. And while she did comment on Kristi's long at Munich in 1991, she said nothing about her choreography.

Usually, whatever your specialty, you'll always be infinitely more critical in terms of analyzing what you do. Retail folks criticize the aesthetic setup of competing stores. Interior designers formulate cogent opinions on others' work, and choreographers are finicky about the way others compose their programs. You can't hate Sandra Bezic for critiquing and sometimes bashing one's choreography. It's her speciality, and she understands far better than those who only have a cursory knowledge of it.

Scott Hamilton is probably the least negative of the three -- Dick Button likes to use words like ugly, horrible, and unremarkable so it's inappropriate to pinpoint Sandra as the morbid body in the commentary box.

[berthesghost]

I don't find Sandra negative, I find her overly biased. Over the years, I've found her overly gushy of those she loves, and overly critical of those she doesn't. She also turns on you quicker than Brennan if you piss her off. Prime example: Oksana. During 93 worlds Sandra gave the most horribly biased commentary, claiming OB had no faults and totally overlooking all of her technical problems, bad choreo, etc...Fast foward to World Pros, and she almost can't contain herself with the negativity, feeling the need to tell us all how difficult OB is to work with and how she pisses everyone off.

You don't have to be a genius to figure out that she thinks Morosov is a hack and his programs for Jubert are attrocious. She's certainly not the first to say it, so I don't think it's a conflict of interest. This happens a lot, the worst example I can think of is Annick Galliout (sp?). She's a coach, a choreographer, married to the federation head, and a TV commentator. When they show events on French TV, she has to keep running back and forth between the broadcast booth and the K&C. It's hillarious.

The one good thing about Sandra, is the gossip. She doesn't hold back from spilling the beans and the one thing I am enjoying about her doing Torino is all of the Team Canada gossip blurted out to the general public: Sandu is lazy, Jeff choreographed a planned quad fall to rack up points, etc...He he It's like reading the Star.

Scott's voice is like nails on a chalkboard, and other than screaming the names of jumps landed, he has little insight to offer. Sandra love/hate is totally dependant on if she bashing your favorite or gushing over your least fav. She has no concept of unbiased commentary.

[skatingfan5]

Even if you don't like her, she's probably THE most succesful choreographer of all time, so saying she doesn't even know waht it is is just hate.

And p.s, if you disagree with Sandra and think that Jubert's idiotic Sp wasn't "trite" and that his barebones Lp was beautifully choreographed, they it is YOU who probably has no idea what choreograpahy is. JMHO.berthesghost: It's precisely BECAUSE she is/was a good choreographer of competitive programs that I gave her 20 lashes with a wet skatelace in another post. I agree that Joubert's SP was bad and that his LP was bereft of much choreo -- however, she did NOT use the same criteria when commenting on Plushenko's equally choreo-challenged programs -- and said NADA about the outrageously high marks he received for both choreo and interpretation. JMO.
P.S. I also couldn't stand how she kept raising her voice in a direct decibel shout-out with Scott's shrieking last night. After the SP, I was hopeful that having Dick Button in the booth would have a mollifying and moderating effect. What a ridiculous fantasy that turned out to be. :(

[skatingfan5]

I don't find Sandra negative, I find her overly biased. Over the years, I've found her overly gushy of those she loves, and overly critical of those she doesn't. She also turns on you quicker than Brennan if you piss her off.

Scott's voice is like nails on a chalkboard, and other than screaming the names of jumps landed, he has little insight to offer. Sandra love/hate is totally dependant on if she bashing your favorite or gushing over your least fav. She has no concept of unbiased commentary.berthesghost: I agree with 100% about what I've quoted above. Well, maybe only 99%. Scott does have something else to offer other than just screaming out the jumps landed. He also is of great service to those who are numerically-challenged by his ANNOYING, ANNOYING, ANNOYING!!!! habit of counting out the rotations of every quad and triple shown in slo-mo replay. ARRRRGH!!!! :lol

[forestgreen92]

Sandra doesn't bother me that much. Maybe it's because I tuned her out most of the time.


Scott Hamilton is probably the least negative of the three -- Dick Button likes to use words like ugly, horrible, and unremarkable so it's inappropriate to pinpoint Sandra as the morbid body in the commentary box.

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I agree with Dick Button most of the time and use those exact words when I watch certain skaters' programs. Case in point: The commentary on Plushenko's LP made me laugh because I felt the exact same way.:D

[robins]

i keep hearing Sandra said this about skater's program....a smart skate...an intelligent skate...a brilliant skate...... she doesn't have any other way to describe a skate but just juggling between "Smart, Intelligent & Brilliant?"

why can't these network find a great commentator? go hire Michelle Kwan!!!

but if you let me choose between Sandra Bezic and katrina Witt...i'd take Sandra anytime rather than seeing or hearing half a second of Katrina Witt. i can't stand KW, not only her speaking is hard to understand but her arrogance is unbearable. why is NBC and ABC (regular skating event with Kurt Browing) putting her on screen? just to get more ratings because people wants to see her boobs?

[tongueincheek]

Fire Sandra and Scott, and hire Mary Carillo (Olympic Ice) to work with Dick Button and Tracey Wilson.

[berthesghost]

berthesghost: It's precisely BECAUSE she is/was a good choreographer of competitive programs that I gave her 20 lashes with a wet skatelace in another post. I agree that Joubert's SP was bad and that his LP was bereft of much choreo -- however, she did NOT use the same criteria when commenting on Plushenko's equally choreo-challenged programs -- and said NADA about the outrageously high marks he received for both choreo and interpretation. JMO.
P.S. I also couldn't stand how she kept raising her voice in a direct decibel shout-out with Scott's shrieking last night. After the SP, I was hopeful that having Dick Button in the booth would have a mollifying and moderating effect. What a ridiculous fantasy that turned out to be. :(
Ok

I seem to remember her being critical of Plushy's lack of choreo, or maybe that was just Dick, but it was definately discussed. All 3 were rather down on his lackluster performances, so I was surprised to see the media gushing over him in so many articles this am.

It's always easier to criticise the loser rather than the winner. Plushy at least landed his jumps. With the jumps gone, Brian had nothing, so it's sorta natural that they would chose his performance to criticise strategy.

I also think that there is only so much outrage they can muster for the hugely inflated Russian marks we've seen in the 1st 2 events. We're talking about 2 people who are credited with causing the SLC pairs scandal, and a man who was suposidly banned from ESPN because he's too critical of COP and the ISU, so I wouldn't be surprised if all 3 weren't threatened by NBC to keep the "wuz robbed" talk down or else.

Sandra's biased outlook is also as nationalistic as befits any Canadian. Canada "invented" COP and their skaters are doing better due to choreo, not jumps. Every time Dick criticises COP and she perks up that "some can pull it off", she's just hyping up Team Canada, and then bashes those who are choreo-challenged, she's just being nationalistic, subconsciously or not.

Her and Scott are the shrill sisters, though aren't they. get Tara int he booth with them and we may all lose our hearing.

[OliveTree]

Her and Scott are the shrill sisters, though aren't they. get Tara int he booth with them and we may all lose our hearing.

BG, this is one of your quote of the decade!!!:lol

[skatingfan5]

I seem to remember her being critical of Plushy's lack of choreo, or maybe that was just Dick, but it was definately discussed. All 3 were rather down on his lackluster performances, so I was surprised to see the media gushing over him in so many articles this am.

I also think that there is only so much outrage they can muster for the hugely inflated Russian marks we've seen in the 1st 2 events. ...
Sandra's biased outlook is also as nationalistic as befits any Canadian. Canada "invented" COP and their skaters are doing better due to choreo, not jumps. Every time Dick criticises COP and she perks up that "some can pull it off", she's just hyping up Team Canada, and then bashes those who are choreo-challenged, she's just being nationalistic, subconsciously or not.I think Dick (and perhaps Scott) mentioned the lack of real choreo in Plushy's program -- but Sandra and/or Scott also were saying how "smart" it was for him to have front-loaded his program with nothing but jumps for the first couple of minutes (I think he had 8 jumps in a row without anything intervening except his cross-overs). I agree that Sandra really cheerleads for the Canadians, but I'd forgotten about CoP's birthplace in the Great White North. :P And of course, you are likely right about why NBC doesn't want COP dissed too much -- they played a large part by promoting the SLC pairs uproar, in having it forced upon the skating world.

[3Flutz3Lip]

Yeah, I totally forgot about Sandra giving birth to CoP.
Now I get it.:D

[RainbowR]

I am surprised at how disliked Sandra is on this forum. I know it will be thankless to say it, but, my 2 cents is I like her commentary and think she is very well spoken and classy.

[SGuntur]

"Both of Boitano's programs in Calgary, Krsit's 91 worlds lp and 92 Oly LP, Kurt's Casablanca LP for 93 and 94, Josee American in Paris LP from 94, Lulu's Rach2 from 96 and Butterfly lovers from 98....all masterpieces IMHO. Even if you don't like her, she's probably THE most succesful choreographer of all time, so saying she doesn't even know waht it is is just hate."

BG, how could you forget Tara's 1998 Olympics LP to the "Rainbow" choreographed by Sandra Bezic?? *Wow, proud of myself for remembering some FS trivia that BG forgot*

[scootie12]

coming from another skater, I really feel Sandra's comments are on the mark. Maybe she's just being too honest about some of the programs, but I can tell you that most any skating coach will tell you many of the same things she commented on during the programs thus far.

The funny thing is that all of the little fine details that I pay attention to, and constructively criticize, tend to be the same things Sandra commentates on...good or bad.

You might not like what she has to say, but I guess if there are other people that have been involved with training for competitions and such, you might relate much better to what she has to say.

So far I have found everything she has said to be pretty much on the mark.

But that's just my opinion.

[Fozzie Bear]

BG, how could you forget Tara's 1998 Olympics LP to the "Rainbow" choreographed by Sandra Bezic?? *Wow, proud of myself for remembering some FS trivia that BG forgot*
Notice she said, "all masterpieces." :silly ;)

I can't stand Scott's or Sandra's commentary. I can't believe how many times I've yelled "Shut up!" at my tv this week. I don't mean to be vulgar, but can someone please tell Scott Hamilton to stop sounding so constipated every time somebody does a jump combo.

[berthesghost]

BG, how could you forget Tara's 1998 Olympics LP to the "Rainbow" choreographed by Sandra Bezic?? *Wow, proud of myself for remembering some FS trivia that BG forgot*hah ha :D I didn't forget them, I just didn't like them. Well, I will say that making Tara look presentable was great choreo, but even Sandra was publicly disapointed with Tara, mainly because she felt that Tara tinkered with her programs too much and shut Sandra out after the initial layout, but also becasue she was frustrated with Tars's limited taste in music.

[MK Simply Stunning]

[QUOTE=Fozzie Bear]Notice she said, "all masterpieces." :silly ;)

It may not have been a mastepiece to us, but the music Bezic picked choreographed for Tara presented her in a way that was very pleasing to the judges. It helped her win the OMG.

Sounds like Bezic went to finishing school with all her elongated words. She is irritating but knowlegeable. She did make the mistake of nullifying one of Dick's statements which he promptly corrected.
I love Dick he makes good and bad comments, but I have learned more about figure skating from him than any other person.
I keep wanting to tell Scott to calm down.