Will She or Won't She? Will Sasha be at SA Next Week?

[kwanatic712]

I say we start a couple of bet pools. Who really thinks Sasha will show up at Skate America next week? How late will she wait to announce that she's withdrawing? And if she does show up (*gasp!*) where will she actually place? How many jumps will she land? By how many points will Yu-Na slay her? Inquiring minds want to know...

[ros01]

I was wondering myself if there had been any official updates (by all means let the speculation flow) from her camp, or even rink rumors.

[gratefulmkfan]

Funny you asked. I was wondering the same thing. I think we will know by this Friday. If she's going to claim injury, she will do so in time to give almost a week's notice, unless she's going to claim a sudden acute injury, rather than a flair of a chronic one. If she does show, I predict that the excuses will arrive before she does. We will know the reasons she wants us to believe why she can't do this or that right now. It won't suprise me, nor do I think it's a bad strategy.

As I voiced early season, I think Sasha will be so-so at Grand Prixs's jump-wise, though her spins, spirals and fw will be great, good enough by Nationals to make the team, and try to peak at the Olympics. She's 25 now, not 15, and though she's not going to say it, she's not in the same position as the 19 year old Yu-Na who could come out loaded for bear early season and maintain and improve conditioning all the way through February or March.

At this point, having seen our other US ladies, I'm actually sincerely wishing Sasha good luck. Whodathunkit?

[iceman]

If she has been watching any of the competitions thus far, She should have few qualms about showing up. Surely she will fare no worse than Mao.

[rosiekins]

I have a feeling that if she does attend, she'll do poorly in the SP and withdraw. I hope I'm wrong. It would be great to see Sasha compete again, even if she doesn't place well.

[kwanatic712]

After all of this hubbub, I'm really interested in seeing what she can do to be honest. Talk is super-cheap when it's coming from Sasha. I want to see her put her skates where her mouth is...

[MKandNYYfan]

An article...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olymp...comeback_N.htm

The injury has persisted, says her coach, Rafael Arutunian, although she's aiming for next week's Skate America in Lake Placid, N.Y. If she's able to compete, her readiness will be tested against the gold standard: Also in the field is 2009 world champion Yu-Na Kim of South Korea, widely considered the 2010 Olympic favorite....

Her jumps, spirals and skating skills "are so good," Arutunian says. He adds, though, that "the hard part is putting it together."

Hmmm...sounds like things are up in the air as far as if Sasha is ready to compete and now they are preparing for if she W/Ds or does poorly at SA.

Given the roster, only Yu-Na seems a lock. The rest is whoever makes the least mistakes and I can see a semi-ready Sasha beating to them on with 4 triples and her usual non-jump elements.

[Jagerboy]

I think she will show up. Based on what other skaters have done so far this season, she should be right there with the other US skaters. I just feel though that there will be so much hype of Sasha, Sasha, Sasha it will over shadow all the other skaters that have dedicated themselves to the sport and not pushed it aside when it was more important to be a Hollywood celebrity.

[Sparks]

For Sasha, putting it all together has always been the hard part.

I hope she does show up at SA.

[Dragonlady]

The USA Today piece is certainly a set-up for her to pull out isn't it?

While Sasha has always kept her promises to the USFSA, I think she'll be a no-show at Lake Placid. Raphael comments about her elements being great but the challenge is to put them together spoke vlumes. Reading between the lines about her tendonitis and the challenge of putting it all together, I don't think she's ready and she won't be there.

[visaliakid]

Originally Posted by Dragonlady

The USA Today piece is certainly a set-up for her to pull out isn't it?

While Sasha has always kept her promises to the USFSA, I think she'll be a no-show at Lake Placid. Raphael comments about her elements being great but the challenge is to put them together spoke vlumes. Reading between the lines about her tendonitis and the challenge of putting it all together, I don't think she's ready and she won't be there.

I totally agree Dragonlady! It will not be a shocker if she waits until a day or two before the event to announce her withdrawal... or she shows up, skates the SP and then withdraws if it doesn't go well. She has a ready-made reason set up with the Artunian comments.

[Patinage]

Originally Posted by Jagerboy

I think she will show up. Based on what other skaters have done so far this season, she should be right there with the other US skaters. I just feel though that there will be so much hype of Sasha, Sasha, Sasha it will over shadow all the other skaters that have dedicated themselves to the sport and not pushed it aside when it was more important to be a Hollywood celebrity.

While I agree the focus, should she compete, will be on Sasha; I disagree with her "putting it aside to be a Hollywood celebrity." Although Sasha did complete a couple of films after 2006 Olympics (one being a cameo piece) and that reality series that flopped (what was it, "Secret Talents of the Stars?" or something like that), she hasn't exactly "set it aside to be a celebrity." Yes, she did tour with SOI and yes she did do public appearances (as did some other skaters) her participation in the "Hollywood arena" wasn't so far fetched, especially considering she's from the LA area. I got the impression she sort of "gave up" on the idea.

I know she wanted to be an actress for a time there, but I don't think her intentions were to the degree of Tara Lipinski. I think her brief attention in the Hollywood world was just the normal piggy-backing after the Olympics. But, maybe I've lived under a rock for the last 3-some years; but I think her "Hollywood celebrity" goals pretty much fizzled.

With that said, I don't think she will show at SA. I think that USA Today article is a precursor to her either not showing up or setting her up as an excuse to perform poorly. Should she compete, I agree that her jumps won't be there but the rest of her program (choreography, spirals, and spins) will be beautiful.

I actually enjoy Sasha's skating--she's a beautiful skater. I don't enjoy her mind-games and faux injuries and excuses which leads me to think she may be an insecure person (or competitor at least). But I have missed watching her. And I do hope she does well, at the Olympics or Nationals or what have you. I always appreciate when my countrymen do well, despite if I'm a fan or not. Yes, even Tara and Sarah, regardless that I did not agree with the result.

[aldreen]

Hmm... I wonder what everyone's reactions would be if, for some reason, Sasha made it to the Olympics and during that event, Yu Na and everyone else experience bad skates, with Sasha having the least mistakes and actually wins the OGM?

[kwanette]

Originally Posted by aldreen

Hmm... I wonder what everyone's reactions would be if, for some reason, Sasha made it to the Olympics and during that event, Yu Na and everyone else experience bad skates, with Sasha having the least mistakes and actually wins the OGM?

Preheating my oven.

[cyncansurvive]

[missmarysgarden]

Originally Posted by kwanette

Preheating my oven.

Kwanette, caught me off guard. Kim was banging on my office door to see if I need the Heimlich (sp?) Manuever!

[Dragonlady]

Originally Posted by aldreen

Hmm... I wonder what everyone's reactions would be if, for some reason, Sasha made it to the Olympics and during that event, Yu Na and everyone else experience bad skates, with Sasha having the least mistakes and actually wins the OGM?

Yes Yu-Na, Joannie, Miki, Mao, Suzuki/Nakano, Kostner, and everyone else who can land more than a 3T and a 3S are all going to fall all over the ice and Sasha is going to win. If you honestly think it could happen, I have a lovely ski resort in Miami I'd like to sell you.

[uncchristine99]

For the sake of her Olympic bid, I hope she skates! We all know there's an injury so it's not gonna be 100%... but if I were Sasha, I don't think I could handle my first event of the season being the one that qualifies or disqualifies me for the Olympics. I think I'd want some testing ground first, even if I can't go 100% against the gold standard. Sasha has spent most (if not all) her career gunning after the gold standard so this is nothing new for her.

Plus GP has been up and down for a lot of top skaters already... if she can make a strong showing at her one event, I think it will resonate with the international community towards possibly seeing her in Vancouver. I think her Moonlight Sonata program is just plain LUSCIOUS and I would love to see her do it in front of the whole world...

[Miss Eggplant]

If I had to bet money, I'd be placing it squarely on Sasha being a no-show at SA.

I would love to be proven wrong. Having her skate at SA would definitely up the competition's interest level!

If what Sasha told Phil Hersh after her last withdrawal is true, then I have serious concerns about her ever setting skate on competitive ice this season. I believe she told him that due to her injury, she hasn't been able to train her triple flip and lutz (hence the withdrawal). For a skater who hasn't competed in 3 years, and whose jumps were never rock solid in the first place, to be sitting out training on two major jumps at this point of the season is a big concern. I'd be really worried for Michelle if she was trying to come back and it came out that she was on hiatus from training her flip and lutz.

At this point, I'm leaning toward the side that says Sasha won't come back at all. I'd welcome it if she did, though. I guess we'll see. I just get tired of feeling like I'm being jerked around all the time -- excuses, withdrawals, pre-withdrawals -- it's exhausting. And it wears on my trust.

[kittyjake5]

Originally Posted by kwanette

Preheating my oven.

Should I bring the cookie dough or the fork. Sorry, I could not resist.

[Miss Eggplant]

Originally Posted by Patinage

I know she wanted to be an actress for a time there, but I don't think her intentions were to the degree of Tara Lipinski. I think her brief attention in the Hollywood world was just the normal piggy-backing after the Olympics. But, maybe I've lived under a rock for the last 3-some years; but I think her "Hollywood celebrity" goals pretty much fizzled.

Well, I do think that her Hollywood celebrity has pretty much fizzled. I bet the goals are still intact, though. If Sasha had somehow become a tv or movie star (or even just an actor with regular gigs) I don't think she'd have ever considered a comeback. Sasha likes the spotlight. This is the skater who said before the 2002 Olympics that she wanted to be like Tara -- win it all and then get out. I never appreciated that attitude. Obviously she has grown and changed her perspective over the years, but I don't think her love of being in the spotlight has ever gone away. I think that is her main goal, and also plays a big part in why she's trying a comeback at all this year.

Like Tara and others before her, I think Sasha realized pretty quickly that Hollywood wasn't going to come courting for long after her fleeting Olympic fame faded. If she goes to Nationals and the Olympics this year (big if) then I expect she might be offered another flurry of small roles. And then that too will peter out. In a sense, this is one of her last shots of grabbing some more of that coveted spotlight time.

Once again, this all makes me appreciate Michelle even more -- for loving the sport for what it was instead of asking what it could do for her.

[kwanette]

Originally Posted by kittyjake5

Should I bring the cookie dough or the fork. Sorry, I could not resist.

Cookie dough, please. (chocolate chip)...I have plenty of cutlery, you know...

[iloveskating]

"In some ways, I'm better. In some ways, I'm not as good yet."

This statement was also revealing. If she doesn't do SA, I don't expect to see her at nats.

[Sparks]

Originally Posted by kwanette

Cookie dough, please. (chocolate chip)...I have plenty of cutlery, you know...

Good for you.
I'm not allowed to have sharp objects in my possession during the Olympics and Worlds.

[kwanza]

Originally Posted by aldreen

Hmm... I wonder what everyone's reactions would be if, for some reason, Sasha made it to the Olympics and during that event, Yu Na and everyone else experience bad skates, with Sasha having the least mistakes and actually wins the OGM?

Hey Sasha!!! Glad to see you on the forum!