tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583562784288599702.post7104980408000076871..comments2023-12-20T21:11:11.524-08:00Comments on State of the Skate: 2014 Nats & Euros: The Ballad of Maxim and MiraiKelli Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06009713326652591943noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583562784288599702.post-49465564951307414922014-01-24T22:37:27.198-08:002014-01-24T22:37:27.198-08:00I hate to see the great ones like Plush on the dow...I hate to see the great ones like Plush on the downward slide, it's like when Montana went to the Kansas City Chiefs, just cringe-worthy. And I think Maxim has a better shot. I agreed with the USFSA decision re Mirai, she rallied for two great skates, but she looked out of shape, has been inconsistent, and having no coach is a red flag (not to mention there was no one to fight for her behind the scenes.) I don't think she would score well internationally and the US wants medals. I would have put Polina fourth but am not unhappy that she's going to Sochi.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583562784288599702.post-63791104131553502692014-01-24T12:44:53.939-08:002014-01-24T12:44:53.939-08:00Kelli, I need to hear your Olympics predictions! I...Kelli, I need to hear your Olympics predictions! I feel like the fair weather fans are drowning out the rest of us-at least on twitter. (I also made my own predictions, if you'd care to peruse http://dailyishprophet.blogspot.com/ )<br /><br />nagasu/kovtun representing japan would be v. interesting to watch at the very leastSarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00390618186041896400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1583562784288599702.post-42705120783958118992014-01-23T14:26:14.750-08:002014-01-23T14:26:14.750-08:00Your analysis is spot on, Kelli. I agree with a lo...Your analysis is spot on, Kelli. I agree with a lot of what you have pointed out. I honestly could have lived with a Gold, Nagasu and Wagner podium / team had the USFSA just resisted the temptation of getting “cute” and playing games with those spots, (two and three), but primarily the third spot. <br /><br />The only disagreement I have with your opinion, (which I definitely respect!), is I do think that Polina Edmunds should and obviously is staying on the team, but only because she did out skate Wagner on this occasion, even though the scores given were inflated, (there's that getting “cute” again by the USFSA) and because I am such a stickler for letting the final results stand in competition, (unless there is / has been corruption involved) and taking each competition singularly, thus not rewarding an athletes “body of work” or “resume.”<br /><br />Plenty of people agree with me on this and plenty of people do not. So no need, in my mind, to debate this point anymore! To each his or her own.<br /><br />I do not hold Polina Edmund's age against her. I think if you can win the big titles at the age of 15, 16 or 17, (example: Baiul, Lipinski, Kwan, Hughes, Asada, Kim, Kostner, etc., who have won senior titles at those ages) more power to you and why take that away?!<br /><br />I think everyone who was in the running at Nationals was over-scored, but that has been the norm in this Olympic season and not just at our Nationals, but internationally as well, (even Wagner's FS score was inflated in comparison to how she actually did skate). <br /><br />The good news for Ashley Wagner, is that she has some time to regroup before the Olympics, but for Mirai Nagasu, the tank may be on empty after the highs and lows of what happened at Nationals.<br /><br />A skater, (cannot remember who at this moment), recently said that trying to finish off the season at Europeans / Four Continents, on a high and positive note, is really tough after you have missed out on making the Olympic team to represent your country. <br /><br />So whatever should lie ahead for Mirai Nagasu, I wish and hope for her nothing but the very best!<br /><br />The Nagasu / Kovtun pairs team...,hmmm, could work!! ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com