Ice skating at Staples Center

[tenaya]

We went today to the Champions on Ice tour. We left 1.5 hours early for a 30 minute drive and still manage to arrive 40 minutes late. :( Traffic was nasty, plus I hadn't realized the Dodgers had a day game today. I swear it was enough to make this my one and only trip to this venue. Once we were there, I saw the metroline has a stop right in front. I might consider going to the end of the line and taking the train in if it was another day event.

But once we were there, it was pleasantly cool inside the arena. The skaters played to their strengths and it was very enjoyable. Folks who did really good were Sasha Cohen (really excellent!) Evgeni Plushenko, Johnny Weir, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto (we just call her "hot stuff"), Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat (who did a dueling Star Wars number. While they were both in their robes, I wondered if it might end up being Obiwan/Anakin, but no, the princess was revealed.) I still think Evan Lysacek looks a bit like Methos. The two men pair skaters, Vladimir Besedin and Oleksiy Polishchuk are awesome. The humor is wonderful but when they do stuff like a handstand while balancing on the extended arms of his partner, it makes me think that if male/male pairs were ever allowed in competition, they'd clean up in the medals.

Lastly, and I know this might upset some, but why is Michelle Kwan so popular? Sasha goes out there and does difficult jumps, a large selection of spins, foot work, and displays her flexibility and balance. Michelle might have done one loose spin, but spent all of her time meandering back and forth waving her arms about before doing her signature sail across the ice (that compared poorly to the same move Sasha had done.) And that was it. All she has to do is show up and look pretty and she gets thundering applause. I am baffled.

Comments

[sheepsclothing.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling that you have the printed program right beside you as you write your LJ entry, otherwise how on earth would you remember how to spell all those annoying names! They need a few skaters with names like Spud, or Josh don't you think?
I'm going to have to look for photos of Evan Lysacek if he looks like Methos...cor!

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

I got the names from the website.
http://www.championsonice.com/skaters/

Evan Lysacek:
http://www.championsonice.com/skaters/bio.php?useid=69

Okay, maybe he looks like Methos' younger brother. The resemblance is better when he's sailing quickly across the ice and such.
www.figureskatersonline.com/evanlysacek/
www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/5071307/detail.html

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

I think people like Michelle Kwan because they like *her*, and they appreciate her history and her performances when she was in her prime. She's long in the tooth to be still performing, and it's kind of sad that she's still 'performing on past laurels' when she should quit - like a prima ballerina who dances into her 50s when she's well past her prime. I like her as a person, and I like what she has given to American figureskating, but she's not 'medal material' any more.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

I liked her in the beginning. Then she ran into a rough patch like many skaters do...and I saw the American judges give her the win even though she fell while others performed flawlessly. It was the injustice of watching other girls have their potention, their future taken away, while Michelle accepted the wins with smiles and obviously had no problem with how unfair it was. She won nearly every competition in the US but wasn't given the wins in international competition because she wasn't good enough. And it didn't do her any favors. She could fall three times in a competition and *still* win. She quit trying to be the best. I thought it was very sad and totally unfair to all involved. With the new system I could see her trying to compete but she's not able to anymore. I was shocked to see her do no jumps, no spins...only her trademark position. She has totally quit trying.

[vocalise.livejournal.com]

I totally came across your review by accident while searching for pictures from the Staples show, but just to give you a headsup. Michelle has been touring with Champions on Ice all year while INJURED and in pain. She did not perform any jumps because she has been instructed by her doctor NOT too. In fact there are rumors that she will need to get hip surgery.

I don't recall a time where she HAS quit trying her best. She has won Worlds 5 times by no incredible feat, and I believe she won those 5 Worlds (the last one, 2003) very deservingly. I will agree that there are times when she has won (though other competitions, not Worlds) undeservingly.

She pushed very very hard to be able to keep up with COP this year to be able to compete at the Olympics, but due to pushing herself so hard she kept on injuring herself and badly. She has had a chronic hip injury since 2000/2001, and she got an additional 2 groin injuries prior to the Olympics. Also, Michelle has not fallen three times in one program since 1997.

The reason Sasha doesn't win is because she lacks consistency. Michelle, on the other hand is consistent. Those "pretty" things you see on the ice look a lot hard than is. Her edging and stroking, simply put - her basics, are beyond the ability of many of the newer skaters of today, including Sasha. Sasha stays on a flatter edge than Michelle by a mile. You can also compare by comparing some of the newer skaters to the edges ice dancers make. Very deep, very slanted.

Michelle may not be able to compete anymore, but I think it is completely unfair to say that she has totally quit trying. She's honored her committment to Champions on Ice and Tom Collins this year even though she's been this injured, and she's been working very hard at getting back into shape this year after having to be off the ice to heal.

I'm sorry I barged in as I don't know you, but I just wanted to clarify a few points in which I thought you wrote with misinformation, especially not knowing about her injury, which I think a lot of people who attended the tour this year and are not part of the skating-fan world would not have known.