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Post by mtnme on Mar 1, 2008 16:57:29 GMT -5
Mtnme, my thoughts exactly. The lean shots and standard mid-race shots are great but they're overdone and...mechanic? I don't know the right word, but they're very impersonal and...Jesus, what is the word? Anyway, they need to be rethought. I think y'alls shots of the faces and reactions and emotions trump anything in his gallery, blur or not. I think with most sports shots (or I guess any 'people' pictures) that unless something amazing is happening with the action the focus should be on the face. In other words photograph the person first and the action second, and Jerry's photos are all action and no person. You guys, all of you, no matter the quality of the camera, managed both, I think, because you like the person you're taking the photo of more than what he's doing. Makes all the difference. Christ, just let me ramble why doncha?! We 'feel' ya Ruff, and I couldn't have said it better myself. Person first, action second. Great way to put it. It is much more personal. Otherwise, it's just an endless parade of skaters skating. Ramble on....  |
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Post by mtnme on Mar 1, 2008 19:52:17 GMT -5
Interesting article I hadn't seen before. This was intimated at by others at the oval on Saturday night for some of Apolo's displeasure. Only he knows for sure if that is how he felt.
I do think whoever wrote this is selling the rest of the US team short. I saw plenty of talent out there on the ice looking forward to 2014. Now whether any of them can match Apolo's charisma is a separate issue.
___________________________________________________
Apolo Comes Up Short in the 1500m
Ohno’s Outside Pass Catches the Crowd but Not the Win
© Timbre Beck-Murphy
Feb 9, 2008
Korea shuts out the USA's golden boy to take gold and silver at the ISU's World Cup Short Track Speed Skating No. 6.
Men’s 1500 Meter Final
The men’s 1500 meter short track speed skating final race ended with Seung-Hoon Lee and Ho-Suk Lee shutting out Apolo Anton Ohno. Anticipating Apolo’s strategy, the Korean teammates seemed to work together to prevent the US skater from moving to the front of the pack.
Working as a team during individual events is illegal by an ISU ruling. Nevertheless, countries often employ the strategy whereby teammates will fill specific and planned roles on the ice in order to accomplish a win for their country’s chosen skater. It is difficult for technical specialists to prove such a violation, but a review of the 1500 meter race skated tonight might give them some insights into what they’re missing.
It’s no secret that Apolo likes to come from behind to lead each heat. He’s typically the last skater to line up and the last one off the starting line. With two or three laps to go, he makes his move – on the outside, since the Olympics taught him about legal passing. Usually, his brute force speeds past the other skaters as he easily steals first.
This time, the Koreans were ready for him. According to the US head coaches, Apolo was shut out from the win by an illegal maneuver. Nonetheless, Ohno finished third in the 1500 final and earned another bronze medal for the event.
His coaches, in an exclusive interview, said that Apolo’s technique and strategy is top-notch. According to them, the other teams just need to play fair. American coach Jae Su Chun did mention that Apolo is at a disadvantage because he’s a one-man show. They can’t catch the Koreans because they are forced to play by the rulebook. In fact, there are no other US skaters competent in both the 1500 meter event and team-skating strategies.
USA coaches commented that they are scouring the country in search of more young speed skating athletes that can be brought up with the specific focus of becoming the 2014 Olympics powerhouse. They mentioned Apolo’s possible retirement after the 2010 games. If that happens, there are few men presently capable of carrying US Short Track speed skating on to victories.
That is not at all to downplay the talents of skilled skaters like Jeff Simon and J. P. Kepka. But the whole of US Short Track Speed Skating is young and internationally inexperienced when compared with seasoned teams like the Chinese or Koreans.
We look forward to seeing Apolo (and the other team leaders) at his best in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. However, the long-term outlook for US Speed Skating is even brighter. New American short track stars should shine just in time for the 2014 games.
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maricorgi
Full Member
I've gone to the dogs.
Posts: 132
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Post by maricorgi on Mar 2, 2008 8:15:53 GMT -5
Hello Article Writer,
May I introduce to you Simon Cho and Jeff Simon? "Simon Says" we're the future!
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Post by sk8on on Mar 2, 2008 23:07:46 GMT -5
mtnme, thank you for posting that article; that one is definitely new to me. We have known that the Koreans tend to team skate Apolo for years now, and we'll probably see more of it in less than a week in Korea. Less than a week, ah...bring on the ST. As for the "new" crop of American speedskaters- they may not generally be as experienced as their Chinese or Korean counterparts, but they are proving to have good depth on Team USA with some exceptional performances posted in the latest meets by both the men and women...and they are only bound to get better!
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Post by angelina on Mar 3, 2008 5:00:31 GMT -5
Hi everyone - a belated thank you for the awesome articles, pics, firsthand accounts, video, etc.! As usual, I'm envious of everyone who went. Thanks for sharing!
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Post by linmiste on Mar 3, 2008 9:58:26 GMT -5
Interesting article I hadn't seen before. This was intimated at by others at the oval on Saturday night for some of Apolo's displeasure. Only he knows for sure if that is how he felt. I do think whoever wrote this is selling the rest of the US team short. I saw plenty of talent out there on the ice looking forward to 2014. Now whether any of them can match Apolo's charisma is a separate issue. ___________________________________________________ Apolo Comes Up Short in the 1500m Ohno’s Outside Pass Catches the Crowd but Not the Win © Timbre Beck-Murphy Feb 9, 2008 Korea shuts out the USA's golden boy to take gold and silver at the ISU's World Cup Short Track Speed Skating No. 6. Men’s 1500 Meter Final The men’s 1500 meter short track speed skating final race ended with Seung-Hoon Lee and Ho-Suk Lee shutting out Apolo Anton Ohno. Anticipating Apolo’s strategy, the Korean teammates seemed to work together to prevent the US skater from moving to the front of the pack. Working as a team during individual events is illegal by an ISU ruling. Nevertheless, countries often employ the strategy whereby teammates will fill specific and planned roles on the ice in order to accomplish a win for their country’s chosen skater. It is difficult for technical specialists to prove such a violation, but a review of the 1500 meter race skated tonight might give them some insights into what they’re missing. It’s no secret that Apolo likes to come from behind to lead each heat. He’s typically the last skater to line up and the last one off the starting line. With two or three laps to go, he makes his move – on the outside, since the Olympics taught him about legal passing. Usually, his brute force speeds past the other skaters as he easily steals first. This time, the Koreans were ready for him. According to the US head coaches, Apolo was shut out from the win by an illegal maneuver. Nonetheless, Ohno finished third in the 1500 final and earned another bronze medal for the event. His coaches, in an exclusive interview, said that Apolo’s technique and strategy is top-notch. According to them, the other teams just need to play fair. American coach Jae Su Chun did mention that Apolo is at a disadvantage because he’s a one-man show. They can’t catch the Koreans because they are forced to play by the rulebook. In fact, there are no other US skaters competent in both the 1500 meter event and team-skating strategies. I get the impression that Apolo has been careful not to accuse others of team skating, but perhaps he felt more strongly than usual the Lees worked together to prevent him from passing. Apolo sure seemed to have the power to pass them, and that he had to pull up short... but then the reverse happened in his 1500 final. So, I don't know. I wonder what the private conversations are between athletes, if any, especially since I get the impression that Ho-suk and Apolo do have a kind of friendship. (Hope I didn't mix up the Lees... I'm thinking of the shorter one who took third in the 1000 on Sunday.) I wonder if this will have an impact on how Apolo skates in Korea. On their turf, will he try to gain the lead early so that he's not blocked when trying to pass later on? That seemed to work well for him in the semifinals at SLC. |
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Post by Guest on Mar 4, 2008 20:28:16 GMT -5
I don't know if anyone has reported this yet or not...but...for those interested the National Short Track World Cup Championships will be broadcast live...in full...this weekend on the usspeedskating site. JR, Travis, Anthony, Simon Cho...are just a few who will be skating. So...while waiting on news from Worlds in Korea...we can divert some time to the others competing in WI.
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Post by Guest on Mar 4, 2008 20:30:57 GMT -5
Sorry, I meant ST championship Americn Cup not World Cup
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mari
Junior Member
I've gone to the dogs.
Posts: 52
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Post by mari on Mar 4, 2008 20:33:31 GMT -5
Thanks for posting that. I will tune in to the site. Should be exciting racing and maybe take a little off the anxiety about results from Korea.
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Post by Lori on Mar 4, 2008 20:57:06 GMT -5
;D G-r-e-a-t...Now I'll be in front of my computer all night AND all day! ;D Don't let my husband find you, Guest...  |
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~Lori