FIGURE SKATING

Champion Chan tries to claim underdog role for figure skating worlds

Sports Jan. 22, 2013 - 06:17AM JST ( 3 )

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semperfiJan. 22, 2013 - 12:44PM JST

Chan has been largely over-rated. ................................ Compared to Japan;s Hanyu and Takahashi , for instance , (who have grace, agility and offer powerful creative performances) ---- Chan remains predictible and mediocre ..................................The reason he respresents Canada is because a couple of years ago the Chan family said, if Michael Chan is not selected for skate for Canada, they will return to China and he will skate for China. . . ..................Many Canadians happily said " Let him go . ." .............................but I guess Skate Canada didn't want funble through that embrassement. . . . . .
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Pukey2Jan. 22, 2013 - 09:15PM JST

semperfi:

if Michael Chan is not selected for skate for Canada

That sentence alone convinces me that you haven't watched a single skating competition on TV or anywhere, but just read the news and made your own assumptions. Perhaps you're confusing tennis with skating.

Chan has been largely over-rated. ................................ Compared to Japan;s Hanyu and Takahashi , for instance , (who have grace, agility and offer powerful creative performances)

So, let me get this right. Chan has shown no grace, agility or any powerful creative performances? I wonder why he's won so many times. Hmm.

Hanyu has given some stunning performances, as of late, but when you compare their records, Chan has done consistently better than Takahashi - look at the stats. Apart from the Olympics, Chan has made the podium practically every time, and has got the gold more often than not. These past few years, no one else has come close to that except Kim Yuna (whom I suspect is another one you think is over-rated). Over-rated is a word I haven't used since Arakawa's career.

The reason he respresents Canada is because a couple of years ago the Chan family said, if Michael Chan is not selected for skate for Canada, they will return to China and he will skate for China

Jeez, why would he not be selected? He's Canadian, and he's the best Canadian skater to boot. The only other male skater to come close was Buttle who retired in 2008. But still, you can have more than one skater representing the country.

The mere fact that you say 'return' to China seems to suggest there really are people who don't regard him as Canadian. How exactly does he qualify for Chinese citizenship? Being ethnic Chinese doesn't give you the passport. He wasn't even born in China, and his father grew up in Canada.

Judging from all your other posts, there's a lot of Sinophobia going around. Li Na just got to the semi-finals of another Grand Slam. Look forward to seeing your comments there too.
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smithinjapanJan. 23, 2013 - 09:12AM JST

semper-fi: "Compared to Japan;s Hanyu and Takahashi"

Chan has beaten Takahashi a number of times, as well as having beaten Hanyu. What's more, Takahashi has flopped in all but the last figure skating championship, and falls down incessently. They are ALL great skaters, and all have their great and poor moments, but to suggest one is not graceful when he is just sounds like some misdirected bitterness on your part.

"The reason he respresents Canada is because a couple of years ago the Chan family said, if Michael Chan is not selected for skate for Canada, they will return to China and he will skate for China."

Hogwash. He's a Canadian citizen. He made a couple of disparaging remarks after his parents when to visit their homeland, but that's all.

Anyway, London, Ontario is such a BORING city! I'm glad it's getting a bit of life breathed into it with this. Good luck to Chan and all the rest.