Evan Lysacek - the most underappreciated champion?

[Kecasyl]

He wasnt a regular medalist yearly if that is what you mean. He didnt medal at 2005, 2006 Olympics, 2007 worlds, 2008 worlds, at the 2006, 2007, or 2009 grand prix finals (he didnt even qualify for some of those). And he only was better than bronze twice- 2009 worlds and 2010 Olympics. And just emerging on the scene in 2005 and retiring after 2010, he doesnt have the longevity of many of his peers either.

A better example of a regular medalist outside the dominant skaters like Plushenko, Hanyu, and Chan, would be Brian Joubert who has 6 world medals, 4 of those gold or silver, along with numerous 4th place finishes, and TEN European medals/3 European golds against stellar competition (he has a far better record at Europeans skating against Plushenko, Lambiel, Verner, and others than Evan has at the way weaker U.S nationals skating against against only Weir and Abbott, heck he has a weaker record at Nationals than Weir and Abbott). Evan is far more similar to Lambiel, not a very long career, not even a regular medalist in big events, never dominant even in his own part of the world let alone global, very few international wins even on the regular grand prix circuit, not even a Europeans title which is about on par with Evan having a mere 2 U.S titles. Even Stephane though outside of Olympic Gold vs Olympic silver (and silver is all Evan would ever get vs 2006 Plushenko too) eclipses Evan every other way- Grand prix finals, worlds wins, world medals success, overall internationals, National wins, and far greater artistic and even technical impact on the sport; and missed podiums far less often when he competed than Evan from 2005-2010.

You want to try again?!? And maybe fact check when you do? He won gold at the 2009 GPF, and he won bronze at the 2007 one and was credited with quads in both his programs. You can sit down now.

 

[olympic]

Wow. This thread is bringing out a few trolls. I had forgotten the booty-hurt his 2010 Olympic win causes certain individuals.

 

[hertmirsh]

You want to try again?!? And maybe fact check when you do? He won gold at the 2009 GPF, and he won bronze at the 2007 one and was credited with quads in both his programs. You can sit down now.

I was referring to the 2007 and 2009 season GPFs, the latter which he didnt even qualify for despite winning worlds later that year. If you wish to get super technical just change to 2006 and 2008, it changes absolutely nothing about my point.

 

[Kecasyl]

I was referring to the 2007 and 2009 season GPFs, the latter which he didnt even qualify for despite winning worlds later that year. If you wish to get super technical just change to 2006 and 2008, it changes absolutely nothing about my point.

You have no idea what you are talking about, and that's your problem. Go troll somewhere else.

 

[hertmirsh]

Wow. This thread is bringing out a few trolls. I had forgotten the booty-hurt his 2010 Olympic win causes certain individuals.

The presumption anyone who isnt that awed by Lysacek is a butthurt Plushenko fan is as foolish and baseless as the idiotic Sotbots who foolishly delude themselves anyone who disagrees with Sotnitkova's ridiculous Olympic win (aka 99.99% of the figure skating watching population) is a Yu Na bot. Which in both cases couldnt be further from the truth. I cant stand Plushenko and was thrilled to see him not win in Vancouver, even to as bland an alternative as Lysacek if there was nothing else. Just as even people who couldnt care less about Yu Na Kim on a fandom level almost all agree Sotnikova deserved no better than 4th place in the LP and 3rd place overall in Sochi regardless what deluded Sotbots tell themselves.

 

[hertmirsh]

You have no idea what you are talking about, and that's your problem. Go troll somewhere else.

LOL I just explained simple fact clearly and all you do is whine. You are the troll effing retard, so you can go somewhere else thanks, or continue to whine some more about people like myself who are 100 times smarter than you will ever be, your choice, I dont give a fig either way.

 

[Kecasyl]

 

[Kecasyl]

LOL I just explained simple fact clearly and all you do is whine. You are the troll effing retard, so you can go somewhere else thanks, or continue whine some more about people like myself who are 100 times smarter than you will ever be, your choice, I dont give a fig either way.

Yes, because you can't even state the correct seasons and how they work dumbass. The season you may possibly be referring to is the GPF in 2008 NOT 2009 where he was a 2nd alternative. So suck on that. You have no idea about me and I must have struck quite the nerve if you started name calling and judging people here that you have no idea. Get a life.

 

[meggonzo]

To be fair, Evan didn't even compete at 2008 Worlds ...

 

[hertmirsh]

Get a life.

You mean one like yours "would you like fries and coke with your big mac sir." No thanks, I would much rather be dead than be you thanks. Or posses your err..."stellar" opinions on skating where Evan is a great and Hanyu a coward (something you said repeatedly in 2015 and I can find the quotes to prove it if you try and deny it).

 

[MAXSwagg]

Evan isn't memorable except to his small number of fans. They can try to keep repeating otherwise over and over and over but that won't make it true.

ETA: Actually, he is memorable. He's memorable for being unmemorable.

 

[Simone411]

Wow. He certainly is unmemorable. I guess that's why Evan's accomplishments include winning 1st place at the 2010 Olympics, 1st at 2009 Worlds, 1st at the 04-05 season and at the 06-07 season at Four Continents, 1st at the 09-10 season of the Grand Prix Finals, 1st at the 06-07 season at the Cup of China and 1st place at the 09-10 season at Skate America ... not to mention all of his 2nd and 3rd placements throughout his skating career.

No, I don't guess it was very memorable at all.

All of his placements, competitions, history, etc. can be found at Wikipedia:

Evan Lysacek

 

[MAXSwagg]

Wow. He certainly is unmemorable. I guess that's why Evan's accomplishments include winning 1st place at the 2010 Olympics, 1st at 2009 Worlds, 1st at the 04-05 season and at the 06-07 season at Four Continents, 1st at the 09-10 season of the Grand Prix Finals, 1st at the 06-07 season at the Cup of China and 1st place at the 09-10 season at Skate America ... not to mention all of his 2nd and 3rd placements throughout his skating career.

No, I don't guess it was very memorable at all.

All of his placements, competitions, history, etc. can be found at Wikipedia:

Evan Lysacek

No one is disputing his record. In terms of a being a performer, having expression and charisma, he is NOT memorable.

 

[Simone411]

No one is disputing his record. In terms of a being a performer, having expression and charisma, he is NOT memorable.

Well, I happen to disagree and there's nothing wrong with that. So, I therefore agree to disagree. IMHO, he had lots of charisma with his style of skating and also on Dancing With the Stars. I'm a fan of many skaters, and yes, we all will have our own opinions. It would be a very boring world if we all agreed with each other.

 

[lala]

.

Memorable...hmmm. When I think of Pleshenko swiveling his hips and blowing wet kisses at the audience I find it's best to forget!

Do you remember of him only for that? Well, congrats! Where do you come from? He skated 18 years.. 2 Olympic golds, 2 silvers, 3WCH golds, 7 ECH golds, 10 Russian Champion titles, 4 GPF golds, 18 GP golds.. 1 JWCH gold, I didn't mention the silvers and bronzes...

 

[lala]

.

 

[olympic]

The presumption anyone who isnt that awed by Lysacek is a butthurt Plushenko fan is as foolish and baseless as the idiotic Sotbots who foolishly delude themselves anyone who disagrees with Sotnitkova's ridiculous Olympic win (aka 99.99% of the figure skating watching population) is a Yu Na bot. Which in both cases couldnt be further from the truth. I cant stand Plushenko and was thrilled to see him not win in Vancouver, even to as bland an alternative as Lysacek if there was nothing else. Just as even people who couldnt care less about Yu Na Kim on a fandom level almost all agree Sotnikova deserved no better than 4th place in the LP and 3rd place overall in Sochi regardless what deluded Sotbots tell themselves.

It's cool. I like Evan and I'm happy he won, but I'm under no illusion he was the most gifted or exciting skater. But, he deserved the win that night.

 

[Meoima]

Well, I happen to disagree and there's nothing wrong with that. So, I therefore agree to disagree. IMHO, he had lots of charisma with his style of skating and also on Dancing With the Stars. I'm a fan of many skaters, and yes, we all will have our own opinions. It would be a very boring world if we all agreed with each other.

I only remember that Evan once was orange.

 

[bumblebeevich]

Wow. He certainly is unmemorable. I guess that's why Evan's accomplishments include winning 1st place at the 2010 Olympics, 1st at 2009 Worlds, 1st at the 04-05 season and at the 06-07 season at Four Continents, 1st at the 09-10 season of the Grand Prix Finals, 1st at the 06-07 season at the Cup of China and 1st place at the 09-10 season at Skate America ... not to mention all of his 2nd and 3rd placements throughout his skating career.

No, I don't guess it was very memorable at all.

All of his placements, competitions, history, etc. can be found at Wikipedia:

Evan Lysacek

Plushenko is light years more accomplished and some/many skating fans consider him "unmemorable". Trixi Schuba and Anette Poetzsch are also eons more accomplished, and nearly every skating fan who has ever existed find them unmemorable. You will have to do better than that.

 

[DimaToe]

He was probably the skater of his generation that worked the hardest to achieve all that he did with his artistic and technical shortcomings( that 3 axel ) It's very impressive and respectable, but he was also completely un relatable and lacked charisma as a competitor IMO. I wouldn't say he's under appreciated as much as he didn't give fans much to appreciate other than his consistency when it mattered ( a la Miki Ando) but at least with her we've gotten to see that there is a personality there after she retired.

 

[bumblebeevich]

He was probably the skaters of his generation that worked the hardest, to achieve all that he did with his artistic and technical shortcomings( that 3 axel ) is very impressive and respectable, but he was also in relatable and IMO I charismatic on the ice. I wouldn't say he's under appreciated as much as he didn't give fans much to appreciate other than his consistency when it mattered ( a la Miki Ando) but al least with her we've gotten to see that there is a personality there after she retired.

I think the avenue he chose from 2011-2014, some of which was simply bad luck in how it all panned out, is a big part of what you say. That was his window to capatilize on his Olympic Gold fame and he didnt. Part since he chose to go the avenue of making a return rather than milking a pro career, and had bad luck with injuries and even USFSA disagreements at one point (2012), so it all panned out to be nearly nothing. Post 2014 with having not built his brand and connection to fans further in this 2011-2014 interim he is no longer going to be a big draw with new stars having emerged, including ones who easily eclipse what he ever had to offer as a skater either technically or artistically only a short time later (eg-Hanyu, Chan). So he missed his window to build his popularity and connect further to fans in the wake of his Oly triumph.

 

[slipchuk]

It's cool. I like Evan and I'm happy he won, but I'm under no illusion he was the most gifted or exciting skater. But, he deserved the win that night.

Plushenko didnt even deserve silver that night. Takahashi should have won silver and only 2-3 points back of Evan considering his short program should have been a good 3-4 points over Evan, and his LP should have scored in the 160 range even with the quad miss. Bronze I am not even sure if should have been Plushenko, maybe Lambiel or Weir. Plushenko's PCS should have been terrible for that LP and much lower than they were, and GOE lower too. And his program layout was so stupid his base value wasn that high and only just about equal to Evan who had no quad.

 

[slipchuk]

I think the avenue he chose from 2011-2014, some of which was simply bad luck in how it all panned out, is a big part of what you say. That was his window to capatilize on his Olympic Gold fame and he didnt. Part since he chose to go the avenue of making a return rather than milking a pro career, and had bad luck with injuries and even USFSA disagreements at one point (2012), so it all panned out to be nearly nothing. Post 2014 with having not built his brand and connection to fans further in this 2011-2014 interim he is no longer going to be a big draw with new stars having emerged, including ones who easily eclipse what he ever had to offer as a skater either technically or artistically only a short time later (eg-Hanyu, Chan). So he missed his window to build his popularity and connect further to fans in the wake of his Oly triumph.

The injuries were bad luck but the USFSA mess in 2012 was all Evan's own doing. Requiring payment to skate? That is just ego. I dont remember all the details but that was definitely Evan's own doing mostly.

 

[bardtoob]

I can't See Evan in shows unless he was portraying Sherlock Holmes or the tin man or something stiff.

How about Abraham Lincoln on ice?

 

[lala]

Plushenko is light years more accomplished and some/many skating fans consider him "unmemorable". Trixi Schuba and Anette Poetzsch are also eons more accomplished, and nearly every skating fan who has ever existed find them unmemorable. You will have to do better than that.

many? Look at his offical page, his Insta, his Twitter, his Facebook page, the other fan groups on Facebook, fan accounts on Twitter and on Insta , his shows, the other skaters' opinion on him...his achievements. And this is not his peaktime

 

[lala]

Plushenko didnt even deserve silver that night. Takahashi should have won silver and only 2-3 points back of Evan considering his short program should have been a good 3-4 points over Evan, and his LP should have scored in the 160 range even with the quad miss. Bronze I am not even sure if should have been Plushenko, maybe Lambiel or Weir. Plushenko's PCS should have been terrible for that LP and much lower than they were, and GOE lower too. And his program layout was so stupid his base value wasn that high and only just about equal to Evan who had no quad.

I say you better! Plushenko did not deserve any medals ever..oh, guys!

 

[Simone411]

Plushenko is light years more accomplished and some/many skating fans consider him "unmemorable". Trixi Schuba and Anette Poetzsch are also eons more accomplished, and nearly every skating fan who has ever existed find them unmemorable. You will have to do better than that.

Well, not in my opinion and you will have to do better than just saying or stating that.

The history is there about Plushenko, Tim Goebel, Evan Lysacek, Yaguden, Petrenko, Yamaguchi, Kwan, Kim, Cohen, Lu Chen, Sato, Kerrigan, Lipinski, Eldredge, Rochette, Witt, Sumners, Boitano, Arakawa, Hamill, Fleming, Hamilton, Slutskaya, Wagner, Kulik and Baiul.

As a matter of fact, there are numerous skaters I haven't even mentioned that have had historical moments and I haven't even mentioned any of the Pairs or Ice Dancing couples that have had historical moments.

No matter how much someone wishes to change those facts regarding accomplishments in recorded history, it will never change. History is History and skaters like Lysacek have the medals and honors to prove those memorable moments.

 

[slipchuk]

I say you better! Plushenko did not deserve any medals ever..oh, guys!

Dont patronize and go into hyperbole. I am only speaking of Vancouver. only Plushenko deserved 99% of the medals he ever won. Sometimes his scores were ridiculous- eg 2003 and 2004 worlds, 2006 Olympics, but the end result was still correcdt. However his silver in Vancouver IMO just is one of those rare one he didnt. His program was empty, most of the elements were done but mediocre quality, and other than a weak quad landed on the toe pick there was little to write home about. The only reason I wasnt especialy annoyed was it was kind of a crummy event in general which is how a skater like Evan, without a quad no less, could ever become Olympic Champion.

Now I know you worship Plushenko and for you he could come on the ice, fart 4 times, be given 5.9s and 6.0s and the gold medal and you would have no problem with it. To each their own.

 

[bumblebeevich]

Well, not in my opinion and you will have to do better than just saying or stating that.

The history is there about Plushenko, Tim Goebel, Evan Lysacek, Yaguden, Petrenko, Yamaguchi, Kwan, Kim, Cohen, Lu Chen, Sato, Kerrigan, Lipinski, Eldredge, Rochette, Witt, Sumners, Boitano, Arakawa, Hamill, Fleming, Hamilton, Slutskaya, Wagner, Kulik and Baiul.

As a matter of fact, there are numerous skaters I haven't even mentioned that have had historical moments and I haven't even mentioned any of the Pairs or Ice Dancing couples that have had historical moments.

No matter how much someone wishes to change those facts regarding accomplishments in recorded history, it will never change. History is History and skaters like Lysacek have the medals and honors to prove those memorable moments.

Well as long as you are consistent that is fine. Obviously for you anyone who is a world medalist or a National Champion even is memorable by rule. That is fine, but many dont feel that way, most dont feel that way even. I am not even speaking to whether I consider Lysacek memorable or not, I consider him more memorable than Schuba or Poetzsch atleast (despite that as I said both achieved even tons more than he did). I just dont agree with the premise someone automaticaly is considered "memorable" since they are a World Champ, won a few combined World/Olympic medals, and lots of Four Continent medals which was your basis in your response regarding Evan. You would find the vast majority of people dont consider Schuba or Poetzsch memorable and they are Olympic Champs, multi World Champs, many time European Champs, who dominated or co dominated an entire quad.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

He wasnt a regular medalist yearly if that is what you mean. He didnt medal at 2005, 2006 Olympics, 2007 worlds, 2008 worlds, at the 2006, 2007, or 2009 grand prix finals (he didnt even qualify for some of those). And he only was better than bronze twice- 2009 worlds and 2010 Olympics. And just emerging on the scene in 2005 and retiring after 2010, he doesnt have the longevity of many of his peers either.

A better example of a regular medalist outside the dominant skaters like Plushenko, Hanyu, and Chan, would be Brian Joubert who has 6 world medals, 4 of those gold or silver, along with numerous 4th place finishes, and TEN European medals/3 European golds against stellar competition (he has a far better record at Europeans skating against Plushenko, Lambiel, Verner, and others than Evan has at the way weaker U.S nationals skating against against only Weir and Abbott, heck he has a weaker record at Nationals than Weir and Abbott). Evan is far more similar to Lambiel, not a very long career, not even a regular medalist in big events, never dominant even in his own part of the world let alone global, very few international wins even on the regular grand prix circuit, not even a Europeans title which is about on par with Evan having a mere 2 U.S titles. Even Stephane though outside of Olympic Gold vs Olympic silver (and silver is all Evan would ever get vs 2006 Plushenko too) eclipses Evan every other way- Grand prix finals, worlds wins, world medals success, overall internationals, National wins, and far greater artistic and even technical impact on the sport; and missed podiums far less often when he competed than Evan from 2005-2010.

Loosing a little perspective here. I admire most of all the skaters you mentioned for different reasons. Lysacek was a regular medalist from 04, his first year in seniors, to 2010. Plenty of golds sprinkled in there. Not all years were great ones, but succeeded in coming back several times. I find that impressive in his case. Lambiel won some important medals but it was his use of the body - the line, the rotation - virtuosic, really, that showed what was possible. Joubert had a lot of success but like Evan, didn't add so much to the sport. Abbott's story we all know - good at home, disappointing abroad. I never look at Plushenko. I found his routines vapid, even cheesy. He was a great jumper and competitor. He was in it a long time. He was a great champion but not someone I much admire - taste, really. Any of these men are increadible talents with levels of success no one on this site is likely to know. Maybe it's fun to rank these very different skaters, skating in very different circumstances But, they were all great. None deserves to be cast out.