I like the direction Sarah Hughes is taking in her skating. She is becoming less tom-boyish and more feminine. Hopefully she is watching how Michelle Kwan is conducting herself during interviews and adopts that sort of open and friendly style. It will help her to connect more with skating fans and improve her popularity. Sasha and Sarah were smart not to take the bait and criticize the fact that Maria B. did a sloppy, less than perfect performance, but still came out ahead.
Viewers are smart enough to see that for themselves.
Judges won't be able to get away with that for long. Besides Sasha and Sarah both proved themselves. I don't think Sasha should have said that Maria deserved her marks, though. That was over doing it on politeness. There is nothing wrong with saying that sometimes the marks don't come out the way everyone would like, but what matters is knowing that you skated your best.