Hello Mary Lu

Comments to come shortly

1 Sasha COHEN (USA) 66.73
2 Irina SLUTSKAYA (RUS) 66.70
3 Shizuka ARAKAWA (JAP) 66.02
4 Fumie SUGURI (JPN) 61.75
5 Kimmie MEISSNER (USA) 59.40
6 Elene GEDEVANISHVILI (GEO) 57.90
7 Emily HUGHES (USA) 57.08
8 Miki ANDO (JPN) 56.00
9 Joannie ROCHETTE (CAN) 55.85
10 Sarah MEIER (SUI) 55.57
11 Carolina KOSTNER (ITA) 53.77
12 Susanna POYKIO (FIN) 53.74
13 Elena LIASHENKO (UKR) 52.35
14 Mira LEUNG (CAN) 50.61
15 Yan LIU (CHN) 49.84
16 Julia SEBESTYEN (HUN) 49.58
17 Idora HEGEL (CRO) 47.06
18 Elena SOKOLOVA (RUS) 46.69
19 Viktoria PAVUK (HUN) 46.40
20 Kiira KORPI (FIN) 44.84
21 Fleur MAXWELL (LUX) 44.53
22 Tugba KARADEMIR (TUR) 44.20
23 Silvia FONTANA (ITA) 42.47
24 Elena GLEBOVA (EST) 38.47
25 Joanne CARTER (AUS) 40.86
26 Roxana LUCA (ROM) 39.37
27 Galina EFREMENKO (UKR) 41.25
28 Yong Suk KIM (PRK) 39.16
29 Anastasia GIMAZETDINOVA (UZB) 38.44

Photo Credit: REUTERS/David Gray

Happy Valentine's Day to Everyone. I wish each and everyone of you love from the ones you need.

Tonight we're going to get some dinner early and be home to watch the Men's Short Program.

Okay Question Du Jour: I've been considering a Video Hard Drive Recorder. I'm not thrilled with the idea of a Tivo, the additional fee for getting the programming has never appealed to me. I've heard mixed reviews on the TV Guide programming systems. Also there are times I'd like to burn off and archive program, like skating, to watch again. I also want a box with Firewire (IEEE 1394) input that will allow me to transfer my DV Camera footage and burn a DV. Budget is around $400. Ideas? Suggestion?

• Michelle Kwan is a minimalist ice goddess with only one crooked tooth to remind us that she is human. - by David Swerdlick, popmatters.com

David's article puts the entire situation into perspective. My wrap-up comments on Valentines Day.

The Men's Short Program starts tonight. Has anyone put duct tape on Johnny Weir's mouth yet? PLEASE! He's going to embarrass someone at the USFSA. And I'm going to love it!

Tonight's Pairs Final was a completely different event than the last one I reported on in Salt Lake City in 2002. Tonight's top three medal winners each overcame serious accidents and proved that while it looks so easy, in the blink of an eye an accident can completely change your life. In the end it all depends on how you deal with it.

Gold Medalist, Tatiana Totmianina and Max Marinin of Russia presented a near perfect but cautious performance. Tot and Max over came a disastrous fall during a lift at Skate America over a year ago inwhich Tatiana was seriously injured.

Silver Medalists, Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China showed "the spirit lives here" motto is all about. In an attempt to open their program with the first ever quadruple Salchow, Zhang Dan crashed to the ground in a split, landing straight down on her knee and slid into the boards. The shock from the crash was so severe they stopped skating in order to insure Zhang Dan was medically sound to continue skating. After about 5 minutes a restart was allowed, and they picked up the program where they left off. Autopilot took over with Zhang Dan and they finished the program like the elite skaters they are.

And finally, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China captured the Bronze Medal. This happened after earlier this year Zhao Hongbo completely ruptured his Achilles tendon on his landing foot several months ago. Zhao Hongbo had reattachment surgery and just began jumping again 2 weeks before the Olympics. Considering the situation, this exceptionally strong team were able to overcome his injury and skate a wonderful program with the best artistic impression I have ever seen them skate.

For a total recap, read Salt Lake City Pairs Gold Medalists, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier's comments on the NBC site. Pictures and more later.

Final Placements are:

Placement - Name Country - Score
1 - TOTMIANINA Tatiana / MARININ Maxim - RUS - 135.84
2 - ZHANG Dan / ZHANG Hao - CHN - 125.01
3 - SHEN Xue / ZHAO Hongbo - CHN - 124.59
4 - PANG Qing / TONG Jian - CHN - 123.48
5 - SAVCHENKO Aliona / SZOLKOWY Robin - GER - 119.19
6 - PETROVA Maria / TIKHONOV Alexei - RUS 117.42
7 INOUE Rena / BALDWIN John USA 113.74
8 ZAGORSKA Dorota / SIUDEK Mariusz POL 109.85
9 OBERTAS Julia / SLAVNOV Sergei RUS 106.29
10 DUBE Jessica / DAVISON Bryce CAN 104.23

While all the media attention has been on Michelle's withdrawal and Sasha's pending/potential coronation to the Gold Medal, the media has almost forgotten Kimmie Meissner, who placed 2nd in the US National Championships behind Cohen. The Rink Rumormill in Torino says Kimmie is soaking in the experience and is having great practices consistently hitting her content. My gut tells me NOT to count Kimmie out.

My spies in Torino also told me that US Pairs Champions, Rena Inoue & John Baldwin missed the throw triple axel in final long program, and ended up in 7th place, down from 6th place. The throw triple axel they nailed in the short program was outstanding. The Spies said the long wait to skate made it difficult for the skaters to remain limber and stretched. It also plays hell with your head-- skaters like to "get it over with!"

I'll save the Pairs winners for tonight, not so spoil it for you. However beware there were some real nasty falls.

True confession time: I grew up in the Midwest and used to spend my "rest periods" at rink, drinking coffee and watching the curling leagues play in the adjoining ice sheets. It was one of the only places where I could talk to a "normal guy."

We used to broadcast the curling leagues on the weekend, sponsored by the local beer companies. As a bratty teenager I called curling "Ice Bowling" and felt it has about as much potential to become an Olympic sport as ballroom dancing. Shows you how much I knew!

But now in my (ahem!) older years you will not catching my dance partner and I in competition, but it's heart-warming to see Scott Baird get his shot as an alternate on the US Olympic Curling Team. At 54, Scott is the oldest athlete to participate in the modern Olympic games.

However don't let Baird's gray hair and calm personality fool you. Baird's a living legend in the curling world. His ability to repeatedly slide a stone down the ice with precision placement is legendary. He is a natural coach and brings a wealth of knowledge about Curling (chess on ice,) to the US team. It would be great to see him get a shot and give the "kids" a run for the gold.

PS: The morning news tells us, Grandma Luge, AKA Anne Abernathy of the US Virgin Islands, the oldest women at the Olympics, has withdrawn from the competition due to a broken wrist. Pity. Anne's been an inspiration to a lot of women by participating in the games, and over coming cancer and a string of injuries.

And once you thought the scandal was over...

I got a copy of a press release written in January that announced that Salt Lake City Skating Judge, Jon Jackson had finally won his case in an arbitration court.

• The American Arbitration Association (AAA) awarded Jackson over $18,000 in attorneys' fees, costs and arbitration costs, following its ruling that US Figure Skating had failed to follow its own bylaws and rules in an attempt to sanction him. Jackson was a key witness in the pairs figure skating judging scandal at the 2002 Olympics. Previously, US Figure Skating had attempted to strip Jackson and Ron Pfenning, the referee of the 2002 Olympic pairs event, of their eligibility after they formed the now defunct World Skating Federation as a competing organization to the International Skating Union in 2003.

For those of you who don't remember Jon Jackson and Ron Pfenning were the two who blew the whistle on the International Skating Union and judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne over the judge fixing in the Salt Lake City Olympic pairs event.

Also the USFSA has completely exonerated Jackson and Pfenning of all charges. Personally it's about time.

Jackson's upcoming memoir, On Edge: Backroom Dealing, Cocktail Scheming, Triple Axels, and How Top Skaters Get Screwed, is now in stores and on Amazon. It should prove an interesting read. Friends who have read it say Jon's ripped the lid of the years of backroom deals and corruption. Too bad we can't get Speedy out of office. But considering how many problems his new scoring system is creating-- we can hope.

Today Michelle Kwan again said “No, thank you” to NBC’s offer to be a guest commentary for the Olympics Ladies Figure Skating Finals. NBC’s first offer had come when it was considered a possibility she would be unable to skate a couple months ago. This morning after her interview with Scott Hamilton and Bob Costas, they repeated the offer, but Michelle said she did not want to “she didn't want to be a distraction for remaining members of the U.S. Olympic figure skating team.” She had also stated this at the Press Conference when she announced her withdrawal earlier the morning.

So following her interviews and other obligations, Michelle quietly went back to the Olympic Village packed her bags and left, to join her family at their rented apartment in Torin, until she can secure a return flight to Los Angeles.

Today Sasha Cohen, the 2006 US National Ladies Champion began to feel the spotlight ratchet up on her with Michelle’s departure. When asked about Michelle’s withdrawal, the 21 year old, Sasha appeared to be introspective in her statement that this situation “humanizes the sport.” Considering how Sasha has always been in Michelle’s shadow, we shall see how she handles the pressure.

While Michelle departs Torin, Emily Hughes is trying to dig out of the Nor’easter Blizzard that has dumped at least 18 inches of snow on her Long Island, NY hometown. In the past 24 hours, since USFSA President, Ron Hershberger, called the Hughes Family to inform them to bring Emily to Torin, Emily has been interviewed by the major media outlets. All in all, Emily seems to be handling the spotlight pretty well and appears to be getting great advice from her family and older sister, Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes. Now if we could get the roads open so Emily could get to the local practice rink, it would help her begin to prepare for her first major Senior event.

The other night we were all watching The Games when we caught our first peek at the Torino Medals. My first reaction was… "Ah—That’s where all those AOL CD’s we tossed out went!" The Dr. Doug chimed in… "Couldn’t the Italian's afford an entire medal?" Friday night, Tonight Show host Jay Leno called them “A large washer with a ribbon through it!” Tonight, Olympic Speed Skating Gold Medalist Chad Hedrick called it, “a golden donut.”

All in all, these medals are as unique as the Albertville Medals of Lalique Crystal and Lillehammer Medals of a crystal window backed in native granite, both surrounded by Gold, Silver or Bronze frames. The Torin designer Dario Quatrini said the empty space (or the hole in the middle,) represents the Italian piazza, or town square.

Okay they are an Olympic Medal, however what are you calling them? Hit the Comments Button.

A personal commentary:

A few minutes ago the Peter Ueberroth, Chairmen of the USOC and Ron Hershberger, President of the USFSA , as well as other officials held a press conference in which they and Michelle Kwan's, officially announced her withdrawal from the 2006 Olympic Games in Torin, because of a new injury to her abductor area of her hip muscle. It is a new injury and makes it nearly impossible to jump and pull in a spin. Michelle's behavior and conduct was an example of total class and grace under pressure. Most of you will never comprehend the amount of intellect, honesty and courage Michelle showed by withdrawing from the competition in the timely manner she did. In thinking of her "respect for the Olympics, and the team" first, she has given her replacement Emily Hughes a reasonable opportunity to prepare to come to Italy and skate.

Without her own PR person in tow, Michelle sat alone in front of the media. Michelle made her own announcement:

• "Taking myself off the team is the most difficult decision I've ever had to make. But it's the right decision. The Olympics is the greatest sporting event in the world and what's most important is that the United States fields the strongest team possible... As much as I'd love to represent the United States, I would never stand in the way of that."

From there, Michelle fielded questions from the media like a pro. Never did she ask for anyone's pity, nor did she complain or whine about not being able to win an Olympic Gold Medal. That just isn't Michelle. Never did she try to re-spin a question to her advantage, but answered the questions openly and honestly about her injury, and that she had spoken with her parents and other skaters about her decision before she made the announcement. In reality she did her best to put the entire situation into perspective by reminding us that figure skating, "is sport-- it's beautiful" but it's not life, and her world will not come to an end if she doesn't compete and win an Olympics'>Olympic Gold Medal. Michelle's too smart for that type of perspective. Her perspective comes from being grounded by a family and friends who never allowed her to be a total "rink rat" and expected her to be well educated and work hard.

When asked what she was going to do next, she said she was going home to LA, where she could get treatment for her injury and be out of the spotlight. She wants people could focus on the other skaters in the competition and not be a distraction.

Today all of us in the skating world should be proud she is one of us. Welcome home Michelle. You're still our champion.

A podcast of her Press Conference is here.

I'm voting for Michelle for the DHL Olympic Spirit Award. Want to join me?

After thought: In this day and age of "prima donna" athletes, every athlete professional or amateur should be forced to watch how she conducted herself and model themselves after Michelle.

About 25 minutes ago, it was announced through the Associated Press and the IOC Press Office that Michelle Kwan has withdrawn from the Women's Figure Skating event at the 2006 Olympic Games. She is scheduled to give a press conference or make a statement at 3 AM Pacific time.

I suspect that Michelle after a poor practice yesterday, was nursing more pain than she was willing to admit. Reports are saying she was in a great deal of pain tonight and consulting with the Team Doctor, (may be Dr. Debbie Thomas? Nope it's Dr. Jim Moeller!) Plus add to the fact she is unable to take a large number of pain medications because of the doping regulations and Michelle may have been in a no-win situation. It will be interesting to see what is said.

Now first alternate to the team is 16-year-old Emily Hughes who finished third at the U.S. Championships in January, is being petitioned to ISU and the IOC to be allowed to skate in Michelle's place. In many ways this creates a fair situation to Emily can get ready to compete at the Olympics. The best thing is Emily is ready to go, because she has been practicing for the World Championships, which are normally held right after the Olympics. Now all Emily needs is the call from the USFSA to come to Italy.

Welcome to the party Emily...

I woke up this morning to hear that Michelle Kwan cut her practice short this morning in Turin. She's said she felt stiff. I'm honestly not surprised. Michelle, who's now 25 and recovering from a serious groin injury, got a bye at Nationals to be appointed to the Olympic Team.

Some people say she shouldn't be going. I'm not one of them. At 25 Michelle has earned the right to be on the ice and compete, IF SHE thinks she is able to do a good job. But no one other than Michelle can make that choice. About now a lot of you are going "huh?" So let me explain...

Michelle is one of the most brutally honest skaters about her ability I have ever known. (Other than I was about myself.) She has learned to listen to those inner voices inside your body that tell you when you're ready, or not. That comes with age and experience. Ask any older world class level skater/athlete.

Sure she's stiff, after sitting hours in a plane and walking around outside at the opening ceremonies. Michelle's bound to be stiff, a little sore and dealing with the jet-lag of the LA to Turin flight. International travel for West Coast LA skaters has always been a major PITA, and she's no different. Michelle's smart enough to know that she has to get herself back on an intensive rehab and rest program while at The Games so she can be ready well before she skates her first program on Feb 21 when the Short Program starts the competition. She has 10 days. Knowing her potential and how those inner voices work, I know she's got time.

It would be nice if the media wouldn't expect her to be a "perfect" skater everytime she takes the ice to practice.

Got a call the other day from an family member asking where my old blog posts are listed. Nothing like the Olympics getting people to come back to me. Well at the moment the old posts are over on the old server at radio.weblogs.com.

I'm seriously considering moving everything to a new site and bringing in the entire old site and cleaning up the mess. I am at a point where I want total control of my blog and the information. I should have done this sooner, but reality check is... I haven't had the time. Any suggestions folks?

Oh one more thing: I added my Amazon Wish List to the margin links

This year's Super Bowl commerical winners are:

• The Honda Ridgeline's fantasy commerical where the Mudflap Girl meets Yosemite Sam and goes for a ride. Great fun!
• Budweiser's "Clydesdale American Dream" where the Clydesdale colt, dreams of being a member of the pulling team, and then puts his head in the harness-- and starts pulling the wagon, while two of the horses push the wagon secretly from the rear. All the time being watched by the stable manager and Spot, the dog. It was a real winner!
• Honorable mention goes to the Hummer commercial of Godzilla and the Robot-- they have a baby Hummer. It was cute!

Congradulations to the Steelers! Way to go guys!

Today the two astronauts on the International Space Station "launched" an old Russian space suit into space. This suit called SuitSat or Radio Sputnik (depending if you're American or Russian,) was completely rigged with a HAM Radio transmitter, broadcasting a message every 30 seconds on 145.99o MHz, in order to see if we earth-bound radio fans could track and recieve the audio and video transmissions from space.

Spaceweather has reported that it appears the SuitSat experiment may be a failure, because shortly after the "launch" the transmission has gone silent. It is possible the radio may start up again, so for those of you who have access to a HAM Radio, you can track SuitSat by following the orbit of the ISS and using a neat little free reminder email service offered by NASA called: J-Pass. SuitSat will mirror the ISS orbit by a couple minutes.

Read more about it here and here.