By Popular Request, the Official Olympic Figure Skating Thread!

[joeybee12]

Shen-Zhao set record in short program

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)—China’s Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo are a step closer to their elusive Olympic gold medal after they set a world record Sunday as they won the pairs short program.

With a score of 76.66, the Chinese lead two-time world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany by just .70 points. That’s a slim margin going into Monday night’s free skate, a difference that can be made up with one flourish of a hand.

“I am very happy today that we stood up on the ice and made a very good performance,” Zhao said. “Today was just the short program. Tomorrow will be more important. Hopefully tomorrow will be as good as today.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/figure_skating/news;_ylt=AveRKgR6JBnrqimA6fysTRJ9sbV_?slug=ap-fig--pairsshort&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Onceuponalife]

1. I'm reeling over how popular this thread is!

:rofl:

[joeybee12]

2. Tons of figure skating fans here in the Sports Forum...

...they're just shy!

[Onceuponalife]

6. or they fell asleep watching figure skating,

[joeybee12]

7. You're thinking of ice hockey!

:P

[DoBotherMe]

98. deleted

Wrong place. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

3. You demanded it, and I provided it...your daily update....

China’s Shen and Zhao win pairs gold

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)—Shen Xue beamed as she clutched the big shiny medal and husband Zhao Hongbo planted a kiss on her forehead.

The Chinese pair has stood on the podium many times in many different places.

Never on a stage like this.

Shen and Zhao won the Olympic gold medal that has driven them for nearly two decades Monday night, a prize tantalizing enough to lure them out of the cozy life of a happily retired married couple. It wasn’t the best skate of their career—she tumbled onto his back during a lift—but it was good enough to win.

That’s all that mattered.


http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/figure_skating/news;_ylt=AlMNXGbegO2U.wtSKl3w98Z9sbV_?slug=ap-fig-pairsfinal&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Iggo]

4. YOU LIE!!!

Nobody requested this!

:rofl:

[joeybee12]

5. EVERYONE did...if not vocally...

...then in their hearts!

[fishwax]

8. sure seemed like there was a lot of falling in the pairs last night

Other than the Chinese team that finished in second, i think every pair that I saw had at least one major fall. I wondered if there was something wrong with the ice (since the speed skating ice was bad enough that they had to delay the 500m finals). I didn't have the sound on for all of it (I had it on the 2nd TV while I watched my Sooners give the UCONN Huskies a run for their money on my main TV), so I don't know if the announcers said anything about it, but I was just surprised that none of the pairs came close to a clean program until the 2nd-to-last team.

[joeybee12]

9. The Chinese couple won, as did MY UCONN Huskies!

Series-ly, it was a close game...65-0.

Sometimes it's painful to watch the figure skating, so many falls. Some nights everyone is on, some nights everyone is off.

[fishwax]

10. I figured they would, even though it was close at the half

I held out hope until the last few minutes, though :) UCONN is just too good. But it was fun to watch, and I was still proud of the Sooners :woohoo:

I forgot that the Chinese couple that won didn't have any falls either, but they did have that slip on the lift that could have easily been much worse. But I'm glad that they won. They were fun to watch, and you could tell they were having fun as well.

[joeybee12]

11. They had retired, but came out of retirement for the Olympics...

...as for UCONN, I think it was good for them to have a close game...there haven't been many. It's only the second time they were behind in the second half, and the latest in the game, so congrats to the Sooners.

[LisaM]

12. They fall because it's so jump oriented

Seriously, the artistry is just about dead.

[joeybee12]

13. Today's Update...let the cat-fighting begin!!!!

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – If gold medals were handed out for winning mind games, Evgeni Plushenko would already be headed to the Vancouver airport, ready to jump on a flight to Russia with another Olympic title stashed safely in his baggage.

After surging into the lead after the short program in the men’s figure-skating competition, Plushenko proceeded to turn up the heat on American rival Evan Lysacek with a series of barbed comments that will further fuel a heated showdown set for Thursday night.

Plushenko gleefully poked fun at Lysacek’s refusal to incorporate the quad jump – figure skating’s toughest and most exciting maneuver – into his program. Lysacek suffered a stress fracture in his foot attempting the move last year and will not try it in his long program.

“I believe the future of figure skating lies in the quad jumps,” said Plushenko, with the hint of a sneer dancing across his face. “We can discuss a lot whether it is good or not or whether it is good to focus on other things, but by doing so we are going backward in time.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/figure_skating/news;_ylt=Ar9iJzXJC2qaz3rJE4f3Hpx9sbV_?slug=ro-mindgames021610&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[joeybee12]

14. Tonight's the Night! The men's long program...will Evan win (justly so)

or will that bitchy Commie win due to the Eastern bloc bias? Stay tuned!

[TZ]

15. Eastern Bloc bias?

LOL. How very 80's of you....Pleshenko will probably win because he's good..Even if he is a total jackass.

[joeybee12]

16. There's still far too much bias in skating...

in scoring, it's as if we're back in the Cold War...watch the scores, they'll say it's because a "style" appeals to a particular judge. BS. And don't get me started on the Russian Mafia-controlled ice dancing!

[joeybee12]

17. Crappy draw for Evan...goes first in the final group...

the commie bitch is the last skater to take the ice.

[DoBotherMe]

19. I'm so nervous

For Evan I don't think I can watch! Dana ; )

[madinmaryland]

18. Nice post, JackRabbit!

This is right up there with those chess threads!

[piedmont]

20. Lysacek wins GOLD! nt

[CBR]

21. YEAH!!! He deserved it. nt

[DoBotherMe]

22. EVAN!

He's a machine and a stone cold fox! Johnny was robbed. Dana ; )

[CBR]

23. Johnny was robbed in the short and long programs! nt

[njlib]

24. Yes, he was!

I felt really bad for him tonight and think he was good enough for the bronze medal.

[a la izquierda]

26. i feel so badly for him

he should have medaled. he seemed to take it all in stride, but i think he was screwed.
this is the first year in a while i've paid attention to the men's program, and i watched because i think johnny weir is frickin' awesome.

[theHandpuppet]

27. Totally agree

That score was absolutely shameful. Johnny's performance was, to me, a true exhibition of what epitomizes the athleticism, grace and beauty of skating!

[Jade Fox]

35. I'm really pissed.....

At 25 Weir is nearing the end of his competitive skating window, and to be robbed at this late date has got to hurt.

[joeybee12]

25. The wait since 1988 is over! Woo-hoo!

Lysacek upsets Plushenko for gold medal

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)—Evan Lysacek stood atop the podium, looking dazed as the first notes of the “The Star-Spangled Banner” floated through the arena.

No wonder.

When the guy standing next to him is skating, the medals ceremony usually has a different soundtrack.


USA's Evan Lysacek reacts after performing his free program during the men's figure skating competition on Thursday.

(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Lysacek became the first U.S. man to win the Olympic gold medal since Brian Boitano in 1988, shocking everyone—including himself—by upsetting defending champion Evgeni Plushenko on Thursday night. Plushenko, retired the past three years, returned with the sole purpose of making a little history of his own with a second straight gold medal.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/figure_skating/news?slug=ap-fig-mensfinal&prov=ap&type=lgns

:toast: :toast: :toast:

[adigal]

54. Plushenko was robbed!! As his coach said, Evan's

program was what the WOMEN do nowadays, and even Elvis Stoyko said that Junior skaters were skating his program.

Either it is a sport, and the winner needs a quad, or it is a dance/art, and Weir should have won. Plushenko was just outstanding.

[joeybee12]

55. Crap! If it's justa jumping contest, then have them all do 6-7 jumps

and judge them on that.

It's a sport with artistry.

Some of the footwork/turns are harder than jumps.

Bullshit...I call your bullshit.

[Awsi Dooger]

28. I think Rachel Flatt's name has been mentioned one time on NBC

That's devastating evidence of the difference between this Olympics and typical, when there is an American skating darling(s). A Michelle Kwan literally would have been touted 100+ times by now, and featured in numerous promos. If Sasha Cohen had made the team there would have been considerable hype.

Rachel showed up at one competition early in the Olympics and NBC showed her backstage. That's been it.

[joeybee12]

29. I just noticed she finished 5th at the last worlds...you'd think she'd

get more coverage because obviously she has a chance to medal.

[joeybee12]

30. Also, women's sakiting has been on a downturn the past few years...

...only 2 made it to the Olympics...I couldn't even name most of the other skaters since I haven't been watching because the American women aren't in the thick of things.

[joeybee12]

31. KICK!!!!!

[joeybee12]

32. Ice dancing starts tonight...

...it would actually be interesting to watch if the Russian mafia hadn't declared the winners already.

[joeybee12]

33. Ice dance happening NOW!!!!

The main group, however, hasn't started.

[DoBotherMe]

34. Tanith and Ben

Seemed a bit tight. Even though technically they were excellent. I used to compete in dance (roller skating) and we could get much tighter and deeper arcs than can be accomplished on ice so the sweep over the floor and the knee action creates smoother look. BTW do you know why Tanith and Evan broke up? I read she's dating Charlie White. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

36. She seemed a little tighter than he did...

...problem is, right now you know the Russians are getting the gold, the Candians the silver, and probably Meryl and Charlie get the bronze...ice dancing is so rigged it kills me. It's really a shame because it's fun to watch, but in the back of my head you know what they do out there really doesn't matter.

[MaineDem]

37. Not that it means much right now, but the Russians aren't even in the final group in the nxt round

Maybe, just maybe, the years of Russian/Soviet dominance (except for the years GB and France won) are over.

[DoBotherMe]

38. The Protopopovs are

The last Russian dance pair I liked (I keed, I keed ... not really). My favorites over the years have been Chris and Jane, the Duchenays, Robert and Tracy, and Jared and Elizabeth. I have no favorites this Olympics, I think most have sloppy execution with the exception of Charlie and Meryl. The medals might be up for grabs. Let's hope the best Olympic performance wins! Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

40. Id' really like to think all the skaters have a chance...

...but pretty much last night is how the final standings will be.

[joeybee12]

39. Trust me, those years aren't over...the russian mafia really does

control ice dancing...it's big business in other parts of the world where a pair, having won any kind of international medal, can be hyped and make a lot of money... the mafia has its claws in here. And it's easy to be sooooooooo sbjective in voting to cover the obvious fix when there aren't the big lifts, jumps, etc., that pairs do and have to have points deducted.

[DoBotherMe]

41. Yeah, that's the

Way it plays out. I quit working myself into an angry rant when the Duchenays were given low marks. They moved across the ice with such power and intricate steps and moves (choreography by Chris Dean), yet the russians won by making faces and gesticulating. Sick shit right there. See you tonight! Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

42. I'm back...what did I miss?

Nothing apparently...no skating tonight.

I was out trapping feral cats for the free clinic tomorrow to get them fixed and their shots. I'll be up early so I hope I can stay awake tomorrow evening!

[DoBotherMe]

43. Apolo won Bronze

In the 1500. Shani took the silver in his 1500 and the Dutch earned the gold - "Orange Crush" lost their minds ... I love those fans! I'll be here tomorrow. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

48. What is this? The Ice Follies?

No bent knees and rears on their skates. Where are the reverse edge changes? Bring back compulsory figures. Ack! Oh well. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

49. Isaelis were great

A few synch errors, but I loved their dance position and edges. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

50. Loved the Canadian

Routine. He is top flight! Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

51. Tanith and Ben killed

Let's see if they get their marks. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

53. They did not...

...clearly, the Russians are going to win, even though they dropped to third...candaians silver, and US third...

[DoBotherMe]

56. I think they had the best

Executed and creative elements of all the programs. Tracy thought so too, except that they didn't connect to their music and neither did the crowd. Whether Tanith and Ben medal, they are the best I've seen in years. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

57. They've already decided for the medals...

...interestingly enough when they got silver at the worlds, they really connected with the crowd, although there were a couple small slips, while the Russians who won were perfect, although their routine was dull and didn't connect, and also very cautious...like I said, it's rigged.

[MaineDem]

58. I'm curious. How do you know this?

I'm not doubting you. I'd like to see the Canadians win, to be honest. But what's your proof for the "fix"?

[joeybee12]

59. The Russian Mafia!

Seriously, they control it...ice dancing is big business in parts of the world, and the mafia wants their cut. They have it worked out so that certain couples get their medals so they earn more on tour, and the mafia gets their cut, as do the judges.

A few years back, the Lithuanians, who had won the bronze at the worlds, criticized the scoring, saying it's rigged...third going into the final, they wowed the crowd, the commentators were beyond themselves with praise, and the judges marked them down to fourth.

[MaineDem]

60. But what's the proof?

"Seriously, they control it"

Is there proof? Or do you know a guy who knows a guy?

[joeybee12]

62. Here...you have to pay for the whole article.

AN ALLEGED Russian crime boss was arrested in Italy yesterday on US charges that he tried to fix the figure skating pairs and ice dancing events at the Salt Lake City Olympics.

The arrest brought a bizarre and unexpected twist to a scandal that cast a shadow over the highest ranks of championship skating earlier this year, with judges accused of cutting deals on Olympic medals.

Alimzan Tokhtakhounov was arrested at his resort in Forte dei Marmi in northern Italy. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and bribery in sporting contests, carrying up to five years…

[joeybee12]

63. And...

Nearly a year has past since the close of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, an event that laid bare to public view the unseemly side of judging ethics, or rather the lack of them, within the ISU. In Salt Lake City the ISU seemed more annoyed that it had to face the public to defend itself than in rooting out corruption, but ultimately the ISU suspended two officials, French Federation president Didier Gailhaguet and French Judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne.

One month later, at the World Championships, allegations flew that the ice dancing judging in Nagano was influenced by backroom involvement of the Russian Mafia.. At the World Championships, however, the protest in the ice dancing was simply ignored. Several months later, an unrelated wiretap in Italy led to the arrest of an alleged member of the Russian Mafia accused of attempting to fix the Olympic Ice Dancing event. At the time of the arrest, the ISU issued a press release basically saying they knew nothing about it and that there was nothing they could do about it anyway since they did not have the investigative powers of a police agency such as the FBI. This position, however, is disingenuous. Yes, the ISU cannot pursue criminals with wiretaps and the like, but it is not powerless.

At the Winter Games, some ice dancers publicly commented on the obvious disconnect between the way coaches and ice dancers believe the couples should place and the way the judges actually place them. This was followed by a formal protest at the World Championships with the explicit allegation of Russian Mafia involvement. While lacking the investigative powers of a police agency, the ISU in Nagano still could have taken action. Skaters, coaches and officials could have been interviewed. Others in Nagano not part of the ISU could have been "invited" to be questioned. Instead the ISU did nothing. The difference between this situation and the Olympics? In Salt Lake City there was public knowledge of a smoking gun. In Nagano, there was only a credible allegation that could be swept under the rug.

These two incidents are symptomatic of the way the ISU handles ethics questions. If you can get away with hiding it, hide it. If you can't hide it, slap the perpetrators on the wrists and move on.

The ISU has had many opportunities over the years to clean up its ethical act, and has failed to step up to the challenge each time.

Following the controversy in the ice dancing event at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games the ISU was urged to take action and to adopt policies to not only root out ethical violations but also the appearance of ethical violation. Nothing was done.

Following the toe tapping incident at the 1999 World Championships the ISU was again urged to institute strict ethics rules. The judges involved received slap-on-the-wrist suspensions, but the implementation of ethics rules was ignored.

At ISU congresses in 1998 and 2000 the issue of implementing accountability rules for the judges was considered but never adopted.

At the 2002 ISU Congress the United States agreed to shelve it's excellent judging reform proposals in exchange for an agreement that the ISU would begin a study the formation of an ethics and accountability commission. In the seven months that have elapsed since that promise, little appears to have been done to fulfill that agreement. Enough time has passed not only to study the formation of such a commission, but to have actually written all the rules and put them into use. The last we heard on this subject was a press release from the USFSA late in the summer of 2002 urging the ISU to move more aggressively in this area. At this point, it would appear that the ISU played the USFSA for fools at the ISU Congress.

What has the ISU done since Salt Lake? It has instituted a secretive version of the current scoring system that supposedly will instill ethics by allowing the judges to do whatever they want in total anonymity. It has embarked on an immensely expensive and complex revision of the entire judging process that will do nothing to improve the ethics of the organization and the individuals within it.

You cannot instill ethics through secrecy!

You cannot instill ethics with a computer program!

You instill ethics in an organization by a top-down, continuous, relentless emphasis on ethics on a person to person basis. If ethics is a problem in an organization it is because the management of that organization has allowed it to occur. The ethical climate in an organization is created by top management and flows downstream from there.

At an ISU presentation in October 2002 on the proposed scoring system, the ISU argued that secrecy was an essential part of the new system because, to paraphrase the ISU, there are judges out there who want to be honest but are not due to pressure from their national associations. Secrecy, the ISU says will allow these judges to be honest.

Poppy cock! If a judge doesn't have the integrity and backbone to be honest in the full light of day they ought not be a judge. If a person can't be trusted in public, there is no reason to trust them in secret.

If the ISU wants to take the pressure off the judges from the national associations the solution is simple. Once a person becomes an ISU judge they remain an ISU judge as long as they remain qualified. End the procedure of having the national associations renominate their judges each year, which allows the associations to hold a hammer over their judges heads.

If the ISU wants to change the identity of figure skating and the way it is evaluated, that is one issue; but the proposed voodoo scoring system is not the solution to what ails the ISU. In the time since the Winter Games the ISU could already have implemented several simple, straight forward, unambiguous steps that would solve most of its major problems. With decisive action these steps could still be taken in the months ahead, with the reforms up and running long before the start of the next season, just six months away, and long before any new judging system it may come up with can be completed.

The ISU needs a strong Ethics and Accountability Commission with an ironclad emphasis on ethics in the organization from top to bottom, and with penalties that have teeth -- including lifetime suspensions for the first serious ethics violation and a minimum of a full season suspension for lesser violations. Rigorous standards of training and accountability must be implement for all ISU officials. The USFSA Ethics Rules could serve as a model for the ethics half of this commission.

The ISU needs a fair comprehensive Grievance Process in which all credible allegations will be investigated and acted upon in a fair, clearly defined and open way. The USFSA Grievance Rules could serve as a model for this reform.

The ISU must remove the control and influence of the national associations over the judges. Once a person becomes an ISU judge they must be willing to transition to the full control of the ISU and never look back -- even if this means the ISU has to train its own judges from scratch.

Strict limits must be placed on the geo-political blocks that make up a judging panel. This reform was promised for the current season but has yet to be put into effect. Early in the history of the ISU every member club could have a judge at ISU competitions. This meant that a country that had more than one ISU club could potentially have more than one judge on a panel. When it became intolerably obvious that judges from one country were ganging up on other countries the rules were changed so that a country could have only one judge on a panel. Today we have multiple judges from a given block ganging up on the other blocks. The solution to this is to insure equal representation by block, just as in the past the solution was equal representation by country.

The ISU is hoping technology will solve its problems, but that will not prove to be the case. It is like trying to kill a fly with a sledge hammer. Not only does it not get the job done, it wastes a lot of energy and does more damage than it accomplishes in the process.

[DoBotherMe]

64. Sick shit!

Probably death threats are involved too. Too bad there's no recourse, other than public pressure DURING the judging. How did Chris and Jane ever win Gold? Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

65. I know, but it was clear when they returned to the Olympics, they

were robbed of their second gold.

[DoBotherMe]

61. Yes the viewing public

Will be bewildered again when the russians win. That's why I quit worrying about marks when the Duchenays missed gold. I knew the fix was in. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

66. Free Dance

Where will the russians place? Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

67. Scots and French

Were wonderful, loved their knees and style. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

68. Dude looks like Russell Brand

The minor russian pair were fun top watch. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

70. Nice lift

Charlie! Strong program good energy great throw! Beeyoutiful. Let the bidding begin. Oh I mean scoring.

[DoBotherMe]

71. Wonderful edging by the Italians

Nice

[DoBotherMe]

73. Canada gravity defying

So beautiful it made me cry. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

74. 110! Looks like Gold

[DoBotherMe]

78. You were right

Joeybee. The out of synch footwork, straining simple lifts, and HUGE separations against a flawless program gets a medal. Sickening. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

44. Coach hopes Aboriginal pictures prove point

VANCOUVER -- The coach of Russian ice dancers Oksana Domninaand Maksim Shabalinhas started carrying pictures of Australian Aborigines with her so he can whip them out and show anyone who claims the skater's outfits are disrespectful.

Domnina and Shabalin, the world champions, have found themselves in hot water over an Aboriginal-themed routine they are expected to perform in Sunday's original dance at the Vancouver Olympics.

In it, they wear dark bodysuits with swirls in white, red loin cloths and eucalyptus-style leaves, but it has offended Australian Aboriginal elders.

Their coach Natalia Linichuk has been keen to make clear that no offence was intended and now carries photos with her to prove the point.

"We didn't make this up," she said, showing pictures of Aboriginal dancers wearing leaves around their knees, body paint and a red loincloth, similar to the Russian costumes.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=435726.html#coach+hopes+aboriginal+pictures+prove+point

Oh those wonderfully culturally sensitive Russians...now that your coach thinks this atrocity LOOKS like aboriginal costume, maybe she can explain how the music is aboriginal. One more reason to be disgusted by the Russian mafia.

[Princess Turandot]

45. They also 'had a meeting' to make nice with some Native Canadians...

as if 'any' original people type would do. Sigh.

[joeybee12]

46. It's like what is this, The Russian Tea Party?

Amazes how some people can be so clueless!!!

[DoBotherMe]

47. Evgeny was so upset

At losing gold, it made me wonder if he was afraid of what would happen to him back at home. Not to imply that Russia is still totalitarian, but how could they not be. I hope the American visitors and athletes at the 2014 O take care. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

52. I just think he's amazingly arrogant, that he could come back after 3 years off

and just be handed the gold...he didn't practice enough on some of the elements...he can still jump, but actually some of the other moves, like footwork, take more practice and discipline...what a twit.

[elleng]

69. OK?

Good enough????

[elleng]

72. OK again???

[MaineDem]

75. I'd take points off for the Russians' costumes

Those are really fugly.

[CBR]

76. Those ropes seem like cheating to me!!! Plus, the Russians were

overscored in the original dance! Not that I know a darn thing about ice dancing.

[MaineDem]

77. Good job, North Americans! n/t

[elleng]

79. EXCELLENT! How's this compare?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2zbbN4OL98

[DoBotherMe]

82. That is timeless and untouchable

Thanks for posting it. Dana ; )

[elleng]

84. You're welcome, Dana.

Looks like times have changed, eh? More physical challenges demanded/expected now.

[DoBotherMe]

80. I didn't see you guys

Down here. I was posting in the ice dance subthread. It was a great performance. Dana ; )

[Lucy Goosey]

81. The Canadians made it look easy...

but that was an exceptionally difficult free dance.

And they're just so adorable!

I was really, really hoping the Russians would be shut out of the podium, but at least they weren't handed the win.

[DoBotherMe]

83. She's ethereal

And he is commanding. Their performance was mind-blowing. Dana ; )

[ChiciB1]

85. One & Two For North America! I'm Over-Joyed For Both Couples & Was

blown away at how young and poised they were! First Olympics for both couples and I'd say QUITE A FEAT!

BRAVO!! It was hard fought, I was thinking USA was more intense, but I'm sure both couples are in HIGH SPIRITS right now!

Congratulations!!!

[Awsi Dooger]

86. The Michigan-based ice dance team was the highest caliber American duo I've ever seen

In pairs or ice dance. Simply stunning.

I knew they were destined to silver on opening night. Ice dance is all about slotting, essentially predetermined. The only exception was Torino with all the wonderful spills. But this was a return to normalcy. The Canadian pair was extremely close to the Americans so they were guaranteed gold at home. You're not going to get the benefit of a doubt with Lysacek and then receive another coin flip in the same Games.

Now I feel awful for that pair since the next Olympics are in Russia. So they'll be slotted behind the top Russian pair of 2014, whoever that is, and also this Canadian team, should they continue. Regardless of quality, it's doubtful the Americans can win a gold medal unless they continue to 2018.

[joeybee12]

87. The life span of ice dancers is relatively short compared to other skaters...

...as you said, it's pre-determined, so they know they get their chance really only once, and then they move on...like Belbin and Agosto...they put them in 4th at the beginning, so you knew they weren't going to give them a medal.

[MaineDem]

88. Never mind...not worth saying anything

Sorry.

[joeybee12]

89. And the controversy continues in ice dancing....

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Finally Canada owned the podium and in this instance at least, the Americans were happy to let them have it.

As Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir’s hometown heroics came under scrutiny with controversy raging over ice dance’s complicated judging system, the Canadian team’s primary source of support came from south of the border.

“Tessa and Scott did an incredible job,” said Tanith Belbin, who finished fourth with Ben Agosto. “It is very exciting for them and for Canada to win a gold medal at home and there aren’t many people who deserve this more.”

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Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (CAN) skate during the figure skating free dance program.

(Guy Rhodes-US Presswire)
There was somewhat less graciousness from other athletes, including Italy’s Massimo Scali and Russia’s Maxim Shabalin.

“When you compete in your home country the crowd goes crazy and it can help the skaters,” said Scali, who placed fifth with his partner Federica Faiella. “I hope that it does not affect the judges.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/figure_skating/news?slug=ro-icedance022210&prov=yhoo

[Lucy Goosey]

90. I guess it's not surprising that the Russians don't think the Canadians should have won

Is there widespread controversy about this decision outside of Maxim Sabalin's head, though?

[joeybee12]

91. The Italians don't think they should have won, either...

...I remember the Canadians winning the gold at the worlds after they got silver in 2002, because the french couple retired right after...of course, the Canadians actually FELL during their routine, ungeard of in ice dancing, yet they judges didn't deduct and gave them the gold.

[Lucy Goosey]

92. I don't think Bourne & Kraatz fell during the 2003 free dance...

and the archived articles I've been able to find don't mention a fall.

Anyway, that was still under the old system. I like the new scoring system much better - mandatory deductions for falls, unison breaks, etc.

[joeybee12]

93. They fell right at the end...they couldn't hold the pose...

...it really was obvious and they tried to cover it up, but they fell.

[joeybee12]

94. The new system does help, but with ice dancing it is still way too

subjective, and I don't see that ever changing.

[joeybee12]

95. Oh, it was 2002...the worlds RIGHT after the Olympics...n/t

[Lucy Goosey]

96. Okay, but the Canadians didn't get the gold at that one.

The Russians did. And they certainly fell at the Olympics that year, I don't think they fell at Worlds.

[joeybee12]

97. Maybe I'm mixing it up...

...but they didn't get anything deducted for that fall.

[DoBotherMe]

99. Ladies Short

Here we go! Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

100. Post #100 -- woo-hoo!

:toast:

[DoBotherMe]

101. Hi!

This has been so much fun! Thank you for all your great comments and for keeping this thread going. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

103. Jesus, do those girls have

Enough pressure? They're expected to settle blood feuds? Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

104. Bielmann spin

Yes or no? I've never really liked the way looks.

[DoBotherMe]

105. Did Michelle Kwan have

A triple axel?

[joeybee12]

117. Yes, she did, but I think she left it out at the Olympics, the second

time...she was having trouble with it, so she just decided to play it safe, doing what she did well...this was decided in advance of the games, not at the last minute. It didn't play a role in her fall, which did her in.

[DoBotherMe]

106. Forward inside sit

Now that's difficult! Yu-na's got mad skills. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

107. Yu-na 78.5 new world record score

The slomo replays are great!

[DoBotherMe]

108. Shades of Tara L from little Akito

[DoBotherMe]

109. They're killing me with Joannie

Here. Scott's blubbering, I'm blubbering. I didn't know she was an only child. I MISS MY KIDS. Dana ; )

[Lucy Goosey]

114. I know...

...when I heard Scott's voice wavering, I lost it. I can't believe how well she skated; I don't thing I'd have managed to put my skates on the correct feet if I were in her position.

[DoBotherMe]

110. Gorgeous completed triple lutz

From the Hungarian.

[DoBotherMe]

111. Rachael's straight line

Footwork was the best so far. She's really cute.

[DoBotherMe]

112. Carolina's arm positions

Are equisite.

[DoBotherMe]

113. Triple lutz triple loop

I love loop jumps, suck quick revolutions. Ando is awkward according to Bezic.

[DoBotherMe]

115. SUCH quick revolutions

Not 'suck'. D ; )

[DoBotherMe]

102. Dutch Speed Skater Disqualifed

Did you see this?! Sven Kramer of the Netherlands was disqualified from Tuesday's 10000-metre competition. His coach gave him a bogus instruction and he lost his gold medal. That coach better leave the country cuz "Orange Crush" is going to kill him. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

118. That really is heart-breaking...

he would have won anyway, the technicality didn't help him. Yeah, he better go undercover.

[Awsi Dooger]

116. Tom Hammond needs to shut up about personal best

He's programmed himself to look at that aspect alone. Meanwhile it's obvious these judges are marking high so previous standards mean squat. The American silver medal ice dance team was numbed Monday night when their marks weren't nearly as lofty as they knew would be needed.

Every performance is predictable within a point or two. It's blatant slotting despite the hyped scoring system supposedly based on requirements. They obviously don't want another Plushenko/Lysacek-type controversy so they spaced the top two women many points apart.

Overall they were impressive efforts, and actually boring in that regard, the fewest pratfalls of any major women's event in probably a decade. I was misty for a Sasha Cohen or Emily Hughes to fall on their ass.

[DoBotherMe]

119. LOL!

Yeah, I always love those breath-holding programs where you know they'll fall but when, maybe even catch an edge on straight-line and BOOM! Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

120. You know, usually when someone has a bad night, for some reason

it seems to be catching, like a cold. The pairs this year was a good example. And in 2002, everyone falted except for Sarah Hughes...it can be tough to watch.

[DoBotherMe]

121. Yes, especially when you want Michelle

to finally get her Gold! Man those were nail-biters. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

122. Yeah, that was an awful night...

I couldn't sleep!

I wonder if the scoring had changed before that if she would have won even with the fall...Sarah was in 4th, but she really was a bit behind the others...she was in the last possible position to win, but it all fell her way. Now with the combination total, who knows? They also would have skated differently because of the scoring.

[joeybee12]

123. Hmmm...apparently NO US women skated last night...

...try finding them mentioned in any article about the short program...kind of like they weren't even there.

[joeybee12]

124. Kicking...because tonight is the most important night of the Olympics!

Too bad all we'll be doing is cheering for the Americans to "do well."

[DoBotherMe]

126. Turkey!

Here we go. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

133. Egyptian - I like it!

Sandra's right it's slow. Ando doesn't seem to have her heart in it. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

134. Yu-Na Gold!

Her costume is gorgeous. Is this Gershwin? Layback camel (don't'see those too often). Spread eagle into combination. Triple lutz, double axel. She deserves the gold! Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

125. Here we go...last night...

although we could post during the exhibitions on Sunday, if they still do that.

[Condem]

127. Thank fucking Christ!

Last fucking night!

[DoBotherMe]

128. Get out of my room or

I'll tell Mom!!!! Dana ; )

[Condem]

129. Enjoy, Dana!

I keep telling myself, "self, it's only every four years."

[DoBotherMe]

130. My poor son had to put up with it

Every year. The household were forced to watch ALL competitive skating on the telly. He even escorted me to an ice show. But he liked it and was on the local inline speed skating team. It's not all frou-frou. I've had a great time here this week. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

132. Yeah! Rachael

She's solid tonight. Triple loop, triple lutz, triple salchow. Fantastic! Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

135. Two triple axels! Asada

She's a jumping machine. Love the black gloves. Triple loop. Triple flip fell out on the landing. Missed salchow. Great footwork sequence!

[Jade Fox]

155. The black gloves were great....

I thought Asada was far more exciting to watch. This is the first time I can remember seeing Kim Yu Na skate where I actually found her a little boring.

[DoBotherMe]

136. Wow Joannie way to open

Triple double triple. Fast and expressive. Elegant wrists. Swashbuckling. Triple salchow. Nice! Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

137. Mirai USA!!! She's so cute

Lovely layback. She can really control her performance. Kwan-like spiral. Triple lutz. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

144. She was my second favorite of the night...Kim deserved to win, Asado

and Jeannie have some falters, and while Mirai's performance wasn't polished, it was the cleanest and the jumps were the best.

That said, Kim deserved to win...I re-watched this morning, but a world record? I don't know, too much what I call "down time" where she wasn't really doing much...she's certainly very graceful and it was the most complete program...but...

[DoBotherMe]

145. Michelle would have got those kinds of

scores if she hadn't let the Olympics shake her. I think the judges were right in awarding Nu-Ya those points for her performances in the Games, it's a totally overwhelming place to be. If she continues to compete her marks may not be so high. It's been decades since we've seen skates such as those at the Games. :fistbump: Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

146. Agreed...I think one of her last performances at nationals she got

tons of 6's...deserved, probably if you consider how above she was the others.

[polly7]

131. Joannie Rochette is up next.

Hoping she can focus enough so she doesn't get hurt.



She did well - her Mom would be so proud.





:hug:

[elleng]

138. Cameras during award ceremony HAVE TO CATCH HER TEARS.

WHY?

See her Dad in the crowd?

Heckuva bunch of skaters, eh? NOT ENOUGH AWARDS.

[polly7]

139. They caught the tears of the Gold medal winner too as her anthem was being played ..............

WHY OH WHY??????

Jesus Christ the negativism and dislike for anything Canadian here is unbelievable. I saw the camera catch her tears for about 3 seconds. But then she only cried for maybe 5 .............. best to have just not taken her pic at all. I sure did see her Dad in the crowd. What's your point??? They showed the American girl skier crying for 10 times that long. WHY?????

Unf*ing real.

[elleng]

140. Negativism 'here' where?

Not at DU; Not in U.S. Media maybe; no story otherwise?

[polly7]

141. Really?

Her mother died 4 days ago and you're pissed off the camera focused on her tears on the podium for a few seconds .......... and "actually showed her Dad in the crowd"? WHY??????? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to get your point. A Canadian won something ............... too bad. Suck it up. You should have posted on the "F* the Canucks" thread a few down, you'd have fit right in.

:nopity:

[elleng]

142. You COMPLETELY misunderstand.

Congratulations.

:thumbsdown:

[polly7]

147. Well if I misunderstood, my apologies.

Yes, there has been a lot of negatism towards anything Canadian here lately. Some pretty hateful. My BIL was also just told he won't walk again two days ago after falling while skiing ....so maybe a little emotional and not taking time to think some of these posts through. Again, perhaps I did, but I still don't think the reporters showed her any different treatment than they did the other winners.

[DoBotherMe]

148. Some of us have been upset by the

media turning personal tragedy into sensationalist hype, such as Joannie's tragic loss, Mancuso's heartbreak on the hill, and Sven Kramer's meltdown on the skating oval. We'd like to see the media (maybe it's just NBC) show more respect to the athletes, especially in their comments, which are sometimes inane. I think most of the surley comments you may have read here about the hockey team are just friendly rivalry. Sorry for any misunderstanding. And I'm so sorry to hear about your BIL. :grouphug: Dana ; )

[polly7]

149. Thanks Dana, I appreciate that, and again, apologize.

Also for your sympathy for my BIL. It's been a real nightmare.

Yes, the media has definitely been turning these athlete's personal trials into a lot of hype. They have no idea how hard and long they work and the pressure they're under. I just hope that now it's winding down they'll give them a break.

[DoBotherMe]

150. Sometimes the commentary (I'm talking mainly about Costas

and that Collingswood freak) is so maddening that I have to mute the sound. I'm glad I found Eurosports on line. Again, I am so sorry about your BIL and really don't know what to say about that. Just hugs to you and your family :grouphug: Dana ; )

[elleng]

156. Thanks.

Many of us love Canada AND Canadians; that includes me. VERY sorry for your BIL.

[joeybee12]

143. I don't think anyone's pissed...it's just the media will milk a story for all

it's worth...she did really well last night, most of the women did.

[Jade Fox]

151. Mao Asada shoulda got the gold IMO....

Her routine was far more interesting and exciting than Kim Yu Na's (who is a tremendous skater, but was rather subdued last night, I thought. It seems she was rewarded primarily for making no mistakes). And Asada's two triple axles made history!

Also, Rachel Flatt should have scored better. She did great.

All and all, it was a great night of skating! The current crop of women figure skaters are really good.

[joeybee12]

152. Her jumps were incredible...the one thing about Kim is that the music

really matched what she was doing...well, not the one thing, but I think it was the one thing that really set her apart.

[Awsi Dooger]

153. Phony home team bronze

Nagasu should have finished above Rochette, although I knew the circumstances would never allow it.

Overall it was a great competition. But Yu-Na is destined to receive more points than she deserves due to the diva elegance. As joey pointed out, she had plenty of down time. And Rochette at one point killed off an entire two minute penalty without doing anything.

[joeybee12]

154. She was about a dozen points ahead of Mirai...I think it should have

been less of a gap, but still I think Rochette deserved the bronze...in a way, this was Mirai's coming out party, the time she broke through in international competition...the new scoring is better, less subjective, but still the judges know from past competitions who they are going to put in the top group, not necessarily who will win, but they have a preconceived notion as to who will do well, and past performances influence the score they get that night. it took forever to post Miarai scores because in the past she has not quite hit some jumps, no falls or touchdowns, but the rotations weren't there, so they reviewed all those, something they didn't do with the others...like I said, her past performance influenced waht the judges expected.

[DoBotherMe]

157. The "Gala"

Evgeny - don't know, he's great too bad he had to tarnish his image with his antics.

Joannie has beautiful costumes

[Condem]

158. The" gulag".

Depends on how you look at it.

[DoBotherMe]

159. I thought you went to bed

What are you doing in my room?:P
Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

160. Yu-Na's costumes are quite modest

I like it. I hope she starts a trend. I see a lot of Brian's moves and mannerisms in her skating...I think I saw her do his trademark bunnyhop in the long. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

162. EVAN!

Wow! He won fair and square. Good job judges. Dana ; )

[joeybee12]

165. Yes!!!

I lost my connection last night...didn't see all the skaters, but Evan appeared to be the only one who really put on a show...usually these things are sedate, most of the skaters are worn out and they put on modest, safe performaces, but he skated like he was in a competition, put in jumps and spins...incredible.

[DoBotherMe]

163. Bobsled!

I know this is the wrong place, but that was a rush! Congrats to Night Train! Do the Hulky Dance. Dana ; )

[DoBotherMe]

164. Everybody Dance Now

Lovely fundamentals and a little bit of funk. Dana ; )

[Renew Deal]

161. Evan Lysacek is an outstanding skater

And very deserving of the gold medal.

[joeybee12]

166. Agreed...he showed it again last night...n/t

[joeybee12]

167. Probably the last time I'll kick this...

:cry:

[Lucy Goosey]

168. Don't cry, joey...

...the World Championships are in 3 weeks!

http://www.torino2010.org/index.aspx

;)

[joeybee12]

169. woo-hoo! Do you know who is going to compete?

Often a lot don't because they are so worn out from the Olympics.

[joeybee12]

170. Woo-hoo! get to post again! Evan Lysacek will be on Dancing with the Stars!

Not that I'll watch, of course...bet he does well...all the skaters do.

[joeybee12]

171. Oh noes! Johnny Weir ain't going to the worlds...

Evan's out, as are the bronze Commie ice dancers.