While watching the Wimbledon coverage a British journalist opined that should
Murray win the mens title it would be the biggest thing in British sports
history since the Brits won the soccer world cup in 1966. I guess that ranks
Torvill & Dean and their Olympic gold medal below that. Where would John Curry
rank ;-)

Meagan Leigh

I suspect that taking skating lessons may have
morphed into phrasing that suggests she might
have competed.  I did find this thread from
a couple of years ago that includes posts
from someone whose mother knew Josephine Cottle
as a fellow skater at the rink in the 30s,
and even dated Cottle's (step-)brother.

<http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/lofiversion/index.php/t9692.html>

>>Kathy


--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, <tmarrapodi@...> wrote:
>
> It seems pretty consistent throughout the obituaries of the actress Gale Storm
that she is described as having become a very accomplished skater at the
original Polar Palace in Houston before embarking on her acting career. Anyone
have any more details on this? (If she had any kind of competitive record at
all, it would be under her birth name, Josephine Cottle.)
>
> (To my knowledge, however, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy
Mays and Fred Travalena do not have figure skating pasts. Except for that one
episode of "Charlie's Angels" where the Angels went undercover as ice-show
skaters for some reason...the reason most likely being that some sort of excuse
was needed to put them in skimpy costumes each week.)
>
> Trudi
>

It seems pretty consistent throughout the obituaries of the actress Gale Storm
that she is described as having become a very accomplished skater at the
original Polar Palace in Houston before embarking on her acting career. Anyone
have any more details on this? (If she had any kind of competitive record at
all, it would be under her birth name, Josephine Cottle.)

(To my knowledge, however, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy
Mays and Fred Travalena do not have figure skating pasts. Except for that one
episode of "Charlie's Angels" where the Angels went undercover as ice-show
skaters for some reason...the reason most likely being that some sort of excuse
was needed to put them in skimpy costumes each week.)

Trudi

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Virginia <virginia@...> wrote:
>
> You can follow her on Twitter if you are so inclined at
> @<http://twitter.com/JenniferAKirk>JenniferAKirk
>
> She is writing some pretty good blogs about skating, too.
>
> http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/
>
My take on the coaching changes, Nagasu/Carroll (yes), Zhang/Wong (maybe) but
Zhang has to be willing to work on her takeoff on the flip and lutz and correct
her edges, McLaughlin/Brubaker (no) Nicks is past his prime, Abbott/Sato (yes)
she of the seamless transitions, smooth edges and soft landings if she can teach
him that he can succeed.

Meagan Leigh

You can follow her on Twitter if you are so inclined at
@<http://twitter.com/JenniferAKirk>JenniferAKirk

She is writing some pretty good blogs about skating, too.

http://trueslant.com/jenniferkirk/

In a message dated 6/29/2009 10:25:42 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Kathy.Godfrey@... writes:

So for the time being, any US coverage
of ISU events besides Skate America
will probably be via the 'net and
IceNetwork.

>>Kathy

This is so sad. I have no faith in any US sports coverage anymore. If you
don't have the net or live in the right area for cable you are out of luck.


**************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy
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JunestepsfooterNO62)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The ratings were down, the contracts came up,
and the ISU and ABC/ESPN failed to come to
any meeting of the minds on a price.
The USFS[A] and ABC/ESPN couldn't come
to an agreement, either, but the USFSA
was more realistic in negotiating with
NBC (and altering the format of the
US championships to make them more
"TV-friendly").

If it hadn't happened that 2009 Worlds
was in the US, I'm not sure NBC would
have bothered to pick up the rights,
which they probably got for very cheap
(Cinquanta had actually been quoted
to the effect that he'd give the rights
away to have Worlds air on US TV--perhaps
because the ISU would otherwise run afoul
of guarantees of viewership to the
advertisers on the boards at Worlds,
according to one source).  So who
knows if there will be US TV coverage
of 2010 Worlds from Torino?

There were similar issues in Canada,
where CTV let their contract die, too,
and only after a second round of
shopping the properties at a lower
price did the ISU find a buyer (CBC),
and not for all the Grand Prix events
(at least not initially--the contract
changed over the course of the season,
and I didn't follow all the details).

So for the time being, any US coverage
of ISU events besides Skate America
will probably be via the 'net and
IceNetwork.

>>Kathy

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Gymfig@... wrote:
>
>
> In a message dated 6/28/2009 8:36:08 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> Kathy.Godfrey@... writes:
>
> There has been no US TV coverage of the
> other Grand Prix events, Europeans,
> or Four Continents since the ABC/ESPN
> contract ended with 2007 Worlds, and
> there is no indication that this situation
> will change.
>
>
>
> What happened??????

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Ruthann Biel <bielra@...> wrote:
>
> For me Wagenhoffer was the highlight of the show.  I do not remember seeing
> him skate before.

Maybe someone will resurrect "Gershwin on Ice," which IIRC
also has Wagenhoffer.

Has anyone else managed to do the Wagen Wheel?

>>Kathy

Your guess was correct.

We had never seen it before.  The cast consisted of:  April & John Thomas,
Julie Brault, Scott Williams, Kim & Wayne Seybold, Angelo D'Agostino, Robert
Wagenhoffer, and Lori Benton.

For me Wagenhoffer was the highlight of the show.  I do not remember seeing
him skate before.  I also enjoyed Scott Willaims, who I do remember.  The
rest of them (except for Seybold) I do not even remember hearing of.  The
show was a little dated, the ice was Very Small, but on a day when it is
107F in Sacramento, it was nice to see ice.

On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 3:35 PM, kgorkrj <Kathy.Godfrey@...> wrote:

>
>
> My guess is that this is the syndicated show
> "Champions on Ice: Skatin' Country," which dates
> back to 2001.
>
> >>Kathy
>
>
> --- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com <SkateFans%40yahoogroups.com>, Ruthann
> Biel <bielra@...> wrote:
> >
> > My TIVO is picking up something called "Skatin' Country" on Sunday June
> 28
> > at 4:30pm PDT
> > on my local ABC KXTV. It claims that it is a 2009 show, but I am
> skeptical.
> >
> > Top skaters perform to classic renditions of country music favorites.
> >
> > On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 5:27 AM, Kathy Godfrey <Kathy.Godfrey@...>wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Listings for the week of Sat. 6/27/09 through Fri. 7/3/09.
> > >
> > > All times Eastern; please doublecheck your local listings.
> > >
> > > Fri Jun 26 "Impact: Stories of Survival" (includes Paul Binnebose)
> > > DiscoveryHealth 5-6 a.m. EDT
> > > "Martial Artist on Fire" [repeat from 4/9/04]
> > > Mon Jun 29 Bud Greenspan's Nagano Olympic documentary
> > > ShowtimeExtreme 10:00 a.m.- noon EDT
> > > [repeat from 12/20/08; includes Lu Chen]
> > > Sat Jul 4 Beverly Hills 90210 w/ Babilonia & Gardner, Button Soap
> > > 1-2 p.m. EDT
> > > ["Fire and Ice"]
> > > Sat Jul 4 Beverly Hills 90210 w/ Babilonia & Gardner, Button Soap
> > > 11 p.m.-mid EDT
> > > ["Fire and Ice"]
> > > Mon Jul 6 "Snow White and the Three Stooges" w/ Carol Heiss (1961)
> > > AMC 4-6:30 a.m. EDT
> > >
> > > >>Kathy
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Ruthann Biel, mother, stitcher, music lover
> > bielr@... & bielra@...
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>



--
Ruthann Biel,  mother, stitcher, music lover
bielr@... & bielra@...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 6/28/2009 8:36:08 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Kathy.Godfrey@... writes:

There has been no US TV coverage of the
other Grand Prix events, Europeans,
or Four Continents since the ABC/ESPN
contract ended with 2007 Worlds, and
there is no indication that this situation
will change.

Goodness!!!!


What happened??????
**************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy
Steps!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221323006x1201367222/aol?redir=http://\
www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jun
eExcfooterNO62)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The 2008 Worlds was the last one on ABC/ESPN.
The 2007 Nationals was the last one on ABC/ESPN,
along with the 2006 Skate America.

After picking up the USFS[A] contract for
Skate America and US Nationals, starting with
the 2007-2008 season on continuing with the
2008-2009 season, NBC picked up coverage
of the 2009 Worlds, but not the other
ISU events.  Except for the ladies' free
skate, which was broadcast on NBC,
the 2009 Worlds coverage was aired on
the Oxygen channel, which is either not
available or is digital-only on many
cable systems (as opposed to ESPN, which
is ubiquitous).

There has been no US TV coverage of the
other Grand Prix events, Europeans,
or Four Continents since the ABC/ESPN
contract ended with 2007 Worlds, and
there is no indication that this situation
will change.

Comcast's CN8 has provided coverage of Jr Worlds,
US Synchro Nationals, and Synchro Worlds,
as part of "Nancy Kerrigan's World of
Figure Skating," but CN8 effectively
ceased to exist outside the Philadelphia
and DC areas, as of Dec. 2008,
and I don't know what plans they have
to continue skating coverage going forward.

>>Kathy


--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, "Harriet" <harrietb98@...> wrote:
>
> Last year, didn't ABC and ESPN carry it?  Their coverage was so much better
than NBC.
>
> --- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Susan <smc413@> wrote:
> >
> > I don't know who, if anyone, will carry the GP series on US television.
> >
> > NBC has the rights to the USFS events, including Skate America.  Last
> > year,  in addition to the NBC network affiliate coverage, they showed
> > lengthy portions of every discipline (even compulsory dances) on NBC
> > Universal Sports.  This channel is generally used by NBC to cover
> > Olympic sports that do not otherwise get much TV coverage here, like
> > skiing, rowing, track, swimming, equestrian, and, yes Sportsfans, even
> > curling.
> > http://www.universalsports.com/
> >
> > This is not the same channel as Universal HD.
> >
> > Susan McC
> >
>

Last year, didn't ABC and ESPN carry it?  Their coverage was so much better than
NBC.

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Susan <smc413@...> wrote:
>
> I don't know who, if anyone, will carry the GP series on US television.
>
> NBC has the rights to the USFS events, including Skate America.  Last
> year,  in addition to the NBC network affiliate coverage, they showed
> lengthy portions of every discipline (even compulsory dances) on NBC
> Universal Sports.  This channel is generally used by NBC to cover
> Olympic sports that do not otherwise get much TV coverage here, like
> skiing, rowing, track, swimming, equestrian, and, yes Sportsfans, even
> curling.
> http://www.universalsports.com/
>
> This is not the same channel as Universal HD.
>
> Susan McC
>

Kathy wrote:

> My guess is that this is the syndicated show
> "Champions on Ice: Skatin' Country," which dates
> back to 2001.

If this is the "Skatin' Country" that I've seen, it's taken from a
show that's actually much older, early '90's, and features the late Robert
Wagenhoffer.  I first saw it in syndication around '98; it may have been called
"Champions on Ice Presents Skatin' Country" then.  This could be a remixed
version of that or one of the "Country on Ice" shows.

--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Ruthann Biel <bielra@...> wrote:
>
> My TIVO is picking up something called "Skatin' Country" on Sunday June 2=
8
> at 4:30pm PDT
> on my local ABC KXTV.  It claims that it is a 2009 show, but I am skeptic=
al.
> Top skaters perform to classic renditions of country music favorites.

Boston Globe coverage and interview with NECN video of interview:

<http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/olympics/articles/2009/06/24/kerrigan\
_had_ice_in_her_veins/>

Kerrigan on Harding:

"It's weird, for sure,'' says Kerrigan. "We were roommates and toured together.
It's ridiculous. What a waste of talent. People say, `She had it hard.' Well
sure, she did, but she had people that were helping her, too.

Boston Herald coverage (Nancy's photo was also on the front page
that day):

<http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view/20090625tradition_shows_lege\
nds_as_people/srvc=sports&position=also>

Consider, too, that Kerrigan, one of the most famous women's figure skaters of
the past 25 years, was transformed into a guffawing fan as she gazed out into
the crowd at Johnny Pesky, John Havlicek, and so on.

"I'm at home doing laundry and I get invited to be a part of something like
this," she said. "I'm just a girl who loves to skate and I'm here with all these
great people. It's incredible."

>>Kathy

I think this actually goes under skaters in not so strange places.

On Tuesday's USA Today, there was a full page ad about supporting the
USOC that featured row upon row of athlete photos.  I spotted several
skaters among them.  The ones I recall are Cohen, Flatt (who helpfully
held up a skate so we wouldn't mistake her for Shawn Johnson) , Weir,
Lysacek, Belbin/Agosto, Davis/White, and  I think McLaughlin/Brubaker.
(Are there any other Olympic sports that feature a boy-girl duo?)

Susan McC

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/sports_globetrotting/
Globetrotting - A worldly view of sports | Chicago Tribune | Blog

Hersh pays tribute to Michael Jackson by describing a chance encounter
with him at a hotel in Berlin in 1988.  Hersh was in Berlin for a
"dog-and-pony show tour" staged by East German sports authorities.
Jackson, as part of his Bad World tour, performed in West Berlin while, on
the other side of the wall, Katarina Witt hosted a concert headlined
by Bryan Adams and Big Country.

In a message dated 6/25/2009 5:20:06 PM Eastern Standard Time,
bielra@... writes:

They do not seem to have info up yet for the Fall.  I could not get it last
year on Direct TV with my coverage plan

Direct TV does not carry it. Darn. I guess I will have to call and beg them
to consider it. I hope more people call and ask for it. The people I know
are not happy with Comcast. Comcast is failing in some places with the switch
to digital.  Channels are being dropped and rates are going up. Maybe some
will make the switch to Direct TV. The more people desire it the better.
**************Stay connected and tighten your budget with a great mobile
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 6/25/2009 6:08:30 PM Eastern Standard Time,
smc413@... writes:

This channel is generally used by NBC to cover
Olympic sports that do not otherwise get much TV coverage here, like
skiing, rowing, track, swimming, equestrian, and, yes Sportsfans, even
curling.
http://www.universalsports.com/

This is definitely my channel!!!
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks you for the links
**************Shop Popular Dell Laptops now starting at $349!
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I don't know who, if anyone, will carry the GP series on US television.

NBC has the rights to the USFS events, including Skate America.  Last
year,  in addition to the NBC network affiliate coverage, they showed
lengthy portions of every discipline (even compulsory dances) on NBC
Universal Sports.  This channel is generally used by NBC to cover
Olympic sports that do not otherwise get much TV coverage here, like
skiing, rowing, track, swimming, equestrian, and, yes Sportsfans, even
curling.
http://www.universalsports.com/

This is not the same channel as Universal HD.

Susan McC

My guess is that this is the syndicated show
"Champions on Ice: Skatin' Country," which dates
back to 2001.

>>Kathy


--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Ruthann Biel <bielra@...> wrote:
>
> My TIVO is picking up something called "Skatin' Country" on Sunday June 28
> at 4:30pm PDT
> on my local ABC KXTV.  It claims that it is a 2009 show, but I am skeptical.
>
> Top skaters perform to classic renditions of country music favorites.
>
> On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 5:27 AM, Kathy Godfrey <Kathy.Godfrey@...>wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Listings for the week of Sat. 6/27/09 through Fri. 7/3/09.
> >
> > All times Eastern; please doublecheck your local listings.
> >
> > Fri Jun 26 "Impact: Stories of Survival" (includes Paul Binnebose)
> > DiscoveryHealth 5-6 a.m. EDT
> > "Martial Artist on Fire" [repeat from 4/9/04]
> > Mon Jun 29 Bud Greenspan's Nagano Olympic documentary
> > ShowtimeExtreme 10:00 a.m.- noon EDT
> > [repeat from 12/20/08; includes Lu Chen]
> > Sat Jul 4 Beverly Hills 90210 w/ Babilonia & Gardner, Button Soap
> > 1-2 p.m. EDT
> > ["Fire and Ice"]
> > Sat Jul 4 Beverly Hills 90210 w/ Babilonia & Gardner, Button Soap
> > 11 p.m.-mid EDT
> > ["Fire and Ice"]
> > Mon Jul 6 "Snow White and the Three Stooges" w/ Carol Heiss (1961)
> > AMC 4-6:30 a.m. EDT
> >
> > >>Kathy
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Ruthann Biel,  mother, stitcher, music lover
> bielr@... & bielra@...
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

You can find information about them at  http://www.universalsports.com/

They do not seem to have info up yet for the Fall.  I could not get it last
year on DirecTV with my coverage plan.

You can go to this screen on their site
        http://www.universalsports.com/fls/23000/tv/where-to-find-on-tv.html
to find out about your geographical area.  Put in your zipcode, and various
providers and see what you can find.  Good Luck.

On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 2:55 PM, <Gymfig@...> wrote:

>
>
> I am getting an HD TV this fall. I want to order the channel (s) were I
> can watch sports such as skating. i.e. Grand Prix. Is the channel NBC
> Universal, Universal HD or Universal Sports? I called the USOC two months
> ago and
> the operator said it was Universal HD. I have been to their website.
> Nothing
> about Olympic Sports. I called back last week just to make sure and the
> operator did not know what I was talking about. I called my cable provider
> and
> they did not know what I was talking about. Even after I asked for a list
> of
> the sports channels.
>
> Does anybody know what channel sports such as skating will be shown?
> **************Shop Popular Dell Laptops now starting at $349!
> (
>
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%2Fad.dou
> bleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215910283%3B38350812%3Ba)
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
Ruthann Biel,  mother, stitcher, music lover
bielr@... & bielra@...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am getting an HD TV this fall.  I want to order the channel (s) were I
can watch sports such as skating. i.e. Grand Prix.  Is the channel NBC
Universal, Universal HD or Universal Sports? I called the USOC two months ago
and
the operator said it was Universal HD. I have been to their website. Nothing
about Olympic Sports. I called back last week just to make sure and the
operator did not know what I was talking about. I called my cable provider and
they did not know what I was talking about. Even after I asked for a list of
the sports channels.

Does anybody know what channel sports such as skating will be shown?
**************Shop Popular Dell Laptops now starting at $349!
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F%2Fad.dou
bleclick.net%2Fclk%3B215910283%3B38350812%3Ba)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My TIVO is picking up something called "Skatin' Country" on Sunday June 28
at 4:30pm PDT
on my local ABC KXTV.  It claims that it is a 2009 show, but I am skeptical.

Top skaters perform to classic renditions of country music favorites.

On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 5:27 AM, Kathy Godfrey <Kathy.Godfrey@...>wrote:

>
>
> Listings for the week of Sat. 6/27/09 through Fri. 7/3/09.
>
> All times Eastern; please doublecheck your local listings.
>
> Fri Jun 26 "Impact: Stories of Survival" (includes Paul Binnebose)
> DiscoveryHealth 5-6 a.m. EDT
> "Martial Artist on Fire" [repeat from 4/9/04]
> Mon Jun 29 Bud Greenspan's Nagano Olympic documentary
> ShowtimeExtreme 10:00 a.m.- noon EDT
> [repeat from 12/20/08; includes Lu Chen]
> Sat Jul 4 Beverly Hills 90210 w/ Babilonia & Gardner, Button Soap
> 1-2 p.m. EDT
> ["Fire and Ice"]
> Sat Jul 4 Beverly Hills 90210 w/ Babilonia & Gardner, Button Soap
> 11 p.m.-mid EDT
> ["Fire and Ice"]
> Mon Jul 6 "Snow White and the Three Stooges" w/ Carol Heiss (1961)
> AMC 4-6:30 a.m. EDT
>
> >>Kathy
>
>



--
Ruthann Biel,  mother, stitcher, music lover
bielr@... & bielra@...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Listings for the week of Sat. 6/27/09 through Fri. 7/3/09.

All times Eastern; please doublecheck your local listings.

Fri  Jun 26   "Impact: Stories of Survival" (includes Paul Binnebose)
DiscoveryHealth 5-6 a.m. EDT
                "Martial Artist on Fire" [repeat from 4/9/04]
Mon  Jun 29   Bud Greenspan's Nagano Olympic documentary
ShowtimeExtreme 10:00 a.m.- noon EDT
               [repeat from 12/20/08; includes Lu Chen]
Sat  Jul 4    Beverly Hills 90210 w/ Babilonia & Gardner, Button  Soap
1-2 p.m. EDT
               ["Fire and Ice"]
Sat  Jul 4    Beverly Hills 90210 w/ Babilonia & Gardner, Button  Soap
11 p.m.-mid EDT
               ["Fire and Ice"]
Mon  Jul 6    "Snow White and the Three Stooges" w/ Carol Heiss (1961)
AMC 4-6:30 a.m. EDT

>>Kathy

I took a tour of Miami U's ice arena last weekend.? The facility manager
mentioned that the synchro team had reason to believe that synchro would be a
demonstration sport at the Sochi Olympics.? It would make me think that that is
the direction Speedy is leaning.

Lauri

kgorkrj wrote:

> If they
>apply this type of reasoning to the Winter
>Games, there's no way to add synchro--a field
>of 8 teams would double the size of the
>ice skating contingent at the Games.
>






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Technically, gymnasts don't always do the same
routines for the event finals that they do
for team or all around competition, as
the strategy is different, but I did
understand that that was probably
Speedy's intent.

The issue of tying up the ice rink had
occurred to me, also--and it should have
occurred to Speedy.  I imagine he's
trying to come up with some way to
increase the US air time for
Olympic skating, but I can't see
the point of such a competition, either.
Viewers and commentators already have
their own metrics for determining
which countries have the strongest
"teams."

One possibility would be to combine the
results from the various individual
disciplines as if they had constituted
the performances for a team event, and
rank the countries as teams accordingly.
(US Nationals championships in
gymnastics have been known to have a
single competition do double
duty in this way.)

I don't think the IOC would call this
an event for medal purposes, but there's
no reason Speedy couldn't pass out his
own ISU awards based on the results.
Not that anyone would give a rat's
patootie....

>>Kathy


--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, Susan <smc413@...> wrote:

> As long as the ISU cannot even manage the logistics to include synchro
> in the same Worlds competition as the other disciplines, then I think
> the notion of adding synchro to the Olympics is pretty much a
> non-starter.  I suspect Speedy is thinking more along the lines of the
> gymnastics team competitions - same athletes doing the same routines
> they will use for the individual medals.  For example, they could do the
> short programs in all 4 disciplines to determine the team qualifiers,
> then skate the free programs once to decide the team medal, then again
> for the individual medals.  Still, it would pretty much require the ice
> rink to be dedicated to figure skating for the whole 2 weeks, meaning a
> second venue would be needed for short track speed skating.  Personally,
> I don't feel any great need for this event.
>
> Susan McC
>

kgorkrj wrote:

> If they
>apply this type of reasoning to the Winter
>Games, there's no way to add synchro--a field
>of 8 teams would double the size of the
>ice skating contingent at the Games.
>
>
As long as the ISU cannot even manage the logistics to include synchro
in the same Worlds competition as the other disciplines, then I think
the notion of adding synchro to the Olympics is pretty much a
non-starter.  I suspect Speedy is thinking more along the lines of the
gymnastics team competitions - same athletes doing the same routines
they will use for the individual medals.  For example, they could do the
short programs in all 4 disciplines to determine the team qualifiers,
then skate the free programs once to decide the team medal, then again
for the individual medals.  Still, it would pretty much require the ice
rink to be dedicated to figure skating for the whole 2 weeks, meaning a
second venue would be needed for short track speed skating.  Personally,
I don't feel any great need for this event.

Susan McC

greatgazu@... wrote:

>Hersh writes that Sasha is planning on competing at Skate America. I
>guess that means Michelle turned down the invitation? I think she had
>to decide by the end of May.
>
>
The GP schedules came out some time ago.  Sasha was already listed for
SA and there was still one empty slot listed as TBA.  I don't really see
this as meaningful either way, though, as Kwan has never made any
serious noises about returning to eligible competition this year.

You can find 2009 GP info here:
http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,4844-136494-13\
7802-nav-list,00.html

Susan McC

Hersh writes that Sasha is planning on competing at Skate America. I
guess that means Michelle turned down the invitation? I think she had
to decide by the end of May.




--- In SkateFans@yahoogroups.com, vsethi@... wrote:
>
> http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/sports_globetrotting/
> Globetrotting - A worldly view of sports | Chicago Tribune | Blog
>
> Hersh asked Cinquanta for his views on Cohen's return to eligible
> skating:
>
>   "Cinquanta hopes Cohen will be a diffferent [sic] skater from the
one whose
>    free skate failures cost her the 2006 Olympic and world titles.
She
>    was first going into the free skate both times but wound up second
in
>    the Olympics and third at worlds.
>
>    ``The Sasha I saw in Calgary (worlds) and in Torino (Olympics) was
not
>    Sasha Cohen but Santa Claus,'' Cinquanta said, feeling that Cohen
had
>    given away those gold medals.  ``Maybe she will come back with a
>    different attitude.  She was terrified.''"
>
> Hersh reports that Cinquanta is considering a team event in the
Olympics to
> precede the competitions in the other disciplines; however, this
could not
> occur before the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
>