Evora and Ladwig just skated their new short program to Sing, Sing, Sing and it was a vast improvement over The Mask of Zorro. They showed personality and it took their skating up a notch, especially in terms of presentation. Given their lines and good lifts, you always expect them to have better unison than they actually do. Amanda and Mark got off to a good start on their side-by-side spins, then got off, then got back on unison, and then ended off unison. Their throw triple loop was a bitch pitched forward, but they nailed their side-by-side Triple Toes. Amanda had missed her Triple Toe in warm up, so it was great to see them fight back. They'll be in the final flight and are very much in contention for a spot on the World Team. This is a pair that continues to improve late in the game. (35.33, 27.54 = 62.87)
Davis and Leftheris- She looks like a singles skater who would go into pairs. Themi missed his SBS Triple Loop. Their spins were way off and their footwork needs better unison was well. Lindsay landed her throw Triple Loop. Overall, they need more time and more work as a pair. Themi hit that Triple Loop in warmup. They want a top six finish, but it seems unlikely.
Andrew Speroff looks yummy.
Update: My tired shoveling ass fell asleep during the broadcast and will finish this recap once I watch the archive!
So awesome to see the veteran team of Evora/Ladwig do well now that there's some pressure/expectations on them!
ReplyDeleteI am SO pissed off shorts are not being televised!
ReplyDeleteI got to see more of the Japanese Nationals (on the web) than I'll see of US Nationals (although all things considered, if I was going to pick one team to watch they would be it).
Universal Sports/NBC is such a FAIL this year for not televising the shorts. I want to write them a letter. I can watch nearly every skater from RUSSIAN Nationals on my computer for free, but I can't get a few short programs from US Nationals on TV today. Pissed off. The coverage two years ago on Universal Sports was excellent. Last year was alright. And this year nothing?
ReplyDeleteDo we know why they are not televising this?
ReplyDeleteThere was some sort of buyout with Comcast, and some are speculating that may be the reason there is no skating on Universal Sports for this Nationals. Too expensive? Or maybe that's not the reason at all. I don't understand it.
ReplyDeleteYANKOWSKAS COUGHLIN!! Anyone who's followed their career disappointments so far knows how great this is. They delivered a clean short under the pressure as a favorite coming in! I think their score should be even further from Amanda and Mark's but I realize they did an easier throw.
ReplyDeleteLIVESTREAM? help me out here? anyone?
ReplyDeleteIcenetwork is the only way to watch
ReplyDeleteAJ must have went to dinner! haha. No comments after Evora/Ladwig.
ReplyDeleteI remember when the Comcast buyout of NBC/Universal was announced as a possibility there was speculation that eventually Universal Sports would be dismantled if the merger was approved by the government. Comcast has its own 24 hr sports network (Versus) which competes directly with Universal Sports for the same content. Now that the FCC has given the go ahead, I would not be surprised if that does in fact happen. It makes little business sense to have two channels that do the same thing. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI am so so so glad that themi dumped fatty. He was so much better then fatty. I remember the one time she did some lift and everyone applauded. Stupid fat asian chick thought they were clapping for her. We were applauding his strength.
ReplyDeleteI find Themi's mother to be whack. I'm pretty sure she posted something ridiculous on a messageboard once and people called her out on it. It's probably her posting here. lol.
ReplyDeleteIf Universal Sports goes away, I'll cry. But yes, this is terrible we don't get any coverage there this year.
ReplyDeleteDenney & Barrett had a fall... the pressure to defend is hard. Plus, the consistency they started off with was insane... Eventually they were going to start making mistakes just like anyone else. With a decent skate in the LP, they will be top 3.
Why the hell is Castelli and Shnapir's score so low? Downgrade?
ReplyDelete"I remember when the Comcast buyout of NBC/Universal was announced as a possibility there was speculation that eventually Universal Sports would be dismantled if the merger was approved by the government. Comcast has its own 24 hr sports network (Versus) which competes directly with Universal Sports for the same content. Now that the FCC has given the go ahead, I would not be surprised if that does in fact happen. It makes little business sense to have two channels that do the same thing. Sad."
ReplyDeleteVersus and Universal Sports appeal to two very different demographics. It's possible that they'll both remain.
Denny and Barrett have been falling all season. Either it's that injury or it just turns out that they are inconsistent and just had some dream season.
ReplyDeleteJust looked at Versus. A very different set of sports. Hunting and Fishing? Also a lot more main stream team sports. Universal is very different. I hope it stays.
ReplyDeleteDenney and Barrett are just human. She grew and now is a woman instead of a baby (which required adjustments), they've both been injured, and they've been trying to make their programs more difficult. Anyone who thought they were going to go their entire careers without ever making mistakes like all pair teams do just doesn't understand sports.
ReplyDeleteI still expect them to make the World team, or at least 4CC. Not because they are great, but because the others aren't that great either. Y/C were quite good today though.
Let's not forget the pressure on Denney/Barrett to defend the National title. It's always a little bit different mentally when you are coming in as the defending champ.
ReplyDeleteWhy are the commenters on this blog becoming apologists for Rachael Flatt: The Pair?
ReplyDeleteD/B are more interesting than Flatt. They aren't cheesy or all about Stanford. I'm just giving reasons why a mistake from them isn't that shocking.
ReplyDeleteWith the Clippers in town, the Mavericks came out looking ragged. Blake Griffin was a dominating force in the 1st half but then Brendan Haywood finally earned his paycheck with his physical play against The Griffin. The Mavericks red hot shooting in the 2nd half coupled with an arctic cold streak from the Clippers allowed the Mavs to pull ahead and never look back. Some thoughts to take away from the game; Blake Griffin is a complete player, not just a dunker. The Clippers are a team on the way up and the buzz is starting to catch on.
ReplyDelete