This and That

Tara Lipinski's return to the ice on the Today show.  Tara looks good, but her choice in song is a bit curious.  While it may help relax her before bed, the song just doesn't lend itself to an exhibition.  Tara referenced the skating camp that is listed on her official site, but she sure didn't sound convincing about it actually coming to fruition when asked about it.  As always, Tara without jumps is just not the same experience.  The girl is jumping again and it is understandable that she wouldn't want her first time performing them again to be in the tiny rink at 8:45 AM on live national television.

Viktoria Komova is out of the European Championships due to a reoccurrence of her ankle injury.  It certainly explains why the starlet was missing her usual consistency at the recent Russian National Championships.  The Russian Coaches are saying that they are just being precautionary and are hoping to avoid surgery that would (give her scar tissue) and keep her out for two months.  Given my obvious admiration for Komova, I am lighting candles nightly and praying that this will pass.  The Russians will be represented by Mustafina, Nabieva, Dementyeva and newcomer Yulia Belokobyiskaya.


I've thought about what to say about the World Figure Skating Championships.  Out of respect for the tragedy, I've tried not to get into the situation too much.  I obviously don't feel it is fair to the skaters to keep them in limbo or to postpone them until October.  If the ISU decided to just cancel them, I would've understood.  As it stands, numerous countries have offered to hold them immediately and say they can get it done.  Through all of his statements and actions, Ottavio has proven just how inept he is at running the sport.  No one says it better than ice dance maestro Igor Shpilband in this article. The man already killed the sport's popularity, but now he being utterly unfair to the athletes as he avoids upsetting the Japanese Skating Federation, one of the few federations to financially support his bullshit sport and judging system.  I loved hearing how he ignored the USFSA, as it was far from shocking.  Given the situation, it is absolutely ridiculous and irresponsible (but not uncharacteristic) of the corrupt Japanese Skating Federation to hold onto the World Figure Skating Championships with all its might despite the obviously more important domestic matters at hand.

One of best quotes at illustrating his utter disregard for skaters came in this ice network article:
Asked how the drastic change in timing could affect skaters' training, Cinquanta replied, "You cannot always listen to what the skaters want. These are exceptional circumstances. Some of the skaters are even minors."


Izbasa training clips.


Kendra and Louis van Amstel could be the team to beat on DWTS.  Oddly, the producers set up a questionable front runner (in terms of viewer appeal) to one of the lesser-known pros on the show.

Ask The Bruins

Sasha Cohen article.  As usual, her quotes make her sound disinterested in skating in general.  Word is, Sasha will be attending college in NYC next year.  I'll certainly be getting my tickets to see the Cohen in person before she has enough of life on the road.

A Chinese Judge was determined to have cheated at the Asian Games.  It is hardly shocking from a federation that has had an utter disregard for rules for years.

Local Jordyn Wieber article.