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Post by tynormem on Aug 5, 2007 21:49:15 GMT -5
I know this is OT to this thread, but Kirkland, I am going to see the Blue Angels next month. I can't wait to take the kids! My dad is a Deputy Sheriff so we get to go on "Law Enforcement Day" (read less traffic, easier parking, fewer people) and I am thrilled. I missed the last visit to my area since I had just had a baby....so it has been a while since I got to go.
I have never seen a lot of the people you all are talking about on this thread skate- in fact, I haven't heard of a lot of them. I think I may have mentioned that I have not been able to get into anyone in particular lately....probably since I was in HS about 8 years ago. I think I enjoy pairs skating the most.
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Post by kirkland on Aug 5, 2007 21:58:25 GMT -5
The Blue Angels are always thrilling.
Don't know what to say about the figure skaters. Most of the skaters we are talking about are now pros. If you don't know who Alexei Yagudin is, cut/paste the URL that I posted and watch the montage. He won men's gold at SLC 2002.
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Post by LurkerB5 on Aug 5, 2007 22:28:38 GMT -5
number1fan say:
juliebug...you are most welcome...i spent a few hours reminicing too!
'76 dorothy hamill...i had to have her haircut, the hamill-camel
'80 the US men's hockey team! do you believe in miracles???
'84 sarajevo i realy wanted rosalynn summers to win gold
and scott hamilton WOOHOO and torvill/dean in pairs.
'88 calgary men brian, brian & viktor and i really wanted liz manley or debi thomas to win...but it was gordeeva/grinkov who mesmorized me!
___________________________________________________
Just to be technical, torvill/dean were ice dancers, not pairs. Their Bolaro at Sarajevo totally revolutionized the world of ice dance, and, to some extent, the world of figure skating at large... IMO, natch!
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Post by LurkerB5 on Aug 5, 2007 22:31:52 GMT -5
Yesterday at 9:26pm, juliebug wrote:We all have our favorites. In everything. Dancing, music, personality type, looks, etc. There's just something about the way he moves his body and how he interprets the music that moves ME like no other skater. I enjoy them all, something to like about all of them...but Kurt kept ME spellbound. Still does.
Lexi wrote:
Yeah, Kurt’s quite amazing, isn’t he? And he’s still got ‘it’ today.
____________________________________________________
Totally, totally agree. Will pay to see that boy every opportunity that presents itself. REALLY wish we would get his annual holiday special!!! Canadians have it made...
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Post by tynormem on Aug 6, 2007 7:47:41 GMT -5
The Blue Angels are always thrilling. Don't know what to say about the figure skaters. Most of the skaters we are talking about are now pros. If you don't know who Alexei Yagudin is, cut/paste the URL that I posted and watch the montage. He won men's gold at SLC 2002. I know current figure skaters (including Yagudin who I saw live this year), but some of these skaters you were talking about from the 80's (and earlier) are LONG before my interest in figure skating. (I was born in the 80's). |
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Post by lexi on Aug 6, 2007 9:16:30 GMT -5
Were any of you able to watch the yousendit link to the montage of Yagudin? I downloaded the montage, Kirkland, and loved it. It’s quite a keepsake – thanks for that. Kudos to whoever put it together – beautiful job. As I’ve told you before, there is no more beautiful piece than Overcome. My all time favorite skating performance! For those who have never seen it, here it is from Alexei's Exhibition skate during the Olympics. Overcome and Winteryoutube.com/watch?v=RyQmkLW_2N8Here’s his Gold medal performance from the Olympics Man in the Iron Maskyoutube.com/watch?v=8UFHvSWmY0cPreface: Ignore Scott Hamilton’s commentary about Alexei skating conservatively. How can you possibly skate ‘conservatively’ when you’ve thrown two clean quads and a triple axel into your program? Sheesh!  Olympic Medal ceremony youtube.com/watch?v=UhIhlRUp1BI&mode=related&search= I also have his Farewell speech and performance at Skate Canada in 03. I remember seeing this live and recall that Alexei was quite emotional. I haven’t seen it since so if you do get it downloaded again, I’d love to see it once more. Yagudin has been quoted as saying he would like to compete with Plush again in pro competition (this was before Plush announced he is going back to eligible). They've skated and spoken in public together at some events in Russia. This doesn’t surprise me one bit! Their rivalry brought out the best and worst in both of them. I’m sure they miss it as it was quite a motivator. I wish Plush had decided to go Pro because a reunion between the both of them on the ice would have been the stuff dreams are made of. Elena does have a rather odd personality, but I wonder how much is lost in translation. She can speak English, but still not very well. I’m sure that does play a part, but even her general demeanor never struck me as approachable or friendly. Steven Cousins and John Zimmerman have the reputation of being the absolutely nicest of the skaters on the tour - according to the bus driver, supposedly. I’d long heard that John was a genuine sweetheart and Steven certainly comes off a charming. I hope, though, that his relationship with Elena wasn’t at the expense of his marriage to Kristina. I saw Anton at the hotel, he is small. They are all pretty tiny, actually. Alexie is about the same size as Apolo and has a mighty fine a$$ as well! Anton is small? Really? I would never have thought that. However, perception on the TV screen is often misleading because the ladies are so incredibly tiny. As for Alexei’s a$$ets, yes, I did take note of that very early on!  When I met Alexei it was at the hotel and he was exhausted (looked it) after the last show of a 5 month season with SOI and COI. He was gracious and sweet, helped me figure out my camera (didn't have my glasses on) and I am sure did not want to be accosted by fans - but I couldn't help myself. I saw Alexei briefly too after a Stars on Ice appearance in my city. He was heading back to his hotel across the street from the arena. Many fans were following him, but I just kind of hung back and observed as I had to watch for my drive. He stood only a few feet away from me and he is something to behold. He’s in amazing shape. And that accent! He really has a way with the fans. He posed with every person who asked for a picture and signed every last autograph. Sound like someone else we know? I'm like you Lexi, in that the women's skating has been my least favorite for many years. I loved when Oksana Bauil beat Kerrigan for the gold (couldn't stand Kerrigan and loved Baiul's story). Boy, did she ever mess up her life. As soon as she broke "free" of living with the Petrenko's she went downhill. Sad. Yeah, I never liked Kerrigan. Ever. She always seemed snobby to me. There’s a real sweetness about Baiul though and it’s sad that her life took a different turn after her medal win. It was just announced that Sasha Cohen will be headlining SOI next season. I do not care for her at all. BUT, SOI hasn't had a viable female headliner for years and they have been hurting as a result. Sasha doesn’t do it for me. She’s too inconsistent. She has the talent, but she seems to stumble during those moments she needs to be her absolute best. Sarah Hughes was overweight and HORRIBLE Really? I haven’t followed Sarah at all. I love the mens and pairs, but I'm just not feeling it in the current crop. We'll see... Brian and Stephane are very good and I like Jeff Buttle. I do not like Emmanuel. My friend is a manager in the hotel business at the hotel where the skaters stay and she did not have very kind things to say about him. He has a major attitude on and off the ice. Even if I disregard that and try to be objective about his skating, he still doesn't impress me because he refuses to put in the time and effort to be the best skater nor does he follow the advice of his coach and yet he expects the medals to be handed to him.  '88 calgary men brian, brian & viktor and i really wanted liz manley or debi thomas to win...but it was gordeeva/grinkov who mesmorized me! Ah yes, the Battle of the Brians. Here’s to some reminiscing. The link below is to my very favorite skating moment after Alexei’s ’02 win. Brian B. skated effortlessly and like he knew he already had that medal in hand. I still get goosebumps watching it. Brian Boitano's Gold medal performance in '88 Olympicsyoutube.com/watch?v=cEYNskBniw0I looked for Brian Orser’s performance and couldn’t find it. Number1Fan found it. Thanks!!!  youtube.com/watch?v=wmoYP1oKQUUYesterday at 9:26pm, juliebug wrote:We all have our favorites. In everything. Dancing, music, personality type, looks, etc. There's just something about the way he moves his body and how he interprets the music that moves ME like no other skater. I enjoy them all, something to like about all of them...but Kurt kept ME spellbound. Still does. Lexi wrote: Yeah, Kurt’s quite amazing, isn’t he? And he’s still got ‘it’ today. ____________________________________________________ Totally, totally agree. Will pay to see that boy every opportunity that presents itself. REALLY wish we would get his annual holiday special!!! Canadians have it made... I beg to differ. I’d say you Americans have it made with Apolo.  Wanna make a trade? Kurt for Apolo? I’ll even throw in Elvis too! Seriously though, I do think Kurt is the best skater Canada's ever produced so I couldn't give him up. Here are a few of my other favorite skating moments Kurt Browning - Brick Houseyoutube.com/watch?v=FVnAVkMI_A4Shae Lynn and Viktor - Riverdance youtube.com/watch?v=EmijaWvX_2UClassic Brasseur and Eisler - Patricia the Stripperyoutube.com/watch?v=gA7B73LHnLACurrent World Champions - Bulgarian's Denkova and Staviski - Your Beautifulyoutube.com/watch?v=m-EBnsyPPcc |
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Post by number1fan on Aug 6, 2007 13:05:49 GMT -5
how funny lexi...kurt's 'brickhouse' is one of my faves too!!! 
thank you so much for all the other links...i'll get to them eventually!
i was surfing youtube last night too and wanted to share these with you all...
2002 SLC Closing Ceremonies (apolo 4 times)
youtube.com/watch?v=5OhMOHMu5oc
The Prayer - 2002 Winter Olympics Closing Programme
(Groban/Church) i  this duet version!!!
youtube.com/watch?v=4txqpyab1_8
2006 Torino Closing Ceremonies
(apolo 3 times - note 4:26mark) it's soo moving 
youtube.com/watch?v=5hT6UxsQG2c
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Post by lisam on Aug 6, 2007 13:27:22 GMT -5
I love to watch figure skating, but I usually don't watch it until the Olympics, once in awhile I'll catch it on ESPN or whatever channel is showing it, but other than that I don't know who's who until the Olympics. I enjoy the ladies skating more than anything else, I do watch some of the pairs and mens but I just can't get real serious about it as I do with the ladies. I know some of you find the ladies skating boring and have said some things I disagree with but I won't say what. But its all good, everyone is entitled to their own opinions so no hard feelings. A lot of the pairs skating names that have been mentioned I don't know because I don't follow it that much. So I don't have any opinons about them, did watch some of the youtube vids and enjoyed them. I think this next Olympics I'm going to try and watch the pairs more intensly because I do enjoy it, just got busy doing other things. The men's skating I think I like the least, sorry men's skating fans. But I do remember Elvis and loved him and his energy. I love to see the guys do flips, its so much fun to watch. Someone mentioned how aweful Sarah Hughes looked because she had gained some weight so I looked her up and saw some pics of her in 2005 skating with the Stars on Ice and WOW, she did gain some weight! The site said she's going to Yale so that would explain that she just hasn't been skating much and not keeping fit. Oh well, as long as she's happy with her life, afterall she did win the Gold! Tara retireing isn't that big of a deal, I'm sure she still enjoys it, she just has other interests, skating doesn't have to be a part of her life forever. Maybe I should stop going on, because I could go longer about some of the other ladies. Nice thread to start, its a lot of interesting opinions to read over about figure skating.
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Post by lexi on Aug 6, 2007 17:44:37 GMT -5
Thanks for those YouTube clips, Number1Fan. I enjoyed them. I hadn't see The Prayer one before. Not to change the topic, but this is one of my very favorite songs. My favorite version is sung by Australian Anthony Callea here: youtube.com/watch?v=p_u2LRSxemILisam, I feel badly. I hope you weren't offended by any comments on here. I promise you they're not a slight against anyone's personal taste. I sometimes forget that others might be reading and not taking my comments in the same context as intended. That's my mistake. I can appreciate that not everyone likes my favorite Yagudin and will take a kick at him and that's okay. We all have different tastes and I like a good, friendly debate as much as anyone else. |
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Post by kirkland on Aug 6, 2007 18:05:24 GMT -5
Awww, Lexi. Even though I have some of Alexei's clips downloaded in high quality, I watched Overcome/Winter Exhibition...honestly, I nearly hold my breath through his entire skates, his skating and performance really does take my breath away still. Wow. I like the plain Overcome costume (I've seen him do it in black t-shirt and dark gray sweater). I also though Winter costume, as costumes go, was maginificent in the bare tree branches against snow or white sky. God he was incredible. Yes, Anton is slight. Muscular but slight, surprised me too. I agree, Elena seems aloof and cold, but I think she is also VERY shy. I didn't realize Steven Cousins was married...now that does disappoint me, I must say. Did anyone see John Zimmerman a couple years ago on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy? He is a genuine sweetheart. I, too, think Kurt Browning is the best Canada has produced, followed by Jamie and David. Ilia, Katia, Daria & Elizaveta youtube.com/watch?v=4cQkvm5Q_i8Ina & Zimmerman 2006 youtube.com/watch?v=9D3rYZsw4bE&mode=related&search=Ina & ZImmerman: Look At Little Sister (Apolo & Julianne should dance to this at DWTS 2008!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRGapG3TCVA |
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Post by lisam on Aug 6, 2007 19:09:44 GMT -5
Lisam, I feel badly. I hope you weren't offended by any comments on here. I promise you they're not a slight against anyone's personal taste. I sometimes forget that others might be reading and not taking my comments in the same context as intended. That's my mistake. I can appreciate that not everyone likes my favorite Yagudin and will take a kick at him and that's okay. We all have different tastes and I like a good, friendly debate as much as anyone else. No hard feelings at all Lexi. After I posted my comment, I thought maybe I sounded too defensive with what I said about Sarah Hughes and Tara Lipinski.  I watched the vid of Yagudin's program that won him the gold and it was very good, liked the choice of song. So I can see why you like him so much. I know some of you have already said that you don't care for Sasha Cohen, not sure if its her attitude or skating you're talking about but I do happen to think she is a very good skater. In the 2002 Olympics, I didn't know much about her but thought she was very good but needed some improvement. In the 2006 games she was soooo much better, her artistic and techincal skating improved. But then for some strange reason she fell twice in the beginning of her long program which cost her the gold. I wonder if all the media pressure to win the gold got to her. I can imagine it being hard for these athletes like Cohen, Kwan or even Apolo to feel that way when the media does so much hype on them to win win win! You know their going to do it to Apolo again in 2010, lets just hope it doesn't affect his skating. About Sasha again, I looked on her official site and it says that she will headline for SOI and is in a new movie called Moondance Alexander, looks like a nice movie, I didn't know she was interested in acting, would be interesting to see if she's any good. It doesn't say anything if she will be going to the 2010 Olympics, I kinda doubt it since she will be 25 yrs old, isn't that considered too old to skate in the Olympics? Anyways, just wanted to share my thoughts about her, its not much but I didn't want to go on and on since probably no one really cares anyways. |
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Post by number1fan on Aug 6, 2007 20:17:08 GMT -5
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Post by juliebug on Aug 6, 2007 21:07:40 GMT -5
juliebug...you are most welcome...i spent a few hours reminicing too!
'76 dorothy hamill...i had to have her haircut, the hamill-camel
'80 the US men's hockey team! do you believe in miracles???
'scott hamilton WOOHOO ;D and torvill/dean in pairs.
loved oksana never liked nancy k's style...
and oh what a LP by kurt browning
i wanted michelle to win gold soo badly but alas tara and sarah did instead
but i managed to follow a little 'hapa' boy in st from '02 ;D ;D ;D
I too wanted Dorothy's haircut...unfortunately I have naturally EXTREMELY curly hair. I did get a Gypsy Shag though. The US men's hockey team? OMG! I still remember sitting there watching that game! Amazing. Miracles indeed. Scott Hamilton. Oh yeah. Torvil & Dean. OMG! All these years later, I still can't hear Bolero without thinking of them. I didn't like Nancy either. I still remember Sarah's scream though.  As for the little hapa boy.... me too.  |
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Post by juliebug on Aug 6, 2007 21:11:40 GMT -5
(I was born in the 80's).  Bragger.  |
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Post by kirkland on Aug 6, 2007 21:28:50 GMT -5
I wanted to reply to a couple more of Lexi's comments, but don't know how she put my quotes in boxes then replied to each one. HELP! Lambiel, Buttle and Joubert are interesting, not to the degree that the 2002 guys were. I don't like Sandu either, not at all. Nor do I like Johnny Weir. Blechhh. Yagudin & Plushenko pro would be great. Alexei has been extremely frustrated with the lack of true pro or even true pro-am competitions in the US. And the fact is that figure skating, since 2002 has sunk in popularity big time. True pro competitions are not going to happen here, unfortunately. Maybe in Russia, but we won't see them here. Russia and Japan are the two strongest figure skating markets in terms of popularity. I don't know how long Russia will last because of the development of young skaters. Sasha Cohen...I first became aware of her when she was still at the junior level and had such high hopes. Nerves or lack of focus got to her. I think she certainly had the potential to be great, but she is very willful and self oriented - to her detriment in the sport. I don't think she will go anywhere as an actor. Tara Lipinski was a better actor than Sasha. She likes the glitz and glamour of Hollywood but I don't see her going anywhere. She made a mistake by not making it work with Tatiana. Alexei was putty in Tatiana's hands, she was his surrogate mom and he had the will to win and did what it took. It must have been so hard to leave home and move with her to the US not knowing the language...he did very well for himself. It is interesting that Mishin never fails to include Alexei as one of "his" skaters. Alexei said, on more than one occasion, that he and Plush really didn't have a big problem, it was Mishin. He LOVES Tatiana and she him. Check out this website. Kathleen Bangs writes lots of articles and photographs many skaters for skating publications and Figure Skating Universe. She has a close relationship with Alexei. www.ka-bangs.com/ice/albums2.aspx?id=AYLisam, No worries, everyone has their own opinion and favorites here. It is fun to have people post their thoughts, you never know when you will find a kindred spirit. None of it is personal! Some of us are more opinionated than others, that's all. |
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