[commish]

GOOD MORNING!!!!

WOW What a Men's final last night!!!!

Alexi Yagudin was absolutely fabulous! His performance was one of the most breathtaking I have ever seen. A well deserved and well earned GOLD MEDAL!!!

And we can't forget the gutsy performances of Yvgeny Plushenko, who shook off his short program disaster to skate a wonderful Long program to the SILVER.

And TOMOTHY GEOBELS technical expertise was awe inspiring -- while I feel he skated a much better technical program than Plushenko, I can't fault the judges scoring of PLushenko above him as Yvegny was light years better in presentation. BUT WATCH OUT, once Tim gets some artistic quality into his skating (IE MATURITY) he will be a force to contend with!!!

I do feel a little badly for Tekeshi Honda - he skated very good last night, but bless his heart he is just not on a plane technically or artistically (especially artistic) with the top three.

KUDO's to Todd Eldredge and Michael Weiss for gutsy comeback performances in the long. Watching Todd's unmatched style and grace one could not help but think he threw down a medal winning performance had it not been for his short program.

OF course - all my gushing aside - I am SURE that MIKAILOVICH will come in here, and even though Yagudin is Russian, Mikailovich will PAN HIS PERFORMANCE and say he DOES NOT DESERVE the Gold because he skated a WESTERN style program to GASP UGH EEK AMERICAN MOVIE MUSIC (the Man in the Iron Mask) ;-) LOL!

[TontoKowalski]

I've always liked Yagudin. That Pleshenko character is a different matter, though. Just never warmed up to him for some reason. I appreciate the athleticism, but the programs are just boring.

Others in the same boat: Elvis Stoyko, Michael Weiss, any male French or Chinese skater (take your pick).

[twigs]

I personally felt that Plushenko's performance was one of the better ones I'd ever seen. I had never seen such passion and loved it! I would have like to see him get the gold. Didn't think Yagudin deserved the 6.0's, but he was certainly good. I see, however, that my husband and I are in the minority here! Goebel was great too!

[JAWs]

I was cheering for Eldredge because he's a fellow Bay stater AND he skated to music from 'Lord of the Rings!'