Official Live Thread - Ice Skating Exhibition

Yahoo, MSNBC, Time, vanity ^ | 2/22/2002

[Utah Girl]

10:15 - 11:30 PM ET / 9:45 - 11 PM PT

Figure Skating: Champions gala

With all the medals safely tucked away and all the Olympic pressure gone, the exhibitions allow the skaters and audience to party. Tonight we'll see crazy outfits, difficult jumps, different kinds of music, and plenty of smiles from the athletes and spectators. Relaxation and celebration are the themes of the evening.

[sweetliberty]

What time is it on?

[Utah Girl]

Men should just grow old gracefully. Yikes on Bruce Jenner.

[Washington-Husky]

Tonight we'll see crazy outfits, difficult jumps, different kinds of music, and plenty of smiles from the athletes and spectators. Relaxation and celebration are the themes of the evening.

Boy, I wish I could believe that, Utah Girl! Until the Russians knock off their little hissy-fit about the "outrage" over their Irina not winning gold, I think some of those smiles are going to be of the "clip-on" variety at best. LOL! (But don't worry, I'm sure I'll turn it on and watch it anyway!)

[Utah Girl]

See Post #20... :)

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Good stuff!

Are the USA and Russians posing together with dual gold medals?

Actually, from what I read, the Russian skaters themselves were pretty cool about the situation and the Russian media were being dorks about the whole controversy. I did see one part where the male Russian skater cursed a few Russian reporters in the native language because he was not speaking Russian before.

[Utah Girl]

The Russian woman in the pairs is very reserved, I've heard she rarely smiles anyway. And Irina Slutskaya was madder than mad last night right before she was called on the ice to accept her silver medal. She turned on the smile, and was very charming. The Russians tend to hide their true feelings quite well. Hmmm, although Plushenko was definitely not happy on the medals stand when he won bronze... I can't wait to see Michelle Kwan skate.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Whoa! Thanks for the Rocky Horror reset!

[NYer]

I also fell asleep last night! Can't believe it. Waited 4 years for the showdown and the other skaters shipped me off to lala land with their humdrum performances.

Does anyone know if they will repeat last night's winning performance by Sarah Hughes?

[Washington-Husky]

Bruce Jenner on MSNBC now ... a plastic surgery tragedy! He looks hideous!

Hey, you wanna' see something even more hideous? That would be that thoroughly wretched movie that Bruce Jenner starred in, "Can't Stop The Music" (1980). It was this ludicrous story about disco music. Kind of in the "so bad it's good" category of movies. I happened to bump into it on American Movie Classics a few months ago. Made me want to destroy my television. LOL!

[cajungirl]

I hope there is a hairpulling. I am placing by bet on the Russian Slutskaya over Sarah,,that Russian girl is tough looking and little Sarah won't be good in a hair pulling.

[marylina]

Just moments ago on NBC Bob Costas gave a quick summary of who would be participating in the skating exhibition, and Irina was not named. Do you know if the silver medalist from last night will be performing?

[Carolina]

Hey, Utah Girl and alisasny! You've done a great job hosting these threads. Thanks so much.

[ValerieUSA]

Sarah Hughes reminds me a little bit of a very young Reba McIntyre (sp?)

[Utah Girl]

I'll bet Sasha Cohen could hold her own with Irina Slutskaya. She buzzed Michelle Kwan during a warmup at nationals.

[Slyfox]

Sarah was the only metal contender in women's who had nothing to lose.

[cajungirl]

I do hate to ask but is Bruce Jenner gay? Not that there is anything wrong with that. He is kind of prissy.

[Utah Girl]

I must turn up the volume on my television. I didn't hear that! Darn, if Irina isn't there. Her jumps are so fantastic to watch. Did Costas say the other Russian skaters would be there?

[cajungirl]

LOL,,you are right. My bet is Sasha bites!!

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

You are right. Like everyone else, I thought the free skate was tomorrow night.

BOB COSTAS HOSTS the prime-time coverage with contributions from Olympic special correspondent Jim McKay. Highlights for Friday, February 22, 2002, include:

FIGURE SKATING: CHAMPIONS GALA

One of the favorite nights for figure skating fans, the Champions Gala includes performances from all the Salt Lake figure skating stars in one night. With all the Olympic medals safely tucked away and all the pressure of competition gone, the skaters provide highly entertaining performances. Gold medalist pairs Jamie Sale and David Pelletier from Canada and Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze from Russia will skate. Men?s gold medalist Alexei Yagudin of Russia and the top skaters from Thursday night?s ladies? competition, as well as many others, will perform.

[Utah Girl]

Absolutely true. Sarah performs better when behind in the standings, her coach said. Michelle Kwan had a huge amount of pressure on her, and so did Irina Slutskaya. Sasha Cohen doesn't have much international experience.