Well it appears that the case against Maxim Staviski is settled but boy is he getting off easy! The Appellate Court in Bulgaria's coastal city of Burgas confirmed Wednesday the suspended sentence given to the ice skating champion Maxim Staviiski over involuntary manslaughter and aggravated bodily harm.
The claims and compensation that Maxim will have to pay were greatly reduced. In one case 2,000,000 (BGN) was reduced to 80,000 and in another case 500,000 reduced to 180,000.
The prosecution had filed an appeal demanding Maxim be put behind bars; that appeal was denied. Instead he'll just have to serve out a five year probation.
Talk about easy! Maxim...if you're going to booze...don't get behind the wheel! Got it?
Tomorrow we'll begin to get a feel for how exactly these 2010 U.S. Nationals Tickets will sell. I'm still a bit skeptical...I have a feeling getting people to buy an all event ticket for a competition spanned over 10 days is a bit much.
But Spokane is the King at selling Nationals tickets. In 2007 they shattered the record for ticket sales so perhaps they'll bhe able to do the same again...or at least match the previous sell.
What I can say definitively is that Spokane will put out the best show possible. Attending Nationals in 2007 was amazing, it was a figure skating event like none other. The mood in the building was electrifying and unforgetable. The entire city embraced the event and all the people were friendly and opening towards everyone in attendance.
If I decide to return to Spokane (if?) in 2010 it will definitely only be for one of the weekends, and I get the feeling a lot of figure skating fans feel this way. Well have to wait and see...
Funniest thing happened this past week. My friend Josh, his parents are hosting a Finnish exchange student (Arrturi is his name) and he's leaving back for Finland since the school year is over.
Anyway we were having a party for him and we got to talking about hobbies and I was telling him about figure skating and with the best accent ever he asks, "Awww..who is that beautiful women who skates for my country? She's so hot!"
I about fell on the floor laughing! Anywho I said, "Is it Kiira Korpi?" And he begins jumping up and down, so excited that someone knows anything about Finland. I responded that I knew the Capital City was Helsinki and his response was "everyone know that!" And I said, "In America...you'd be surprised. Not everyone knows that!"
I told him I had to blog about this and so he texted me a picture of himself to post with this blog.
So here's to Kiira Korpi...that hot, beautiful woman who skates for Finland!
One veteran Ice Dance team announced their retirement while another stakes their claims at Vancouver in 2010.
Delobel and Schoenfelder have announced their plans to continue competing through to the Olympic Games. The team, which after 11 trips to worlds, finally won a medal in Goteborg (and it was Gold) and feel they have a shot at Olympic Gold.
They'll have tough competition from around the Globe. At the Olympics. Virtue and Moir of Canada will be the home-team favorites. They'll also have to contend with the two American Teams of Belbin and Agosto as well as Davis and White. Russians Khoklova and Novitski as well as European Champs Domnina and Shabalin will be a problem too and we have no idea who will break through between now and then.
News to me! Apparently on Monday Kevin van der Perren tied the knot! He and British Skating Champion Jenna McCorkell became Mr. and Mrs. van der Perren!
How do two competitive skaters make time to get married? “May was the only time we could really have the wedding as September to March is competition season, with usually all of the summer to train" said McCorkell.
The Honeymoon? “We leave for our honeymoon to Los Angeles and California on Thursday and we will simply be relaxing during the two weeks we have" says van der Perren. “It will then be back to work again when we return, so I am definitely making the most of it.”
In my estimation they are one of the greatest Ice Dance teams of all time and I must say I'm sorry to see them go from competitive skating.
Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon have been consistent performers since forever. They have always had the most inventive lifts and crowd pleasing programs. One of my favorite programs of all time (I'll try to find it on YouTube and post it here) is their "Dance With My Heart" Free Dance from the 2003 World Championships. I remember being in the audience and being able to hear a pin drop in the arena. The music, which had been written especially for them, was haunting and beautiful and all of us at the MCI Center were captivated (I hold the 2003 World Championships as the best skating event I ever attended).
And I hold their 2006 "Somewhere in Time" Free Dance as one of the greatest Ice Dance programs ever. We were robbed of it at the 2006 Olympics after they took a nasty spill in the OD and had to withdraw but came back brilliantly to win the Silver Medal (almost won Gold!) at the 2006 World Championships at home in Calgary. I just get chills thinking about it. A piece of me wanted them to be greedy and go for gold in 2010 in Vancouver (also at home).
Well they are soon to wed (Patrice proposed during the Stars on Ice tour) and will continue as professionals and I just wish them the very best. Marie-France and Patrice are truly two of my favorites!
I received some feedback and I have alphabetized the Labels to make it easier to find posts on your favorite skaters, topics, events, etc.
Also, I received conflicting feedback. Some like the Snapshots of links, others say because there are so many links the snapshots are annoying...feel free to provide feedback!
It's bittersweet! This is my final installment of Kristi Can Dance...for 10 weeks we have lived the excitement of Dancing With the Stars together. We held our breath as the celebrities, one by one, bid farewell. Penn Gillete, Monica Seles, Steve Gutenburg, Adam Carolla, Priscilla Presley, Marlee Matlin, Shannon Elizabeth, Mario, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Christian de la Fuente were all kicked out of the competition leaving only Jason Taylor and Kristi Yamaguchi.
Both athletes, both determined, both competitive, and both hungry for the Mirror Ball Trophy that signifies the pinnacle of Dancing With the Stars. On the night the decision would be made, both Jason and Mark turned in knockout performances. Kristi an amazing Jive, Jason a stellar Quick Step. Jason came into the final decision with 81 points, Kristi a perfect 90...but of course it is ultimately the peoples vote that counts the most.
After all the discharged celebrities flung around the dance floor one last time and past champions weighed in on who they thought would win the time had come to crown a new champion. Kristi and Mark, both drenched in red light, nervously awaited their fate. NFL Star vs Olympic Champion. Gridiron vs Fresh Ice. Man vs Women! Everyone held their breath..."The Winner of Season 6 of Dancing with the Stars is..."
I couldn't look at the T.V. I could hear my heart beating. I just kept thinking..."is their another phone line I could have called from...was there another e-mail address I could have registered and voted? Was 45 votes enough?"
Tom and Samantha looked both Kristi and Jason in the eyes and announced the winner..."KRISTI YAMAGUCHI!"
I jumped up...I'm pretty sure I touched my ceiling and I have high ceilings. I screamed like crazy and did a one knee pull my arm yes yes yes. Next a text to everyone...OMG! KRISTI WON DWTS! YES! Then I even had a glass of Champagne to celebrate.
So excited...from the very beginning I have believed in her and she pulled through...she actually won. This, for me has been the best season of DWTS and I hope everyone enjoyed the call. In my final weekly Kristi post, I send this message. CONGRATULATIONS KRISTI...GIRL, YOU CAN DANCE!
“While it is always a difficult decision for skaters to turn the page on their competitive careers, Patrice and I are proud that we can do so confidently and with no regrets,” said Dubreuil. “We have so much to look forward to together, both on the ice and off, and we are anxious to move on to all that the future has in store for us.” The couple, who is planning to marry in August, will focus on their professional skating career. The couple just wrapped up a successful season with Star on Ice.
Marie-France and Patrice took this year off to evaluate their competitive prospects and decide if they would attempt another Olympic Games in 2010...in their home country of Canada at Vancouver. Advances from Canada's other top Dance Team Virtue and Moir (who won a Silver Medal of their own at the recent World Championships) may have helped their decision along.
They've been one of my favorite teams since forever and I'm sad to see them leave competitive skating but I wish them all the best in there future endeavours.
One way or the other it comes to an end tonight. But in the words of Carrie Ann Inaba, "It's ladies night tonight!"
Kristi's performance in the finale...ridiculous! She took her competition, devoured them, chewed them up, spit them out, mopped them up, and then blew them a kiss...she killed it!
Kristi and Mark were the clear front runners in the first round Cha Cha dance off, not only hitting clean and precise movements, but bringing down the house with electrifying energy and crazy difficult moves! All the judges were in agreement that no one was close to touching Kristi...and she pulled out a perfect 30 in round one!
Round two was the freestyle and Kristi and Mark again hit a sick routine. They incorporated every style of dance, infused it with hip-hop, and did it all in perfect time. The crowd gave her a standing ovation and Bruno called her "Ms. Synchronicity" and continued by saying "For me, this is worthy of the title!" Even Len who had been turned off by Kristi and Mark's hip-hop infused Cha Cha earlier in the season even said "That kept my attention from start to finish. Bloody good job!" When the Marks came up...another perfect 30 for a perfect 60 on the evening...PERFECT 60!
Christian de la Fuente is in second with 52 points, Taylor in last with 51. Both had okay nights, but even the judges had to tell them they were paling in comparison to Kristi.
Tonight, the finalist get one more chance to impress the judges before the points are added up and the winner is named. I hope everyone voted. I'm so excited...GO KRISTI...SHE CAN DANCE!
I took an extra day to really reflect on this final installment of American Legends. Scott Hamilton is easily the most recognizeable name in American Figure Skating History. If you ask anyone on the streets to say the first thing that comes to their mind when you say "figure skating" and I bet the majority would say "Scott Hamilton."
Four times a national and world champion, Scott's crowning achievement comes at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo where he won Olympic Gold.
But Scott's popularity only grew with his professional career. He created Stars on Ice and became americas favorite skater! He's done more television shows, tours, professional competitions than can be realistically numbered!
In 1997, Scott Hamilton was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. He underwent successful treatment and made a much heralded return to skating. In 2004, he was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor which was treated at the Cleveland Clinic.
Today, Scott is still an active member of the figure skating community as a skating commentator for NBC Sports, most recently calling the 2008 U.S. Nationals. Scott also devotes a lot of his time raising awareness for The Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Institute. Scott truly personifies what it is to be an American Legend!
The pressure was on this week like never before! Four teams, only three spots in the final. Who would thrill? Who would spill? And most importantly, who would make it to the finale?
All four of the remaining celebrities turned in great dances in the Ballroom Round. It was Kristi, however, who found herself leading the pack after a fantastic Tango that showed the full range of emotions in the dance. Marissa was at the bottom after missing a leap on her running footwork.
On to the Latin Round where again Kristi shined in her Jive. Bruno called the dance the "cherry on top of the icing" and awarded her a perfect 10! Christian and Jason continued to split the middle, however, this time Christian got through his Samba, managing to not injure his other arm. Poor Marissa again at the bottom of the pack.
But it is the votes that matter most...and my heart was beating so fast last night...would Kristi make it to the final or would she be sent packing? When they revealed the first couple dancing in the final...KRISTI AND MARK! Yay! I was so excited I could have peed!
Her competition will be the two guys, Christian and Jason, as Marissa couldn't make a third-straight comeback from the bottom two.
Who will win? NFL Man of the Year? Latin Heartthrob? Olympic Gold Medalist? It's too intense I almost can't take it!
Apparently Takahashi felt he was going to get the most attention leading up to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver...guess not!
Another thing to note, it has been Morozov's choreographic genius that has produced some memorable programs from Daisuke over the past couple seasons (Phantom of the Opera, Cyberswan, Romeo and Juliet)...who will Daisuke get to choreograph his programs with the same intensity? Kurt Browning, Christopher Dean...are you available?
Peggy Fleming is best known for her Gold Medal winning performance at the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France. Peggy's life, however, has been one of constant perseverance.
When Peggy was 12, her coach William Kipp, was lost in the infamous 1961 plane crash that killed the entire U.S. Figure Skating team as they traveled to the World Figure Skating Championships. As a result, she began working under the legendary Carlo Fassi.
Peggy's skating accomplishments are many including 5 National Titles, 3 World Titles, and of course the illustrious Olympic Gold. Upon retiring from competition, Peggy has toured and done many shows and joined the ABC Broadcast team as a figure skating commentator.
In 1998 Peggy Fleming was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was an early detection and Peggy underwent successful surgery. She continues to be an active supporter of women's health and breast cancer research. She and her husband Dr. Greg Jenkins own and operate a wine vineyard in California where the profits for a particular variety of wine, "Victories Rosé," go towards breast cancer research.
The top five slung around the dance floor in the hotly contested quarter finals. Everyone seemed to be on their A game in the first round with all five celebrities getting high marks from the judges. Kristi and Mark found themselves tied at the top (with a score of 29) with the one-armed bandit Christian de la Fuente. Kristi turned in a spot-on Quickstep, Christian danced an energetic Tango.
But it was in round two where once again Kristi was supplanted into the number two spot when Christian came with it again with a Samba that didn't quit despite the fact that he cant use his left arm. Kristi also danced the Samba and reluctantly I had to agree with Carrie Ann who commented. "I can't believe I'm saying this...I didn't care for it." It was definitely Kristi's weakest dance to date which left me nervous for the results show.
In a complete reversal, Jason and Edyta found themselves second from the bottom, just above Marissa and Tony. Mario and Carina found themselves snuggled in the middle.
But the results show came (I both love and hate it!), complete with former DWTS celebrities making a homecoming as it was the 100th episode! We saw alumni such as Apollo Anton Ohno, Mario Lopez, and Mel B return to the floor with brand new routines, it was great. But the results, I was nervous because of Kristi's first weak performance. The first couple granted safety...Marissa and Tony...gasp! They had the lowest score...I got really nervous. The next couple granted safety...Kristi and Mark! Whew! It ended up being Mario and Carina and Jason and Edyta who had to sweat it out and in the end Hip-Hop star Mario was sent packing (to be honest, I would have like to have seen Jason go...that would make Kristi's road to victory a bit easier!). A gentlemen always, he spoke of Len's comments about how he was a role model and a hero for young people, and he rejected those praises saying it was the men and women fighting overseas who were the true heroes and role models.
And so next week is the semi-finals. Four teams, one last chance to impress America before the finale. Who will win Dancing with the Stars...chime in with this weeks poll (top of blog), and keep voting for Kristi...she needs us more than ever now!
“U.S. Figure Skating is extremely pleased to announce the city of Spokane as the site for the 2010 U.S. Championships,” U.S. Figure Skating President Ron Hershberger said. “As the 2010 U.S. Championships will be the final event prior to nominating our athletes for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, it was extremely important to select an experienced and enthusiastic host for the event.”
Spokane beat out Detroit, Providence, and Portland for the bid. In my poll, Spokane appeared to be the favorite.
The next question is how Spokane, and fans in general, will manage with the new two-weekend format being put into place for Olympic Trial Nationals. The Men and Pairs final will be the first weekend, Ladies and Dance the second weekend. It is perhaps good that Spokane can generate a lot of local excitement for the event...I'm hard pressed to see many people flying into Spokane and staying in a hotel for 10 days for the entire event...bit of a stretch in my opinion.
But if anyone can pull it off, I'd say that Spokane can. I was at that Nationals and it was truly amazing! Good luck Spokane!
Well it appears that the case against Maxim Staviski is settled but boy is he getting off easy! The Appellate Court in Bulgaria's coastal city of Burgas confirmed Wednesday the suspended sentence given to the ice skating champion Maxim Staviiski over involuntary manslaughter and aggravated bodily harm.
