Searching, Searching

Some unusual searches bringing people to my blog this week...

Of course the top search, and not unusual at all, is Michelle Kwan. Poor alas she has decided to not compete this upcoming season.

However, an unusual search indeed, from several different search engines was "Maria Butyrskaya Russian Mafia." Huh? Is there a story I'm missing somewhere? I'll do some detective work but somehow I doubt Butyrskaya is in anyway connected to the Mafia. But, stranger things have happened.

Several searches paired skater Molly Oberstar and Adam Rippon together. No clue why.

Another unusual search; "Ilia Kulik Shake your bum." Really, I can't make this stuff up if I tried!

One blog search I can answer. "What is Jeremy Abbott's new Free Skate?" That would be "Pines of Rome" and "Jupiter Suite from The Planets."

Keep searching...I'll keep looking!

UPDATE: This Butyrskaya story has legs but it's from the past. Another name came in from a search with Butyrskaya, Sergei Sterlyagov. In Jon Jakson's book, On Edge, he writes of Maria Butyrskaya's horrific ordeal prior to the 2002 Olympic Games when her boyfriend, then Sergei Sterlyagov, was found shot dead in the woods. Apparently the murder (at this point I'm wondering how I never knew any of this!) came after Maria said she was tired of sharing her skating wealth with mobsters. Now the plot thickens, Jackson also writes that the FBI warned him not to travel to Russia as his life was in danger after writing of these events in his book. I'm wondering if Maria is still having to deal with these mafia 'baddies.'

My outlook on Maria Butyrskaya's 2002 Olympic Performance is completely changed. It's gone from being slightly unimpressed to absolutely stupified that she could skate at all given the events of the prior two weeks.

Around the World

In Japan, Daisuke Takahashi updated his blog and explained that he has begun jumping again. Unfortunately for all my Japanese readers, he won't be performing at this Sunday's "Koshien Ice." He will, however, be there to greet fans.

In Russia, 1999 World Champion Maria Butyrskaya, gave birth to her second child, a girl. She had a son two years ago. Reportedly she and husband Vadim Khomitski are very happy and had "dreamed" about having a girl.

Lots to report here in the United States. First, Michelle Kwan has graduated from Denver University with a degree in international studies with a political science minor. What's next for Michelle? Nobody knows. The economy has the organizing committee for the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro, NC trying a new tactic. During the month of June, if you buy an all event pass for the event, they'll give you a ticket to the exhibition, free. That's a savings of about $60.00! You may have seen the new USOC Television Spots (if not...it's below) that features many of our new 2010 Olympic hopefuls including Belbin and Agosto, Jeremy Abbott, Davis and White, and Johnny Weir. Lastly, unconfirmed twitter reports are saying Evan Lysacek has signed a sponsorship deal with Ralph Lauren who will be outfitting Team USA in Vancouver.

In Italy, Carolina Kostner has left longtime coach Michael Huth reports a German news agency. It's also reported that she'd like Brian Orser, who coaches World Junior Champ Adam Rippon and World Champ Kim Yu-Na, to coach her. However, Orser has not committed to the coaching deal and has previously stated his "plate is full." Stay tuned...

In China, much fanfare over the return of Shen and Zhao to competitive skating after a two year hiatus. "We are aiming for the gold medal this time," the 35-year-old Zhao was quoted as saying by sports.cn. "To achieve this, we have done a lot of preparation, such as inviting the best choreographer and the best costume designers in the world. Before leaving the national team, we got all the titles of that season. So, if we could reach the form at that time, we are confident we can realize our Olympic gold medal dream."

Finally, in Canada, they are selling Vancouver 2010 Tickets like crazy up there! And what tickets were among the first to go? That would be Opening Ceremonies, speed skating and of course, figure skating.

Pic of the Week

Michelle was in 4th place after a lack-luster short program, she fell on her Double Axle...definitely not a Michelle Kwan we were used to seeing.

The crowd in Helsinki for the 1999 World Figure Skating Championships were in for a treat however. Maria Butyrskaya had a golden opportunity to take down Michelle Kwan. Maria's task: just finish at least second to Kwan in the free skate and win a Gold Medal.

Kwan's free skate was improved from her short program, but not without flaw. She stepped out of her first jump combination and popped her double axle. But she still landed 5 triples and gave a dramatic performance.

But it was Maria Butyrskaya that stole the show. With a fiery determination she powered through seven triple jumps. She was completely dedicated to the music and the choreography the whole performance and it wasn't until she landed her very last jump that she let her satisfaction show through in the form of the biggest smile ever on a Russian and a fist pump at the conclusion of the music, Otonal by Raul di Blasio.

Maria didn't achieve her objective of finishing second behind Kwan and winning a Gold, she beat Michelle flat out and won the free skate along with the Gold! The Finnish crowd (Finland, very near to Russia...) went crazy for her and she enjoyed the greatest moment of her career.