The Globe Trot

Let's start this week with news from Canada. Patrick Chan is a busy guy these days...he's currently competing at the Liberty Open in Ashton, Pennsylvania. I'd bet he's the odds on favorite to win there. Patrick is also featured in a 2010 Olympics Cheerios Commercial. Busy times for the World Silver Medalist. Need your morning Cup o' Joe? Perhaps Craig Buntin can help. Besides being one of Canada's top Pair skaters, he's attempting to get his company, Teabean Coffee, up and running. And CTV is reporting that Todd Eldredge has a look-a-like, Canadian Ice Dancer Wendell McGrath.

In Germany, Munich has thrown it's name into the ring as a possible candidate city for the 2018 Olympics. Heading the organizing board is two-time Olympic Champion Katarina Witt.

In Russia, while President Obama was in Moscow meeting with President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin, a bevy of politicians touted requests of President including the head of the Russian Skating Federation, Valentin Piseev. His request, he wants President Obama to send all the Russian coaches and Russian Figure Skaters working/training here in the U.S. back to Russia. Really, that's your request?

Lots going on here in the U.S. What Would Brian Boitano Cook? You'll find out this fall when his show of the same name premiers on the Food Network. The reviews keep coming in for Johnny Weir's Pop Star on Ice. You can read Jumping Clapping Man's and Jenny Kirk's. Speaking of Jenny Kirk, she recently wrote of the decision skaters have to make between training and sacrificing a regular school education. Finally, one reason the IOC might be squawking so loudly about Comcast and the USOC's joint Olympic Network project...money? Who knew that NBC's Olympic Television Rights are such a cash cow for the IOC and understandably wouldn't want the USOC dipping into what NBC shows.

Quick blurb from China, Lu Chen and Denis Petrov welcome baby number two into the world...congrats! (I think I shall tout this as the Baby Skate Summer...so many skaters having babies!)

From all around the world, skaters are revealing their music choices for next season. There is really too many to keep tabs on here but check the blogs and Twitter for all the most up-to-date announcements. Speaking of Twitter, my latest follows: Brandon Mroz, Michael Weiss, and Patrick Chan.

Pic of the Week

This Pic of the Week comes a day early as tomorrow I'm heading to Georgia for 4th of July festivites (WIN!!!).

Thinking about the 4th of July got me thinking about Michael Weiss 2004 U.S. Nationals Free Skate. I always called it the '4th of July' program because of all the patriotic music selections: When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Amazing Grace, Battle Hymn of the Republic...how could you not feel patriotic after that program!

Just so happens that Andrea "Hoo" Chempinski had a great picture of Michael Weiss performing this program at her website http://www.scratchspin.com/. If I recall, Michael slipped in for second place at this competition, right behind Johnny Weir. Matt Savoie was the bronze medalist...I think?

I scoured the Internet for a video of this program only to turn up empty handed...a picture will simply have to do. But I did find this video way back from 1998 of Michael Weiss coming oh so close to successfully landing a quad lutz (I believe he was the first skater to attempt that quad...not Evgeny Plushenko...just managed to answer another question I had from my Q&A Session!). Enjoy!

Joubert out...Weiss in

Sorry die-hard Brian Joubert fans...apparently he has conflicts and cannot compete in the Campbell Soup's Skating Classic. But fret not...for Michael Weiss has joined the line-up. Also competing in the men's group will be Timothy Goebel, Takeshi Honda, Evan Lysacek, Emanuel Sandhu and Johnny Weir.

Hopefully, Michael will preview his new free skate. This season, Michael has chosen three Beethoven pieces, 5th Symphony, Moonlight Sonata, and Ode to Joy. If I recall, Michael had pretty good success with Beethoven in the past (1998). Here's wishing Michael the best start to his season.

Brian Joubert will now make his season debut at Skate America.