Men's Free Skate - Thurs, 18th 8pm EST

[Bennett]

I hope Brian, Jeremy, and Tomas all come back strong and hope the SP hasn't made them too depressed to bounce back tonight. As for Tomas, he has been sick this season, he did well at TEB doing his quads and coming in 2nd, then got the flu during SA, where his slump started and he was 5th. He found out he was going to the GPF at the last minute when Joubert pulled out, and was still clearly feeling sick (he looked really pale and thin) and popped a lot of jumps and was last. Then he was 2nd at Czech nationals and 10th at Euros, he didn't bomb so badly there but was far from his best. I think getting sick this year, on top of his usual consistency issues due to nerves/anxiety/stamina/pressure (probably all those things) have made him have a particularly rough season. He said he plans to continue skating though so I hope to see him bounce back tonight and at worlds so that next season can start on a good note. I feel so bad for him, I love his skating and he is so talented, it pains me to see him struggle this much. Same goes for Joubert.

Also, you don't think Brezina will make the top 10?

I am with you in sending the best wishes to Tomas. The list was so crowded that I forgot Brezina. Seriously, there are so many good men this season that whoever that happens to come behind appears undeserving.

[Layfan]

Carolina and Tomas are so good though! I mean Alissa, she's as big of a headcase as Carolina and Tomas but not as talented from a technical standpoint. Tomas has the best 4-3 of all men right now, I'm actually confident saying that, look at his 4-3 from the GPF, he got a +2 GOE on it! I think if he wasn't so talented I wouldn't care as much...but he is, so I do, and hope he will get it together. I think maybe he needs a coaching change though.

I know. I realize I'm potentially missing some amazing skates. But that's just the thing - "potentially." It's too much tension. I still haven't recovered from Jeremy on Tuesday... If Verner and Carolina go clean, I'll kick myself and watch it on youtube.

[ARipp42014]

I was looking at the nightmare thread and it seems like the majority of us doesn't want either Plushy, Evan, and Chosen One to win. There were some Gagas and some Jouberts.

As for Czech Buttle (aka Brezina), yeah he'll finish Top 10!

[ademption]

His second 3A is moved to the second half of the program now.

Oh, thanks so much for that info. That is such good news. I was afraid that Daisuke was leaving some points on the table by having no triple axle in the last half of the program. The big question for DT will he have the stamina to perform all of these jumps cleanly?

I know that he's had some bad practices at the Olympics. But who knows? Anything can happen at the Olympics....

Speaking of practice, does anyone know how the guys did this morning? I went to the nrarmour twitter feed and didn't see anything. I went to Michael Weiss' twitter page and saw this:

At the Men's practices- Chan looked pretty tight, Taka had a pretty good practice again- nice 3 Axel/3toe. Brezina- nice Quads...

Looks like Chan's nerves are getting to him. Despite that, I hope he has a clean skate and performs well for the hometown crowd. I want all the men to skate their best tonight and let the chips fall where they may...

Wasn't clear which Taka Michael Weiss was talking about. D. Takahashi or Takahiki Kozuka? If it's Takahashi, I'm really glad. Hope he doesn't leave it on the practice ice...

Are there any other sites besides Michael Weiss' and the nrarmour twitter pages that report on practices? I guess I'll have to wait for the rinkside segment of the Terry Gannon show this afternoon (if they have it) to hear about what the men did today....

[Smuusik]

Only 5 hours to go here.

I don't feel nearly as nervous as I felt before the SP. The only thing I want to see is Plushenko skating to his best and receiving the results he deserves. No watering it down and hopefully, hopefully he will be able to feel comfortable on ice (for once I wish the saying "Plushenko's got no nerves" would serve in a positive way). Truly he has already written his name in figure skating history... all the buzz and controversy compared to that is nonsense - it doesn't matter. He has it all. Has had for a long time...

However, I would be so glad if Brezina's LP would be a success for him tonight. He has time to develop in every aspect but he is already showing skill technically and physically, his 3A, height of jumps and something specific which I cannot define simply makes me like him. Another reason to continue watching FS.

I felt really bad for Joubert and Abbott. Especially Joubert who simply doesn't seem to get it right when it's most needed. Boy, how bad I felt for him. I hope for a decent LP but should he blow the lp as well...



It's going to be a long night.

[Layfan]

Oh, thanks so much for that info. That is such good news. I was afraid that Daisuke was leaving some points on the table by having no triple axle in the last half of the program. The big question for DT will he have the stamina to perform all of these jumps cleanly?

I know that he's had some bad practices at the Olympics. But who knows? Anything can happen at the Olympics....

Speaking of practice, does anyone know how the guys did this morning? I went to the nrarmour twitter feed and didn't see anything. I went to Michael Weiss' twitter page and saw this:



Looks like Chan's nerves are getting to him. Despite that, I hope he has a clean skate and performs well for the hometown crowd. I want all the men to skate their best tonight and let the chips fall where they may...

Wasn't clear which Taka Michael Weiss was talking about. D. Takahashi or Takahiki Kozuka? If it's Takahashi, I'm really glad. Hope he doesn't leave it on the practice ice...

Are there any other sites besides Michael Weiss' and the nrarmour twitter pages that report on practices? I guess I'll have to wait for the rinkside segment of the Terry Gannon show this afternoon (if they have it) to hear about what the men did today....

http://twitter.com/wilner88

He says Oda had a great run through. Evan skipped some portions of his run through and looked tight in the second half. Wonder how Evan's 3a went. Last night he fell on it. Hope he at least practiced it today.

[Bennett]

Oh, thanks so much for that info. That is such good news. I was afraid that Daisuke was leaving some points on the table by having no triple axle in the last half of the program. The big question for DT will he have the stamina to perform all of these jumps cleanly?

I know that he's had some bad practices at the Olympics. But who knows? Anything can happen at the Olympics....

Speaking of practice, does anyone know how the guys did this morning? I went to the nrarmour twitter feed and didn't see anything. I went to Michael Weiss' twitter page and saw this:



Looks like Chan's nerves are getting to him. Despite that, I hope he has a clean skate and performs well for the hometown crowd. I want all the men to skate their best tonight and let the chips fall where they may...

Wasn't clear which Taka Michael Weiss was talking about. D. Takahashi or Takahiki Kozuka? If it's Takahashi, I'm really glad. Hope he doesn't leave it on the practice ice...

Are there any other sites besides Michael Weiss' and the nrarmour twitter pages that report on practices? I guess I'll have to wait for the rinkside segment of the Terry Gannon show this afternoon (if they have it) to hear about what the men did today....

I'd assume it's Takahiko. Daisuke could be Dai, but perhaps not Taka.

[ARipp42014]

Yeah when I see Taka, I think of Kozuka. That's why I call Takahashi "Dice-K" like the pitcher from the Red Sox Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Only 6 and lots of change until Verner is on the ice! Who's got the mojitos and Senorita's fresh popcorn ready?

[ademption]

http://twitter.com/wilner88

He says Oda had a great run through. Evan skipped some portions of his run through and looked tight in the second half. Wonder how Evan's 3a went. Last night he fell on it. Hope he at least practiced it today.

That's a great twitter site. Thanks so much. It's so interesting to hear about the different ways that the men are practicing today. Some attempting no jumps like Johnny Weir and others practicing the jumps. Not good to hear about Daisuke's fall on a jump. Hope he leaves the mistakes in practice....

[Layfan]

That's a great twitter site. Thanks so much. It's so interesting to hear about the different ways that the men are practicing today. Some attempting no jumps like Johnny Weir and others practicing the jumps. Not good to hear about Daisuke's fall on a jump. Hope he leaves the mistakes in practice....

Plushenko finished practice before his music even came on. Guess the music really is irrelevant to him.

Well, Plushy knows what works for him. I think he can do whatever he wants in practice on the day of competition ...

The others ... I don't know. I've always been interested in practice reports, too. If it were me, I'd definitely want to practice my jumps, at least some. I wouldn't want the first time that day that I'm doing a jump to be the competition. On the other hand, there's the whole saving strength thing, which I guess is what Evan and Johnny are doing...

[seniorita]

practices from twiter and fsu

Plushenko nailing jump afer jump in warmups before his run-through.

lambiel 4-3 and a 4

Takahashi: 4t ur and bad fall 3a/1t 3a

Beautiful 3/3 from Lambiel, not even full out. From overedge, Plushenko with another quad. Takahashi down at the other end of the rink. Plushenko lands a gorgeous 4/3, so much distance after the quad, and much better than in the SP. Weir with a beautiful 3/3 at the other end of the rink.

Brezina takes his bows. He has done the most consistent full out program of his group.

Chan, Beautiful 3A, then 2T.

Evan: no jump attempts

Oda: no jump attempts

Takahashi: 4t ur and bad fall 3a/1t 3a
Weir: no jump attempts

Plushenko; leaves ice before start of his runthrough

none wants to show Plushenko his moves.

going to sleep now.

[snowflake]

My dream podium has gone. Some hopes left for Stephane, but six points behind, sigh. Fell asleep in the sofa while taping the SP. Some of it I never want to see again.

Abbott, Verner, Joubert, Contesti :banging:

Well done Plushenko, Lysazek and Takahashi (90+)

No new dreams or predictions, just hoping for fabulous skates from everyone, please.......

[Dodhiyel]

A phone call interrupted my posting, and when I got back, I finished in a hurry and then I foolishly hit "Reply" without saving my post first, so my post "got et". I am crestfallen and hungry, so I give up. I'll just post the URL to an article on CNN site from Sports Ill. about our beloved Figure Skating, to which another fan directed me.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...nnbin&hpt=Sbin

Here's to a good skate for all the guys tonight. Give it your best shot, guys! Thrill me!

[ARipp42014]

US's Skating Preview is on in 10+ minutes. I wonder who's their guest today since they had Brian and Scott on yesterday (along with Evan's parents and Sasha).

[Layfan]

Oh wait, Michael Weiss says Johnny DID practice jumps. Including a quad! but slightly two-footed....