Men - Free Program

[rain]

Congrats to the medallists, particularly Takahashi for coming up big under enormous pressure to win the LP. So sad for Buttle, I was really hoping he could do it. I suppose, given the season he had and the very serious injury he's coming back from this result really isn't too bad, but I'm sure he wanted to skate better. I give him credit for really going for it though. He didn't pop stuff all over the place. Ah, well. Next year.

 

[indicatoto101]

Poor Jeff. I was really rooting for him. Congrats to the medalists. I think it's a result many people predicted.

 

[Mathman]

- three years in a row on the podium!!! Who was the last skater to do that...

The last skater to do that was...SASHA COHEN.

2004 (2nd)
2005 (2nd)
2006 (3rd).

Before that, Totmiana and Marinen, 2002-2005; Shen and Zhou, 1999-2004; and, nine times in a row, Michelle Kwan, 1996-2004.

 

[Spun Silver]

Ach, my sadness for Johnny puts a pall on the whole thing. Oh well ...

Hurray for Brian, Daisuke and Stephane! arty:

I'm not so sad for Jeff because he was coming back from injury.

Johnny, Johnny, hope you can change something and get back in the game... attitude or training. But top 10 is still good.

I guess Verner is the big surprise that no one predicted and no one is really cheering either.

 

[lisadotdash]

Thank you Rosaleen!
:agree: Brian we are very proud fo you! You are great!

Yes!!! Rosaleen, a tremendous responsibility, but get some rest and do it again. We appreciate it so much Thanks.

 

[Spun Silver]

Awww, this pic of Takahashi - bully for him.
http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_story.asp?id=38041

I kind of like Johnny's quotes. Looks like we've seen the last of Anissina (knock on wood). The role of Jesus doesn't seem to be his cup of tea either:

Obviously today wasn't a great performance, but I still fought through the whole thing,” Weir said. “I'm glad that I ended the season fighting. I didn't give up at all, and that's something I'm very proud of, and now I'm just excited to get home and take a little break and then get back to work for next season so I don't have another season like this.”

Weir said he will have two new programs next year.

“I tried and tried and tried with this number – the music is beautiful, my costume is beautiful, the actual program is beautiful – but there's something that's not clicking and I'm not feeling it in my heart, so when I go out there to perform, it's like ‘Oh, this again.'”

 

[jayta]

My heart broke for Jeff. But like some have said this was his second competition. I am proud of how he came back and tried his hardest and never gave up...unlike some other Canadian figure skater *coughSandhucough*

My heart leaped though when Stephane just worked that free program. I was almost to the point of tears. My cheeks hurt from grinning so much for him. I was there at Skate Canada where I saw him struggle and struggle both during practise and performance. And then when I heard he would not compete and then to find him on the podium?

*does little victory dance*

It doesn't matter the medal. It's about the heart and passion he found again in his love for skating! Yay!

I give kudos to Joubert though. He laid it down. No one could touch him. His jumps were amazing and so solid. I like that consistency, however, I still think he needs to find himself artistically. He found vehicles that suited him this year, but I would like to see him stretch in terms of artistry and technical difficulty other than jumps. I'm not a big fan of programs that go from jump to jump...where you're waiting for the next jump because that's the only excitment there is in their program. BJ has improved immensely, but I would really love to see him connect to a piece of music and just let go and enjoy his program.

I love watching Stephane because you can see his love and passion for the sport and the art. It gets me excited watching him.

And Daisuke...amazing performance and a well deserved silver!

 

[cloudkicker09]

Awww, this pic of Takahashi - bully for him.
http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_story.asp?id=38041

I kind of like Johnny's quotes. Looks like we've seen the last of Anissina (knock on wood). The role of Jesus doesn't seem to be his cup of tea either:

All good things to hear.

 

[SolarisFyre]

I was so pleased for Joubert - it didn't give me chills the way his programs have in the past, but it was enough.

I was so impressed with Daisuke too, and I'm pleased that Stephane got on to the podium. But my favourite program of the competition was Verner...... wow!!

 

[Spun Silver]

I wonder if Brian is good enough for his father yet. :sheesh:

The thought of his mom's joy puts a smile on my face. I look forward to seeing footage of her!

 

[_Ladybug_]

I'm so proud of Brian. He really deserves this. He had a wonderful season, it would have been very sad if he didn't win here. I'm thrilled for him! Finally after so many years he is right where he belongs!!!!!! GO BRIAN!!!!

Poor Jeff and Johnny. I wish they had medalled. There is always next year!

 

[La Rhumba]

Thomas Verner is a good bet for Vancouver 2010.

Stephane Lambiel was my fave today, a great perfomance.

 

[Vodka Shot]

Looks like we've seen the last of Anissina (knock on wood).

I'm about Johnny but, after this season it would have taken a miracle. My sadness there however is relieved by my happiness for Takahashi whom I lurve

 

[Mathman]

Thomas Verner is a good bet for Vancouver 2010.

I was just about to say, when all was said and done, things turned out pretty much the way everyone was predicting.

The only surprises were Verner and Oda (but seriously, why can't the boy skate the program that he prepared and practiced a thousand times without forgetting how many combinations he has done?)

 

[elye]

i'm so sad about jeff. He can touch my heart like no other....

 

[Engwaciriel]

Kristoffer Berntsson in 9th place! Just great!

 

[seraf]

Can't stop smiling right know, Kristoffer Berntsson made it to top nine! He was just faboulos. And Daisuke really deserved the silver, I almost began to cry when he was finished, so touching, and his facial expression when he saw the tech. scores where priceless.

Poor russians... only one spot next year, I wonder who it will be. Plushenko, Griazev, Dobrin, Lutai, Voronov, Klimkin, Borodulin, Grigoriev? They have too many who deserves to go...

 

[flossie]

thanks - great job

Great job, Rosaleen. I've been travelling for 3 weeks with limited email access so really appreciate being able to get caught up today. Your quick reports are great especially as you include the music. ..again great work

 

[hockeyfan228]

Thanks for the reports, Rosaleen!

Such great news for Berntsson -- and Sweden: two spots for Swedish Men at Goteborg Worlds -- and Verner!

Joubert finally has the title, and Takahashi is finally on the podium.

 

[Mehdi]

Like I said with the score he got for the mistakes he still made he could have maybe even scored the 168-something to catch Joubert if he had done a totally clean free program. I am still waiting for that from him but he never does it. Takahashi has done it, Lysacek has done it before, Oda has done it, Joubert has done it although not here, why cant Lambiel ever do it?

Well, had Stephane been flawless, Brian would not have downgraded his planned difficulties the way he did so there is no way Stephane would have won.