Shelly at the Bat
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the team from USA.
For they faced an awesome line-up: Arakawa, Fumie,
Miki Ando, Sokolova, Liashenko, also Slutes,
And the lovely Carolina made us shiver in our boots.
Against this mighty army stood young Sasha, pretty Jen.
The scoffers rang the Internet with cries of angry men:
"Jenny, she's a phony, Sasha Cohen is a bum!
They'll never do a program worthy of the podium!"
But Jenny smashed a liner, to the wonderment of all.
And Sasha, valiant Sasha, tore the cover off the ball!
And when the dust had settled and we saw what had occurred --
There was Sasha safe at second and our Jenny hugging third!!!
Then from ten thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, and it rattled in the dell;
It pounded through the mountains and recoiled upon the flat;
For Shelly, mighty Shelly, was advancing to the bat!
There's ease in Shelly's manner as she steps into her place.
There's pride in Shelly's bearing and a smile on Shelly's face.
With confidence she greets the cheers, she curtsies once or twice.
No person in the crowd can doubt it's Shelly on the ice!
Her triple flip, her Lutz and toe, all done with master's skill,
Each element falls subject to our Shelly's iron will!
And when she starts her footwork and she shows her champion's heart,
We marvel at this union of athletic grace and art!
Oh, sound the final trumpet! Let peal the freedom bell!
Our prayers have all been answered by our hero, sweet Michelle.
A world away from Dortmund, the sun is shining bright;
And here the bands are playing, and all our hearts are light;
And here are people laughing, and children shout and yell;
There's joy in USA tonight -- it's gold for mighty 'Chelle!
(With apologies to Ernest L. Thayer.)