Obligatory Olympics Post or: Ice Skating, anyone?

Hello, faithful readers...no one? It's okay, I haven't updated this in forever. I figured that since the 2006 Olympics is almost finished, then I should make a post about them.

I will be absolutely honest-I only watch the Olympics for the women's figure skating. To me, it's the only sport I'm willing to put aside time for to watch. The Winter Olympics are chock full of sports with creative names and even more, questionable pursuits (the Skeleton and Curling sports come to mind). Since I have already been exposed to about a fifteen minute debate on the merits of what is a sport (the conclusion-something that isn't judged, can be timed, and has an offense/defense, is debatable), I'll spare anyone my thought on those sports. Instead, I'll talk about my favorite Olympic sport: figure skating.

I am one of those who began watching the Olympics figure-skating after the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding fiasco of 1993. I could do some pretty mean impressions of Nancy Kerrigan post-kick in the knee (come on, I was nine, give me a break). But after my reenactments lost their flavor, I asked myself, what is this sport? And viola, I began watching figure skating, just like many other gossip-intrigued women of the 90's.

The audience has tapered off over the years, due to the fact that we no longer have a redneck skater who causes major drama off the ice anymore. The biggest name since has been Michelle Kwan (while a fantastic skater, she could never pull it off at the Olympics).

I watch skating because it reminds me of a time when I was little, when we would hog the tv (to the chagrin of my dad and brother) and watch the competitions for hours. I watch because I hope for a performance like Sarah Hughes' thrilling 2002 Olympic performance. You can't watch that skate without getting chills down your spine.

And I watch because I respect the sport. After a failed practice jump in my hallway that resulted in a hole in the wall, I gave up any ambition of becoming a skater. I skated for the first time this summer-it's hard! How those athletes (and yes, they are athletes) can pull off those impeccable jumps, I'll never know.

I want some Americans to win. I want Irina to medal because I'm interested in a good comeback story. The Italians have not placed, so there goes any hope of supporting the home country. I can't wait to watch Thursday's finals. And after that, I only have to wait another four more years to watch again.