'tis the olympic season...
and people have started reporting on figure skating...
belbin and agosto might be able to compete for the united states after all, thanks to an appropriations bill amendment, sponsored by congressman carl levin (d-mi), that would help speed the immigration process for people of extraordinary ability (due for a vote this week):
per, christine brennan in usa today (nov 3, 2005).
and, amy rosewater, in the nytimes (november 17, 2005), plays catch-up on the story--and wins--with the juicy nugget that another ice dancing team was looking to thwart the efforts of belbin, agosto, and congressman levin:
"The push to expedite Belbin's citizenship seemed to be moving along smoothly until last week, when the family of another ice dancing team contacted Representative James T. Walsh, a Republican from upstate New York, and asked him to review it, said Dan Gage, a spokesman for Walsh.
Walsh initially objected to the amendment, Gage said, but late Tuesday, he decided to support it because Belbin had been living in the United States for several years and competing as an American. Walsh's office did not identify the family that had contacted him."
drama, drama, drama.
and in this week's si, katarina witt, offers her picks of who to watch in turin. sheesh. you'd think she's not been working as a commentator for abc...she picked sasha cohen (out all season so far, hip injury--is competing in paris this weekend), michelle kwan (out all season so far, hip injury--unlikely to skate competitively before the us nationals), irina slutskaya, elena sokolova, and carolina koster (finished 7th at skate canada). no mention of alissa czisny, who's actually been competing and medaling this season. i mean, yes, watch cohen to see if she doesn't implode before your eyes, and watch kwan, to see if she can "get her math right" enough to medal under the new scoring system...and granted, slutskaya is in great shape, koster is lovely and better than her 7th place finish at skate canada, and sokolova won at skate america last month (over czisny, but not convincingly)...but how does she not mention the polished, graceful, athletic czisny?
czisny was recently voted "female athlete of the month" for october 2005 by the US olympic committee (apollo anton ohno won for male athlete) after defeating two former world championships medalists to win the ladies title at the 2005 skate canada (a title she earned as a last -minute replacement, with only 4 days notice in advance of the competition) and placing second at 2005 smart ones skate america in atlantic city, nj. czisny's results have already guaranteed her a spot at the grand prix final in tokyo, japan.
and don't forget kimmie meissner...she could have gone to worlds last year, and is still a wild card despite a quiet season so far....
belbin and agosto might be able to compete for the united states after all, thanks to an appropriations bill amendment, sponsored by congressman carl levin (d-mi), that would help speed the immigration process for people of extraordinary ability (due for a vote this week):
per, christine brennan in usa today (nov 3, 2005).
and, amy rosewater, in the nytimes (november 17, 2005), plays catch-up on the story--and wins--with the juicy nugget that another ice dancing team was looking to thwart the efforts of belbin, agosto, and congressman levin:
"The push to expedite Belbin's citizenship seemed to be moving along smoothly until last week, when the family of another ice dancing team contacted Representative James T. Walsh, a Republican from upstate New York, and asked him to review it, said Dan Gage, a spokesman for Walsh.
Walsh initially objected to the amendment, Gage said, but late Tuesday, he decided to support it because Belbin had been living in the United States for several years and competing as an American. Walsh's office did not identify the family that had contacted him."
drama, drama, drama.
and in this week's si, katarina witt, offers her picks of who to watch in turin. sheesh. you'd think she's not been working as a commentator for abc...she picked sasha cohen (out all season so far, hip injury--is competing in paris this weekend), michelle kwan (out all season so far, hip injury--unlikely to skate competitively before the us nationals), irina slutskaya, elena sokolova, and carolina koster (finished 7th at skate canada). no mention of alissa czisny, who's actually been competing and medaling this season. i mean, yes, watch cohen to see if she doesn't implode before your eyes, and watch kwan, to see if she can "get her math right" enough to medal under the new scoring system...and granted, slutskaya is in great shape, koster is lovely and better than her 7th place finish at skate canada, and sokolova won at skate america last month (over czisny, but not convincingly)...but how does she not mention the polished, graceful, athletic czisny?
czisny was recently voted "female athlete of the month" for october 2005 by the US olympic committee (apollo anton ohno won for male athlete) after defeating two former world championships medalists to win the ladies title at the 2005 skate canada (a title she earned as a last -minute replacement, with only 4 days notice in advance of the competition) and placing second at 2005 smart ones skate america in atlantic city, nj. czisny's results have already guaranteed her a spot at the grand prix final in tokyo, japan.
and don't forget kimmie meissner...she could have gone to worlds last year, and is still a wild card despite a quiet season so far....
posted by lahat at 1:42 PM
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