Required Elements: FanPosts

Joannie Rochette Drops Out of Worlds

2010-03-16T00:18:59Z

The toll from skating at the Winter Olympics days after her mother's death finally has worn down bronze medalist Joannie Rochette.

The Canadian champion withdrew Monday from next week's World Figure Skating Championships in Turin, Italy.

"With everything that has happened over the past few weeks, I have missed a significant amount of training time," Rochette said in a statement. "That means I'm not prepared either emotionally or physically to skate well at these championships and once again challenge for the podium.

-AP

LINK

Figure Skating as Envisioned by Nerds

2010-03-07T15:02:16Z

via img1.sankakustatic.com

Apparently some Japanese bloggers have mocked up some images to parody the super popular video game Street Fighter II with our favorite figure skaters. Seems pretty fun, but I wish I could read Japanese.

via images.uncyc.org

There are a lot of other cool images, like these ones, but follow this link if you want to see more...

via img4.sankakustatic.com

via img4.sankakustatic.co

via img2.sankakustatic.com

via images.uncyc.org

It's interesting that they make Mirai's nationality flag the Japan flag superimposed on the USA flag but obviously it reflects her dual citizenship. They also superimpose China's flag for Caroline Zhang but I'm pretty sure she's a U.S. citizen only. Weirdos. Anyway, it's all in good fun.

P.S. This is my first post here at Required Elements but I hope it is not my last.

Evan Lysacek will be on Dancing with the Stars

2010-03-02T03:08:02Z

As a fan of the show, all I can say is.... YAY!!!!!!!!

Other contestants are, courtesy of EW:

Pamela Anderson, "the world’s sexiest woman"
Chad Ochocinco, "football’s most outrageous"
Aiden Turner, "the soap stud"
Erin Andrews, "ESPN’s broadcasting beauty"
Shannen Doherty, "The Beverly Hills bad girl"
Buzz Aldrin, "the original moonwalker"
Niecy Nash, "Reno 911’s funniest"
Nicole Scherzinger, "the Pussycat Doll"
Kate Gosselin, "reality’s most-watched super-mom"

Apparently at least one more will be named.

The last time a figure skater was on this show?

via www.pinkponders.com

Kristi Yamaguchi wins Season 6 of DWTS with pro partner Marc Ballas. She was the front runner from the beginning.

I love this show, so I definitely will be watching and commenting if you'd like!

Awesome Costume Story

2010-02-25T17:25:41Z

READ ME!

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/vancouver-olympics-figure-skating-women-classy-men-stay-flashy/story?id=9932612

It's not often in sports commentary that you hear anyone say, "He rocked the tassel."

But in the highest level of competitive figure skating, the Winter Olympics, that was how figure-skater-turned-commentator Scott Hamilton described Johnny Weir's "spectacular short program" last Thursday. Fans have always been curious about skaters' costumes. But this year, more people are paying attention to the men's outfits than the women's.

Why? Today's male figure skaters are imitating previous winners -- who wore flashy, bold, outfits at a time when few others would take the risk. The women, on the other hand, have gradually toned down their look. And judging from this year's most successful skaters, the men's outfits are only going to get more elaborate.

To read more click link....

Evgeny Plushenko won the Platinum Medal!

2010-02-23T04:05:17Z

Wait, what?

He did. He didn't win the silver medal, he got the magical platinum medal reserved only for quad jumpers.

The medals themselves link up to the Sochi 2014 games website.

Love this quote from the news part of his site:

This Olympic silver is a real victory for the champion who's done the impossible - he is back proving he IS the best!

Huge thanks to Yahoo's Fourth Place Medal blog.

The Evgeny Plushenko Quote Machine

2010-02-20T05:43:30Z

Need a quote? Ask Evgeny. Or his federation.

After the competition:

"You can't be considered a true men's champion without a quad."

"For someone to stand on top of the podium with the gold medal around his neck by just doing triple jumps, to me it's not progress; it's a regress because we've done triples 10 or even 20 years ago."

"Just doing nice transitions and being artistic is not enough because figure skating is a sport, not a show."

About the judging:

"When a person performs a quadruple jump, which is contested by a triple, and (both contenders) gain the same points, it raises questions."

We need to be jump happy. I wonder if he hates the ladies competition?

"Overall my basic position and attitude is that movement needs to go forward and never stop, never go back," the 2006 Olympic champion told the media. "I think people need to do lots of quads."

It's dancing not skating

"If Olympic champion doesn't know how to jump quad … I don't know," Plushenko said after the result. "Now it's not men's skating. Now it's dancing. That's my point."

Bring back the old scoring system!

"With the old system, I would have won," Plushenko told reporters. "The new system is a little different. The quad is not valued anymore.

Maybe Evgeny felt generous:

"I was positive that I won," Plushenko said. "But I saw that Evan needs a medal more than I do. Maybe because I already have one."

Actually you have three now Evgeny. I guess that first silver is an afterthought.

His coach thinks a crime was committed.

"This is nonsense. It is wrong. It is criminal. How can it be like this? They are killing figure skating and taking it back 20 years. They have robbed him of his destiny

"Any judge who thinks this is the right champion is a Cyclops. Without the quad, there is no difference between the men’s competition and the women’s. Why not let them skate together? Why not have it as a unisex competition in the Olympics?

Any gems I missed?

Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto need spice

2010-01-25T21:17:03Z

From the beginning Ice Dancing pair Ben Agosto and Tanith Belbin have been exciting, full of electricity and fun to watch. We knew they were headed for stardom. But somethings gone flat with their choreography/partnership. There is little personal connection between them lately. We are not having fun or feeling much emotion from their routines. In the beginning it was their sparkle and enthusiasm that grabbed us as well as their talent. But Ben's sense of humor and playfulness has dulled, Tanith could be skating with a robot, that's how much connection she shows toward her partner. I hope that someone gets through to them before the Olympics. Their routines are great, but they need to relate to each other, act like they care and relate more to the music, not just appear like its just another skating routine to get through. I love them and i want to see them win. They can do it.

FSU Represented in the NEW Scentsy College Warmers

2009-12-26T00:41:05Z

www.fsuwarmers.blogspot.com

FINALLY!! Florida (FSU) is represented in the Scentsy CAMPUS COLLECTION of Candle Warmers!!!

New for 2010 Each warmer features a glossy finish and team logo. Scentsy’s CampusCollection warmers are the perfect way to show your team spirit this spring(just in time for the big college basketball tournament) – and they make perfect gifts for the alum or sports fan on your shopping list! And when you purchase a Campus Collection warmer, you not only showyour school spirit, you also help fund important school programs.Click to Order Yours