http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug...=yhoo&type=lgnsBy Elvis Stojko, Yahoo! Sports 1 hour, 31 minutes agoFive to watch: Men’s figure skatingMen’s figure skating will be one exciting event in Vancouver, where it really can be anybody’s game if one contender does well and another falters. Also, the jumps have to be completed, so the quadruple will be a factor.
Some would disagree with that last comment.
The naysayers believe the quadruple does not need to be included to succeed at these Olympics. However, this is a sport where the element of risk is needed. Boring is the program without the challenge. If you want to pull the “artistry” card, then go watch a show.
Artistry can mean different things to different people, and many skaters in the men’s event who have more strength and power with masculine movement have been criticized for not being artistic enough. So to level the playing field, they say, “Fine, I will add harder jumps to get the points.”
The bigger issue is that artistry in the men’s event has been defined by the judges and the people in the system. They think classical music with effeminate movement is artistic, so as soon as a male skater finishes off a movement with elegant hand gestures – bam! – they are considered artistic.
I can appreciate the talent in all skaters. But to gain more viewers – namely from the male audience – skaters need to add more power and underlying strength. I can relate to that; effeminate movement I cannot.
Here are my five to watch in the men’s competition.
Evgeni PlushenkoBeing the reigning Olympic champion, the Russian faces quite a bit of pressure, but as the most consistent skater by far, he is the one to beat.
His ability to lay it down when it counts is what makes him difficult to beat under pressure. He has an arsenal of top-notch jumps, including the quadruple-toe-loop, triple-toe-loop combination in both short and long programs. Because of its high risk, not many of the men are doing this combination in the short program, though that could change at the Olympics. We’ll see who will risk it to get the points.
While the boldness and consistency of Plushenko’s jumps are his strength, his spins don’t compare to some of his competitors’, and his overall step sequences sometimes seem a little out of control. Still, the overall power is there. The step sequences don’t seem as intricate as some other skaters’, but his personality really comes through, and that connects him with the audience and judges. Another advantage is Plushenko’s dynamics and change-up of movement throughout the program – that keeps his programs from getting stale.
Plushenko has had a strong season with Cup of Russia, Russian Nationals and European Championships, and he will carry that confidence into the Games. I don’t think he’s peaked yet, and that’s a positive. A negative factor is a knee problem that should be fine if his knee holds up during his training before crunchtime. If it doesn’t, he could be skating on his heels a bit and not at his full speed.
Prediction: Plushenko is the favorite, and to beat him you have to knock him out – simply skating well won’t cut it. He’ll take home the gold.
Evan LysacekThe reigning world champion has kept himself quite composed. Some people may think his loss at the U.S. Championships was a disappointment, but I think it’s an advantage.
Building for the Olympics is key. You never leave your best performance at a smaller competition. He tried the quadruple toe loop and missed it. To me, that showed guts, knowing he will need at least one to take down Plushenko.
A quadruple jump changes the whole dynamics of the program and is not simply added at the last minute. Lysacek has done it in the past, and getting it out there under pressure is the only way. Doing it in practice means nothing. The experience of attempting one under pressure will give you confidence the next time.
Lysacek’s jumps are quite good, but he must keep them clean since they don’t have the explosive height or power of some other men’s. His long line works to his advantage, but his arm movement can become busy, and his flailing with no connection to music can look messy.
This can get overdone throughout the program. And sometimes his movements and approach to the program become soft and lack impact. His spins are solid and positions are good. (The reason I haven’t talked much about spins is that I don’t like the new system, and all the changing of edges and weird positions kill the speed and clean look of the spin.)
With his height (6-foot-2) and long legs, the depth of his edges works to his advantage – but again, the flailing, nondescript arms can be a problem.
Prediction: A solid performance with the quad in the long and a clean short program could place him in second, but some skaters will have to underperform for him to medal.
Brian JoubertHe’s Mr. Almost But Not Quite. Other than his win at worlds in 2007, Joubert has been knocking at the door, but then when there is an opening, he misses the opportunity completely. The problem: He simply wants it too much.
The last few seasons have been up and down for the Frenchman, but I feel it’s all coming together for him. Joubert has been building toward Olympic success with some big jumps, including two quadruples in the long program and one in the short. If he hits them, he can win gold.
Joubert’s triple axel is his weak link, and he must focus to keep it in line. His spins are average, but he is using the system to his advantage. A lot of the weird positions the system asks of these skaters are unnatural, and Joubert, being a natural jumper, has a more explosive body that lends itself to expand-and-contract movement rather than long, stretched-out movements. This makes his spins tougher, but with the overall movement, he still has a more exciting program.
Some people may say Joubert is rough around the edges, but I prefer to call it real and organic skating without the fluff. One thing Joubert needs to stop doing is showing how disappointed he is after a bad skate. Skating around circles with a down attitude after the performance still affects the energy of the judges. Head up, Joubert!
Prediction: With his experience, Joubert could upset the lot and pull out a second-place finish and even push Plushenko for the top spot. He just needs to keep calm and continue to attack. But I don’t see him medaling.
Patrick ChanAt 19, the world silver medalist is the youngster in this bunch, but he handles himself as if he has been there for years. The big question is whether he can handle the pressure of being in his home country for the Games. We shall see.
Chan has the ability to medal, but he has to keep his big jumps – triple axel and triple-axel combination – consistent. Since he’s said he won’t try a quadruple jump, he’ll need a flawless performance if the competition hits its big jumps.
Overall, Chan’s jumps are strong, but they aren’t as powerful as some other skaters’. Consistency will be key in the combination jump of triple axel/triple toe loop in the long program. He will need two triple-triple combinations in the long program, along with a clean short program, to win gold.
His spins are solid and fast with good positions. His overall footwork is strong, and he has a good sense of line and awareness of his body. But sometimes Chan’s programs seem too busy and lack a connection to the music. There is a lot of sameness, and it loses the excitement. That’s why nailing the big jumps is so crucial for him.
Prediction: Chan will finish third – but if the others have trouble on the big jumps, he could place higher on the fact he played it safe. Still, aren’t the Olympics about giving everything you got?
Daisuke TakahashiIt’s great to see Takahashi back in action after being off the circuit with a knee injury. His musicality is top-notch, and his presentation is fantastic. I talk about the need for dynamics in a program, and this Japanese skater has it all the way – although at times his finishing off of a movement can come off a bit too soft and lacks the underlying masculine strength. But I’m splitting hairs here.
Takahashi’s jumps are strong, and they have great loft. The quadruple toe loop, a factor in this competition, isn’t as consistent as it could be, owing to his time off for knee surgery. But my hat’s off to him. He works all aspects of his skating: spins, the quad, and all the connecting pieces.
His personality also really shines through, more than any other skater’s in the field – though he can get a little wild with movement and lose his focus for the jumps, and the program can unravel with a stream of mistakes. He will need all his jump weapons to make it happen, and if he can keep his focus and include the quadruple toe loop, he can take it all.
Prediction: Second place with an absolute shot at first. He is most unique, but to take the top spot, he needs to land the jumps and knock out Plushenko.
Takahiko KozukaHe may not be one of my top picks to medal, but I love to watch this skater, also from Japan. His edges and ease of skating are by far my favorites.
Strong jumps with good solid spins and skating skills make Kozuka very competitive. He has a gentleman’s style that is awesome to watch – without all the flamboyant “look at me” fluff and overly feminine finished-off movements that plague some male skaters.
Style and class are what I see in Kozuka. The only thing holding him back from the top spots is getting the jumps done under pressure, with a quad to knock them all out.
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www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=408208.html Feb 11, 1:58p By Matt Stroup
International stars set to shine in Vancouver
Crosby, Heil and Plushenko among those facing gold-medal pressureBeyond the 216 athletes competing for the U.S. in Vancouver, there are upwards of 2,500 athletes representing more than 80 nations worldwide at the XXI Olympic Winter Games. Here's a look at 10 prominent international stars to watch:
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Yevgeny Plushenko, Russia, Figure Skating: Retired for three years after his Olympic gold in Torino, Plushenko returned to competition this season and promptly recaptured the European title. The 27-year-old sports car enthusiast has achieved true A-list status in Russia - his wedding, streamed live on the Internet, featured guests such as former WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev, Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Svetlana Khorkina and a handful of Russian music stars. Plushenko has also made a name for himself politically in his home nation, serving on the St. Petersburg parliament and playing a role in the development of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
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http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/n...ympic+questionsFeb 11, 11:40a By Matt Stroup
Vonn, White and the 10 key Olympic questionsAnswers will be abundant after the first few days of competition in Vancouver, but until then, there are more than a few questions to be asked about the upcoming edition of the Olympic Winter Games. Here are 10 of the most pressing:
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Can Yevgeny Plushenko extend the Russian men's figure skating dynasty?Competitors from Russia and the former Soviet Union have won the last five Olympic gold medals in the men's singles event, a streak that appeared to be in jeopardy when Plushenko retired following his gold medal in Torino. However, Plushenko returned to action this season after a three-year absence, claiming the European title to re-establish himself as the favorite for gold in 2010.
... be patient 
- in the first half of the sentences offend, and in second "boasts" 
It's totally normal that's why the Olympics are so special. I'll only use that to feed the fire and focus on what I can do.
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.... if anyone of them read the 