Feb 17, 2010 19:25
I have absolutely no love for Evgeni Plushenko.
None.
Previous Russian gold medalists have stolen my heart and made me cry. Ilia Kulik moved me more than I ever thought I could be (Nagano, 1998). I cried (okay, sobbed) as I watched Alexei Yagudin's free skate to the theme from The Man in the Iron Mask (Salt Lake City, 2002). Both of them were technically excellent and made an emotional connection with the audience.
When it comes to Plushenko, I want to tie him to a hockey goal and allow the US Women's Hockey team to use him for target practice. And while he's technically proficient, he's such an ass off the ice most people really can't stand him.
The ever confident (read: cocky) skater has been taking digs at his closest competitor, Evan Lysacek. Because Lysacek suffered a stress fracture after attempting a quad jump, the second place skater has decided to forgo the technically difficult move in his free skate in favor of more difficult footwork and spins. Plushenko sees this as a coward's move, and if Lysacek can't competently pull of a quad jump, then he shouldn't be skating. At all.
Lysacek skated beautifully last night, probably one of the best performances of his life to Stravinsky's "The Firebird." He landed every jump, cleanly executed his footwork, and his spins were excellent. Personally think he did better the Plushenko, but that's just me. I'm excited to see what he does in his long program - who knows, he may have been intending on doing a quad jump the whole time, but kept it on the down low so that if he didn't pull it off, no one would be none the wiser.
Anyway, if things really get ugly, I'm pretty sure that Lysacek could be the shit out of Plushenko off the ice. Something about the Russian just screams "glass jaw." And Lysacek did play hockey. Take that, one note Plushenko.
Tomorrow I'll be rooting hardcore for Lysaceck to rock the free skate. Tonight will be spent cheering on the Dancing with the Stars alum Apolo Ohno and Louie Vito (in short track speed skating and men's snowboard halfpipe respectively).
canada eh,
olympic glory,
wambulance