Sequins Of Events
Monday, August 18, 2008 at 05:44PM 
I don't like the Summer Olympics. It has nothing to do with China.
Although I try (with extreme emphasis on try) to eat right (most of the time sometimes when there is no ice cream in the house) in a herculean effort to achieve some level of physical fitness (all evidence to the contrary) appropriate to my age, gender, and ability, I am not and could never be confused with any stripe of athlete.
I shudder at the very thought.
Consequently I am bored by all of the Summer events and most of the Winter events at the Olympics. The one exception -- and the event(s) that will have me riveted to my telly in February of 2010 when things get cranked up in Vancouver -- is figure skating.
Pairs! Singles! Ice Dancing! I am front and center for them all. I love the romance ... the grace ... the music ... the outfits! Did I mention the outfits? AH! The crystals! The paillettes! The lace! The chiffon! The feathers! The sequins ...
So to hurry things along and get us in the mood, let's do a little reminiscing about the Winter O's of years gone by ... here's some exhibition or other back in the late '90s or early '00s featuring Olympic gold medalist singles figure skating greats Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi. Their freeform ice dance is accompanied in song by none other than my adored Josh Groban, who I believe executes a triple toe loop and a couple of salchows with his voice. Mercy.
With so much young and beautiful talent in one room, I'm surprised the ice didn't melt.
The disembodied female vocals you hear during part of Josh's performance are that of lovely Welsh singing sensation Charlotte Church.
Reader Comments (19)
Shhh.....don't tell anyone but I haven't been watching it all. Does that make me a bad American? Hope not. Hey are you a Andrea Bocelli fan as well as Groban?? My husband surprised me with one hellacious anniversary gift (later this month). We are ging to San Antonio in Nov., to see Bocelli!! I am so excited.
Oh, lucky you about the concert.
We're watching the Olympics, but I find that I care less and less. The achievements are amazing, and I'm thrilled by the truly inspiring stories like Dara Torres. But the rest? Not so much,. Cynically, I keep pointing out to my husband that NBC shows five times as much bare-butt female beach volleyball as it does baggy short male beach volleyball. Really the outfits that athletes wear now look so uncomfortable they make me want to tug my own undies down. I guess they are trying to get back to the way the Greeks did it . . . naked.
The one thing I'm grateful for is that the female gymnasts have cut down their use of facial glitter by about 2/3s.
I really do prefer the ice skating. At least there the feathers and spangles have to do with the effects created by the movement.
I do enjoy watching the gymnastics and indoor volleyball at the summer olympics but like you I love watching the ice skating at the winter olympics. I have thoroughly enjoyed going to watch some of them in person at Stars on Ice. Nothing compares to Kristy Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Kurt Browning or Paul Wylie. (Have I just dated myself?) :)
@ Elaine ... I do like Andrea Bocelli and own at least one of his albums. It's not the same level of fandom as I feel for Josh, but AB is phenomenal and I love to hear him sing. How wonderful for you, to visit San Antonio (you're going to enjoy the Riverwalk in November!) and see/hear Andrea! What an experience! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.
@ Ruth ... ditto on the outfits! They are downright embarrassing! The attire for females engaged in beach volleyball -- and most track and field events -- is nothing short of lewd. I do enjoy watching gymnastics but their outfits make them look hamstrung as well! We'll hold out for the skating and be handsomely rewarded!
Hi Vicki ... you may be dating yourself (a little) but that's okay because I'm right there with you. I remember the incredible gold-medal ice dance of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean like it was yesterday, and that was 1984! I would love to see Stars on Ice!
Wow, there was almost too much talent in that video for one person to take!! ;)
I miss the days of Kristi, Scott, Brian, Kurt...I remember being little and LOVING ice skating. I still like it, but sometimes it feels like more of a popularity contest/beauty pageant than a real skating talent competition!
Josh Groban. I wish I could sing like him. Only, with a girl voice. ;)
@ Angi ... Josh sounds like a girl voice sometimes, LOL! He's really something. You are right about skating not being the same anymore ... but maybe next time, it will be! We can hope. Bring back the glamour ...
Ah, you knew you'd have me with Josh Groban, didn't you? ;) I love ice dance too - remember Torvill and Dean in the 84 Olympics, dancing to Ravel's Bolero? Gosh, there was so much talent that year .. I remember being stunned time after time. Or maybe it was just that I hadn't seen so much ice dance and it was all stunning because, well, it was all stunning?
Josh Groban and ice dance. All it needs is Johnny in the corner looking decorative, huh? LOL!
Oh my gosh! I so understand about the Olympics. I can only take little snippets here and there, but I am actually like that will all television sports. I do watch golf because of my very own junior golfer, but if it wasn't for him...
I do however, like to stay in shape, in the form of walking outdoors among nature, first thing in the morning.That's about the extent of my physical fitness program. That could explain why I don't watch the Olympics.
@ Jay ... ah, another Grobanite! Awesome!
@ Keli ... but do you like the skating?
I like some of the summer olympics, but it seems everytime we turn it on, it's some form of volleyball - enough already! And I agree that a little more outfit would be nice.
But I LOVE ice skating!!! Nothing better than Kristi, Brian and Kurt! I got to go to one live show and Ekaterina Gordeeva was there among many other greats - her oldest was just a little thing then, and she was playing right below us, distracting her mother - one time she fell because she was watching her daughter's hijinks! She was so cute.
P. S. I always wished Charlotte Church and Josh Groban would get married. They are both so spectacular, and together, oh, my gosh!
Wait...the Olympics is going on right now???
@ Tracie ... Josh and Charlotte are cute together ... but she has had two babies with Gavin Henson! Ekaterina Gordeeva is certainly a spectacular skater.
@ Kev ... yeah ... I take it they escaped your notice?
Gosh, Charlotte slipped one by me... I knew she'd had one baby with him. I don't know if Josh and Charlotte even like each other at all, it's just a fantasy couple.
I'm certain I would like the skating...if I were to watch the Olympics!
I love figure skating too (the paillettes!), but I got sucked into the Olympics this year, bit by bit. What event, you may ask? Trampoline! I didn't even know that was an event. Very cool to watch. Also terrifying. But no sequins, sadly.
@ Tracie ... I think Josh and Charlotte would make a cute couple too!
@ Keli ... In two more years you will have your chance!
@ JD ... Actually I got "sucked in" too ... by my family. We watched a good bit of diving and some track and field, but I drew the line at marathon runners. That's just boring. I watched some tumbling too, and happily there were sequins on the outfits. I like the routines the girls do with the giant hoops! Fascinating.
Just wanted to let you know I've posted the Oreo Pudding recipe. Eat at your own risk! This is one rich dessert... and so worth it!
Tracie, girl, I am coming to get that recipe. Sounds like one I simply must try!