Taking a break

... see you in the Spring.

What Coaches Should (Not) Wear

This post sounds like it's coming from Xan's blog, but really it is just a rant coming from me.

yes, I'm talking about what a coach shouldn't wear .... and I'm talking soccer. Most soccer coaches wear either a suit and tie or a athletic outfit with the team logo. While the suit and tie doesn't seem that comfortable for coaching a game (hockey coaches seem to do this a lot too) it shows their respect for the game.





And I like and appreciate that.

Other coaches want to be more comfortable to pace the sidelines and move about during the game, so they wear comfortable track suits with the teams colors. They probably feel they can think better dressed like that or it embraces the team spirit more.



I like and appreciate that.

But I found it distracting and a little disrespectful to be watching Zambia's coach, Herve Renard, last night when his underdog team beat the heavy favorites from the Côte d'Ivoire(Ivory Coast) to win the Africa Cup last night.





Congrats to you, Herve Renard, and your team on a great win, but you look like you're thinking more about going out to dinner or a disco, rather than coaching a championship game. The shirt is a little tight to be comfortable, don't you think? I saw you pulling it down a lot during the game.




Excuse me, Miss Ice Charades, but Herve Renard is French. He probably is thinking about where he is going out to dinner. Plus, he says this is his lucky shirt.

Well, because he's French, that may explain the style. But because he's French, what are the chances he's cleaned that shirt?


Next post, back to skating, I promise.

Superbowl Half-time Review

Why not? Since it's a light week in skating news .... a review of Madonna's half-time performance ...

From a very random look at my Facebook skating (and other) friends, Madonna got great reviews. Several shout-outs. Several "likes." It doesn't surprise me that performers themselves like a performer like Madonna.

Go ahead, try to do a few of those knee-bending squats she does all the time. I can't - I get tuckered out after three. But that's why Madonna looks like she does.

And she performed as she always does ... solid.

I was even more impressed with the guys and gals who designed that stage - WOW. And the lighting! Wow - again. Perhaps that is going on the road with her when she tours.

But I've got to say, what if you were one of those people who paid beucoup bucks to sit on the 50-yard line and come half-time all you saw was the back of Madonna's head and the scaffolding holding up that awesome stage? The concert should have been in the round, so everyone got a show. Don't worry, there were enough cameras to cover all four sides for continuous TV coverage. But, TV trumps all, I guess.

I was glad to see an homage to marching bands. In my opinion, that's what they really need at the half-time for a football game. Bring out the best marching bands and let them dazzle the crowds.

If any of you have ever seen Blast (the Show), you know this can be done. If you haven't seen the show yet, you won't be disappointed. Madonna seemed like an odd choice for NFL fans, to me. But anyway, the nod to marching bands was a nice touch.



The only question I have is about the guy on the rather-low high-wire? WTF? Was that Richard Simmons?

Worst Ice Skater Ever?

I may have held the title of worst pair skater for a while - sorry Charles - but not the worst ice skater. That was the name of this skit by the group Improv Anywhere in cooperation with Ice Theatre of New York and performed by Kenny Moir.

Have you ever heard of these Improv Anywhere guys?



You should.

I've got to say I'm a huge fan and while this is cute, it is one of their weaker videos, IMHO.

If you have a few hours to kill on the internet, I suggest you go to their website and take in some of the their best videos.

They've got the Frozen Grand Central Station, The Best Buy prank, The Food Court Musical, The Star Wars Subway Car, or one of my personal favorites, Carousel Horse Race. But there are dozens and dozens of clever videos. The Wedding, Where's Rob, and the latest, No Pants Subway Ride.

A lot of their stunts happen in New York City, but like the name says, "anywhere", so be prepared in case you find yourself in the middle of the Improv.

By the way, the best skating comedy ever? IMHO, that would be Kirk Wyse in Holiday On Ice in 1986.

He was such a terrific skater, that his whole program could have been entertaining skated as normal. But halfway through he took a tremendous "fall" that had him landing in the lap of some unsuspecting (or were they expecting it?) audience member.

Everyone gasps, he gets up and is okay, and then continues on with his routine. Then a light falls from the ceiling almost flattening him. Then part of his costume falls off and by this time you know it's a comedy and you're excited to see what comes next.

Unfortunately, this routine is not on You Tube. (I spent quite a while trying to track it down too, but alas.) I did find that he teaches at Amherst Skating Club in New York. (Maybe if he hears of this post, he'll send me the video - yeah, maybe.)

I think Kirk is more well known for is his rendition of Charlie Chaplin in Ice Capades, complete with his dog. No one has done Chaplin better. I tried to find that video too.

Hey Kirk, if you're out there ... call me.

Shopping for a new pair of shoes?

How about these?

They'll run you a little less than $1500, that's all. What does a new pair of custom Harlicks cost these days? You get the blades included here.



I don't know why but I immediately thought Oksana might like these.



Strange blade configuration, but just think, if you took them out on a slippery, ice sidewalk, you'd get to work a little faster, no?

5 Songs You Should Never Skate To ..... Ever

... no matter how catchy or beautiful the melody.

I thought of this post last night when my husband was humming the little ditty "all the other kids with the pumped up kicks ..." by Foster The People. It's a catchy tune and I had neither listened to nor understood the lyrics. Then my husband filled me in.

So, here are the five songs, in no particular order:


1. Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People

I'll let the great Wikipedia tell you why this boppy little ditty refers to homicidal thoughts of our delusional youth. Just best to stay clear of this altogether. Which brings me to the father song of homicidal youth ...

2. Jeremy by Pearl Jam

I love this song, but there can be no doubt how dark this song is. Enough said.

3. Mack The Knife by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht

This was originally called "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer" in Threepenny Opera. It has been covered by many, joked about by Steve Martin and even MacDonalds, but the lyrics talk about a man who robs, rapes, and murders. Again, better to stay away.

4. Tomorrow Belongs To Me by John Kander and Fred Ebb from Cabaret

This is a beautiful hymm that any country would be glad to have for its own national anthem, except for one fact - it symbolizes Nazi Youth. Deal breaker, right there.

5. Loser by Beck

Unless you have the comic chops of Scott Hamilton, Kurt Browning or their ilk AND you use this song as an exhibition number for the coveted medalist performances on the Sunday after the competition.

Do you know of any songs that wouldn't be obvious right away?

A Swearing Contest?

Did Xan just challenge me to a swearing contest?

Don't get it confused with her T-Shirt Contest right here.

There's some cross-promotion, right there.

So, if it is swearing you want ... how about my new favorite song. I just discovered it from the fabulous Wii - Just Dance 3 (please don't tell my daughter that what she's dancing to is not the original version).



The song is so fun and boppy, someone described it as Motown mixed with early, angry Eminem. You may have seen the cleaned-up version on Glee or the Grammys with Gwyneth Paltrow, but I suggest you go straight to the video. So cute - a little like "Little Shop of Horrors" loaded with F-bombs.

So, if you laughed at the owl, I hope you'll laugh at Cee Lo Green's official video for his hit - F**k You.

Enjoy!