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2/22/2006: It's on

After Tuesday night's short program, only 3/100ths of a point separates leader Sasha Cohen, left, from Irina Slutskaya, right. One glance and it's obvious even to someone who hasn't a clue what figure skating's about that they're total opposites, which is what will make Thursday night's final interesting and unpredictable.

Let's take a non-expert look at what each has going for and against her:

Age & experience: Sasha is 21, about the average age for these skaters and possibly at her prime. Irina is a relatively elderly 27 but has more experience in the high-pressure world of international competitions and has held more titles.

Obstacles: Sasha has had a series of disastrous showings at big competitions. Irina has been fighting vasculitis for several years and tires quickly from it and the meds she takes for it. She also takes care of her seriously ill mother.

Men's silver medalist Johnny Weir & coach seemed less than impressed Tuesday night

Style: Sasha's the artistic one and Irina the technical, but each delivers a total package that's more than competent. Sasha can pull off the jumps and spins but can also stumble. She's a beautiful skater in the old school style and although nearly all the girls did the pose Sasha's doing in the pic above, she's the only one who makes it look remotely pretty. She's got a winning smile and flashes it constantly, and she puts a lot of effort into the details of her hair, makeup and costume. Irina's less colorful but more powerful, and she completes each move more thoroughly. She usually seems serious but has a cute grin and an impish quality when she loosens up. She's more about dazzling us with her solid skills than with her looks.

Tradition: If Irina wins, it's a Russian figure skating sweep in these Olympics which would be a first. But an American woman has medaled in every Olympics since 1968, five of them gold. Sasha may have the cultural edge though, since her mother's a former Ukrainian ballerina.

Extras: Sasha skipped both practice sessions today, giving birth to any number of rumors. Her coach is John Nicks, the grouchy judge on "Skating with Celebrities". Irina said the past couple years of her & her mother's illnesses have taught her that "Life doesn't begin and end on the ice rink."

I say it's a draw between the two.. but they aren't the only girls in town. Japan's Shizuka Arakawa and Fumie Suguri are right behind in third & fourth place and are very much in medal contention. Arakawa may burst ahead of both Cohen & Slutskaya since she has all the best qualities of each. If she does, she'll go home a national heroine: Japan has failed to medal at all so far in these Olympics. And although the other Japanese skater, Miki Ando, is in 8th place now after faulty landings and almost colliding with the boards, she's the only one who's going to attempt a quadruple jump in Thursday's final. She's done it before - she's the only female who has done it successfully in competition. She's coached by 1960 gold medalist Carol Heiss.

The new kids did good too. Kimmie Meissner, 16, finished fifth and late arrival Emily Hughes, 17, is currently in seventh place. Both had solid routines with difficult jumps and if they don't medal here, they're certainly both on their way to future success. 16-year-old Elene Gedevanishvili of Georgia also had a strong performance that landed her in sixth place. Scott Hamilton can't stop gushing about her, and he's someone who knows what good skating is.

But never fear, bounce-watchers, it's not all perfection. The short program had its share of spills and Thursday's finals are sure to provide more of the same. If nothing else, it reminds us how difficult this stuff really is.







In the end, the real one to watch - or listen to - is commentator Dick Button, who holds little back when somebody does something less than stellar. Even while the crowd ooh's and ahh's he's reminding us that a particular stance is ugly or that a music choice is atrocious. His pet peeves (terrible layback spins & incorrect sit spins) have company this year: he's tired of all the grab-foot moves that are currently in fashion, and virtually every routine features several of them.

Any way you look at it, Thursday should be good watching.