Why Michelle Kwan?

Over 10 years ago, I started dating a man (you will probably hear more about the g-monster later on), who told me he figure skated when he was a kid.

It was figure skating season, and we watched the nationals on television. I remember when I was a real boy, I would see quick snipets of figure skating on Wild World of Sports. I would slide sock footed on the linoleum in the kitchen and pretend like I was gliding on a pond like Brian Boitano. I remember watching the Battle of the Brians and the Battle of the Carmens (high as a Kite at a party). I guess I have that gene for figure skater fanaticism.

Anyway, there was Michelle, 13 year old jumping bean. She finished 4th that year. Something about her caught my attention.

I've watched the Nationals and Worlds on television ever since. I've watched Michelle win gold at Nationals 9 times and gold at Worlds 4 times. Each time different. Sometimes Mesmerizing, sometime Michanical. But every skate is memorable.

Then there's the Magical:
East of Eden
Lyra Angelica
Carmen
Romanza
Spartacus
Aranjuez
Salome
Rach 1998
Rush : only skated twice and I saw it live!
The Feeling Begins
Dream of Desdemona
Ariane

In 2003, I saw Michelle skate in person for the second time. I attended the 2003 Nationals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. That's when Michelle became Awesome! I saw her as an athlete. To watch her practice was amazing. Her work ethic is like no other. She would not waste a moment of practice time. I don't recall her missing a jump once during practice. At one short program practice, after she completed her run through, without missing a beat, she hit center ice again. She struck the opening pose of her long program. While 4 other skaters zoomed around, and one skater was doing her short program to music, Michelle ran through her long program from start to finish. Never getting in the way of other skaters. In fact, a few skaters stopped to watch. This was the skate she should have done in Salt Lake City. It was flawless. The girl got a standing O!

This year, I attended National's in Portland Oregon. Again I saw a flawless practice of her short program and perfection. Her short program performance was a dream come true. I finally got to see her skate with passion and abandon. She hit her final pose and just held it. She savored the moment. I don't know how she does it, but she connects with her fans like no other.
Later that night, I got the autograph. I was face to face with my Michelle. Of course my camera battery was dead (taking countless picutres of skater's backs). She honestly just seems like a sweet young lady.

The Olympics:
Yes she should have won the Gold in Nagano.
Yes Salt Lake City was heartbreaking. (Girl what were you thinking? New Choreograhper, NO COACH!)
The Fields of Gold exhibition showed a women not afraid to expose her feelilngs to the world.
Will she win Gold in Torino 2006. It's up to her, but honestly it doesn't matter to me.

I could go on and on about My Michelle. I've got video tapes for days of competions and exhibitions. I've spent hours on the Michelle Kwan Forum. My obsession has changed over the years. I would be crushed if Michelle didn't win a competition. Now I just glad she is still skating.

Michelle, my dear, I hope this is your year.
Win the gold, win the silver, win the bronze, or don't medal at all (like your sucky WORLDs this year)
All I know is you do it because you love it. And I watch it because I love it.

I'll be at Nationals this year too! Back with my Denny's pals from 2003.
Look out St. Louis.