Worth Another Look - Great Moments on Ice

Watching the Winter Olympics from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, I can't help but think back to the many athletes I have seen, including the incredible Torvill & Dean. Jayne Torvill worked as a clerk in an insurance office, and Christopher Dean was a police constable Nottinghamshire, they became partners on the ice in 1975, competing in their first event in 1976. They finished fifth in the 1980 Winder Olympics, and people began to take notice. But it was a spectacular program at the 1984 Olympics that made them stand above the rest, which you can see at David Dust's blog here. After the Olympics, they turned pro, and here is a clip of them winning the 1985 World Professional Championship. Christopher looks particularly dashing.





In 1996, Rudy Galindo came outta nowhere to take the US Men's Figure Skating Championship with a thrilling performance. Something that added to the event was knowing Rudy was openly gay, and living with HIV. He continued to skate professionally until 2007, when he retired. He is still an inspiration to many.





Brian Boitano was part of the Battle of the Brians, his constant competition with Canadian skater Brian Orser. While rumors have swirled about Boitano, Orser was outed in 1998 by a spurned former lover who went to the newspapers. They often skated against one another, and it was Boitano who won the Olympic gold in 1988. He skated professionally for some time, and now has his own cooking show on the Food Network, What Would Brian Make?.





In 1994, the strikingly handsome Alexei Urmanov from Russia took the world and Olympic Gold by storm with his bold jumps and flair for the dramatic. He never skated without gloves, and his costumes were certainly making a statement. I have to admit I was surprise he married [a girl] in 2004, and they are the parents of twins. Sigh, there goes another crush...





Is there a female skater gay men have identified with and adored more than Michelle Kwan? Here was a beautiful girl, so good at what she does, but just never seemed to be able to get what she wanted. She skated in two Olympics, and scored the silver and bronze medals, but never the coveted gold. She was adored by so many, but was left in tears when the finals totals were counted. Michelle, I love you!

2010 Winter Olympics - Vancouver

Today, Friday, February 12, a group determined athletes from across the globe gather to participate in the most extraordinary event, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Part of that group is Team USA, some of the finest competitors the country has to offer, all part of the United States Olympic Committee teams striving to bring gold back across the border. They have dedicated countless hours to train for this event, wanting to lay their claim to being the best in the world. They come from all across the country, from small towns to big cities.



The USOC has set up a website dedicated to following the exploits of the fine men and women competing. You can go there and sign up for daily emails to let you know what is going on in Vancouver. The USOC also knows that every member of Team USA needs your support. They need you to watch, to cheer, and, if possible, to give.



Anyone who registers on Teamusa.org will have access to the latest info and will receive exclusive updates throughout the games. So, whether you prefer to watch a triple salchow, a hat trick, or a smooth curling stone, or want to watch the Flying Tomato brave the half-pipe, you can get the word delivered to your email account. I'm already signed up!

Great Women - Sarah McLachlin

With the Winter Olympics starting in about 2 weeks, I came across the 'theme song' for the Vancouver Games, sung by Canadian National Treasure Sarah McLachlin. The song, One Dream, features some clips form previous Winter Olympics, focused mainly on the skating stars. Stylistically, the song is classic McLachlin, and she is in great voice for it and looks positively gorgeous in the video.



McLachlin started her career in 1988 with the release of her album Touch, which managed to be little more than a blip on the US charts. In fact, it wasn't until her fourth album, Surfacing, that she made an impact on the American audience, but that was huge. The album was #2 on the US Top 200 Albums chart, and was certified 8 times platinum, a major, bigtime hit. The 2nd release, the uptempo Sweet Surrender, showed off a voice that could move around the through her range with ease, making it look easy. The song scored a remarkable #14 on the US Rock chart, and #6 on the US Dance chart.



The 4th single managed to hit #4 on the US pop chart and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, a huge success. Angel featured trademark heartbreak on a ballad that was not only a great song, but the perfect one for McLachlin. Her voice, nuzzled warmly in the mezzo soprano range, slid easily around the notes, in a style that is so very McLachlin. Her vocals are so identifiable on this track, if you have heard it, you are never able to forget them. There is a haunted quality, a vulnerability when you think she is ready to break, but instead she slides up to the note perfectly.



In 1999 a live album was released, Mirrorball. As such, a live version of the song I Will Remember You was released, and it, too, soared up the charts, hitting #14 on the Pop chart, #3 on the Adult Contemporary, helping the album go triple platinum in the US alone.



McLachlin has released 2 more studio album, and both have sold well in the states, earning varying levels of platinum sales. She has sold well over 40 million albums in her time in music, and is still a young woman. But it was the '98-'99 years that established her as the immaculate artist with a strong range and impeccable delivery, communicating great depth of emotions. For more on Sarah McLachlin, check out her official website here. And it was her birthday on Thursday, the 38th, andother reason to celebrate her music. Happy birthday, Sarah.