CONGRATS TO MY FRIEND, KRISTI YAMAGUCHI ON HER "DWTS" VICTORY!
With Kristi Yamaguchi @'91 U.S. Championships, Minneapolis,MN
Kristi Yamaguchi skates to 'Dancing' crown
Story Highlights
Kristi Yamaguchi defeated Jason Taylor to win "Dancing With the Stars" crown
Yamaguchi becomes first woman to win title since show's first season
Yamaguchi scored a perfect 60 on Monday's show
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Kristi Yamaguchi came into the "Dancing With the Stars" finale with a perfect score
and left with the mirrorball trophy.
The figure skater's victory Tuesday over pro football star Jason Taylor broke the string of four consecutive male winners.
She was the first woman to claim the "Dancing" crown since the show's opening season.
"This is just the icing on the cake," Yamaguchi said after her victory Tuesday night. "I honestly thank all the fans out
there ... everyone who's made this a dream experience."
Said Taylor: "I never, ever thought I would get to this point ... Kristi is so deserving."
Cristian de la Fuente was the first to be eliminated during the season finale. The actor, who ruptured a tendon in his
biceps while performing on the show April 28, delayed the surgery necessary to repair it so he could continue on the hit ABC
dance-off.
"I would never have the feeling of going into the final after an injury if it wasn't for (partner) Cheryl (Burke)," he
said after being voted off. "She's been the best partner I could have. She's been a real friend, not only a dance partner
but a support when I really needed her."
Burke wiped away tears as she said goodbye. "Of all my five seasons being on this show ... I've had one of the best times
with Cristian," she said. "I love you and I'll miss you and your family so much."
Yamaguchi was clearly the most talented dancer on this season's show, but it's been hard for women to take the "Dancing" crown. With a viewership that's 75 percent women -- a fact not lost on Taylor and de la Fuente, who never shied from brazen
displays of bare skin and sex appeal -- the hit ABC show still had plenty of suspense for the final episode.
"You obviously have to get the technique, but (also) compete with the personalities that all the boys have," Yamaguchi told The Associated Press after Monday's performances. "I think their smiles and their personalities melt hearts across the
country."
Figure-skating champ Yamaguchi got a perfect score of 60 on Monday's show, and has regularly topped the judges' scoreboard
throughout season six. But viewer votes count just as much, and the combination is what determines the winner.
Taylor landed in last place with 51 points Monday. His partner, Edyta Sliwinska, maximized Taylor's sex appeal -- and perhaps
his votes -- by tearing off his shirt at the end of their final dance Monday.
"The majority of the audience are females and they probably vote a lot more than guys," Sliwinska said. "I guess those
beautiful bodies and gorgeous guys make them easy to vote for."
Past winners include race-car driver Helio Castroneves, Olympic speed-skater Apolo Anton Ohno, NFL star
Emmitt Smith, 98 Degrees singer Drew Lachey and actress Kelly Monaco.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
KURT: HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR 1ST QUAD (MARCH 25, 1988)...AND THE DAY WE MET (MARCH 26, 1988)
WORLD COMES TO USA
US Figure Skating E-Blast
For the
first time ever, U.S. Figure Skating is offering the opportunity for fans and members to purchase a special commemorative
DVD collection of the top senior level skaters from this year’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Don’t
miss your opportunity to relive the magic of the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, including short and long performances
from the top skaters in each discipline and a special feature that allows you to watch with or without commentary by the announcers.
You can purchase your favorite discipline (ladies, men’s, dance, pairs), or get the entire four DVD collection (special
bonus DVD of the entire Skating Spectacular available as well, not just what was aired on NBC) at a reduced price.
You can
learn more about the DVD Collection on page 2 (opposite the table of contents) of the March issue of SKATING magazine. Make
sure to take advantage of this rare opportunity, supplies are limited and orders will only be accepted while supplies last.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE SKATERS ... AND PEOPLE, MICHELLE KWAN @ MISS UNIVERSE 2007 IN MEXICO CITY
My favorite competitive performance:
Kitty & Peter Carruthers win the 1984 OLYMPIC SILVER MEDAL!
FROM YOU TUBE
Debi Thomas wins 1986 Worlds
Another Youtube.com classic
Welcome to a homepage
Dedicated to my favorite sport!
Congrats to my friends Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto: 2006 OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST...You
guys rock on & off the ice!
(photo taken when we were all just a bit younger!)
The following posted 3-16-06:
Belbin and Agosto Named USOC Team of the Month for February
(3/15/06) - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced yesterday that ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto
have been voted the USOC February Team of the Month, marking the second month in a row the team was awarded the honor.Read more ...
During the 1970's, my family and I watched ABC's Wide World of Sports every weekend. One day,
in 1974, the US Championships were on, that afternoon Dorothy Hamill skated right into my heart. I was hooked! (Ms. Hamill
has since "apologized" for getting me into this!) I loved her and her sport...following her through her Olympic and World
victories... and into the Ice Capades. Home from school due to a broken leg and subsequent surgery. I read everything I could
about skating, and began to follow skaters such as Linda Fratianne, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner more closely.
In 1981, the World Championships were held in Hartford, CT, USA about three hours (by car) from my home on Long Island.
My mother said we could make a "one time only" trip. Through my dear friend, the late Barbara Cassella, I was able to meet
the lovely and gracious Ms. Hamill. I also met such skaters as JoJo Starbuck and Judy Blumberg. It was the trip of a lifetime...or
so I thought!
Somehow, my Dad decided I had to do this again the next year...in Copenhagen, Denmark? it was there that I made my first
true skating buddies: Elaine Zayak, Rosalynn Sumners, Kitty & Peter Carruthers...They are the reason I love skating...For
me, they were the beginning but not the end.
I continue to respect skating as a sport, and spend way too much money on travel expenses, because people such as: Kurt
Browning, Susie Wynne, Debi Thomas, Nicole Bobek, Michelle Kwan, Dick Button, Jirina Ribbens, Peter Burrows, Mary-Lynn Geldermann,
John Nicks, Ron Ludington, Peggy Fleming, Jill Watson, Jill Trenary, Peter Oppegard, Tonia Kwiatkowski, Nancy Kerrigan, Scott
Hamilton, Kyoko Ina, Jason Dungjen,Yuka Sato, Kristi Yamaguchi, Jenni Meno, Todd Sand, Christopher Bowman, Carolyn Kruse,
Carol Heiss-Jenkins, Lea-Ann Miller, Bill Fauver, Shae Lynn Bourne, Victor Kraatz, Brian Orser ...and many more to numerous
to list...have not only represented their sport with honor on the ice...but have also contributed to the quality
of my life off the ice. I don't attend many skating events anymore, but I will be forever grateful for all they have
done for me.
US, World & Olympic Champ, Miss Dorothy Hamill
With US Ice Dance Champs, ;Tannith Belbin & Benjamin Agosto, 2004 Grand Prix Final Silver Medalists; and special Congrats
on their 2005 World Silver Medal:More here.
... @ 2004 US Championships with 2-time Olympic Medalist, Nancy Kerrigan
...Debi Thomas, US & World Champion; Olympic Medalist
Backstage w/ Olympic & World Champ Oksana Baiul (Stars On Ice Phoenix: January 2004)
with 2003 World Ice Dance Champions, Shae-Lynn Bourne & Victor Kraatz (Skate America 2001: Colorado Springs,
CO)
With Kristi Yamaguchi @'91 U.S. Championships, Minneapolis, MN
With Rosalynn Sumners and Kurt Browning backstage @ STARS ON ICE
Kitty & Peter Carruthers @ 1982 Worlds: Copenhagen, Denmark. JHB Online Photo by Jeanne Baker-Poggensee
Hi John, Thanks
for the nice congratulations for us on your website. I just stumbled upon your site and man its the biggest website I have
ever seen. The congratulations go to you my friend. Best, Peter Carruthers
(4-time US Pair Champion; 1982 World Bronze Medalist, 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist, and star of "Ice Capades"
and "Stars On Ice"-- with his sister Caitlin (aka "Kitty"). Currently, a skating commentator for ABC/ESPN.
John!!
I LOVE your site(s) -- what an amazing set of stories about Kurt -- and oh (!) all the skaters you've met!
I
was thrilled back in 1996 when I did a skating special with Ekaterina Gordeeva -- she skated the role of Belle while I sang
live ... sooo cool. And as I told you at the concert --- meeting Robin Cousins was beyond wonderful -- I always adored
his artistry. A few years back Sarah Hughes did a TV special -- and i learned later that she sang to my recording of
I'M FLYING in her Peter Pan segment! That was such an honor, too -- being such a skating fan!
Thanks so much
for sending me the links. =)
It was, as always, wonderful seeing you and your mom!! Have a great holiday, John!!
xo, Sus
Susan Egan, Tony-award nominated star of "Disney's Beauty & the Beast" on Broadway (Broadway star of "Cabaret"
& "Throughly Modern Millie") ...also voice Megara in Disney's "Hercules" film... and a former skater!
With my dear friend, Susie Wynne-Barth (US Champion, Olympic & World Team member, ABC/ESPN commentator) @
'92 US Nationals.
US Pair champs & World Medalist, Jenni Meno & Todd Sand
KURT & ME
With 4-time Canadian & World Champ, Kurt Browning @ Stars on Ice in San Diego, CA (January 2003)
To me, the most important title Kurt holds is "My Buddy." We met in 1988 at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Kurt & I may not be as close as were once were, but I hope you'll enjoy reading about our backstage adventures!
This site is constantly under construction, so please visit again soon!
(3/15/06) - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced yesterday that ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto
have been voted the USOC February Team of the Month, marking the second month in a row the team was awarded the honor.
...
With my dear friend, Susie Wynne-Barth (US Champion, Olympic & World Team member, ABC/ESPN commentator) @
'92 US Nationals.
