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I've read comments about Eteri's comments, and some people say that she can't be that bad if skaters that have left her then return... my thought on that is Could it be that when they realize the lower marks they receive when they leave her, that is when they decide to return? We all know the boost in marks skaters get when they come out of her camp. Sometimes they deserve it, other times they don't.

I love your enthusiasm!!! Make it so, Yuzu!

I actually had a dream about this last week during one of my very rare figure skating dreams. When i woke up I thought, please let this be some sort of sign. It is just such a lovely program for him.

While Ohtani did amazing things both as a hitter and a pitcher, the one blip on his record is that his team didn't make the playoffs (which is obviously the team's fault, not his). If they had, i"m sure the accolades would've been even greater since he would have been considered the player that dragged an average team further than they should have gone, but very rarely does a single player carry an entire team, at least not in baseball. I know that he has expressed the desire to be on a winning team, and his contract is close to being over, so they have to make some moves in the off season to improve. Many better teams would pay big bucks for him.

I was thinking the same thing. If his focus is totally on 4A only, then, depending on the severity of the injury, the time frame to heal and then train properly might put things towards March rather than February. But, yeah, that's just me wondering out loud... only he knows what is possible/probable considering his status.

Remind me how to do that again....

In my mind this is the perfect opportunity for that to happen. Go back to his bat cave, get treatment from the folks who actually know his ankle better than anyone, get some supervised coaching and technical tips (and be able to work on choreo in person!!)... if he isn't going to be doing Russia then this is a big block of time for him to be in Toronto, where he's worked and successfully been treated before. Being home has been great for him, but things are a bit different now. But, Yuzu knows all of this himself so I trust he'll do what he thinks is best.

Sorry for him. On such a high, down to a low...and we know how low he has admitted to being in the past. We'll, this is what his greatness can cost. NHK. Either at or aiming for, seems to be a cursed comp in Olympic lead up. He says something in public, puts extra pressure on himself and pushes the limits. Oh yuzu. Hope he has found good rehab team in Japan. Or maybe, go to his experienced team in Toronto.... but that seems over these days. Whatever happens, Hope he is OK and with his family he will get through it.

This sounds like Yuzu is very lucky, then. Most adults, after they grow up and move away from home, never get that chance to return home and feel like they did when they were younger and with their families to look after them. The saying " You can't go home again, " basically means that even if you go back home, things will have changed and the feeling will never be like it was. How lucky he is, to be able to feel that again. I think most of us remember that feeling of being happy in our homes as kids with our parents and siblings (provided, of course, that you lived in a happy home) and it is rare to feel quite like that again once you have your own life with burdens/responsibilities etc.. How nice for him and his family to have this, esp since he left home pretty young and many things were missed. Many athletes grow up quite quickly, so getting wrapped in a happy and warm blanket by his family has probably been very good for his soul.

Nessie might be rearing her head, sooner rather than later... that would be glorious. He has usually been fairly certain about things in the past when he announces them, so there might be something real, rather than mysterious, swimming around that rink in Sendai. Or, because he's achieved his goals he has nothing to lose anymore at competitions (ie. before wanting to be clean to maintain reputation with judges) and it's a Hail Mary attempt at Nessie just to get it out there... either way, the anticipation for NHK is very real, first because of seeing him competing again and to a new program/costume etc., but now because of this. Seeing Nessie achieved, for me would be like seeing a UFO or ET in person. They really DO exist... First we have to get through the next week....

And with the bloodbath that is women's skating in Russia, skaters can't really afford to miss events or take time off... and there is no real, absolute sure thing in who is making the team. I mean, we all have ideas about who is favoured to make the team, but I think that can change at any time too. Wish her the best.

Nam using White Legend... OK. Different for a showboat like him... and apart from yuzu fans, do general skating fans remember yuzu skated to it? For many skating fans, his breakthrough, iconic, programs started either with R/J or PW, and previous programs aren't much on their radar.

Off topic, but.... THIS!!! And it's great! And perfect for lifting low pandemic spirits! I have had a smile on my face watching the video for I still have faith in you! Even the ABBAtars are great :))))

This will sound weird but, I"m the opposite with "woman/women." I hate them, like, abnormally so... for any word. It sounds so wishy/washy. I think lady/ladies commands respect, whereas woman/women is so weak. I am in my 40s and I know we're supposed to embrace it and think it's strong, but I just... can't. I can't even use it in every day language I hate it so much. Maybe it's the "wuh" sound. I also hate the word "moist"... just can't use it either. I think I'm an odd duck....

Nope. It's just plain old Human Nature

So, it looks like Canada will open its borders to fully vaccinated Americans in early August (9th)....and to fully vaccinated travellers from elsewhere on September 7th... I remember saying last year that Canada would let Americans in first... even if other countries were in better shape, covid wise. And to all those suffering in Western Europe right now from all that rain/flooding... I'm so sorry to see what 's happened. I"m sure the picture we see on tv don't fully encapsulate the devastation. My heart aches for those affected. ' It just seems like everywhere, bad news, bad news, bad news... so if there's more Yuzu to come, bring it on! We need some sunshine.

Wow. Ghislain looks so good!! I'm only guessing, but perhaps the pandemic helped inspire him to shed some pounds... good for him... I seem to have added some with each additional lockdown, lol!!

Hey. It's a pandemic year and a half. All sorts of strange things have been happening!!!

Seriously? What? Why? I had so hoped he'd keep the one from this past year....

I think only South America, some African nations, and Asian nations are using it at present.... I suspect that when it comes to important athletic events, esp leading up to their Games, they will probably not apply it to the athletes. But there are so many questions about everything still...

Hmmm.. I read that sinopharm has a much lower efficacy rate... Like, below 60%? Well, they have confidence in their product, anyway.

Nice to see an update! Yup, hair looks shorter. No matter what he decides about his training situation, I"m hopeful that Canada will be more open soon. As of today, basically 66% of Canadians have had at least 1 shot (the highest in the world in major countries), and it's still climbing, so hopefully the government will get off its butt and get rules into place for opening things up. Other nations have done that already. From a figure skating fan perspective only, it would be good for all skaters to have the option of training here, whether they choose to or not.

I feel badly for Japan. They are basically being forced to continue to hold the Games, despite public opposition. Having to be a summer athlete isn't a prerequisite anymore, didn't Maria Sharapova and Alina Kabaeva and Isinbaeva, all summer Games participants, appear in the stadium relay for Sochi? Historically they used to keep them separate, but it was notably ignored at those Games.

These last couple of weeks I've been seeing commercials for President's Choice, which is a brand of products for a grocery chain in Canada.... and these commercials are for Japanese style yuzu cheesecake. The saying is * do YOU Yuzu?* And, * Yuzu is good in anything* It just makes me smile

It seemed all season that Valieva had the big push from everyone, even though Anna won Nats and Worlds... but next year will be entertaining with the 2 that I considered the most gifted returning to the fold. And, yeah, the big international competitions will seem almost easy to these girls considering the year long fight they each have on their hands in their own rink.