VANCOUVER, British Columbia — When Tanith  
Belbin arrived at the Athletes Village on Friday
morning, after a harrowing journey that included
12 cancelled flights because of the snowstorm in
Philadelphia, fellow Olympian Johnny Weir doted
on her as if she were a princess.

Weir, a three-time U.S. men’s figure skating
champion, had aroma candles in her room and
Audrey Hepburn posters on the wall.

“He put away all my clothes in the closet,” Belbin
said with a laugh.

Belbin, the defending Olympic silver medalist in
ice dance with Ben Agosto, has one of the most
unusual rooming arrangements at the Winter
Games. She requested a single room — which
she received — but learned before departing for
Vancouver that a male figure skater would be her
suitemate: the eccentric and, as he would say,
highly fashionable, Johnny Weir.

As it turns out, Belbin said, the arrangement is
perfect because the two have been friends since
they were 15.

“We’ve kind of had the same time-line
progression,” Belbin said of their figure skating
careers. “We’ve always stayed really close. He
used to come visit me in Detroit.

“He’s been a close part of our family.”

Belbin and Agosto trained in Michigan for 10
years before leaving for Aston, Pa., for new
coaches in the spring of 2008.

Belbin, born in Canada, holds dual citizenship.
She became a U.S. citizen in December 2005,
shortly before competing at the 2006 Torino
Winter Games.

The three U.S. Olympic ice dance teams met with
the media Friday. Two-time American champions
Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and U.S. bronze
medalists Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates of the
Ann Arbor FSC practiced on the Olympic ice in
the morning at the Pacific Coliseum.

“We had our first practice — skated on official
ice — but we haven’t got in our official rooms,”
Bates said.

Danica Patrick: Racer

The top ten finishers in the race were:

Sources: http://www.arcaracing.com/

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/columns/story?columnist=blount_terry&id=4893751

1    Rachel Flatt
2    Mirai Nagasu
3    Ashley Wagner
4    Sasha Cohen
5    Christina Gao
6    Beatrisa Liang
7    Amanda Dobbs
8    Alexe Gilles
9    Emily Hughes
10  Alissa Czisny
11  Caroline Zhang

Sasha Cohen

Sasha Cohen on the Ice

 See also: http://www.historyguy.com/sportshistory/cohen_sasha.htm

Tanith Belbin

Tanith Belbin, of the skating team of Belbin and Agosto.

A couple of interesting historical sidelights to the NFL playoffs this weekend.  While watching the Cardinals-Saints game today, a graphic was flashed on the screen comparing the number of Superbowl appearances for the Cards and Saints combined: 1 (Arizona lost the Superbowl last year).  The comparison was with the combined number of Superbowl appearances between the Vikings and the Cowboys, who play on Sunday.  They came in at a combined 12 Superbowl games between them. 

An intriguing factoid about the Colts-Ravens matchup involves the fact that the Colts used to be Baltimore’s NFL team until the infamous midnight move to Indianapolis back in 1984. Baltimore eventually got a team of its own again, though the way they repaired their broken football hearts was to take another relocated team (the old Cleveland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens).  You know that Baltimore fans, especially the older ones who remember the old Colts, are REALLY looking for a win over Indy!

And finally, if Indy and New Orleans do both make it to the Superbowl, that matchup will feature Peyton Manning, whose dad was the Quarterback for New Orleans from 1971-1982, playing against his dad’s old team.  Plus the fact that Peyton was born in New Orleans while his dad played for the Saints, adds to the potential back stories that will be all over the television, the internet, and on the lips of football fans everywhere.

Arizona Cardinals Playoff History at http://www.historyguy.com/sportshistory/arizona_cardinals_playoff_history.htm

New Orleans Saints Playoff History at http://www.historyguy.com/sportshistory/new_orleans_saints_playoff_history.htm

Coach Carroll previously coached in the NFL, serving as head coach for the New England Patriots from 1997-99 and for the New York Jets in 1994.

Carroll also worked as the Jets’ defensive coordinator from 1990-93, the defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings (1985-89) and the Buffalo Bills (1984).

See also: http://historyguy.com/sportshistory/carroll_pete_coach.htm

According to Tim Griffin’s post:

“Mike Leach’s reluctance to apologize to Adam James and his family led to his school-mandated suspension for the Valero Alamo Bowl.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported Tuesday that the Tech coach did not dispute the facts after ESPN analyst Craig James had complained to school officials about Leach’s treatment of his son, Adam, after he suffered a mild concussion last month.

The Avalanche-Journal reported that the school completed an initial investigation before suspending Leach. Leach did not dispute the facts, but also did not believe he had done anything wrong. The Tech coach also told officials that Adam James was “a slacker” and that Craig James was too involved in his son’s football career.

Leach had until Monday to write a letter of apology to James and his family. When he didn’t, Tech officials took action.

It led to Leach’s suspension, with pay, from his job as head coach.

Leach’s attorney, Ted Liggett, told the Avalanche-Journal that he hasn’t given up hope that Leach will coach the Red Raiders in Saturday night’s Valero Alamo Bowl against Michigan State in San Antonio. Liggett said he could consider legal action to get him back on the sideline.”

This sorry story is not over by a long shot.  The attorney for Coach Mike Leach says they will resolve this in court.

I pity the poor players who have to deal with this drama so near to what for the seniors will be their last game as Red Raiders.