2006 Tornio Winter Olympics: Women's Figure Skating

[bodawg]

The event that attracts the largest American television audience in sports, with the exception of the Super Bowl, is the ladies' Olympic figure skating final. It defies rational explanation, to be honest, but every four years the eyes of the nation love to feast on leaping ice nymphs.

A few will lament that the season's best women's skater, Mao Asada, 15, of Japan, did not meet age rules for participation. Reigning world champion Irina Slutskaya of Russia is favored, but it's not as simple as Asada vs. Slutskaya (the 2002 silver medalist). Asada could finish lower than U.S. skaters Sasha Cohen and Kimmie Meissner.

Every aspect of women's Olympic figure skating is worth watching, if only because of the event's high profile. What appears to be shaping up as "The Slutskaya Show" could be eclipsed by the American's tribute to Kwan's Olympic gold dream.

Will it happen again? Or will Slutskaya reach down and skate the performance of her life, as Sarah Hughes did four years ago, and Tara Lipinski eight years ago? That's why we watch. Slutskaya or Cohen -- and the magic doesn't fade, we'll all go to bed feeling these Olympics really were something special.

The 2006 Winter Olympics are under way in Torino, which means that women's figure skating is just about ready to go. Get all your Winter Olympic odds at Bodog Sportsbook!

 

[alb]

The event that attracts the largest American television audience in sports, with the exception of the Super Bowl, is the ladies' Olympic figure skating final. It defies rational explanation, to be honest, but every four years the eyes of the nation love to feast on leaping ice nymphs.

I'd have to see proof before I believe that statement.......because it definitely defies rationality.

 

[bodawg]

Here's your proof bro...

Women's Skating Final A Cable Winner

 

[alb]

The final round of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships twirled its way to the top of the basic cable ratings.

Last Saturday's Olympic-qualifying event, won by Michelle Kwan, drew more than 4 million viewers to ABC Family to dominate the evening, the cable channel said Tuesday.

Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes also will represent the United States in figure skating at the Winter Olympics next month in Salt Lake City.

The women's final is a premier event that was to have aired on ABC. But changes to the NFL schedule caused by the Sept. 11 attacks gave the network spot to a wildcard game between the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders.

For the week, "State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championship" ranked third among all cable programming in households and total viewers, ABC Family said.


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Sorry but I don't see anything suggesting it will be 2nd most watched sport to the SuperBowl. It won't even pass the the USA hockey medal game.......never mind NBA, World Series, Stanley Cup, Kentucky Derby, Indy 500....etc....

I guess the point is that more people watch it then one would expect. I won't be watching it.....but I may flick for glimpses to see which fit chick is most bangable!!