| 12:42p |
Just had a phone interview, now need to recuperate. Fortunately the Grand Prix selections are coming up, and apparently secret pre-selection deals have started-word is the Russian federation is helping get Anastasia G get two events, though I'm not sure why, since she skates for Uzbekistan, and is pretty much in direction competition with their own ladies; she and they are pretty much at the same level.
If I were the Korean federation, I might try to swap a deal with China to invite Jeff Buttle into as easy a field as possible; as if either Stephane or Daisuke end up at Skate Canada(they'll get Kevin van der Perran if they can, but so will three other federations, and only two of them can have him) it may be hard for him to win that one, and they'll want him at the Grand Prix Finale. Him and Yu-Na, but she doesn't really need their help, and they might just sell the place out. I suspect, however, that Japan will want Jeff for the same reason Korea wants him(ESPN's commentator's were mystified as to his popularity in Korea, wondering if his first 4CC victory caused it, but it's really his looks; he and Johnny both looking like they stepped off the pages of a shojo manga).
It'll certainly be an awkward situation though, if you assume Jeff'll be in Canada, Brian in France, and Johnny in America and Russia(he will be at Skate America. So will Evan. NBC wants The Rivalry(tm), and federation officials want NBC's money and coverage, so they'll cross their fingers that both make the Finale even competing against each other in one event), because whichever of Jeff or Brian gets Cup of China will have to do it back to back with another event. Brian's done that before, but he only had to go from Paris to Moscow; this would be Beijing to Paris.
Though given for two years in a row the Skate Canada champion hasn't made it to his other event, and the goings-on at the event itself indicate a very possible curse(someone blamed Elvis Stokjo), perhaps Jeff would prefer to do his other event as quickly as possible! |