King Kaufman's Sports Daily

Ice dancers shun obvious, boldly skate to "Bolero," "Carmen." Plus: Short-shrifting Shani. And: Lindsey Jacobellis!

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Feb. 21, 2006 | When the first couple skated on-screen during NBC's coverage of the ice-dancing finals Monday wearing torn, dirty costumes, I decided to really pay attention for a change.

Because as soon as I saw Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat of France, I knew that this wasn't the same old ice dancing. Long the realm of the easy, the cheesy, the obvious, trite and banal, ice dancing had clearly turned a corner.

Pechalat and Bourzat's costumes meant they'd be skating to music from "Les Miz." Bold!

I savored my curiosity over what might be next. "Phantom of the Opera"? "The Lion King"? No wait! Of course: "Carmen." What's ice skating without "Carmen," I ask you? I'll tell you what it is. It's hockey.

I think I'd pay money right now to watch an ice-dancing couple pay tribute to the big Broadway musical of the past few years by doing their routine to "Springtime for Hitler."

Next come Americans Jamie Silverstein and Ryan O'Meara. These early teams are way down in the standings, with no chance to medal, so it's all about the entertainment. Silverstein and O'Meara skate to a tango. Ah! A tango. How'd I forget that one?

Figure skaters and ice dancers all kind of run together for me, but Silverstein wins a place in my heart when she sits down in the kiss and cry area after their routine and, after a brief smile for the camera, sits there with her mouth gaping open, visibly snorts back some snot and aimlessly scratches herself. My kind of woman.

Here come some more Americans, Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov. Let's see, they're dressed kind of all medieval like and ... Doh! I can't believe I didn't think of "Romeo and Juliet."

Right at the start of the routine, Gregory lies down flat on her back on the ice. Because she's Juliet, right? Doesn't Juliet die or something in that story? Or, like, lie down on some ice? I should have paid more attention in high school.

Wait, no. She's not dead. She's a luger.

Italians Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio, first after the compulsory dance Friday, are still steaming at each other over their fall in the original dance Sunday.

NBC shows tape of the two avoiding each other before their skate Monday, Fusar-Poli making with the full-on silent-treatment hating and Margaglio looking like the guy, all pissed off at her for being pissed off at him, feeling like she's in the wrong, but not wanting to say anything about it because as soon as he opens his mouth she's going to let fly and, brother, there isn't enough money in Monaco to make it worth his while to live through that.

Next page: Terror at the crepe-paper factory. Plus: NBC underplays Shani Davis. And: Lindsey Jacobellis, my kid