Olympic Champion SURVIVOR: Final Round MENS

[skateboy]

Here we go, vote for the ultimate OLYMPIC CHAMPION SURVIVOR -- Mens!

In Round 6, we said goodbye to:

3rd place: BRIAN BOITANO


Vote for the weakest link!

[skateboy]

I think this is a tough one. Yags is a terrific skater, but Curry, I believe, was a phenomenon of his time, paving the way toward real artistry in mens' skating. Plus, he was one of the pioneers of professional skating and created iconic programs in that field, not only for himself, but for Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Janet Lynn and many, many more elite skaters.

So I voted for Yags to get second.

[blue_idealist]

John Curry out; no one equals the Yags.

[judgejudy27]

John Curry gets my vote for sure. He isnt even the best free skater of the 70s considering Cranston and Cousins.

[crankyintheAM]

I know it's impossible that anyone but Yagudin wins, but I still voted him out. I adore John Curry!

[briancoogaert]

I know it's impossible that anyone but Yagudin wins, but I still voted him out. I adore John Curry!

Same here.
I know Yags is impressive. But John was perfect in every way !

[pollyanna]

I think this is a tough one. Yags is a terrific skater, but Curry, I believe, was a phenomenon of his time, paving the way toward real artistry in mens' skating. Plus, he was one of the pioneers of professional skating and created iconic programs in that field, not only for himself, but for Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Janet Lynn and many, many more elite skaters.

So I voted for Yags to get second.

^^This.

[Nan]

They come from such different eras, this is really hard. I love them both.

[flipforsynchro]

Curry was freakin amazing

[Zokko!]

I voted for Curry, but still I guess he'll win this. And it's okay.

[satchelpooch318]

I voted for Curry, but still I guess he'll win this. And it's okay.

Waaaaaaay too close to call either way. I'm personally pulling for John Curry, but I predict Yags wins this by the slimmest of margins, maybe by 1 or 2 votes. And that's very cool for me too.

[Kasey]

Curry set a bar that I think has not been surpassed since his time of skating. Yagudin was fantastic in his artistic expression, great jumps, great passion, but basic skating skills (and this is figure SKATING, not figure jumping) are not near Curry's. It's a toss-up between exquisite and explosive, and either one would be a worthy winner. That said, I've voted for Yagudin to go out the past few rounds, and vote him out this one too (and I'm a big Yagudin fan, but that's just how good Curry is)

[skateboy]

This race is a nail-biter! Get your votes in: poll closes Sunday evening!

[Vash01]

This is so close! I hope it ends in a tie.

[Marco]

I voted for Yagudin. Curry's skating transcends time. Take away the jumps he is still a fantastic skater. Take away Yagudin's jumps he isn't nearly half as competitive.

[skateboy]

Less than 7 hours before the polls close!

[falling_dance]

Posting Curry's exhibition skate to Scheherazade is all I can think of to do.

[Vash01]

John Curry- Nocturne Ex (1981). Every move is so perfect!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt-X0...eature=related

[Holley Calmes]

Yes, it was. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Sorry- I love him too, but that really put me to sleep. I had to bail 3/4 of the way through. Give me some Yags passion! I know Curry did many other skates that were more dynamic. Just a matter of personal taste! I think I watch so much ballet and see so much similar - I think I expect skaters to be more forceful, fast, explosive because they CAN. Skaters have the ability to use so many other physical gifts and resources to make different kinds of visual images than gently wafting about the rink, lovely though it is. Of course, wafting around is perfectly legitimate and beautiful. Maybe I'm easily bored.

Don't get me wrong-I'm not criticizing Curry-I think he's one of the greatest skaters of all time. But it did make me wonder about the differences between skating and dance, and how skaters have this glorious freedom to fly higher, faster, and with more excitement because they ARE skating and they can use the physics of skating to propel them! Which to me, dance fanatic though I am, puts skating in a very special place. And yes, I saw the jumps, but it looked like Curry was trying too hard to be a ballet dancer than a skater, and to me, that wastes a lot of opportunities. But nothing wrong with it-in fact, very lovely. But...Don't mean to offend anyone! Don't mean to trample on sacred territory. No disrespect.

[flipforsynchro]

I like him so much because of his lines. Some people who are generally perceived as really good artists have the most disgusting positions and it just kills the mood. ^