US Figure Skating Champtionships is . . . happening . . . somewhere . . . I think

I see from the TV listings (on my TV, please you don't want to know about it's going out at 2 am and refreshing itself sending out a signal while off whether I want it to or not), that NBC will broadcast the "U.S. Championships pair's final and women's short program" at 3 pm. I saw a glimpse days ago that a skater whose name I never before heard was leading in the ladies' short. But try to find a news story: 'rots-o-'ruck.

Here's what's cold: try going out to the official US of A Figure Skating Association website, and still no scores. Every link sends you to iceNetwork.com What's up?

This USAToday story Note paragraph 4: "After making $12 million a year with its old TV deal, U.S. Figure Skating is now receiving absolutely no rights fee with its new TV deal. There's no title sponsor for the 2008 U.S. national championships . . .." Woe!

Good news is that despite the knowledgeable people quoted in the article, I don't think the article references in any way what is really going on in figure skating, particularly among the women (like Sasha Cohen was such a beacon of maturity), and that gives them time to get it back to going on.

I am not knocking the iceNetwork thing in any way; quite the contrary, I will have subscribed within 24 hours (I am trying to stretch my 12 months, if memory serves me correctly, as far as possible. I was previously aware of the site and it's offering me a chance to make up to myself my missing Skate America on TV in a story about Nancy Kerrigan accepting a position as a commentator for them.) Still, the lamenting continues.

Australian Open '08: Sharapova.

Just no nonsense: the draw Sharapova has ended the last two seasons almost (if not in fact) in tears at not winning the WTA championship event. She could be dangerous this year. I personally me myself would like to see that. Game!

But Sharapova we know; we're even cognizant of Ms. Ivanovic. But (big but) who is this double trouble doubles champion as we close in on the summer Olympics, PROC (don't start counting up that metal yet), ROC and US of A? Uh-oh. Uh-oh. And Shahar Peer in the finals: no one wants to see her gain any confidence; she would just too mess up tour draws.

Australian Open '08: women's singles semis: enough Jelena Jancovic already this early in the tour year; Daniela's growing force

It was Maria Sharapova easily putting away Jelena Jancovic's clowning 6-3 6-1, and hardly soon enough. Jelena and compatriot Ana Ivanovic, who outlasted the Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 0-6 6-3 6-4, are taking celebrity hard. Ana had early success last year, and ego-tripped the remainder of the year. Odds are against her beating the methodical, serious, grounded, motivated, ready, hot, down, fixed and did I serious, no-nonsense Sharapova, but should she do so the weight of the title itself should help stabilize Ana's young (sexy, but young) thinking. Daniela, on the other hand, is 24 years old, but is yet improving her game everyday. She's a player.

Australian Open '08: women's singles quarters: notice has been served: in '08, come with it or stay home; Justine, Serena and Venus sent home

I was noticing scoring during the Venus/Ana Ivanovic match. Venus was up 3-0 in the second set and serving. I thought Venus would take that set and there would be a third set. Back to work. Checked back to see where they were in the third set, and it was Venus down 4-5 still in the second set with Ana serving. Even got to deuce, once. The draw But the Australians are again to be complemented for their seeding, because they have their third, fourth, fifth and ninth seeds in the semis.

Australian Open '08: women's singles round four: eat your heart out US Open!

The draw Justine Henin, Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic, Serena, Venus, Ana Ivanovic, the Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Agnieszka Radwanska to the quarters! Eat your heart out US Open!

Australian Open '08: Third Round women's singles

The draw Su-Wei Hsieh 6-2 6-7(3-7) 6-4 over Aravane Rezai, interesting. Dementieva is into the fourth round. Jelena Jankovic put aside her theatrics to move on. Mauresmo falls, as do Kutzy and Na Li. The Daniela Hantuchova of Slavokia over Virginia Ruano Pascual. Venus, Serena, Ana Ivanovic, Justine Henin on.

Australian Open '08: Day 4

The draw Venus and Sania Mirza will duke it out in the next round. Na Li on. Ana Ivanovic on. Anna Chakvetadze on. Spanish doubles queen Virninia Ruano Pascual meets the Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia next: a match for which neither could have wished. Petrova on, but in the next round a young compatriot will test what she still has. Kutzy on.

Australian Open '08: Day 3: Woah.

I'm looking at the results for the day from the draw information, and with the top two matches there one expects Justine Henin and Francesca Schiavone to move on. That sets up a good match, because Francesca Schiavone can surprise: she will play. Gonna' be interesting.

According to her profile, the ROC's Su-Wei Hsieh previously has not made it out of the first round of any major: she's on to the third. Tatiana Golovin out in the second: what's up with that?

Dementieva and Peer on, but bear watching in the next round. Can Elena pull something together for Peer's test?

USA's Jill Crayas has yet to move past round two in any major except here in 2004 when she advanced to the third round, but USA's Lindsey Davenport 1-6 3-6 to Sharapova. Other's have said there is no substitute for tournament play to get tour ready.

Jelena Jankovic (left attended by a trainer yesterday in round 1 of the first tournament of the year) has been full of it for past six months, and Virginie Razzano is going to test her body, mind and heart in the next match. In fact, if Jelena advances over Virginie, she just may do something other than clown in this tournament.

Here's what I am going to say here: Ai Sugiyama can but will not beat Nicole Vaidisova (it's a mind thing.)

Serena is to the third, but this is normally where her focus wavers: she begins to allow her opponents to tax precious physical and emotional reserves that she will most need in the later rounds.

Australian Open '08: Day 2 photoReal: #1 foxy Ana Ivanovic 7-5 6-3 over Sorana Cirstea of Romania

Photo sources: (in order) Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rob Griffith; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Steve Holland; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Steve Holland; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rob Griffith; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rob Griffith; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rob Griffith; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rob Griffith; Yahoo! News/AFP/Peter Parks

Australian Open '08: Day 2 photoReal: #2 eighth seeded Venus 6-2 7-5 over Zi Yan of the PROC

With Serena as the 7th seed and at the bottom of the draw's first half, they can meet in the finals US Open people may note

Photo sources: (in order) Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Darren Whiteside; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Mark Baker; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Mark Baker; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rick Stevens; Yahoo! News/(AP Photo/Mark Baker; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rick Stevens; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rick Stevens;Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Rick Stevens

Australian Open '08: Day 2 photoReal: #3 Maria Sharapova 6-4 6-3 over Jelena Kostanic Tosic of Croatia

In practice January 11, 2008

During practice January 11th

practicing before the tournament

Photo sources: (in order) Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Steve Holland; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Steve Holland; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Steve Holland; Yahoo! News/(AFP/Greg Wood; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rob Griffith ; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Tim Wimborne; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Tim Wimborne;Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Tim Wimborne

Australian Open '08: Day 2 (and 1) photoReal: #4 etc.

Sania Mirza (off court controversy) 6-4 6-2 over Iroda Tulyaganova of Uzbekistan

Iroda Tulyaganova of Uzbekistan

the Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 6-3 7-5 over USA's Vania King

the Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia

the Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia

Elena Dementieva 6-2 6-2 over Isreal's Tzipora Obziler

oops, Marion Bartoli early exit 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 3-6 to Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden. Oops.

Patty Schnyder 6-3 6-3 over USA's Lilia Osterloh

USA's Lilia Osterloh

Tatiana Golovin 6-1 4-6 6-3 over French compatriot Stephanie Cohen-Aloro

Svetlana "Kutzy" Kuznetsova 6-3 6-1 over Nathalie Dechy

Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic 6-3 6-0 over Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania

Nicole Vaidisova

Photo sources: (in order) Yahoo! News/AFP/File/Tony Ashby; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Mark Baker; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Mick Tsikas; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Mark Baker; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill;Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic; Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Stuart Milligan;Yahoo! News/REUTERS/Tim Wimborne; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rick Stevens; Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Rick Stevens

Australian Open '08: Day 1

There were no major upsets among the women on day 1 of the Australian Open. Women's singles draw Most of the buzz has been Lindsey Davenport (left), her return and her first round victory, but she faces Maria Sharapova (below) in the very next round. That's gonna' be interesting: two immovables.

What caught my attention was Amelie Mauresmo's three set win over Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus. Although Mauresmo took the final two sets 6-0 6-0, who's telling the French woman that?

Jelena Dokic missed the cut, and no wild card was offered after all. Story

Photo sources: Yahoo! News/AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill; Yahoo! News/AFP/Greg Wood

Revisiting 2007 FIVB Women's World Cup: Team USA

Before Peru November 2, 2007

Heather Bown spikes Peru's Milagros Moy (L) and Yulissa Zamudio Ore110207

USA's Ah Mow-Santos Robyn and Nnanami Ogonna celebrate in the match against Peru

After Peru November 2, 2007

Coach Lang Ping talks to her players as they faced Cuba in Hamamatsu, Japan, November 3, 2007

Heahter Bown spikes against Cuba's Yumilka Ruiz

Celebrating a point over Cuba

Pumping up during the match with Cuba

Pumped up during the match with Cuba

USA won the match over Cuba 20-25 25-21 25-18 20-25 15-11

Celebrating their victory over Cuba

Celebrating their victory over Cuba

Blocking a spike by Carrillo de la Paz Nancy of Cuba

USA's Ogonna Nnamani in the match against the Dominican Republic

Celebrating a point against the Dominican Republic November 9, 2007

Celebrating their victory over the Dominican Republic

US players celebrate winning the second set against Japan November 15, 2007

Heather Bown, right, of the United States spikes the ball against Sachiko Sugiyama of Japan

Celebrating versus Cuba

Photo sources: Yahoo! News and fivb.com