Plushenko wins short program; Takahashi third

Didn't see Lysacek's performance but did see Takahashi's and thought it was better and definitely far more aritistic than Plushenko's. I'll definitely be cheering for Daisuke in the free skate.

Plushenko is a beast!!

Plushenko is a beast!!

He is the first male figureskater who is actually quite macho compared to his peers.

I definitely agree with the above statement. He treats figureskating like a real sport instead of as a performance art. That is why he is one of the best.

Being at work I could only follow the updates online. Looked like it was pretty intense, save for Plushenko. All in all I'd say Japan looked pretty good today -- they won in curling against the US and did VERY well in skating. I hope they can keep it up the day after tomorrow (well, okay, I hope the curlers lose to Canada tomorrow, but hey).

Errr... that's "Eye" by Coba... :) Daisuke was looking good, and in fact did beat Plushenko in component (artistic expression, etc.) points. If (and it's a big if) he can pull of his quad tomorrow, he should be in position for a medal. Not bad for someone who spent the past year rebuilding his knee.

"All in all I'd say Japan looked pretty good today"

Their mens figure skaters set personal bests in some cases- unfortunately I don't see it continuing as we've seen this before- fast out of the blocks, only to stumble when the real pressure hits.

"Lysacek's performance " was solid and then some. I see him as a real threat along with Plushenko. Chan for Canada choked, a real disappointment- I expect better from here on out.

His seductive body language and bedroom eyes matched his passionate “Concierto de Aranjuez” perfectly, and he even flirted with the judges a bit.

Wow, seductive body language from a figure skater...not for me...never. Maybe he is the only one in the top 10 who is not gay but still ... be aware of these fugure skaters.

He is the first male figureskater who is actually quite macho compared to his peers.

This sport collects mostly gay people. It is kind of disappointing o see female dancing performed by males.

I think in the long program (free) Oda will beat Takashi. i wonder if Takashi can do a quadruple. In his last competition he failed.

Plushenko's and Takahashi's performances were the best I thought. Didn't like that bit of showboating with the "sheathing of the sword" move Plushenko made after his routine, though. It was as if he felt he "conquered" everyone eles. Looks like he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

Sorry, spelling mistake: It was as if he felt he "conquered" everyone else.

I think in the long program (free) Oda will beat Takashi. i wonder if Takashi can do a quadruple. In his last competition he failed.

Oda is definitely the more solid jumper of the two, but there is no way he can outperform Takahashi on artistic terms.

Wow, seductive body language from a figure skater...not for me...never. Maybe he is the only one in the top 10 who is not gay but still ... be aware of these fugure skaters.

Don't know about the Americans or Europeans--but the Japan team is straight arrows all the way! ;^p

Branded: Chan did indeed choke today. I think he'll do better next time around, but I think with today's penalty deduction he's not in medal contention unless his next outing is flawless and the others' performances are not as good (or they screw up).

Can't say whose I thought was best as I never saw it. I'm sure I'll see plenty of replays tonight, though.

And when I said Japan is doing pretty well out there today, I meant in general, and not just men's figure skating -- their curling team had a good game, for example.

Oda is definitely the more solid jumper of the two, but there is no way he can outperform Takahashi on artistic terms.

have you seen the free program of Oda - he is very artistic and the SP suits him very well, he plays the role of Charles Chaplin, his russian coach found a way to show all his best qualities. He lacks nothing in artistry compared to Takahashi. i worry that Takahashi is usually perfect in the short and then makes mistakes in the long program.

PS. If Korean men transfer from speed skating and short track to figure skating then no European will be able to take a medal, be it even Plushenko. But Korean men are rather manly so they do not like figure skating it seems.

It was nice to watch Takahashi and Oda today. Fantastic performance. I really don't care much about the medals.

after such a shame in couple ice skating, would be nice if Plushenko can win something...

Good for plushenko but mens competition is dull.

The women's competition will be super intresting with lots of young skaters from many countries. Yuna and Mao are almost veterans.

Is it true, as Love USA contends, that Plushenko is the only straight male skater in the top 10? Can anyone confirm or deny this? I'm kinda thinking she is spot on after seeing the highlights! - Not that there's anything wrong with that! LOL

Smithinjapan;

"Chan did indeed choke today. I think he'll do better next time around, but I think with today's penalty deduction he's not in medal contention unless his next outing is flawless and the others' performances are not as good (or they screw up)."

More than likely the others will "screw up" ! This has become the norm for international figure skating. The wife and I were just lamenting the days when a fall at the Olympics was considered a disaster. Now they slip and slide all over the place- Obviously not having learned from Arakawa who simply played it safe- but clean !

The mens competition is about as highly competitive as it's been in decades- with a flawless performance any one of the top 8 could medal !

it was the first time I saw Patrick Chan skate even though I live in Canada. He is small!! Defiitely no Elvis Stojko. But i think he is more of a Kurt Browning. And it's nice to see Japanese skaters up there.

All three Japanese skaters did well, they looked happy to which was cool to see, there must be so much pressure on these athletes. Well done to them and good luck in the free skating. Great event so far!

GO DAISUKE!!! WHAT A FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE HE PUT ON YESTERDAY!!! I'M ROOTING FOR HIM TO WIN THE GOLD MEDAL TONIGHT!!! GO JAPAN!!!

Apropos of nothing, Patrick Chan's eyes are disturbing. And watch out four years from now for that wonder kid from Kazakhstan, Denis Ten. Talk about an underdog, but he's done great for a 16-year-old, and shows such promise.

Wow Takahashi just snuck a bronze by half a point.Gold for Lysacek

Shocking turn of events: Lycasek wins with Plushenko silver. Russians are very upset. Takahashi was great but walks away with Bronze...

Fiasco brewing here.....

Takahashi was great but walks away with Bronze...

he failed his first jump...

I am not sure about these results. I felt Plushenko and John Weir were underscored.

Good clean performance by Lysacek, but I have to give props to others who actually tried quads in their routine too. Plushenko nailed his quad, but looked uneasy on other jumps. Daisuke also looked good other than the failed quad attempt. Lambiel, Kozuka, Abbott were all great in nailing their quad routines, just some imperfect other jumps. Joubert has the biggest balls since he even tried a quad in the short routine a couple of days ago.

Plushenko nailed his quad

Lambiel, Kozuka, Abbott were all great in nailing their quad routines

I did not see Kozuka and Abbott but I think Plushenko was the only one with quadruple- triple combination. Lambiel did quadruple-double combination. He touched the ice on his first quadruple.

Anyway congratulations to the winners. I would have put plushenko on Top, than the handsome American Lysacek, then Takahashi third, if I were a judges, which I am not :)

What a sad accident for Oda.