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In Sochi, the most memorable moments were not always golden. Much has already been written about the Olympic champions in figure skating at these Games. Their achievements deservedly applauded, their celebrations ongoing, and their names will go down in history. While I too applaud their efforts and accomplishments, there were numerous performances other than the winning ones that also provided for me some noteworthy and unforgettable moments. Collectively, the Pairs Short Program, the Free Dance and the Ladies Free Skate had some of the best skating I have ever seen. Quality, competitiveness, variety and depth had us first riveted and then lifted us to our feet. We were left in awe of the events remarkable performances and the audience certainly got more than their moneys worth. Speaking of audience, the Russian audiences were always vociferous in their appreciation of their own and were often an intimidating presence for others in Sochi. In my mind, they were a game-changer more so in these Olympics than in any of the other Games that I have attended. It felt a little more like a hockey crowd and while they didnt cheer when one of their skaters competitors made a mistake, the excited chatter when an error occurred was noticeable and undeniable. It created a strange buzz throughout the skating events. The Russian skaters, for the most part, thrived on it and capitalized. Such was the case for the second-ranked Russian team of Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov who, for me, stole the show in the Pairs. This was the team that in the last season - despite being injured and missing two months of training - has totally reinvented themselves. In one season, they have added new lifts, perfected the triple-twist and revamped their skating style and technique dramatically. It was the improvement of their overall quality of skating that impressed me the most and gave them a new found power and command. The fact that the Olympics were at home and that they were training alongside the World Champions provided the perfect fuel for the improvements they made. One saw clearly that the Russians are back in form to dominate in the Pairs event once again if the rest of the field doesnt take notice and respond quickly. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir in the Ice Dance delivered the moment they had hoped for at centre ice in Sochi. Their Free Dance was undoubtedly their best of the season and was a skate that will be remembered for years to come as an "all-time great performance." What they have done for the sport of ice dance with their beautiful lines, connection to each other, versatile portrayals, and athleticism is they have clearly defined the sports identity. They bring the sense of dance to the forefront and stay true to it usually at a price, because the artistic risks they take add technical difficulty, which I believe has often gone unrewarded. The Free Dance event was spectacular in Sochi with all teams delivering dramatically and once again the wonderful careers of Meryl Davis and Charlie White and Tessa and Scott were revered and celebrated. Did the judges get it right? The debate will rage on and in the end there were no losers, only winners in what was a captivating dance event. The ladies were as hot in the Free Skate as the men were not. Coming in, the mens free skate had the potential to be the best mens event ever. Patrick Chan, with his world renowned edges and choreographic complexity combined with his mastery of the quad, set the bar for what was expected to win gold at the these Games. He had been the driving force in mens skating since Vancouver and it was the teenager from Japan, Yuzuru Hanyu, who had been able to move in and keep pace this season. They had been so impressive all year that it felt to me that they were exhausted from the expectation and belief that it would take "perfect" to win in Sochi. The men tried valiantly but left points on the table and in the end, it was Japan who had its first ever gold medal in mens Olympic skating. In hindsight, the wacky competitive schedule that the men had to endure will likely be revamped. It was the first time in at least 30 years that they had to compete on back-to-back days at the Games. That fact in itself can be challenging but on top of it, when the men finished the short program just before midnight, they had the draw and the mandatory press conference for the top finishers which took them into the early hours. They were left with about a seven hour turnaround at the village before they had to return for the morning practice. The guys werent complaining but their legs did late that night when they competed in the Free. After a stellar lead up season and awesome practices in Sochi, one could only "feel" for the guys that they didnt have "that moment" in the Free Skate at the Games. In all of the wonderful moments that made up the Ladies event, it was the performances of Japans Mao Asada and Carolina Kostner of Italy that touched and inspired me most. Both were personal victories for these skaters, who after the Vancouver Games came at the challenge of Sochi in very different ways but with the same intense personal conviction. Mao, second in Vancouver with her trademark triple axel, decided that her favorite jump - while worth more than any other - was not enough to make up for some of her other jumping deficiencies. So she committed herself to taking apart her technique and relearning and rebuilding her jumps from the ground up. It was a long, almost three-year process. I watched and admired her work ethic and her respect for her craft throughout the rebuild process in her determination to have no weaknesses. To watch her triumph in the Free Skate was a delight! Its so good for the sport and Im so happy for her. In 16th after the short, Mao was too far back to contend but for me her performance was the evenings big winner. Mao won our respect and hearts and so too did Kostner with her charming Bolero. Carolina, in her previous two Olympics, literally fell apart. In the Vancouver Games, her Free Skate was so desperate that she sobbed as she finished. Of that skate she said, "I felt ashamed and nobody should have to feel that way at an Olympics." So, this was about righting that wrong. Her goal this time was not about placements, even though she was a contender. It was, she said, about leaving the ice with a smile on her face. Her performance touched everyone, and especially those of us who have witnessed her turbulent past and watched her new found love for the sport. One couldnt help but admire her excellence and feel her sense of joy and gratitude. 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Nerf ball tricks shots are just the tip of the iceberg for a group that has performed in zero gravity, faced pro-skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and an assembled team on the MTV series "Fantasy Factory", and even hit a basketball trick shot from a passing blimp. china jerseys . -- With Tony Allen back, the Memphis Grizzlies were able to turn up their defence pressure and hold off the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch. cheap china jerseys . 1. AMIR JOHNSON: Nice to see him back in the lineup Tuesday night in Washington DC. Played with great energy and purpose. Its amazing when a guy gets those few precious days to recover what it does to the bounce in their step and overall game/confidence.In a stunning reversal, standout pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will have a chance to leave his Japanese team to move to the majors next season. It was during a news conference Wednesday that Rakuten disclosed Tanaka will be made available through the posting system. Rakuten didnt have to release Tanaka, as he has two years left on his deal with the Golden Eagles. Tanaka compiled a 24-0 record with a 1.27 ERA in 28 games (27 starts) during the 2013 regular season and helped lead Rakuten to the Japan Series title. The 25-year-old has recorded a 99-35 mark with a 2.30 ERA in 175 games (172 starts) since joining Rakuten in 2007. He has 53 complete games, including 18 shutouts, and will be a hot commodity for any major league club who wants to pony up enough money to sign the right-hander. Under new rules set this offseason, the cap on the posting fee was set at $20 million. Teams need to commit that much money to negotiate with Tanaka for up to 30 days, but clubs who do not secure a deal to get the righty will have their cash refunded. If a contract is worked out, the $20 million will go to Rakuten. The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly among the clubs whho are prepared to get into a high-bidding war for Tanaka.dddddddddddd He was reportedly paid $4 million last season, but Tanakas annual salary will likely get a significant jump once he signs with an MLB team. The new rules, which are somewhat similar to how European soccer players transfer teams, were put in place to avoid what happened when the Texas Rangers signed pitcher Yu Darvish away from the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. Darvish had a posting fee of $51.7 million and then the Rangers signed the pitcher to a six-year, $60 million contract. Prior to the 2007 season, the Red Sox got Daisuke Matsuzaka for a $51 million posting fee from the Seibu Lions and then inked the Japanese hurler to a six-year, $52 million pact. Before the $20 million posting limit took effect, the MLB team that offered, on a blind bid, the highest posting fee could negotiate for 30 days with a specific club. If a deal couldnt be reached by the deadline, the player would remain in Japan for another season. Instead of one team negotiating with the player under the former system, all clubs that pay the posting fee, this one of $20 million for Tanaka, can try to work out a contract. ' ' '