The first day is a quiet one

U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Spokane Arena is quiet.

In case you’re wondering, this event starts slowly. The first few days are dominated by novice and junior events. It’s the junior pairs out practicing on the Arena’s ice right now.

U.S. Figure Skating divides their skaters into five categories, beginning with juvenile and then moving up the ladder through intermediate, novice (the first group here), junior and the seniors (the ones you always see on TV, and I’m not talking Fashion on Ice here).

The defending ladies’ singles senior champion: Sasha Cohen (I had the wrong name earlier, which shows you what I know). The mens’: Johnny Weir – the three-time defending champ I might add. Those are names you might have heard before. But the names of the pairs’ champions (Rena Inoue and John Baldwin) and the ice dancing champions (Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto) are probably new to you.

If I let you in on a secret, you won’t revoke my sports fan couch potato status will you? I know who Cohen and Weir are, and I recognized the Belbin and Agosto pairing long before I opened the media guide.

Sorry.