Weir looking up at Lysacek after short program

U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The second group was Johnny Weir and five others – at least in the audience’s eyes.

Oh, Nicholas LaRoche received somewhat enthusiastic applause, but Weir’s performance was greeted with enough people standing in rotation that it looked like a UW football game had broken out.

Weir skated an identical program to Lysacek and, in the judges’ eyes, was just a hair behind, scoring a 78.14 to Lysacek’s 78.99. Weir did not seem happy after finishing marginally behind Lysacek in every artistic judge’s eyes except one.

Which sets up a great battle in Saturday night’s free skate.

Michael Villarreal, who fell trying to complete his triple Lutz-triple loop combination, has the build of a fullback and skated accordingly, bulldogging his way through the remainder of his routine after the fall. He earned a score of 53.10 after his deduction, which left him way back.

LaRoche skated the short program of his life, scoring a 67.33, more than seven points better than his personal best. But personal bests were common Thursday, with five of the first 11 skaters scoring their all-time best short program.

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Scott Hamilton, who, years after he’s competed, may still be the face – and possibly the voice – of American male figure skating, is sitting in the east end of the Arena, intently watching the men who would like to achieve his level of success.