U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS

A housekeeping note before I move on to today's stories. In a skating blog post yesterday, which as I realize now was Thursday, I wrote the skaters' practice at the Convention Center would be free and open to the public "Thursday." That was a mistake (since fixed), based on calendar illiteracy. The practice in the Convention Center is free today, Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The practice at the Arena still takes a ticket, however.

Sorry. I hope nobody rushed down to the Convention Center yesterday looking to watch practice.

Now to today's stories.

Jeff Bunch has two stories, covering the mens' and ladies' short programs.

It's the former that's the subject of John Blanchette's column, which chronicles the rivalry between leader Evan Lysacek and three-time defending champion Johnny Weir.

And Steve Bergum's notebook leads with the junior pair championship, won by Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne (us sports guys just love that name) Brubaker.

We'll be over at the Arena again today – what is it, Thursday? Friday? Saturday? Oh, Friday, that's right – with a report on the senior pairs and anything else that I see.

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