2 Millions Hits!!! A Thank You Video (Carol Fox, Richard Dalley 1979)

Time for a tribute THANK YOU post for passing the 2 million mark in viewership! (The first skating channel to achieve that goal --- although my good buddy 3TripleAxel has probably surpassed that mark by at least 2 million counting all the times he has had his chain yanked, and been gutted by YOUTUBE management. (You're evil Sklar, just an evil media devil !!!)

I do owe a great deal of gratitude to whoever posted that 1957 Tenley Albright Nationals program I discovered some 3 years ago or so (at the old Hollywood Ice Rink so associated with Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner) . It was the first video I found on YOUTUBE while suffering thru chemotherapy for 9 months. I knew this new medium would be an incredible asset to the skating community, and I am so happy I was able to contribute my two cents worth. I do not understand why the USFSA and the World Skating Museum do not have a similar website where they can share their arsenal of skating history!!! My channel 'became' my skating, and it gave me a tremendous and much needed sense of accomplishment in difficult times. There were many days when the walk down the hallway to my mom's office computer was as difficult, if not more so, than any practice session I attended in 50 years of skating. (There were several times I exhausted myself and had to be wheel chaired back to bed!) Not a pretty time.

My skating life began seeing Carol Heiss on television at the 1960 Olympics. I was captivated by her iconic inner edge spread eagle, and knew I had to do that someday (almost all the pictures of me at that time have me posing with my legs stretched and arms akimbo). Not having any ice rinks in southern Illinois, it took a few years to get me to the Armory in Louisville, Kentucky, where images of Peggy Fleming, Tina Noyes, Ronnie and Cindy Kauffman, Julie Lynn Holmes, and Janet Lynn kept me captivated by the sport.

It was great fun to revisit old friends......JoJo Starbuck and Kenny Shelley, John Misha Petkevitch, Gordy McKellen, Suna Murray (watch out for that rail, gyrl !!!!), and, of course, the Militanos.

I especially appreciated the opportunity to voice my frustration with the sport, and opposition to many of the skating establishment's 'peccadiloes'. It seemed for a while that it really mattered and was making a difference. (Not so much, anymore, sadly) In retrospect, I still stand by everything I have written, with the slight exception of my post regarding Tonya Harding. Presented with additional information, I have to admit that you were a 'very wicked girl' Tonya....but your skating stands on its own merit. American skating has suffered losing your potential contributions to great jumping. It would have been fun to see you in coaching. It might have been a great payback for your own 'abuse' of your coaches. What goes around, come around.....and I would loved to have seen you dealing with skating's biggest primadonna!!! I will admit now, that Nancy Kerrigan was, by far and away, without a doubt, the actual winner of the 1994 Olympic Gold Medal. A great achievement, especially recognizing it was done on a banged up knee, and after a frightening criminal assault. It is a sad shame that she does not have it to her credit. But, my goodness, wasn't what happened just the best fun ever!!!! Given the plasticity and shallowness of today's 'professional' crowd of young, self-absorbed houligans, I would almost welcome a bit of humanity again in the sport. We are treading perilously close to "freakishness" in the sport, and just not connecting with the general public like our marketing efforts should. (oh well, it doesn't take me long to get back up on the soapbox, does it?

I have been keeping this particular program back for just such an occasion. I believe in it's message very much. It captivated me the first time I saw it, and I always planned to use it someday for a program. After 51 years of skating, I better get busy because I doubt I have more than 20 or 30 years left on the ice to manifest this accomplishment. It's an old-fashioned, rather simple exhibition program.....so perhaps we can just pretend I am skating this with my "wonderfully personable" imaginary partner! (It really was a shame that I could not maintain a relationship with a female skater for longer than 6 months......Why are they soooo ridiculously difficult??? I am starting to think it may have had something to do with me!!!! ......NNNaaawwww!!) I think you can tell I live in a marvelously captivating fantasy world. Such are the advantages of retirement.

Thanks to all my viewers, especially those exceptional life long skating fans and officials I have talked with from around the world. My Austrian friends and supporters of Eva Pawlik & Rudi Seeliger!! And to those exceptional young skaters I have felt the need to support. Callum...keep stretching!! And isn't Italian skating sooo exciting these days.

Best wishes to all......always.