Figure Skating -- Back Porch FanHouse

Andrei Lutai Arrested in NY for Stealing Car, Driving Drunk

Posted: Nov 17th 2009 1:00 PM ET by Ryan Wilson (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Figure Skating

More proof that ice skating isn't really a sport*: after finishing 10th overall in the Skate America competition in Lake Placid, New York, Russian figure skater Andrei Lutai was arrested for stealing a car and driving drunk.

Via the Associated Press:

Police say the car was stolen from a service station lot late Sunday night. A garage employee followed the car and called police. Sgt. Carol Hayes says officers pulled over the 23-year-old Lutai, of St. Petersburg, a few minutes later.

Police have charged Lutai with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle and aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Lutai is being held on $100,000 cash bail, and for what it's worth, his lawyer says he has "serious doubts" about the DWI and theft charges.

Colbert Nation Raises $40,000 Overnight As New US Speedskating Sponsor

Posted: Nov 4th 2009 10:00 AM ET by Will Brinson (RSS feed)
Filed Under: International Olympics, TV and Movies, Winter Sports, Sports Media, Figure Skating

1 COMMENT

Stephen Colbert announced -- in case you missed it or thought it was fake like his Republican-y shtick-- on Monday night that Colbert Nation would become the new primary sponsor of the US speedskating team for the Winter Olympics.

Colbert jumped in because, as is happening all over the country, the former main sponsor for the speedskating team, DSB Bank NV, a bank of sorts, had to back out of their sponsorship. (Oddly, banks aren't doing well right now in this fantastic financial time.)

But you know who apparently is doing well? Colbert Nation -- Stephen announced on Tuesday night's show that, despite Canadian hackers allegedly going after the donation link, on the first evening of sponsorship, his viewers had raised over $40,000 (!!) to back up the speedskating team. Moving picture happy funtime after the jump.

Nicole Bobek, Former Figure Skating Champ, Charged in Drug Bust

Posted: Jul 6th 2009 11:20 PM ET by Tom Herrera (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Figure Skating

259 COMMENTS

At her peak, Nicole Bobek was one of the brightest stars in figure skating. She won the U.S. championship in 1995 and the bronze medal at the World Championships that same year. But the teenage phenom was also notorious for her poor training discipline and her tendency for shuffling coaches -- she changed coaches at least 11 times during her skating career.

Now at age 31, Bobek is in trouble that stretches far beyond being labeled a difficult teenager. According to an Associated Press report, she has been charged with being part of a drug ring in northern New Jersey.

Bobek, who has homes in New York and Jupiter, Fla., was arrested in Florida last week. The charge is conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Hudson County.

If convicted, Bobek faces up to 10 years in prison.

According to the prosecutor, Edward DeFazio, a total of 20 people have been arrested in connection with the ring.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Figure Skater Ekaterina Rubleva Has (Legitimate) Wardrobe Malfunction

Posted: Jan 21st 2009 10:53 AM ET by Shane Bacon (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Figure Skating

196 COMMENTS

Sometimes, in ice skating, as in other sports, the show must go on. Nobody knows that better so far this year than Ekaterina Rubleva, a Russian figure skater who had a far more revealing performance than was expected of her at the European championships on Monday.

Did You See That?

The field clears a fence during the New Season Handicap Steeplechase during the at Ludlow Racecourse on September 16, 2008 in Ludlow, England.

Emanuele Canonica of Italy helps his caddie in the rescue of a pigeon from the water around the 18th green during the first round of the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 16, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

A multiexposure image showing Britain's Andy Murray returning to Croatian Marin Cilic during a last sixteen tennis match at the Madrid Masters in Madrid on October 16, 2008. Andy Murray won 7-5, 7-6.

English football fans dressed in armours and tunics play in a friendly match against Belarus fans in Minsk on October 15, 2008 before the start of the Belarus vs. England 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier of European group 6 match.

Travis Brigley (R) of Hamburg fights with Matt Keith (L) of Ingolstadt during the DEL match between Hamburg Freezers and ERC Ingolstadt at the Color Line Arena on October 14, 2008 in Hamburg, Germany.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko returns a ball to US Robby Ginepri during a second round tennis match at the Masters in Madrid on October 15, 2008.

A golf ball which has been enveloped by the tree over many years is pictured during the pro-am for the Portugal Masters at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course on October 15, 2008 in Vilamoura, Portugal.

Andy Murray of Great Britain plays football during his training session prior to his thrid round match tomorrow at the Madrid Masters tennis tournament at the Madrid Arena on October 15, 2008 in Madrid, Spain.

Samuel Peter from Nigeria gets a punch from Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine during their WBC heavyweight boxing world championship fight in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Klitschko won the fight after round nine due to technical knock out.

Herbert Knosowski, AP

Japan's Kyoko Hamaguchi (lower) fights with China's Hong Yan (red) during the semi-final of the 72kg class of the Women's Wrestling World Championships in Tokyo on October 13, 2008. Hong defeated Hamaguchi and will face Bulgaria's Stanka Zlateva in the final.

Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP/Getty Images