Kwan's six-year reign on the line

ATLANTA -- In her 12 years of coming to this community skate, Michelle Kwan has played every role possible. "I've come full circle, from being the jumping bean to the favorite to the underdog to being over the hill," America's ice queen observed. "Now, I've come back up again."

But after finishing behind Sasha Cohen in the short program, Kwan is facing a reprise of one role she'd rather forget -- ex-champion. Unless she wins tonight's four-minute finale, Kwan's six-year reign will end and a new queen will be crowned for the first time since Tara Lipinski dethroned Kwan in 1997.

Cohen almost managed it four years ago in Cleveland, until she fell and let Kwan vault out of third place to win. This time, Cohen vowed, she'll keep her wits about her and her feet under her. "I'm not going to get ahead of myself," said Cohen, who's been runner-up twice and was third last year.

And if Jennifer Kirk can match her inspired effort from Thursday, the Newton, Mass., native figures at least to make the medal stand for the first time and qualify for the world team.

"I'm happy I was able to keep everything together," said the 19-year-old Kirk, who was fifth last year. "I'm so thrilled."

Meanwhile, three-time champion Michael Weiss, who was buried in fourth place after the short program, needed another near-miracle to retain his crown this afternoon.

"I've been in pretty much every position there is," said the 27-year-old Weiss, who climbed out of fourth to win last year and out of fifth to make the 2002 Olympic team. "I know what I need to get done [today]."

With Johnny Weir, Matt Savoie, and Evan Lysacek all ahead of him, Weiss may need to lock them in the dressing room to have a chance. Weir, who was sitting second last year before he slammed into the boards during the long program and had to withdraw, is taking the Zen approach this time. "I'm vacationing in Atlanta," he figured. "There just happens to be a figure skating event going on."

Not for Olympic medalist Tim Goebel, who withdrew yesterday after falling on all of his jumps and finishing 10th in the short program. "This is one of the hardest decisions that I have ever had to make," said Goebel, who noted he'll take off the rest of the season to deal with persistent boot-and-blade problems that have thrown everything from his upper back to his feet out of alignment.

Last night, in the worst pairs final in memory, Rena Inoue and John Baldwin Jr. won the title despite making three errors when defending champions Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn later came unglued.

"I felt like quitting after I skated," admitted Baldwin, who fell on one triple toe and doubled the other. "So it's bittersweet that we ended up winning."

For Scott and Dulebohn, who finished third behind the Connecticut duo of Katie Orscher and Garrett Lucash and will miss the world team, it was a stunning downturn after competing at Olympus two years ago.

"You win some, you lose some," shrugged Scott, a Hanson, Mass., native who had finished in the top two four straight times with Dulebohn. "If we could pick a year not to do well, I guess it would be this year, a non-Olympic year. Just got a little tight out there. It happens."

Later, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto had a walkover in the free dance with five-time champions Naomi Lang (irritated Achilles' tendon) and Peter Tchernyshev withdrawn. "We've never felt as comfortable and confident in our skating," said Agosto, who with the Canadian-born Belbin has a legitimate shot at the first world dance medal by a US entry in 19 years. Winning the bronze behind Melissa Gregory and husband Denis Petukhov in only their second senior appearance were the Skating Club of Boston's Loren Galler-Rabinowitz and David Mitchell.

"It's a little bit surreal," said Mitchell. "We spent the last six years looking up at the people above us saying, `What do we have to do to get there?' "