ith the legendary Dick Button recovering from a skating accident, Peter Carruthers readily admits he could never replace the two-time gold medalist in the broadcast booth during this weekend's US Figure Skating Championships at the FleetCenter.
Former world champion and Olympic silver medalist Carruthers said his commentary will only be as good as the athletes on the ice.
''Skating speaks for itself,'' he said. ''I can only reflect what I see on the ice.''
Reigning US champion Michael Weiss could become the first American since Brian Boitano to capture three straight US Figure Skating Championships. He is expected to be challenged by silver medalist Timothy Goebel, who won a gold at Skate America and a silver at the Nations Cup during the Grand Prix season.
On the ladies' side, 15-year-old Sarah Hughes, who placed fifth at last year's World Championships and took the bronze medal at last year's US Championships, will challenge four-time US champion and three-time world champion Michelle Kwan.
ABC has 12 cameras and is clearly focusing on Kwan and Todd Eldredge, the Chatham native who has not skated in Olympic-eligible competition since 1998.
Weiss has never beaten Eldredge in competition. ABC airs a feature on Eldredge tomorrow from 4-6 p.m. From 7-9 p.m., the network airs a feature on Kwan.
Should she win her fifth title, Kwan would join Tenley Albright (1952-56), Peggy Fleming (1964-68), and Janet Lynn (1969-73) as the only five-time US ladies champions since 1950.
Fleming couldn't say enough about Kwan.
''She's a great competitor,'' said Fleming, who will provide analysis throughout ABC's coverage tomorrow. ''She has never buckled under any kind of criticism. She's a brilliant performer.''
Fleming said she is not a fan of the growing trend of skaters attempting multiple jumps. Aside from the potential for injuries, Fleming said jumping is ''a wonderful accent but not the whole thing.''
''Skating is about balance,'' she said. ''Jumps provide highlights, but if a performance was all highlights then it would be pretty dull.''
Fleming explained a performance should take viewers and judges through a range of emotions.
Carruthers said jumps provide viewers with a tangible reason to cheer while subjective measurements such as artistry and style remain in the eyes of the beholder.
To capture the jumps and performances, ABC producer Curt Gowdy Jr. plans to introduce Stro-Motion, an experimental computer image that will allow the viewer to see the full sequence of a skater's jump from takeoff to landing.
ESPN has taped coverage of the men's short program tonight, 7-8 p.m., followed by coverage of the ladies' short on ESPN2, 8-9 p.m.
ABC's live coverage of the men's free skate and ice dance competition starts at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Prime-time coverage starts at 9 p.m. with the pairs competition and ladies' free skate.
One-on-One Sports (1510 AM) reupped its ''Patriots Monday'' talk show deal with the New England Patriots for another two years. The show airs on Mondays 4-7 p.m. and features live interviews with coach Bill Belichick, Drew Bledsoe, and each week's player of the game ... HBO is at it again with ''Do You Believe in Miracles: The Story of the 1980 US Hockey Team.'' The documentary airs Feb. 5 and includes interviews with Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Jack O'Callahan, Herb Brooks, Soviet players Vladislav Tretiak and Boris Mikhailov, as well as commentators Jim Lampley and Al Michaels.
