Sports

What a weekend for local sports. First, Bel Air’s Kimmie Meissner smashes all expectations and wins the World Figure Skating Championships on Saturday. Then George Mason University continues its Cinderella Season by (again) smashing all expectations and ending up in the Final Four.

I’m glad for both winners. I just wish Kimmie’s victory had ranked just a little time on the SI.com or CNN.com front pages. With so much bad news in the world this past weekend, it would have been nice to see just a little good coming through…especially since the victory was such a shock. She’s arrived on the world stage, and though she may not have that powerhouse name like Kwan or Cohen, Fleming or Hamill, she has the talent to become one of the next great American women skaters. After all, thanks to the new rules, this was her first season of eligibility for the “big girl” events. To win World Championships on her first time out is phenomenal. I have no doubt that her next big trip to Canada (Vancouver in 2010) will be just as successful.

To be fair, Good Morning America Sunday did a nice interview with her. Not sure how her Prom Date (who was declared not a “real date,” but a “friend date”) feels about it though.

GMU, on the other hand, got all the airplay that any team in the Final Four rightfully deserves. Their invitation to the Big Dance was controversial, but their fairy godmother has come through for them, and it’s not quite midnight yet. I’m looking forward to a great game next Saturday night. Really, if Madison couldn’t have made it to the dance, it’s nice to see our neighbor to the north (and CAA conference mate) doing so well.

81N, 66E – GO PATS GO.