Nicole Bobek told me to fasten my seatbelt before reading her new memoir. It was a bumpy ride, indeed.

Alysa Liu, guest at Laufey concert last night, told the singer she was returning to her 24-25 short program to the Laufey song, “Promise.” Liu recently dropped her short to another song, by Laufey and D4vd, amid an investigation into death of teenage girl whose remains were found in D4vd vehicle.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again: that applies to Amber Glenn and 3 axel. She got negative GOEs on her first 13 attempts at 3A. In her last 20, Glenn got positive GOEs on 14, including most recent three, two at this weekend's Nebelhorn Trophy. Wow. (Click on link to see them.)

Pet peeve: why do TV commentators refer to someone winning a second straight title in an event as “defending the title?” You defend a title simply by playing in the subsequent event. If you win, it is “successfully” defending the title.

Difficult jumps give 2-time Russian champion Adeliia Petrosian an edge over her likely 2026 Olympic rivals at the start. Other factors may diminish it. My look: www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2025/5/...

Olympic bronze medalists in 2018, the "ShibSibs" have been away from competitive skating since then.

My look back at the 2024-25 season, in which U.S. athletes shook the pall left by an airplane crash to honor with their performances those in the figure skating family who died.

That’s why he whacked the ice in frustration after finishing a free skate that left him happy because it brought another gold medal but disappointed because he fell short of his goal. www.nbcsports.com/olympics/new...

If you’re coming in late to the Alysa Liu saga, which I have chronicled since she was 13, this story I did last October will catch you up. www.nbcsports.com/olympics/new...

No wonder Liu kept saying, “What? What?” as she skated around after the free skate. She was having trouble grasping what she had done. My NBC OlympicTalk story. www.nbcsports.com/olympics/new...

And that assessment of Ilia Malinin comes from a guy who won silver medals at the 2022 Olympics and three world championships, a guy whose edge work, posture and finesse have given Yuma Kagiyama a nonpareil elegance on the ice.

“I think what’s really nice (about the rivalry) is the two of us are extremely distinct in our own styles,” Madison Chock told me. “What I admire about them is they have always had their own voice, and they never strayed from that."

Her unexpected return this season, on her own terms, has been so enjoyable that Liu literally turned a cartwheel on the entry walkway before taking the ice. My story. www.nbcsports.com/figure-skati...

The miracle of his “Hanukkah boots” kept Jason Brown going far longer than he expected, but he finally realjzed the miracle couldn’t go on forever. My story for NBC Sports. www.nbcsports.com/olympics/new...

To paraphrase Shakespeare’s Henry II: “Won’t someone rid us of this meddlesome Muskrat?” (And his pal with the dead orange muskrat on his head?)

Three years before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the LA Times is without a lead Olympic writer, as the talented, resourceful and relentless David Wharton just announced he is retiring. www.facebook.com/wharton.dave...

Isabeau Levito, reigning world silver medalist, has been assessed as ready to compete at 2024 World Figure Skating Championships March 26-29 in Boston, sources tell me. Levito missed January's U.S. Champs with foot injury. She returned to competition at a 2026 Olympic test event in late Feb.

The Orange Idiot’s tariffs are a tax on all U.S. residents. But the genuflecting Republican boobs in Congress don’t get that.

🇺🇸 Jason Brown has completed his ‘return to play’ monitoring and confirmed his spot for #WorldFigure www.olympics.com/en/news/jaso...

I guess the Orange Madman won’t be able to blame the wildfires in South Carolina on a Democratic state administration.

🇫🇷 Laurence Fournier-Beaudry / Guillaume Cizeron are announced as a new ice dance team www.instagram.com/p/DGsqJY8IiA...

A reminder: #LegacyOnIce broadcast today at 3pm ET 🎥 Live stream today on Peacock for the US 🌏 Live stream on YouTube outside the US: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDeU... 📼 Tape delay broadcast on NBC on March 30 at 1pm ET ➡️ The US Figure Skating Family Support Fund: usfigureskatingsupport.org

I guess Vance’s next ski trip will be to Sochi. Maybe his buddy Vlad will let him stay at the Russian president’s skazillion ruble home in the area.

Japan's Mao Shimada, 16, was utterly dominant in winning a third straight World Junior Figure Skating Championships, but the sport's new eligibility rules mean she is four months too young for the 2026 Olympics. www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com/home/2025/3/...

Bradie Tennell put herself squarely in the conversation for the 2026 US Olympic team with a very strong free skate at 4CC, giving herself the silver medal behind Kim Chaeyeon of South Korea. US skaters Sarah Everhardt and Alysa Liu were 3-4

Having buyer’s remorse if you have been purged from your job after you voted for 47 and the gutless Republicans in Congress who all but fellate him?

Boy, No. 47 likes his Pal Joeys. His takeover of the Kennedy Center came right out of the playbook used by Joey Stalin and Joey Goebbels.

Always amused by the local TV networks’ apocalyptic coverage of an impending snowstorm…in Chicago.

Reigning world figure skating silver medalist Isabeau Levito scheduled to return to competition at 2026 Olympic test event Feb. 19-20 in Assago, Italy. It will also be 2025 world champs test event for Levito, named to world team provisionally after being out since early in season with foot injury

Many members of 2025 world team expected to take part, along with at least four Oly champs.

Team effort by @espn produced this excellent story about triumph and tragedy

My former employer, the Chicago Tribune, asked if I would write something about the plane crash that killed some two dozen members of the figure skating family. Here it is:

And now have official word that Dick Button has died at age 95. As his longtime friend Jirina Ribbens said to me, "We lost young skaters and we lost the man who single-handedly made skating in America."

Overwhelmed by the tragic news of AA crash near Washington. Thoughts and prayers for those on the plane, their families, loved ones and friends. Among those killed were skaters and families and coaches returning from US Championships in Wichita, where young skaters stayed for a development camp.

My story on a skater who won’t back down.

My story on men’s short program for NBC Sports

As predicted in my story on women’s free, a team with an asterisk on Levito*

“Now I’ve kind of learned how to be a champion,” Glenn said. My story for NBC Sports

Results of the #PrevagenUSChamps rhythm dance. #FigureSkating

After winning the rhythm dance by about 10 points, reigning world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates had to skip the press conference because Chock was ill with what a USFS spokesperson called a food-related stomach issue.

My story for NBC Sports on Alysa Liu’s stunning performance.

Alysa Liu has been landing 3axel in practice but will not try them in nationals competition this week, her coach, Philip DiGuglielmo, just told me. @usfigureskating.bsky.social

You can now find my preview stories for US Fig Champs on my website, www.globetrottingbyphiliphersh.com. Profiled new pairs team Audrey Shin - Balazs Nagy and singles medal contender Sarah Everhardt.

About to cover my 38th @usfigureskating national championships. Never gets old (even if I have). Follow my stories on nbcsports.com

After a surprising fourth at nationals last year, she has established herself as potential medalist. My story for NBC Sports.

Asked Jason Brown after his withdrawal from nationals if he would petition for world team spot. This was his answer: "As far as worlds, I’m currently addressing my equipment issues to best determine my path forward before making any final decisions.. . .

Jason Brown just announced on IG that he has withdrawn from this week’s US Figure Skating Championships