Is Emily Hughes headed to Turin/Torino?

That's the big question. Currently, Michelle Kwan may have injured herself again. The AP reports on the latest news that may give Emily Hughes the spot that she truly earned while skating at the United States Figure Skating Championships last January in St. Louis, Missouri. I definitely think that an American will win the short figure skating program. In 2002, it was 16-year-old Sarah Hughes. In 1998, 15-year-old Tara Lipinski took home the gold.

Michelle Kwan's long-shot quest for an Olympic gold medal became even less likely Saturday when she cut short her first practice session here because of a lingering groin injury that apparently has not fully healed.

Kwan, 25, said she would withdraw from the U.S. figure skating team, giving her spot to Emily Hughes, if the condition does not improve. The women's short program is Feb. 21.

"It's not something that I want to do, but I have to listen to my body," Kwan said at a news conference following her practice session.

If we look at that history, then 16-year-old Kimmie Meissner will take home the Gold.

As the Cardinals enter spring training next week, the big question is: Will Scott Rolen be healthy? If Rolen stays healthy all year, the Cardinals should have a great year which should lead to another World Series berth.

I got this one in my inbox yesterday from BangItOut.com. It's yet to be linked there online but should be on soon.

Top Ten Overheard Comments from your Bubbe while watching the Winter Olympics
10. Nordic Skiing: Your uncle ordered one of those machines from the TV and still hasn’t used it.
9. Women’s Figure Skating: These girls are so thin; no wonder why they aren’t married
8. Curling: Looks more like cleaning for Pesach to me.
7. Biathlon: Two Federation telethons?
6. Men’s Figure Skating: I hear what’s-his-name’s grandson’s is a faigalah
5. Snowboarding: I hear what’s-his-name’s grandson’s is on drugs
4. Sasha Cohen: I think I know her grandmother from bingo
3. Speedskating: That deodorant is wonderful on my skin. You want to try mine?
2. Luge: That’s the airport in Israel that lost my bags once.
1. Giant Slalom: Shabbat Slalom to you too.

Mark Warner has endorsed New Hampshire's first in the nation status.

Want to know which Sunday news show to watch if you aren't watching the 2006 Winter Olympics? Then read the Washington Post. For what it's worth, Sen. Lieberman is on Late Edition.

Mazel Tov to my favorite actress Natalie Portman! She's being honored as the Female Star of the Year by ShoWest.

Portman will be presented with the award at the closing-night ceremony March 16 at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.

"Natalie Portman has delivered an impressive array of performances throughout her terrific career, which began in 1994 when she burst onto the scene in the highly regarded The Professional opposite Jean Reno," said Mitch Neuhauser, co-managing director of the event. "She has the unique ability to draw deep emotion from audiences as evidenced in such films as Heat, Beautiful Girls, Where the Heart Is, Cold Mountain and Closer."

Perhaps someone should tell Maryland Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele that he may be running against someone who is Jewish come the general election in November. His remarks comparing stem cell research to experiments by you know who during the Holocaust were uncalled for and I'm not sure if I can accept his apology. He should think before he speaks.

"I offended members of the Jewish community and members of the Maryland community," Steele said outside a Prince George's nursing home. "It was a remark that was an improper inference, because I never specifically said Holocaust...And it did not reflect my attitude and my belief, and I am really sorry about the whole thing."[...]

"Michael Steele does not have the right to compare the lifesaving potential of stem cell research to the barbarity of the Holocaust," said Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, one of several Democrats running to replace retiring Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D). "His remarks were offensive to the millions of Americans who stand to benefit [from] this research, as well as to Holocaust survivors and their families."

State Sen. Sharon M. Grosfeld (D-Montgomery), the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, said she was "shocked by the ignorance of the statement." Another Senate candidate, former congressman and former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume, said he also was offended by Steele's comments about slavery. "Any further comparison to equate slavery to stem cell research is a reach that I and others who are the descendants of slaves don't understand," he said.

I hear that they daven Mincha and Ma'ariv at Camden Yards.

Evan Bayh is in Iowa this weekend. Perhaps Chris and Drew will be liveblogging some of the events?

Kentucky had a very close loss.