Sow Cows
I used to watch figure skating when I was a kid. I was always fascinated by the grace and speed and delicacy involved. I’m not a graceful person, so I really appreciate their skills. However, there was one thing I never understood, which recently came to light. You see, until yesterday, I had never read about figure skating, I had always heard it announced as I was watching tv. Since we don’t get any channels, and I was missing the Olympic action, I thought I’d read a few news stories and catch up a bit.
Watching the televised competitions I thought I had really picked up the lingo well. You had your lutzes, and your axels, and your sow cows. I could never figure out why a jump so graceful was called a sow cow. There is nothing graceful about sows or cows, and when Nancy Kerrigan or Michelle Kwan danced around the ice I never noticed anything bovine or piggish about either one, so it remained a mystery.
Until yesterday. When, for the first time ever, I read the sports section and discovered that the impressive Sow Cow move is actually called a Salchow. I am so dumb.
You’re not dumb at all! When I discovered that, I was like “huh? quit messin’.” Same thing with when I discovered “Colonel” is pronounced “kernel”. Give. Me. A. Break.
I’m new to your blog, btw, and am enjoying quite a bit.
Comment by Julie (rarely-home mom) — February 16, 2006 @ 12:36 am
Dumb? Maybe
Alone? Not so much.
I thought the same thing.
Comment by Kathryn, the daring one — February 16, 2006 @ 6:46 am
No, really. Its “sow cow.” I swear…
Comment by capello — February 16, 2006 @ 4:29 pm
you’re dumb? I thought it was a sow cow and never even questioned it for a minute. Graceful jump with a bovine name…why not? Of course, I used to think things were weighed in libs. As in, ‘that box weighs ten lbs’. (or libs). *sigh*
Comment by jenny — February 17, 2006 @ 10:05 pm
well, that makes you & the rest of America (less the skating community, and even then, I might say half of them don’t know).
Comment by jenfromboston — February 21, 2006 @ 2:16 am