Regular readers of my humble, little sports-related opinion piece will know that I actually quite like figure skating.

 My fellow "3-on-3" cohort Steve Tanner might try to tell you that the judging is far too subjective and that it's not a real sport and, blah, blah, blah.

 And he's entitled to that opinion.

 We've certainly seen in many an international competition that corrupted judging can dramatically and subjectively alter the outcome of high-profile figure skating events, including the Olympics.

 Just ask Jamie Salé and David Pelletier.

 Speaking of them, I still wonder after all these years, if the colour of the medal they received didn't really matter to them, why then didn't they stick it in the International Olympic Committee's craw and return the gold they were "awarded" after the judging scandal at the Salt Lake Games broke?

 Would've seemed like a great way to make a poignant point.

 But to me, the enjoyment I get from figure skating doesn't really come from victory in the same way it does when I'm taking in other sports.

 In fact, if anything, I'd have to equate my affinity for figure skating in much the same way that people appreciate professional wrestling.

 While I pull for Canadians when I see them in competition, I don't get hung up on things if they don't win - rather, I'm there for the show.

 It's like saying I remember Mick Foley crashing through the top of the cage and nearly killing himself in a display of sheer amazing lunacy at "Hell in a Cell," but I don't remember how, exactly, Undertaker won the match.

advertisement

 That's what makes seeing "Stars on Ice" each spring in Halifax such a treat - it's not about points or hitting jumps or even perfect landings. Instead, it's a chance for figure skaters to be brazen and fun and creative and to really see what they can do to make the audience get up and cheer.

 And, perhaps, it is that same desire to see a skating spectacular that compelled me to tune into the opening week of CBC's "Battle of the Blades."

 For anyone unfamiliar, the concept is simple - take a fistful of attractive and well-known female figure skaters, sprinkle in former NHLers, toss them together into a format mirroring "Dancing With the Stars," (but on ice) and let chill for an hour.

 And, at first, I was skeptical.

 Let's face it, the CBC does not have a great track record with most of the primetime television concepts it comes up with.

 I still don't think "Little Mosque on the Prairie" is funny. Maybe I don't get Western Canadian humour - after all, I was never a big fan of "Corner Gas" either.

 And before anyone points it out, I know that "Corner Gas" was a CTV production, but the point still stands - not that funny.

 But despite a few technical difficulties with judges displaying their scores, I have to say that I quite enjoyed the first installment of "Battle of the Blades," and was even fairly impressed with the routines our favourite couples performed.

 Sure, they weren't overly complex, but performing lifts and carries and spins at a modest speed is no small feat.

 And there was something about the juxtaposition of these petite female figure skaters and brawny former hockey players dancing about together that was amusing.

 One thing that was striking, however, was the crowd - or rather the lack thereof.

 I didn't really notice it in the premiere, but in the results show, it was quite clear that there were many empty seats in the dimly lit shadows of Maple Leaf Gardens.

 It made me wonder if, should "Battle" survive for a second season, the CBC might want to consider taking the show on the road and doing a tour of sorts in smaller cities throughout the country.

 In downtown Toronto, former NHLers learning to figure skate might not be a huge attention grabber, but in the likes of Halifax, Saint John, Quebec City or Saskatoon, it could draw well.

 Finally, the judging left a little to be desired. Guest judge Kelly Hrudey seemed more interested in commenting on what everyone was wearing rather than the performances. Dick Button looked as though he wasn't sure where he was much of the time.

 Would not a young, vibrant, articulate Jeff Buttle have made a better judge?

 But, despite some minor flaws, it really wasn't that bad - good enough, in fact, that I'll give week two a look.

posted on 10/13/09