Paul Oberjuerge: Steppin' Out to the Rink

I’ve written before that only two sports events prompt people at the arena to wear tuxedos -– figure skating and boxing. Go figure.

A tuxedo? Can’t go there. Don’t own one, never will, and the rental fees for three weeks here would have been outrageous.

But I DO own this one sport coat. And here it is.

Turns out, this black sport coat has come "home." It’s got a "Made in Italy" tag in it. I bought it at Banana Republic, like, five years ago on the sale rack for $50. One of the better clothing purchases I’ve ever made. Not that I make many ...

I've been wearing the same three shirts and same three turtleneck ski shirts (and same three pairs of jeans) since I got here, all of it old and kinda ratty. Oh, except for the day I wore the 1994 World Cup sweatshirt. I look like a guy who 1) doesn't know how to pack and 2) didn't have anything worth being packed. But we've been over that, haven't we?

But a TIE at the women's long skate ... maybe this will give me some "Ice Cred."

This is something I never, ever do. I may have to walk in and out of here a few times just so my colleagues can see me ... in a coat and tie. Like Dick Button!

More than a few fellow hacks asked me, "What's up with the tie? Going to a funeral? Got a job interview?" Funny things like that. Ha ha.

I still had on my coat and tie, and sat in the second row of the medalists press conference, and I thought Sasha Cohen might want to point me out as a skate journalist fashion icon ... but she never got around to it.