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spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","Michelle Kwan","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051223/051223_kwan_vmed4p.vsmall.jpg","","Image: Michelle Kwan", "", "", "", "", "right", "Michael Dwyer", "AP file", "198", "148", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "How the story grows:
If Kwan does the impossible and wins gold, they can shut down the Olympics right then and everybody else goes home. Even if the U.S. star is in medal contention after the short program, the final routine becomes a great melodrama.
How the story went:
Kwan never even had a chance to try for the gold. She withdrew from the competition due to a hip injury.";
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","Bode Miller","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060109/060109_bode_file_vmed_11a.vsmall.jpg","","Image: Bode Miller", "", "", "", "", "right", "Vincenzo Pinto", "Getty Images file", "198", "137", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "
Alpine skiing
How the story grows:
If Bode puts his skis where his mouth is, this will be a very entertaining time on the mountains. A gold in the slalom is what he needs to cement his image among Americans, forever, as a big-time Alpine hero.
How the story is eclipsed:
Very easily. Three other guys are potentially just as big, if they win instead of Bode: Daron Rahlves (he's American), Hermann Maier (he's the Herminator) or Giorgio Rocca (he's the hometown favorite). If that happens, all the newspaper coverage disappears for Bode. Miller goes home a rebel without a clause, except maybe for a parenthetical one.";
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","Chad Hedrick","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/2005/051226/051226_hedrick_hmed_4p.htease.jpg","","Image: Chad Hedrick", "", "", "", "", "right", "Antonio Calanni", "AP file", "109", "148", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "
Speedskating
How the story grows:
Hedrick, 28, is entered in five Olympic events, which means he can potentially win five gold medals, which happens to be the same number once collected by U.S. legend Eric Heiden. He was slow to gain respect among the long-track community, because he is a transplanted in-line skater and demonstrated clumsy form. But in the past year, Hedrick has set world records at 1500 meters (1:42.78), 5000 meters (6:09.68) and 3000 meters (3:39.02). Only the 1500-meter mark still stands, but he certainly will be a factor in every race.
How the story is eclipsed:
The mean Dutch, who have made fun of Hedrick's style, can spoil everything with a couple victories. Or U.S. teammate Shani Davis can suddenly win a big medal, and become the better story as a successful African-American speedskater.";
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","Apolo Anton Ohno","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051218/051218_weeknd_rdp_hmed5p.htease.jpg","","Image: Apolo Anton Ohno", "", "", "", "", "right", "Kevork Djansezian", "AP file", "98", "148", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "
Short-track speedskating
How the story grows:
If the U.S. star wins another controversial gold, as he did in 2002 in Salt Lake City when Kim Dong-Sung of South Korea was disqualified, then Ohno becomes huge.
How the story is eclipsed:
Ahn Hyun-Soo of South Korea is seeking revenge for Kim. Ahn will be going for triple gold at 500 meters, 1000 meters and 1500 meters and may block Ohno, quite literally, at every turn.";
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","Shaun White","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/apmegasports/nyoly25601261718.vsmall.jpg","","Image: Shaun White", "", "", "", "", "right", "Todd Bissonette", "AP file", "198", "132", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "
Snowboarding
How the story grows:
White is a hero among the younger, X-Games set, and is a lock for a gold in this event - maybe even the first gold medal for the U.S. at these Olympics. His tricks will amaze and create a whole new audience.
How the story is eclipsed:
The men's downhill is scheduled for the same day. If Miller or Rahlves wins gold, very few people will remember what White did on the first Sunday of the Olympics. And if U.S. athletes already won in moguls or speedskating the day before, this gold loses a bit of the luster.";
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","Evgeni Plushenko","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050317/050317_plushenko_vmed_8a.vsmall.jpg","","Image: Evgeni Plushenko", "", "", "", "", "right", "Alexander Zemlianichenko", "AP file", "198", "132", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "
Figure skating
How the story grows:
Here is one of the greatest men's figure skaters of all time, and if he is healthy Plushenko will put on an amazing show. Plushenko's quad jumps and combinations are light years ahead of competitors. Where there were two great Russians at Salt Lake - Alexei Yagudin and Plushenko - there is now only one.
How the story is eclipsed:
Hard to see how, unless there is an 11th-hour recurrence of one of Plushenko's many prior injuries.";
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","Canada's men's hockey","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050815/050815_2002canadaolympichockey_vlg_11a.vsmall.jpg","","Image: Martin Brodeur", "", "", "", "", "right", "Joe Bryksa", "Winnipeg Free Press file", "198", "131", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "
How the story grows:
There will be pressure galore, and plenty of close calls as Team Canada tries for an encore. The country's pride and joy, Wayne Gretzky, has organized a team that looks swifter, deeper and more experienced on paper than it was in 2002. The games on the big sheet of ice figure to be glorious for any true hockey fan.
How the story is eclipsed:
The Czechs, 1998 gold medalists, are sending Jaromir Jagr and what feels like most of the Rangers to Turin, and the Rangers are having a good season. The Americans or Swedes could surprise. Another red flag for Gretzky-philes: Canada is in the easier qualifying pool, which is actually bad because it will have a much tougher crossover game in the quarterfinal round.";
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","Janica Kostelic ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss_060118_alpine/ss_060118_alpine_05.htease.jpg","","Image: Janica Kostelic ", "", "", "", "", "right", "Thomas Coex", "Getty Images file", "98", "148", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "
Alpine skiing
How the story grows:
If she gets on a winning streak, Kostelic knows how to ride the wave. The Croatian skier captured three gold and one silver Alpine medal in Salt Lake City, winning the slalom, giant slalom and combined. She missed the 2003-04 season with thyroid problems, but she's back, still only 24, and ready to battle archrival Anja Paerson of Sweden.
How the story is eclipsed:
If Paerson gets hot, or if one of the Americans, Julia Mancuso or Lindsey Kildow, reach the podium, Kostelic doesn't matter so much.";
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","U.S. women's hockey","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051227/051227_uswmns_hockey_vmed3p.vsmall.jpg","","Image: Krissy Wendell", "", "", "", "", "right", "Jeff Gross", "Getty Images file", "167", "148", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "
How the story grows:
The women's hockey team is expected to finish second, behind Canada, which means the Americans can claim that conveniently dramatic underdog role. There will be plenty of build-up for the only game that matters, the final. The team's former captain, Cammi Granato, was cut from the team by coach/heretic Ben Smith, and now she gets to tip-toe around the issue as a color commentator. Krissy Wendell of Minnesota is the new Granato, the captain and star, and all eyes will be on her performance as leader.
How the story is eclipsed:
Simple: Canada 3, U.S. 1. The defending champion Canadians have simply been the better side recently (minus the final at the 2005 Worlds). Canada beat the U.S. in seven of nine warmup games recently.
\"I live to play Canada,\" says veteran U.S. defenseman Angela Ruggiero.
Be careful what you wish for.";
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i++] = new Array("","Vonetta Flowers","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060123/060123_FLOWERS_vmed_12p.vsmall.jpg","","Image: Vonetta Flowers", "", "", "", "", "right", "Felice Calabro", "AP file", "192", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_0129_oly_top10stories[i-1].body = "
Bobsled
How the story grows:
If she has a strong first run, then this story gets dramatic legs. Brakewoman Flowers won a gold medal in 2002 with Jill Bakken, and will partner with Jean Prahm in search of a second one. Back in Salt Lake City, she became the first African-American to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, after failing to make the Olympics as a long jumper. A second gold would move Flowers into a special stratosphere of Winter Games stars.
How the story is eclipsed:
One slip on the push-off at the start, Flowers is little more than agate on Page 23 of your sports section.";
// END editorial data