06), and no Canadian has won

NICE, France -- Toller Cranston calls himself estranged from the figure skating world, and on his sprawling property high in the lush mountains of central Mexico, surrounded by his sculptures and colourful paintings, he is indeed a world away from the ice rink. Cameron Jordan Saints Jersey . Yet Cranston cant help but watch Patrick Chan. "Im on another planet watching Patrick Chan with binoculars and applauding along with the rest of the world," Cranston said from his home in San Miguel de Allende. Chan is the defending champion at the world figure skating championships this week in Nice, France, and hes looking to add to his legacy. No skater has won back-to-back mens titles since Switzerlands Stephane Lambiel (2005 and 06), and no Canadian has won two in a row in any discipline since Elvis Stojko in 1994 and 95. But Cranston said the 21-year-old from Toronto has already made his mark on the sport. And several generations of Canadian skating stars agree. Cranston, Kurt Browning, Stojko, Brian Orser and Donald Jackson --all world champions -- say Chan can do it all. The five-foot-eight skater is the full package -- impeccable skating skills, footwork and spins, big jumps, exquisite artistry and an ability to draw in the crowd. How good is Chan? "I almost dont want to watch him because its too depressing. Its too good," Cranston said. "Patrick Chan has literally -- with Kurt, Elvis, Brian, me -- hes literally left us buried in the dust. There has never really been anything like him. What he is is the absolute quintessential mixture of artist and sportsman. "I dont think I could watch him skate live, Id commit suicide out of depression at how good he is," Cranston added, erupting in loud laughter. The 62-year-old Cranston, an Olympic and world bronze medallist, was known for his groundbreaking artistry. Hes washed his hands of the sport, in part because of the new judging system that was implemented following the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics that he feels has killed the skatings popularity and stifled its creativity. Chan, he believes, transcends the marking system. "Its way beyond (scoring)," Cranston said. "Patrick Chan is and will become very important to the history of figure skating. Hes just one of those extraordinary people with a bright future and is also an impeccable role model for the world." Chan went undefeated through 2011, claiming the world title last April in Moscow and setting three world scoring records in the process. He began 2012 in much the same manner, winning his fifth Canadian title and then the ISU Four Continents title. Cranston believes the person Chan is off the ice is just as crucial to his success. "Hes as nice as apple pie," Cranston said. Hes respectful of his coaches. And hes smart. Chan is fluent in three languages, plays piano, is proficient at several sports, and is a strong student. He recently spent a night at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo., building a computer from parts. "In order to push the envelope in the sport, you have to have a brain," said Cranston, who was a self-supporting artist at 16, is fluent in four languages, and has published nine books. Orser, a two-time Olympic silver medallist, met Chan at the Toronto Cricket Club when the young skater "was a little pipsqueak," and had a good feeling Chan would develop into a world-class skater. "Just by his work ethic," Orser said. "He just loves skating, so that was kind of shining through, and he had lots of energy." He sees himself in Chans ability to draw the crowd in with his interpretation of the music. "He likes to show the control of his edges and the different leaps and things that go with the music," Orser said. "I wouldnt let a beat go by -- if there was some kind of crescendo or something in the music, I had to do something. It didnt have to be a triple Axel, it could be some kind of a kick, or leap or accent on the music, and thats what Patrick does. "He makes us listen to the music and appreciate the music." Chan emerged from a disappointing 2010 Olympic season that saw him finish fifth at the Vancouver Games to elevate his skating. The addition of the quad jump -- the one element that had been missing from his programs -- sent him soaring past his opponents. Jackson said its not his jumping, but everything else that sets him apart from his peers. "Its the in-between, and thats what Patrick has," said Jackson, whose gold-medal performance at the 1962 world championships is still considered one of the greatest in history. "Hes head and shoulders over a lot of people because he worked on the basics. Hes got the full package. "And he connects with the audience, which is important. I think he loves what hes doing and it just shows." Browning, a four-time world champion, said its difficult to describe what he admires most in Chans skating -- theyre the subtle things more easily appreciated by his peers than the average fan. "We did a little 30-second (segment) together in Korea last summer, and I was like Slow down dude, youre leaving me! He was like, I am slowing down," Browning said, with a laugh. "It was really interesting to be on the ice with him and just appreciate how he transfers energy into flow. "For me, the quad, I can find on YouTube a couple of sweet quads (Browning did). And I know I did quad-triple combos and I did triple Axel-quad toe combo. . . I did lots of cool stuff. What I love the most about Patrick is the crazy transfer of energy that he can do. I just dont get it. Its amazing." Stojko, whos also not a fan of the scoring system that did away with the perfect 6.0 mark, calls Chan the "poster child" for the new system. "Hes doing what the system asks him to do," said the three-time world champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist. "Hes a fantastic skater, hes got great edges, hes got great skating ability, he has all that into one." Stojko slammed the judges and the scoring system at the Vancouver Olympics, writing in a column for Yahoo Sports that American Evan Lysacek didnt deserve gold and Chan didnt deserve to finish fifth, because neither had a quad jump in their program. "After the Olympics, Patrick started doing the quads and that was awesome, it made it exciting because he added two quads," said Stojko, whose strength was his huge jumps. "But now it needs to be pushed more, it has to go further." Few will argue that the sport doesnt enjoy the popularity it did in the days of Browning and Stojko. Chan would love nothing better than to personally grab the spotlight and turn it back on skating. A gold in Nice, he believes, will go a long way in helping. "I want to bring more attention to the sport and hopefully, with winning another title, people will pay attention a bit more to how hard we skaters train and how difficult it is to become successful," Chan said. "Its a big motivation for myself in order to change figure skating and put it back on the map." He faces a tough task. So far his success on the ice hasnt drawn significant interest from Canadas corporate community. McDonalds remains his only major endorsement deal. He also doesnt have as many vehicles to promote the sport as Canadas skating stars once did. Cranston made a second career out of professional ice and stage shows -- everything from performing at Radio City Music Hall to "Stars on Ice." But there are few shows left, and they dont draw the crowds they once did. "Patrick Chan at least right now does not have alternative vehicles to promote himself," Cranston said. "We know him because of the competitions, we dont know him because he starred on Broadway." Browning said Chans victory at the world championships last year in Moscow -- an event that was postponed and then moved following the Japan earthquake and tsunami -- went largely unrecognized. "Im really hoping that if Patrick can win the worlds, that somehow a little bit more light does shine his way," Browning said. "I think for a great guy who is a good friend of mine who can do things on the ice that I couldnt dream of, I hope that, one, he does get to win again and, two, that he just somehow in the news day, that he gets a little bit more attention." Saints #77 Jersey ., native Andrew Wiggins wasnt around a year ago for one of the worst nights in Kansas basketball history. Vinnie Sunseri Saints Jersey . - Former NFL safety Darren Sharper pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he drugged and raped two women he met at a West Hollywood night club, while the emergence of a new accuser in Florida left him under investigation in five states.GOLD COAST, Australia -- Adam Scott shot an even-par 71 on Saturday and extended his lead to three strokes at the Australian PGA going into Sundays final round at a wind-swept Royal Pines. Scott, playing the first of four consecutive tournaments in Australia and for the first time since his U.S. Masters triumph in April, had a three-round total of 10-under 203. He led by two shots after the second round. Hell play in Sundays final group with American Rickie Fowler, who also shot 71 and was tied for second with Australian David McKenzie, who shot 72. Australian Marc Leishman shot 68 and was in a group of five tied for sixth, five strokes behind Scott. "It was a grind for everyone, "Scott said. "I didnt see too many good scores out there." He bogeyed the par-4 seventh and eighth holes before making birdie on the par-5 12th and 15th holes. &quuot;I just tried to play a little better on the back nine, and took advantage of the par-5s," he said.Curtis Lofton Saints Jersey. "Later in the day when the wind picks up, its a bit of a luck of the draw coming into the greens low and at slow speed." He felt fortunate to increase his lead in such tough conditions. "Ive improved my spot just slightly," Scott said. "I would have taken that score at this stage of the tournament." Fowler was wayward with some of his tee shots, which cost him when it came to birdie opportunities on the greens. "Tomorrow, Id like to play on the fairways a little bit more," he said. "I havent been able to get the balls as close as Id like. "If the breeze stays up, it will be tough. The fairways arent too generous. But Im looking forward to play with Adam, hes a great guy and fun to play with." Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '