Figure Skating: The Soaring, Spinning Battle Of the Brians

When the best American and the best Canadian face off next week, a friendly, decade-long skating rivalry will finally be settled

"We are a lot alike."

-- Brian Boitano

"We have a lot of similarities."

-- Brian Orser

That's a lot of understatement. Brian Boitano and Brian Orser are linked circles in a perfect figure eight -- they mirror each other. It is not just because they have the same name, the same lean look and the same longish hairstyle. The two are both homebodies who enjoy the pampered slot of youngest in a long line of siblings. Each took up skating before his tenth birthday, and (unlike most skaters) still trains with his first and only coach. Both have captured a...

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