Parker: Skating star Michelle Kwan may come to college in Denver

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published May 25, 2006 at midnight

Text size

More News Columns & Blogs

Figure skating superstar Michelle Kwan - who's shown up here a time or two since she dropped out of the Winter Olympics in February - is considering calling Denver her college home.

While lunching at the Capital Grille with her mom on Tuesday, Kwan told the News' Top of the Rocky server Steve Trudell that she's looking to transfer her UCLA college credits to DU as a political science major.

Why Denver? I'm told that a blossoming romance between the Olympic skater and Denver developer Christian Anschutz, son of major mogul Phil Anschutz, could have something to do with the potential Rocky Mountain relocation.

"She is one of the nicest, nicest, nicest people ever," Trudell said when he told Kwan that he and his mother, Sharon Trudell, are huge fans. "She is totally nice beyond a normal person."

Kwan was spotted in Denver in February, just days after she exited the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, due to a groin injury. She reportedly came to town to celebrate Christian's birthday. After that, Kwan invited Christian to escort her to a White House luncheon in April in honor of Chinese President Hu Jintao and Madame Liu Yongqing.

Kwan's Denver visit comes during a break in the Champions on Ice tour, which makes a stop at the Pepsi Center on July 22.

DENVER DATE: Don't know who twisted what arm (or what throat), but the American Idols Live Tour, which snubbed Denver when the schedule was first released, now will hit the Pepsi Center on Sept. 5. The Top 10 finalists from the hit Fox show (including our own Ace Young) will perform during the show that was added after the tour was set to end on Sept. 2.

Ya think Ace being from Colorado helped? And not only did Denver have a Top 10 finisher in Young, but auditions were held here.

Tickets go on sale at 10 this morning through Ticketmaster.

FOUR MINUS TWO: CBS 4 afternoon anchor Stephanie Riggs and weather watcher Larry Green will deliver their last duo newscast at 4 p.m. Friday.

Green is retiring after nearly 30 years at the station. Riggs, whose job was eliminated when the station snagged Oprah, is looking for another job.

CBS 4 cast and crew will give the twosome a send-off at 2 today, while friends and fans will celebrate their careers at separate parties on Friday.

Riggs tells me she's been overwhelmed by the kind letters and e-mails from viewers sad to see her go.

She's confident she'll be back on the air, even if the next career move takes her out of town.

B-DAY BONUS: The Broker restaurant, 821 17th St., wants to make your birthday cake taste a little sweeter by picking up the tab for dinner for the birthday girl or guy if you dine there on your birth date.

Show your driver's license to verify the date and a dandy din-din will be covered, minus beverages, tax and tip. Reservations: 303-292-5065.

CASTING CALL: The Second City comedy troupe is casting understudy parts for How I Lost My Denverginity, now in previews at the Garner Galleria Theatre. Applicants must have improvisational training or more than one year's experience performing improv theater.

Auditions will be June 6 in the Garner Galleria. Appointments: 303-446-4858.

EAVESDROPPING outside a Starbucks in Fort Collins: "Just admit you're addicted to caffeine and buy a box of Vivarin. You'll save about 40 bucks."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. . Call her at 303-892-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News