Scott Hamilton to glide into unofficial swan song

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Fans of Scott Hamilton won't want to miss today's Target Stars on Ice performance at Alltel Arena because this is his final tour with the show.

"They've really put him to work in this last season," says fellow skater Kurt Browning, the 34-year-old heir apparent to Hamilton, 42.

"The show has many sweet moments," Browning says of the unofficial tribute to Hamilton. "It's not a blatant swan song, but it's subtle and sweet."

The ending might even be a tear-jerker.

"I can account for that," Browning says. "I've done it myself a couple of times already."

Crowd favorite Tara Lipinski will return this year along with Kristi Yamaguchi, Ilia Kulik, Denis Petrov, Steven Cousins and pair skaters Jenni Meno and Todd Sand and dance skaters Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur.

New to the tour this year is Yuka Sato, whom Browning calls "a really silent, quiet, gorgeous skater."

Not returning from last year's show is Ekaterina Gordeeva, who is expecting her second child.

The two-hour show (tickets are $30-$55) starts at 7 p.m. and includes rockin' numbers with popular songs like Creed's "Higher" and groovin' tunes like Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools."

A mix of performances highlights technical and artistic skills.

One of Browning's solo skating pieces contains no jumps whatsoever. So in his other solo, Browning says, "I try to make up for it."

The show, in its 15th season, is nearing the end of its 65-city tour. It's also sort of an ending of a dream for Hamilton.

"What he wanted was a place where he could really skate," Browning says. "He wanted to create something that would last longer than he would."

The show had a simple beginning.

"It's one of those situations where two guys sat down over coffee one day," Browning says.

Though he's not calling himself the prospective leader of the group, Browning acknowledges the talk that he's the next in line.

"It'll just be osmosis or as much by example," he says of his potential leadership.

This year, he says, "I feel inspired by what Scott's doing on the ice," Browning says. "All of us are just kind of in his coattails a little bit."

Browning says Hamilton is skating better than he has in five years, during which time he struggled through testicular cancer and ankle troubles.

"He's got a totally different approach to his lifestyle," Browning says. "He's just so aware of himself thanks to having cancer."

Hamilton has been a strong role model for the skaters and one of their main sources of fun.

"His humor is intellectual," Browning says. "We do Top Ten lists, usually about things that happen on tour -- inside jokes that are fun for us." That includes: "The Top Ten uses for the food from catering or Top Ten reasons why Scott should own his own small country."

At the same time they're celebrating Hamilton this year, the skaters also are preparing for touring without him.

"Next year we'll be back as strong as ever," Browning says.

And Hamilton?