Scott, free

Facing age and injury, Scott Hamilton enters the next phase of his skating career

At 42, Scott Hamilton is one of the most decorated figure skaters in the world.

To his resume of titles -- four-time World Champion (1981-84); 1984 Olympic champion; World Professional Champion in '84 and '86; 1990 inductee in both the U.S. Olympic and World Figure Skating halls of fame -- add quintessential showman.

In the past few years, however, it's been harder for the show to go on: In 1997, Hamilton survived a bruising bout with testicular cancer; in 1998, he underwent reconstructive surgery on his ankle.

He beat the cancer; the ankle injury has proven to be less threatening but more nagging. After 15 years with Stars on Ice -- a show he co-founded -- Hamilton decided that it was time to step out of the spotlight.

His 65-city farewell tour with what is now Target Stars on Ice -- the retailer is in its second season as the show's name sponsor -- descends on the Pepsi Arena at 7:30 tonight. Hamilton has revved up his programs to once again deliver stellar performances and supersede his personal best.

"It's kind of a nice even-odd number to go out on,'' Hamilton said over the phone from a tour stop in New York City. "It seemed logical and made sense.''

Though his health did play a factor in the decision, Hamilton quickly allayed any fears that his 1997 bout with prostate cancer was the culprit.

"It took time to come back from the chemo and surgery,'' Hamilton said. "But my ankle just got so painful that I didn't know how long I could continue to tour.''

Last summer, the Stars on Ice skaters set off for Lake Placid to begin training and getting in shape for the huge year. Suddenly, Hamilton's ankle became stronger and started responding to physical therapy.

"It's like my ankle knew that I wasn't going to be punishing it anymore -- like I have for the last 17 to 33 years,'' Hamilton laughed. "It was like all of a sudden, bam, the skies parted, the sun started shining, the birds started chirping, and I started skating probably better than I've ever skated.

"My ankle just decided, 'OK, now you're fine. I can get you through this entire year at a level that you haven't been able to skate at for a long time.' ''

But Hamilton stuck with his decision to move on.

"It's the right move for me, personally, to not be out there for a six- to seven-month commitment,'' Hamilton said. "I've been on the road for twentysomething years, every year. It seemed like it was important for this tour to let this cast take it in new directions. There are other things I'd like to pursue that won't keep me on the road for eight months a year.'' ALL-STAR REVUE

Hamilton co-founded Stars on Ice 15 years ago with Bob Kain of International Management Group. The idea evolved after the Ice Capades chose not to renew its contract with Hamilton, who had done three years with the show. Hamilton sums up the Ice Capades philosophy as "male skaters didn't draw ticket sales.''

To prove them wrong, Hamilton set out to create a showcase for skaters that would allow them to continue to develop after their amateur careers had ended.

If there's one message Hamilton wants to convey to the Stars on Ice cast, it's that their responsibility to grow and develop doesn't end with an Olympic championship.

"The professional skating thing isn't a way to round out your competitive career,'' he said. "It's a brand-new entity that you need to feed every single day.''

Hamilton hopes to set a more immediate example with his farewell performance.

"There are a number of ways I could have done this year,'' Hamilton said. "I could stand at center ice and wave. Or party and whoop it up and celebrate every night.''

"But, instead,'' he continued,"I'm doing the hardest show I've ever done.''

His encore -- performed to the tune of "My Way'' and packed with triples and combination jumps -- serves as a kinetic medley of famous moves and numbers from throughout his career.

"It's a huge piece; it's like a monster,'' Hamilton said. "It's five minutes long at the end of the show!''

GONE, NOT FORGOTTEN

He's handing over the reins to establish some balance in his life.

"Right now, it's been all professional, and it's been constant,'' Hamilton said. "To skate at this level for this long takes a lot of time and preparation, and it's hard.

"If I allow myself to skate ... in moderation, I can skate well for many, many more years,''

"It's when you start pressing and pushing, demanding and commanding -- that's when you start tightening up and skating like an idiot.''

Make no mistake: Hamilton isn't retiring. "A friend of mine once said, 'You never retire -- you just do less.' ''

"I think what I bring to the ice is unique, and I'd like to build on that,'' he said. "If I could do less quantity, and get into another level of quality, I think that might be the way for me to go.''

He isn't sure what his level of involvement with next year's Stars on Ice tour will be. "I'll be there if they want me to be there,'' he said. "But it's their responsibility to produce something that they're going to feel good about doing every night, not me just handing them my vision.''

It will be hard to say goodbye. "Kurt (Browning) is like my brother; Stephen (Cousins) is my best friend,'' Hamilton said. "It's going to be hard seeing those guys go on and develop the next project.''

The success of the show, he feels, is its solid core cast, which also includes Hamilton's fellow Olympic Gold medalists Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi and Ilia Kulik. He wouldn't want to disrupt that cohesiveness by floating in and out.

"I soak up a lot of light,'' Hamilton said, "and I really feel like it's time for me to shift gears and do the next thing.''

Ask him to get specific about what "the next thing'' might mean, and Hamilton laughs.

"I'm just beginning to formulate that stuff now,'' he said.

He's expected to serve as a commentator for NBC's coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He intends to be "more than a name on a letterhead'' with charities such as the Special Olympics and his own Cancer Alliance for Research, Education, and Survivorship. Stars on Ice, meanwhile, will continue to generate funds for Target House, which provides housing for both cancer patients and their families at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. A portion of the show's ticket sales goes to the house; this year, that sum is expected to rise to $300,000.

Just don't expect him to take up coaching. "You know, I love kids -- I could work with kids 12 hours a day. They're out there working and trying and learning and growing and sponging and doing all those great things.''

"But don't get me near a parent. They will forever keep me out of teaching.'' NO GOODBYES

Hamilton has no regrets -- except, perhaps, a wish that he had sorted out his ankle injury sooner.

"Yeah, that would have been nice,'' he laughed. But "to be able to skate like I've been able to skate has just been a phenomenal gift.''

Hamilton says he'll truly miss knowing what it feels like to stand at center ice, seeing that audience in the stands and what they've built together over the years.