I was more than a bit surprised to wake up yesterday morning to learn that the men’s ice skating had started at the Vancouver Olympics.

I guess this pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the Olympics, who watches what, and how that determines scheduling, especially when things appear on TV.

The men’s short program was held Tuesday night. Yes, in the middle of the week. Without a whole lot of fanfare.

Russian Evgeni Plushenko is leading after the short program. American Evan Lysacek is second.

I offer this lament because I have a rooting interest in the men’s skating, and I’m not in the least bashful about saying it.

My guy, the pride of Chester County, Johnny Weir, is trailing in sixth place. Anything can happen in the long program, which takes place tonight.

I happened to be friends in high school with Weir’s parents. In fact, his dad and I played on the football team together in Oxford, Pa. His mom was a cheerleader.

Oxford’s a pretty small town. As one of our high school yearbooks once said, live there awhile and you get to know the place pretty well.

Especially back in the ’60s and ’70s. Let’s face it, the place was kind of remote. We sort of made our own fun. Basically, we rode around town in cars and waved to each other at the red light in center city. We tried to stay out of trouble, with only moderate success. You get the idea there was not a lot to do back then in Oxford. You’re right. I still wouldn’t trade growing up there for anywhere else.

Those names and faces from those years growing up kind of get seared into your memory.

Which is why I still kick myself to this day about how long it took me to make my own personal connection with Johnny Weir.

Basically, I was sitting in my office four years ago watching the “Today” Show. They were doing a spot from the Olympics in Turin, and Johnny Weir’s family was being featured.

They flashed a shot of his mom. That looks like Patti Moore, I said to myself. Of course, it turned out it was Patti Moore, now Patti Weir. She married John Weir. Johnny was their son. I was dumbstruck that I had not made the connection earlier. Her sister, mom and dad were all there. I went to school with Patti. Her brother also played on the football team with John and me. My sister was good friends with her sister. I had sat next to her family in church for years.

For some reason, Oxford never seems to get mentioned in the coverage of Weir. They usually reference him as being born in Coatesville and growing up and starting his skating career in Quarryville, which is just over the line in Lancaster County.

Don’t kid yourself. Johnny Weir’s roots are in Oxford.

I have to admit I was a little perplexed to learn how the men’s competition had started so early, and with so little fanfare. Maybe things will warm up tonight.

You can bet I will be watching tonight to see if the son of my high school friends can make his way to the medal stand.

Go, Johnny, go!