Four days after being praised as a hero for helping Russia win its first gold at the Sochi Olympics, Evgeni Plushenko was taking criticism Friday for dropping out of the mens figure skating. Plushenkos strong performance in the team event brought wide accolades for his determination to overcome injury. But on Thursday he withdrew before the mens short program, complaining of severe spinal pain during the warmup. Plushenko was Russias only men singles skater in Sochi. He won the slot in a closed exhibition skate that cut out Maxim Kovtun, who beat him in the Russian nationals. Among his critics was longtime rival Alexei Yagudin, the 2002 Olympic gold medalist. He told the R-Sport news agency he supports "people who go to the end." "I think Zhenya will understand my words," he said, using the familiar version of Plushenkos name. "We always competed through the pain." The choice of Plushenko as the sole Russian man was debatable. Although he was the dominant skater the past 15 years, with an Olympic gold and two silvers before coming to Sochi, he is 31-years-old and underwent back surgery a year ago. When he was selected, advocates argued his long international experience made him a stronger choice than the 18-year-old Kovtun. Decision comes under fire But that came under sharp questioning Friday. "You should go when its time," Ruslan Nugmatullin, a former Russian national soccer goalkeeper said on Twitter. "Kovtun earned the right to participate in Sochi2014." Alexei Urmanov, the 1994 Olympic gold-medal winner, suggested that Plushenkos hubris backfired. "Its on the conscience of Zhenya, the team and the federation," he was quoted by R-Sport. To some politicians, Plushenkos withdrawal was a blow to Russias national pride. "Perform through the pain for the honor of the country," Igor Lebedev, a parliament member from the nationalist Liberal Democrats, said on Twitter. Elena Vaitsekhovskaya, the figure skating correspondent for Russias Sport-Express newspaper, seemed weary not only of the intrigue behind Plushenkos selection but also of the appearances of his flamboyant wife, Yana Rudkovskaya, in the mixed zone to support him. "All of this was reminiscent of an incompetently directed stage show," she wrote. "It became harder and harder to sympathize with the athlete." "The one-man show in Sochi has concluded. Real sport has begun," she said in the newspapers Friday edition. But more complaints may still come. "After Sochi, the federation will have to answer for its choice," nationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky said. Kobe Bryant Shoes From China . -- LeGarrette Blount made one last big splash into a soggy end zone. Kobe Bryant Shoes Free Shipping . They named Mark Washington as their defensive co-ordinator on Thursday and appear to be closing in on an offensive co-ordinator. https://www.cheapkobebryantshoes.com/ . "Today was a very great day for me. It was always my dream to be good in GS," Wierather said. "I took quite a long time to get there. It feels awesome to have my first win (in GS)." Wierather leads overall with 595 points from Lara Gut (568), who finished second, and Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany (535). Wholesale Kobe Bryant Shoes . Here are some of the best from Week One and some to watch in Week Two: TOP PERFORMERS Anthony Allen, RB, Saskatchewan (176 YDS, 2 TD, 30 touches vs. Hamilton) - Powerfully-built back burst onto the scene in his CFL debut, after a couple of years in the NFL, playing 21 games with the Baltimore Ravens. Kobe Bryant Shoes Deals . Murakami gracefully executed a double triple toe jump and a triple flip jump that put her at the top of a tightly contested race with 64.73 points, just ahead of Li Zijun of China on 62.Naples, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Jason Day and Cameron Tringale combined for a 17-under 55 in Thursdays scramble format and they grabbed a 2-stroke lead after one round of the Franklin Templeton Shootout. Day is making his second appearance at this event, while Tringale is playing for the first time at Tiburon Golf Club. We were just reading the greens really well together. I think we have a similar approach to seeing lines, so we communicated well, Tringale said. Id go first and have a go at it. Jason holed some amazing putts on the back nine. Defending champions Harris English and Matt Kuchar are alone in second place at 15-under 57. Keegan Bradley, who won this title in 2011 with Brendan Steele, teamed with Camilo Villegas for a 13-under 59. They were joined in third place by Graeme McDowell and Gary Woodland as well as Ryan Palmer and Jimmy Walker. Two former winning teams -- Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker (2009) and Sean OHair and Kenny Perry (2012) -- are tied for sixth place at 12-under 60. The were joined there by Justin Leonard and Rory Sabbatini, along with a pair of former major champions Retief Goosen and Mike Weir. Charles Howell III and Scott Verplank, Billy Horschel and Ian Poulter, and Patrick Reed and Brandt Snedeker share 10th place at minus-11. After playing a scramble on Thursday, the teams will play a modified alternate shot format on Friday and a better-ball partner format in Saturdays final round.dddddddddddd Day and Tringale got off to a flying start as they birdied the first and third. They combined to birdie the final four holes of the front nine. Around the turn, following a birdie on the 10th, Tringale rolled in a 4-foot birdie putt at No. 11. Another birdie on the 12th followed. Tringale rolled in an eagle chance from the fringe on the par-4 13th. Day made it two eagles in a row as he made an 8-foot eagle putt on the par-5 14th as they jumped to 13-under. They picked up four more strokes over the final four holes, including an 11- foot birdie putt by Tringale at the 18th. To be able to play the way we did today, it was a good team effort. Cam, to go up there and hit the fairway first, took a lot of stress off my shoulders so I could just get up there and hit the driver and get somewhere close to the green gave us a lot of opportunities and Cam putted great today, said Day. NOTES: Day and Tringale were the fourth team in event history to shoot 55 in the scramble format ... Reed replaced an injured Chris Kirk in the field ... Since the event moved to Naples in 2001, the second-round leaders or co- leaders have won eight of the 13 titles. ' ' '