DO you think Johnny Weir should go to the Olympics?

[sk8ryellow]

Just a poll for fun!

[stogba]

no, he's had his chance and will not do a quad
send Ryan Bradley instead
but its not my decision

[Oracle]

Absolutely. He has more international experience & he won his placement fairly. Ryan has a great quad & is highly entertaining but can be very iffy with his short program & triple axles.

[dbny]

double post

[dbny]

Johnny Weis is pretty iffy himself and his LP didn't have the necessary content to be competitive at the Oly's and was executed poorly. He has become so self-absorbed that he's boring.

[ibreakhearts66]

Johnny earned his spot through the Grand Prix and Nationals. So yes, he should go. Would I rather see Ryan go? Absolutely. Johnny's OTT theatrics do nothing but annoy me and it's not like he's always putting out flawless performances, but he did enough. Unfortunately.

[Mel On Ice]

I'd rather see Ryan than Johnny too, but the fact is Weir earned the spot with consistency and brilliant, if flawed, programs. I hate to think Ryan lost the spot with 2 triple axels this past weekend, but Ryan's brought a lot of entertainment to the sport the last 10 years, has been named an alternate and will be at 4CCs and in all likelihood, be a replacement for Worlds.

PLEASE IMG, give Ryan a SOI contract and get rid of Steven Cousins!

[dbny]

PLEASE IMG, give Ryan a SOI contract and get rid of Steven Cousins!

I second that!

[Samskate]

I third it!

Also agree about Johnny being boring! His programs now seem like the same old, same old, at least to me.

[RachelSk8er]

Johnny earned his spot through the Grand Prix and Nationals. So yes, he should go. Would I rather see Ryan go? Absolutely. Johnny's OTT theatrics do nothing but annoy me and it's not like he's always putting out flawless performances, but he did enough. Unfortunately.

Same thoughts exactly. Do I personally want to see him go over Ryan? No. Johnny both annoys and bores me. His costumes look the same, his programs are all the same, and he's too much of a drama queen. But he earned his spot fair and square.

[Isk8NYC]

I know it's just a technicality, but the USFSA "nominates" the team members to the US Olympic Committee. I guess the USOC can reject any of the nominated candidates. I'm sure it's a rubber-stamp, just found that check-and-balance clause interesting.

I really don't think Johnny wants to skate anymore - he just wants the fame and attention for being Johnny. I'm so tired of his constant costume focus. Frankly, his outfits are hideous and distracting.

I just hope that, if any of the three men chosen for the Olympic team have to pull out, they do so before it's too late for Ryan Bradley.

Our Synchro team is planning to see Stars on Ice when it comes around - I hope Ryan's on their roster, too.

[Kim to the Max]

I really don't think Johnny wants to skate anymore - he just wants the fame and attention for being Johnny. I'm so tired of his constant costume focus. Frankly, his outfits are hideous and distracting.

I agree. If you watched the press conference, it was all about the fox fur on his costume and how he didn't watch the replays for his skating, but for how he looked...

[RachelSk8er]

I agree. If you watched the press conference, it was all about the fox fur on his costume and how he didn't watch the replays for his skating, but for how he looked...

And this is why little boys who figure skate get made fun of in school. Or why little boys want to figure skate but their macho dads won't let them. I just don't think he's good for the image of men's skating. It has nothing to do with the fact that he's gay, I have no problem with that, people should do what they want. It's just the fact that he's such a huge attention whore and drama queen. It's always "oh look at me I'm fabulous" or "I'm such a diva, you know you wish you were me" or "pity me I'm having a bad year my life is in shambles maybe I'll quit...what? You all still love me? Well maybe I'll come back....if you're all lucky". Shut up and skate. And stop wearing such ugly costumes that all look the same. No wonder they made so much fun of him in Blades of Glory with the peacock costume!

[TreSk8sAZ]

Johnny earned his spot through the Grand Prix and Nationals. So yes, he should go. Would I rather see Ryan go? Absolutely. Johnny's OTT theatrics do nothing but annoy me and it's not like he's always putting out flawless performances, but he did enough. Unfortunately.

Same thoughts exactly. Do I personally want to see him go over Ryan? No. Johnny both annoys and bores me. His costumes look the same, his programs are all the same, and he's too much of a drama queen. But he earned his spot fair and square.

I agree with both of you. Both are inconsistent in some respects. Neither are that great at putting a short and a long together, though Johnny has more times than Ryan. Ryan's issue is the triple axel - it's maybe there for one program, but generally not for both. Unfortunately, Johnny beat Ryan at Nats so he should go. Do I hate saying that, yes! But, that seems to be what's most fair in this case.

[dance2sk8]

And this is why little boys who figure skate get made fun of in school. Or why little boys want to figure skate but their macho dads won't let them. I just don't think he's good for the image of men's skating.

See, I don't agree with this. He's different than most men in skating, he loves fashion, very VERY emotional, and he gets made fun of for it. Why can't people accept him for who he is? He breaks the mold. His skating is amazing, and I think him and Jeremy Abbott both possess such softness in their skating. I appreciate that more than anything. However, I do agree, Johnny is definitely a drama queen. Its just who he is. And its true, you either love him or hate him. There is no in between with that. I side on the fence of loving him. He's different. Gives the sport some spark and excitement. He says whats on his mind (and doesn't think at times before he acts). Yeah, sometimes that gets him in a load of trouble. But still, he is who he is, and he's not trying to portrait something he's not. I applaud him for being bold enough to be himself.

[sdfigureskater]

Wonderful skater, clearly... but he's turned into such a self absorbed diva that it's really annoying :(

[Isk8NYC]

Bah, attention-seekers and people who all strive to be different, to be themselves, are a dime a dozen. They're in all sports - basketball, football, and baseball all have their drama queens that want to be in the limelight. He's not "breaking the mold," he's portraying the stereotype. I know quite a few guys who AREN'T elite skaters who act just like him. You have take them in small doses because they're like little yippy dogs, constantly finding ways to get people to pay attention to them. There's nothing unique or endearing about that.

Johnny's controversial episodes (wearing a USSR jacket at the Olympics, for example) really don't translate into great performances for him either. Maybe he should try being someone else for a change.

Or at least listen to the critics about his fashion taste and let someone else pick out his wardrobe.

See, I don't agree with this. He's different than most men in skating, he loves fashion, very VERY emotional, and he gets made fun of for it. Why can't people accept him for who he is? He breaks the mold. His skating is amazing, and I think him and Jeremy Abbott both possess such softness in their skating. I appreciate that more than anything. However, I do agree, Johnny is definitely a drama queen. Its just who he is. And its true, you either love him or hate him. There is no in between with that. I side on the fence of loving him. He's different. Gives the sport some spark and excitement. He says whats on his mind (and doesn't think at times before he acts). Yeah, sometimes that gets him in a load of trouble. But still, he is who he is, and he's not trying to portrait something he's not. I applaud him for being bold enough to be himself.

[Mel On Ice]

I'd love to see him skate in something as simple as what Abbott wore and see if there's a difference in the way his skating presents itself.

[Isk8NYC]

Good point, but I think the costuming is a crutch of some sort. Something to focus on other than skating because he's not loving the ice as much anymore. (He's said similar things in interviews.) I wonder if a simple costume would actually make him struggle on the ice since it seems to be a shield or distraction of sorts.

Given the recession and how many people are out of work, spending tons of money on custom-made skating clothes is a little insensitive...not to mention using controversial real fox fur...just saying...


I'm not a sports psychologist, but as an armchair analyst, I'd say that athletes that worry more about how they look than how they perform need to move on with their lives. Maybe Johnny's really tired of skating but doesn't have a fallback plan that's palatable to him. If you really love being in the spotlight, it's got to be difficult to "settle" for a mundane second career. It takes serious planning to transition a career change.

That's why I have such respect for Michelle Kwan and Brian Orser. They're not living in the past, trying to retain/regain glory, they're moving on with their lives and they WANT to be happy. I think that comes with maturity and I've seen it in my own career. If I wanted to work 60-hour weeks, I could be making twice my salary. But I like being able to work from home and get in some skating during the day. You have to compromise and weigh your options.

[RachelSk8er]

Johnny's controversial episodes (wearing a USSR jacket at the Olympics, for example) really don't translate into great performances for him either. Maybe he should try being someone else for a change.



That REALLY offended me and turned me off to him altogether. I know he's all into Russian culture, that's fine. But to have the audacity to wear a USSR jacket at the Olympic games when you are an American athlete is downright ignorant and offensive. Ever hear of the Cold War? When the heck did an oppressive socialist regime become a cool fashion statement?

[Isk8NYC]

My gut feeling is that, if he skated well, the controversy would have died instantly. The public is very forgiving of lapses in judgement if any athlete can put up the big numbers. Look at Michael Vick, the football player who was arrested for dogfighting. He's back in the game with a different team after having served his time and no one really challenges that. If the public isn't going to go after someone involved in that horrible crime, why would they go after Johnny? As long as he brings home the medals, he'll be forgiven.

Weir can't pull that off though. It's as if the off-ice fashion faux pas distracts him so that he can then fail on the ice. Almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts. It's bizarre.

He wears his heart on his sleeve (literally!) and when he starts a controversy off-ice, it seems to coincide with a poor or mediocre performance on-ice. As a result, he loses more and more fans every time he focuses on something other than skating.

My kids are aghast that he's wearing real fox fur when faux or Angora rabbit fur could be substituted. (Angora rabbits are brushed for their fur, not killed.)

[Query]

Let's send only women. :P None of the men are as interesting to watch.

I have no nostalgia for the "good old days" of The Cold War. The USSR trained many wonderful athletes and coaches. I'm not troubled that Johnny Weir enjoys the good parts of the Soviet heritage. And he has every right to buy tickets to go to the Olympics.

Choices on which athletes are sent to compete should be automated, so people don't play these silly political games.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the Olympics were run by a separate organization, and anyone at all could enter the qualifying competitions, without other national or organizational affiliations?

Hey! Let's start a new organization, that produces it's own universal athletic games, and freely displays them in full on The Internet. Prize money comes from ad revenue.

[Isk8NYC]

And he has every right to buy tickets to go to the Olympics. True - and funny.

[mdvask8r]

[QUOTE=Query;408559]
Choices on which athletes are sent to compete should be automated, so people don't play these silly political games.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the Olympics were run by a separate organization, and anyone at all could enter the qualifying competitions, without other national or organizational affiliations?QUOTE] I'll second this!!