Article on Ryan Bradley

[SkateGuard]

After a short retirement, Ryan is refreshed, renewed, and on his own terms....

http://www.stjoenews-press.com/Main.asp?SectionID=81&SubSectionID=274&ArticleID=44182

Erin

[Meredith]

What great news -- that Ryan is keeping his priorties in order and he has Damon Allen as choreographer. ;)

Thanks for posting the article, SkateGuard.

Meredith

[Oracle]

Thank you for the Ryan Bradley news. I'm one of his many fans. He is truly a born entertainer & it is a shame that he feels the pressures of the eligible world. What an addition he would be to SOI or COI even without world titles. He's tall, dark & handsome. He's young with a great sense of humor. I'd sign him if I had a skating tour & if he wanted to go that route.

[jpksk8]

"I want to make skating not gay. I want people to say, 'Hey, you're a skater. That's cool.'"
Well, how adorable. Nothing better than pitting homosexuality against coolness.
:frus: :frus: :frus:

[Skatingsarah]

Wow he sounds like quite the fun loving character. I went to the USFSA website to see what he looks like and his picture certainly sumed it up. I've never seen him skate but from what I just read I cant wait, he sounds like an amazing entertainer! I'm glad he's decided to come back and change the sport. I personally like the quote about making it cool again and not gay. So I guess that means he's not gay then. Great to see those American skaters standing up for the straight folks. The best of luck to Ryan!`

[SkateGuard]

Originally posted by jpksk8
Well, how adorable. Nothing better than pitting homosexuality against coolness.
:frus: :frus: :frus:

When I read that, I interpreted that Ryan was using "gay" the way most high schoolers use it--to mean "lame". At least that's how the kids use it at the rink...

I'm glad I found that article. I love it when reporters feature skaters besides Kwan, Cohen and Hughes. (Not to bash these three ladies, but they get sooo much attention.)

Erin
(banging her head in a wall because Phil Hersh doesn't even realize there are ice rinks in Chicago, never mind the 3-time champ Chicago Jazz!)

[Orable]

Originally posted by Skatingsarah
I personally like the quote about making it cool again and not gay. So I guess that means he's not gay then. Great to see those American skaters standing up for the straight folks. The best of luck to Ryan!`

8O I was going to say something, but i think I'll just close my mouth (hold my fingers?)

Orable

[Rogue]

Let me get this straight. He wants to make skating "not gay" but he's skating to music from Deliverance?

[Alexeiskate]

"Deliverance" isn't a gay-themed movie.

[judgejudee]

Originally posted by Rogue
Let me get this straight. He wants to make skating "not gay" but he's skating to music from Deliverance?

:D Ha...that's kind of funny! Yes, it's not gay-themed of course but...it does conjure up some thoughts...

I think Ryan is accurately reflecting perceptions of the sport (duh) and the fact that "gay" is hardly mainstream-accepted. I do not think he is "homophobic" and I hope people can restrain themselves from bashing him.

[icesktrkidz]

Just a note. Wasn't it Matt Savoie who skaated to Deliverance just a number of years ago? Speciffically the "duelling banjos".

[skatey]

Originally posted by SkateGuard
Erin
(banging her head in a wall because Phil Hersh doesn't even realize there are ice rinks in Chicago, never mind the 3-time champ Chicago Jazz!)

Jazz is not in Chicago. The team is composed of suburban skaters...although there certainly are rinks within Chicago. Sorry, pet peeve there of my team-drives us crazy since we're all within the city limits. But ditto to what you said about Phil Hersh not realizing their existance, as well as Ryan using gay to mean lame...that's the way it's used a lot of the time.

[NorthernLite]

Originally posted by skatey
Ryan using gay to mean lame...that's the way it's used a lot of the time.

Gay equals lame - oh yes, that's so much more *positive.*


"gay" is hardly mainstream-accepted.

Here's a brief and very partial list of things "the mainstream" has thought acceptable at some point:
* Having slaves
* Shoving Native Americans onto reservations
* Keeping Japanese-Americans in prison camps
* Denying women the vote

Pardon me if *I* don't think it's always good to worry about what the "mainstream" thinks is acceptable behavior.

[BABYSKATES]

I think that is a very nice article about Ryan. One question, however: Why are we fussing over his words? Ryan wasn't bashing anyone. He didn't comment on his sexuality nor anyone elses. :roll:

The homosexual community did not invent the word gay, nor was it created to describe or name them. Gay used to mean happy or joyous. The homosexual community adopted the word and changed the meaning for their purposes. No problem.

Teenagers from all walks of life have always created their own language (and always will). Words like hot, fat, cool, hip, righteous and wicked have been changed to suite their purposes. Does anyone else remember when the word "tubular" was a word used to describe something great (as opposed to something shaped like a tube... :??)? The use of the word "gay" to describe something teenagers consider an embarassment or not "cool" is no worse a use of the word than the homosexual community's use of it. Neither uses the word as it was originally intended but it expresses what they are trying to say. In short - IT'S JUST A WORD!

I think Ryan is a hecka slammin' icedaddy. I hope he makes it to the "Big O". He's not just frontin", he can represent! 8-)

[icetiff]

I talked to Ryan today. I told him that a lot of people was fussing about the article so i decided to ask what he ment by when he said "gay". He told me that he ment it as "uncool". I go to school and I know that the typical teenager does use gay as a reference to not cool. Give Ryan a break.

[jpksk8]

yes, using gay to mean bad is derived from standard high-school teenspeak. however, lets also consider how homosexuality is perceived in your average american high school. need i say more?
(judging from the general lack of sensitivity, i guess i do)
high schools are rough--when people do things that are deemed "gay", effeminate adolescents quickly find themselves out of cliques, looked down upon and generally given the short end of the stick. people are tormented for being considered gay or doing activities considered to be such. but what's worse is that the word is used so often in passing, with friends--in my mind it adds insult to injury that people are willing to barb their friends on a daily basis by using a word that describes a lifestyle that has had a long road to the marginal legitimacy that it has today. thus, to use that word in such a manner is to perpetuate the casual slander of a group that has had more than enough over the years.

don't get me wrong, I don't think that bradley's use of the word indicates that he is a bigot or an evil person by any means. he's managed to be offensive and insulting in a banal manner.

isn't that rather lame (or gay, by his definition)? how ironic that ryan just outed himself.

(uhm, and yes, you are responsible to your words when talking to the media)

[SkateGuard]

Originally posted by skatey
Jazz is not in Chicago. The team is composed of suburban skaters...although there certainly are rinks within Chicago. Sorry, pet peeve there of my team-drives us crazy since we're all within the city limits. But ditto to what you said about Phil Hersh not realizing their existance, as well as Ryan using gay to mean lame...that's the way it's used a lot of the time.

First, about Ryan and the comment. It's created a lot of discussion across the FS boards...I can't imagine what would have happened if a more well-known skater (World or Olympic medalist) would have made the same comment!

Skatey, I know the Jazz are not based in Chicago...I used to skate freestyle in Rolling Meadows (yes, Timmy's hometown) with some of the kids. They're called the Chicago Jazz becase they represent the Chicago FSC, but they train primarly in Rolling Meadows. It's strange, I know, but that's their official name with the USFSA.

Erin
(who thought the whole suburbans-saying-they're-from-Chicago tiff in the Trib was amusing enough...)

[schnood]

I saw Ryan skate for the first time live at Skate Canada last year. I really liked him. I'm so glad he's changed his mind and is continuing in the sport :D

Good luck Ryan!

[Skatewind]

Not all the "typical teenagers" I know use this term. Some typical teenagers are more cognizant than others to the connotation of the term in our contemporary society as a whole, not only in terms of teen slang. Others will justify using it because "everybody's doing it". He can use the term if he so chooses, just as other people are entitled to the opinion that it's not a particularly intelligent observation or interview.

[Trillian]

Originally posted by Skatewind
[B]Not all the "typical teenagers" I know use this term. Some typical teenagers are more cognizant than others to the connotation of the term in our contemporary society as a whole, not only in terms of teen slang.

Very good point. I was a teenager not that long ago (I'm 22 now), this slang usage was probably just as widespread back then, and I would never have used it. Most of my friends did, having grown up in a small Midwestern town where the "PC" movement didn't make much of a dent, but they usually got at least an eye-roll from me.

However, I think there's a difference between using a slang term like that in a casual setting with your friends, and using it in an interview that's going to be published for so many people to read. I don't think it makes Ryan a bad person, but it shows he's obviously unaware of the larger implications of making a statement like that. I'm sorry, but someone his age should just have more sense. My brother, who's a couple months older than Ryan (just turned 20) talks like a truck driver with his friends, but knows how to watch his mouth in situations when that's inappropriate. I have trouble imagining that a kid his age, especially one who has spent so much time in a sport where "gay" can be a touchy word, wasn't aware enough to use a less inflammatory description.

And incidentally, all these high school kids who use the word "gay" so casually probably ought to be careful where they use it when they get to college. Not all campuses are the same, but on the ones I've been to, there are certain settings where you're going to get quite an earful from fellow students if you say something as un-PC as that. Might get by in the frat house, but don't say it too loudly in the quad.

[kar5162]

This may be common language in high school, but IMO is surprising and unfortunate in an interview. At least when I went to high school "gay" was used as a substitute for "lame", but the undertone was definitely related to sexuality (gay people=lame for Babyskates).

I don't think the reference is any more appropriate now than it was 8 years ago and I hope Ryan is able to choose more effective words to represent his feelings in the future.

[Skatingsarah]

Awe, the kid made a mistake. Its bound to happen sometime, I use slang all the time and I try not to at times of importance but sometimes it comes out before you get the chance to think about it. I say cut him some slack, if it happens like 2 or 3 more times then there is something to talk about but I think its an honest mistake. He seems like an awesome guy!

[Skatewind]

Skatingsarah, 15 posts ago you said something like thank goodness someone is taking up the cause of the straight skaters in America. Now your last post says it's an honest mistake. Which is it?

[bcskater]

Originally posted by NorthernLite
Pardon me if *I* don't think it's always good to worry about what the "mainstream" thinks is acceptable behavior.
ITA amen to that.

[WeBeEducated]

"MY mom is sooooo gay, she wont even let me use the car tonight!"
That is a very common phrase used by teens in the USA, and one which I have heard almost daily. I fully understand the meaning.;)
The same way gay used to mean "lighthearted and happy", to teenagers in my area today it means uncool, dorky, unpleasant, or unfair. Parents are "gay" several times a week! Cold rinks are "gay". Boots that rub massive bone spurs are "gay". Certainly skating competitions are "gay" as well as any low scoring judges. Inanimate objects are often "gay", such as the computer that freezes or the printer that wont work.
Ryan is a wonderful, talented, intelligent, friendly young man. I knew that he was seriously ready to quit competing. I knew he was tired of the atmosphere, the games, even the concept of typical skating programs. When I read the article I assumed he meant uncool/unpleasant when he referred to skating as "gay".
On the other hand, he may have meant that the rather femme skating world/culture/image had lost its appeal to him. He had functioned within it successfully, but he wanted his work on the ice to be seen as more than that. I applaud his honesty.

[Skatingsarah]

Originally posted by Skatewind
Skatingsarah, 15 posts ago you said something like thank goodness someone is taking up the cause of the straight skaters in America. Now your last post says it's an honest mistake. Which is it?

Yes but wasnt it also clarified that gay was a expression that was meant on a 'lame' term. I was taking it as a sexual preference way as in 'gay.' I was one of the first posters and I believe that icetiff said she was talking to him and he meant it in a lame term as she previously posted. I had misunderstood and that changed my thoughts..