Posted on 02/20/2014 9:26:45 AM PST by thetallguy24
American figure skater Johnny Weir has made quite an impression in Sochi working as a commentator for NBC during the Olympics.
He frequently sports bright outfits, proclaimed his fearlessness in the face of Russia's anti-gay policies, and painted the town red (OK, pink) with fellow commentator Tara Lipinski.
But on Wednesday, with his eyes on figure skating but his heart and mind on more pressing matters elsewhere, he used his fashion and his flamboyance to make a political statement.
As only he can.
Here is the statement:
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
Looks like an ugly Moira Kelly, who, funny enough, starred in a movie about figure skating - The Cutting Edge.
This old phart would take up figure skating if he could skate with Tara. I’d probably break a hip but I’d be happy.
there are some people, many in entertainment, many in politics, some in sports, who no matter what they claim to be doing, for them it’s really all just about themselves, and the clear sign of that is that no matter what they do, what’s important is drawing attention to themselves
real insecurity trying to mask itself in bravado, narcissism, extreme need for attention - no matter, the results are the same - “look at me”
(no - don’t bother)
There are plenty of male skaters, but they are known as hockey players.
For an athlete who has never won any competition of significance, and has placed no higher than 10th in any Olympics, Weir sure gets a lion’s share of attention.
So does learning to walk for a toddler, but you don't get a medal for it.
I understand that these people are fine athletes. But when they took figures out of figure skating and made the entire outcome dependent on independent opinion of artistic merit, it became something other than sport.
Misspelled...its Weird.
Johnny Weird.
Yeah I know right? Been seeing it misspelled all over the place....
Contrary popular opinion, figure-skating scoring is quite technical. Each skater must perform specified jumps and moves. Points are given or deducted basis how fully they rotate, arm and leg positions, technique, mistakes, and falls (a hand or knee touching the ice have different deductions). These can all be broken down on film and demonstrated for scoring purposes. Good judges can see it in real time, although they do use video review as well. Scoring systems are really no different from gymnastics or diving.
Yes, a sport like hockey has clear points. At the end of the day - did the puck go in the net is the only real question. But the referees in any sport have a great deal of discretion as well. Was that a penalty? What constitutes an illegal hit? Was that offsides?
”C. Why is figure skating considered a sport?”
You ever try it?
Nope. When I skate there are sticks, a puck and two goals. And situations like this don’t help determine the outcome.
I understand there is a great deal of grace and beauty involved as well as athleticism. They’re great artists. And every sport must have rules, or else you can’t determine who wins and loses.
Yet the outcome of figure skating is entirely dependent on subjective judging. In hockey, you have the ability to overcome the referee, by killing a penalty, for example. Are there bad decisions in hockey? Sure. But do referees determine the outcome of every contest? Certainly not.
Is cheerleading a sport? There are people who think so. I don’t happen to share that viewpoint.
“Nope. When I skate there are sticks, a puck and two goals. And situations like this don’t help determine the outcome.”
Same with me.
I liked the version they did in the Closing Credits of the Movie, a more punk rock version.
Somewhere, a father cries.
Ditto. Pretty girlz...
So does learning to walk for a toddler, but you don't get a medal for it. I understand that these people are fine athletes. But when they took figures out of figure skating and made the entire outcome dependent on independent opinion of artistic merit, it became something other than sport.
LOL, almost spewed a mouthful of Glenlivet on my new laptop.
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