S
sk8m8
Guest
Re: Legends and making deals
I tend to agree with the poster who stated that the "terms" of someone's legend has to do with the context of it.
When you start comparing the legends is the real problem....if skater x is a legend, then does it not follow that skater y with this many accomplishments should be considered a legend too!
There are also many legendary poeple who should probably be included but are seldom thought of because of the lack of media in their time, or their behind the scenes roles. Sonja H. is a great example. We only see what newsreels and archives tell us, but at one time she was one of the most sucessful and well payed entertainers of her day. She most certainly had as much celebrity as someone like Tina Turner. Yet there was no "Diva's Live" to broadcast her stardom and legendary talent.
I agree that, while not yet a legend, Michelle Kway is fast approaching that status. She has far surpassed her "media generated "legend status" ( broadcast specials, earnings,personal appearances, merchandising, etc...) She is now in the category of legendary sportsman. Her 5 World Championchips (3 more silver) and her incredible winning record ( she has competed far more than someone decorated like Carol Heiss Jekins, who is a figure skating great IMHO, but not neccessarily a legend yet. Her coaching hasn't yeilded the kind of champions you need to produce for that status.)
Then there are the "unsung" legends. Did Maribelle Vincent Ownens make a huge impact on the World scene? That depends on how you look at it. She did win 9 or 10 ladies US singles titles, and 4-5 US pairs titles, but she also lent a great deal of suggestions to the likes of Dick Button and Hayes Jenkins when the figure skating community in the US was smaller and more tightly knit. Her daughter won the US Championships and both died in the team plane crash that halted an era of American figure skating. It was her pupil Mabel Fairbanks that could not compete, because as a black woman she could not belong to the requisite figure skating club to compete. M V Owens coached her in secret and for free so that she could go on to become one of the premier show skaters in the world and eventually put together Tai and Randy who would make history of their own.
Later another pupil and protege would continue the "Owen legend" by coaching and producing a bravura performer that most likely should have won worlds in a less political time. Yes, Frank Carroll continued Owen's vision of figure skating and passed it on to both his "star" proteges Linda Fratiani and Il Kwan herself.
There are always people in the background that make things happen. Whether someone is a legend: by skating standards such as Henney: by coaching like Carlo Fossi: by both like I Rodnina( a Dr. of Sports Medicine by the way) ; Button, who has impacted the sport in many ways such as athletic, academic, business, management, and commentary achievements. They all have achieved legendary status, whether we know them or not. Celebrity can help achieve legendary status, but it isn't the same thing.
I tend to agree with the poster who stated that the "terms" of someone's legend has to do with the context of it.
When you start comparing the legends is the real problem....if skater x is a legend, then does it not follow that skater y with this many accomplishments should be considered a legend too!
There are also many legendary poeple who should probably be included but are seldom thought of because of the lack of media in their time, or their behind the scenes roles. Sonja H. is a great example. We only see what newsreels and archives tell us, but at one time she was one of the most sucessful and well payed entertainers of her day. She most certainly had as much celebrity as someone like Tina Turner. Yet there was no "Diva's Live" to broadcast her stardom and legendary talent.
I agree that, while not yet a legend, Michelle Kway is fast approaching that status. She has far surpassed her "media generated "legend status" ( broadcast specials, earnings,personal appearances, merchandising, etc...) She is now in the category of legendary sportsman. Her 5 World Championchips (3 more silver) and her incredible winning record ( she has competed far more than someone decorated like Carol Heiss Jekins, who is a figure skating great IMHO, but not neccessarily a legend yet. Her coaching hasn't yeilded the kind of champions you need to produce for that status.)
Then there are the "unsung" legends. Did Maribelle Vincent Ownens make a huge impact on the World scene? That depends on how you look at it. She did win 9 or 10 ladies US singles titles, and 4-5 US pairs titles, but she also lent a great deal of suggestions to the likes of Dick Button and Hayes Jenkins when the figure skating community in the US was smaller and more tightly knit. Her daughter won the US Championships and both died in the team plane crash that halted an era of American figure skating. It was her pupil Mabel Fairbanks that could not compete, because as a black woman she could not belong to the requisite figure skating club to compete. M V Owens coached her in secret and for free so that she could go on to become one of the premier show skaters in the world and eventually put together Tai and Randy who would make history of their own.
Later another pupil and protege would continue the "Owen legend" by coaching and producing a bravura performer that most likely should have won worlds in a less political time. Yes, Frank Carroll continued Owen's vision of figure skating and passed it on to both his "star" proteges Linda Fratiani and Il Kwan herself.
There are always people in the background that make things happen. Whether someone is a legend: by skating standards such as Henney: by coaching like Carlo Fossi: by both like I Rodnina( a Dr. of Sports Medicine by the way) ; Button, who has impacted the sport in many ways such as athletic, academic, business, management, and commentary achievements. They all have achieved legendary status, whether we know them or not. Celebrity can help achieve legendary status, but it isn't the same thing.
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