- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
Maybe now Meryl and Charlie will become household words.
I think they have been forgotten already.
Maybe now Meryl and Charlie will become household words.
Despite their gold medals, I doubt the average American would even know who Evan and Sarah are... Sarah is sometimes remembered as "the American who beat Michelle Kwan," which despite its troubling concept of what it means to be "American," what it means is they are meshing her and Tara Lipinski...if they remember that Kwan didn't win in 2002 at all.
At my old job, we actually did a poll once on skating's popularity in 2003/2004ish and almost 73% of responders thought that Michelle Kwan had three OGM...because they'd confused her with Kristi Y.
The most "popular" skaters were Tonya and Nancy, with most feeling that Tonya got a rough deal. We were all surprised about that... but that had more to do with her life story, never really getting her stuff together, and you gotta admit any interview done with her, she always comes across as a victim of bad parenting, bad marriage, bad management and a corrupt sport that likes to tear young women apart. People, esp women, identify with Tonya. The psychology is fascinating.
You don't even want to know the shock and awe around the question of men skaters... but based on my experience, I'd feel comfortable saying that Brian Boitano is recognized for South Park and Scott Hamilton is the most popular American male skater, but more for his cancer and backflips. Christmas specials help out a lot. Johnny is recognized for more off-ice antics and Evan doesn't even resonate. USFSA should be ashamed of themselves...smh
Ah hah, the generational difference. I had no idea that Brian Boitano had an association with South Park, since I don't watch it and barely know what it is. (Something about cartoons killing Kenny?) But, I know it's popular. So Boitano would be recognized too.
No non skating fans in the U.S would not recognize Henie today, those who knew her would all be dead already.
This is an interesting question. Everyone who saw Babe Ruth play is dead, too. But most Americans know that he was a baseball player from way back when.
Or do they? Is it possible that Americans have forgotten Esther Williams and Johnny Weismuller?
Babe Ruth is American and plays one of America's favorite sports. I doubt many Americans would know who Johnny W. is, and if anyone does it would only be due to his work on Tarzen, and certainly would never be recognized just for his swimming legacy to non swim fans otherwise. Henie was a movie star in America for awhile, but she didn't exactly become the next Marilyn Monroe.