Michael Weiss | Page 6 | Golden Skate

Michael Weiss

Linny

Final Flight
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Not for his age

My fervent wish that Mike leave eligible skating has nothing to do with his age. My husband is 71 and gets up every day and goes to work.

I wish Mike would leave eligible skating because he takes up limited broadcast time. I want to see other skaters. Mike is FF time for me.

Linny
 

RealtorGal

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Linny said:
I wish Mike would leave eligible skating because he takes up limited broadcast time. I want to see other skaters. Mike is FF time for me.
Then these other skaters are going to have to skate better and earn their TV time.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
This is about ageism and personal interests.

Do; you think a man of 71 who gets up every monring to go to work cares whether a younger man could either move up in the ranks or actually get employment? Would it not be better for the aged guy to quit and let some younger man get a job? Retirement is a whole new ballgame and one should be ready for it. I know of two suicides due to retirements and lots of miserable lives because of retirement.

There are several GPs where Michael is not skating, one can see other skaters some of whom have been around as long as Michael. Michael will know when to reitire as will older guys who are still working

Joe
 

show 42

Arm Chair Skate Fan
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I hope that as Mike's detractors hit retirement age, they won't be forced out of jobs they love simply because someone in authority decided that because they had reached a certain age, they had nothing left to offer.

Exactly, well said.........same goes for your comments Toni and Joe.....42
 

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Linny said:
I wish Mike would leave eligible skating because he takes up limited broadcast time. I want to see other skaters. Mike is FF time for me.

Linny

so complain to the networks... WHY should MIKE care if he's being broadcast or not? that is not in his personal control... neither is the judging... you're taking your frustration out on teh wrong guy... complain to Mr. Button(who needs someone to nitpick on and Mike is normally the guy that gets that "honor") or to sponsers of the stupid broadcast

This isn't a presidential election that comes every 4 years and even if you're on a roll tough luck we don't like you, bye bye. This is sport.. if and when the up and comers can put it all together and skate their hearts out and deserve a spot then an AMERICAN BROADCAST will show the AMERICAN skaters as well as select skaters in teh top flight. It's ALWAYS been that way... they'd lose American viewers/sponsers if they didn't

the media isn't fair, it's money hungry.
 
S

SkateFan4Life

Guest
One of the reasons I personally think Michael Weiss should turn pro is that he is a much better exhibition skater than a competitive skater. IMHO, of course. I've seen a number of his exhibition programs, and, frankly, I've enjoyed them a heck a lot more than most of his competitive programs, the latter of which have consistently been sprinkled with miscues, falls, and two-footed quad landings.

At the age of 28, Weiss is a bit old to still be learning how to land the quads. Maybe he will achieve a miracle and skate two clean competitive programs this year. However, I sure wouldn't bet the ranch on it. If he continues to compete, which seems to be his plans, we can expect more of the same - unclean short and long programs.

Another annoying factor about Weiss is the press hype about his wife and kids.
Sure, I think it's great that he's happily married to Lisa and is the father of two cute kids. However, those dippy "up close and personal" pieces that continue to be a staple of the US Nationals coverage really make we want to scream.
Wouldn't you all rather watch one or two other skaters perform their routines than see the latest boring installment on Michael Weiss' personal life?
 

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
well if you want to use the fluff pieces as an excuse to have Mike retire then MK should retire because her fluff pieces are so much more boring than Mike's IMHO because she doesn't have cute kids that steal teh show. ;)

oh wait. MK can't retire. MK must be worshiped... Mike must be bashed. This is the way of the SkateGods. :rolleye:

and let's see... do MK and Mike have controll over the media... uh NO. They don't call the shots on what gets shown in those fluff pieces, yeah it sucks, but even if Mike retires those stupid fluff pieces will keep happening with the same skaters, just no Mike... how *exciting*
 
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BigSk8Fan

Rinkside
Joined
Jul 3, 2004
Hi everyone....pretty new to the board. I think I only have one post so far.

I am not a fan of Weiss' skating, but yes, it is his right to skate eligible until he's ready for Viagra. But the quality of his skating has not really improved. He has been sent onto the international scene with highest expectations, and he hasn't always been able to live up to them. And sometimes he does come off as arrogant , and some of his comments to the press have been almost supernatural in their obnoxiousness. But he is one of our few hopes in int'l skating. I hope Goebel gets better and has gotten over whatever has been bothering him, and Weir is simply one of the most graceful men to stick a toe pick onto the ice (ugly costumes nws). But Evan Lysacek and Ryan Bradley are getting better, so even though Mikey has the right to continue in the eligible ranks, no doubt the new generation of young Turks are giving him something to think about. Remember Eldredge earned medals when he was Mikey's age; anything can happen now, especially with the CoP system.
 

chuckm

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 31, 2003
Country
United-States
Todd Eldredge was earning medals at Mike's age, and he didn't even have a competition quad. But Eldredge had a huge, magnificent 3A that he rarely missed, unlike Mike, whose 3A seems to be less and less reliable. Todd also had a pleasant, low-key personality and I don't think anyone ever would have called him obnoxious. Bland, maybe, but not obnoxious.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
SkateFan4Life said:
One of the reasons I personally think Michael Weiss should turn pro is that he is a much better exhibition skater than a competitive skater. IMHO, of course. I've seen a number of his exhibition programs, and, frankly, I've enjoyed them a heck a lot more than most of his competitive programs, the latter of which have consistently been sprinkled with miscues, falls, and two-footed quad landings.

At the age of 28, Weiss is a bit old to still be learning how to land the quads. Maybe he will achieve a miracle and skate two clean competitive programs this year. However, I sure wouldn't bet the ranch on it. If he continues to compete, which seems to be his plans, we can expect more of the same - unclean short and long programs.

Another annoying factor about Weiss is the press hype about his wife and kids.
Sure, I think it's great that he's happily married to Lisa and is the father of two cute kids. However, those dippy "up close and personal" pieces that continue to be a staple of the US Nationals coverage really make we want to scream.
Wouldn't you all rather watch one or two other skaters perform their routines than see the latest boring installment on Michael Weiss' personal life?

Skatefan - Pray tell me how does one go "Pro"? Michael already is in COI and making big bucks. If he turns "Pro" he may lose that gig. Does SOI want him? We don;t know their plans Should he go into Snow White and disappear forever? What exactly would you suggest? A good administrator cites the fault (age, in this case) and then suggests a remedy. The remedy should be realistic and not just 'he can coach' like he already has 20 students.

What is wrong with waiting to see how he decides on his own life? At 28, he is not the oldest skater in competitions and many older skaters (and in other sports, too) have done very well.

No fan really likes those fluff pieces of anyone. Why single him out? when you hear constantly: I have to go back and work on that lutz or look at me on the beach, etc,

Joe
 

BigSk8Fan

Rinkside
Joined
Jul 3, 2004
Joesitz said:
No fan really likes those fluff pieces of anyone. Why single him out? when you hear constantly: I have to go back and work on that lutz or look at me on the beach, etc,Joe

You need to speak for yourself. Most of the time, I enjoy learning about the lives of the skaters off the rink, and I know of others who do as well. I am not a fan of Weiss, but the fluff pieces give a person insight into what type of person the skater in question is.
 

berthes ghost

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 30, 2003
BigSk8Fan said:
You need to speak for yourself. Most of the time, I enjoy learning about the lives of the skaters off the rink, and I know of others who do as well. I am not a fan of Weiss, but the fluff pieces give a person insight into what type of person the skater in question is.
But the point still stand. If you love or hate UC&Ps is a separate issue. Why single Mike out?
 

BigSk8Fan

Rinkside
Joined
Jul 3, 2004
berthes ghost said:
But the point still stand. If you love or hate UC&Ps is a separate issue. Why single Mike out?

True. But Joesitz shouldn't speak for me or others, that's all I am saying. I don't give a hoot what he thinks about Mikey.

But on topic, a lot of the reasons I think people single Mikey out is the fact that he talks the talk but doesn't always walk the walk. His PR is terrible; he rubs many people the wrong way for many different reasons. He was the great hope for US men's skating in a lot of people's eyes, especially in his own, and it's been a mixed bag, yet he still engages in borderline trash talk. The only quads he lands are mostly two-footed, and his "choreography" is stale and contrived. I found the comments of Ilia Kulik and Alexei Yagudin terribly arrogant, but they delivered beautiful skating. Mike seldom has. I see the fine qualities in his skating, but I think he needs to think about what is next. He could take some lessons in humility, maybe Eldredge could teach him.

And I don't understand why people SHOULD like him. If the previous posters think he should retire, it's their right to say so. I am up in the air IRT him myself, he may have another Olys in him, and he does still give us top ten finishes at Worlds.
 
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Joined
Jul 11, 2003
You are not alone. I can't even say that some skater did such and such without an IMO in it especially when it concerns certain skaters. However, I should have said most fans instead of just fans. I apologize for this insensitivity you brought up. In previous posts most fans were putting down the cheesefests as not particularly grand competitions. However, we all enjoy watching them anyway.

And welcome to the Golden Skate.

I don't think people are wrong in urging MW to retire although I think the term "Go Pro" was used when the situation of getting a place in a "Pro" category is not all the certain. That would have to depend on how MW feels about doing that. We don't know. Many of us just think let him and all those others like ES, EL, make up their own minds. And that would also apply to retirement which is a very tough decision to make in any workforce of life. So disagreeing with the thread is a prerogative of those posters who want to wait till all skaters come to their own decisions. It's that simple.

Joe

Joe
 
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Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
His PR is terrible; he rubs many people the wrong way for many different reasons.

Johnny Weir also comes to mind with some comments that make you want to roll your eyes...

Kurt Browning was cocky in his day too, he certainly knew how to deliver at worlds but he barely kept it together at the Olys...

however no one ever mentions either skater... only Mike (don't get me wrong, I love Kurt... always will... there's just something about the way he held himself pre-1992 that just irks me)

and if you don't want Joesitz to speak for yourself don't speak for others... saying "I think he rubs a lot of people the wrong way because..." you don't really know that... granted you just reitterated what was said here... but I think that's all Joe did as well. ;)
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Maybe it's the testosterone in men that make them brag more than the ladies, although we do know a few ladies who predict they will win the Olys. Oh why not? It's not like people do not have feelings and dreams. Let them be.

Joe
 

RoaringMice

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 1, 2003
I don't think that a skater's off-ice behavior, unless criminal, should impact whether or not they remain a skater. We expect so much more of our skaters, personally, than we do of our football, basketball or other sport players. Why this requirement for gentility in skating? I can understand it back in the 1960's when things were so different and skating so much less open - when, for example, you had to interview in order to be part of a skating club (in a dress, gloves, hat, hosiery, and heels), but why should it matter in 2004? Even tennis has grown out of this attitude a bit (especially after McInroe!). Why does it stick in skating?
 
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Fossi

Final Flight
Joined
Aug 23, 2003
Last time I checked, Mike was #5 in the rankings. Why should he retire? Some people take the rankings very seriously, and if he's in the top 5, he's obviously good enough.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
RoaringMice said:
I don't think that a skater's off-ice behavior, unless criminal, should impact whether or not they remain a skater. We expect so much more of our skaters, personally, than we do of our football, basketball or other sport players. Why this requirement for gentility in skating? I can understand it back in the 1960's when things were so different and skating so much less open - when, for example, you had to interview in order to be part of a skating club (in a dress, gloves, hat, hosiery, and heels), but why should it matter in 2004? Even tennis has grown out of this attitude a bit (especially after McInroe!). Why does it stick in skating?

Good Post!! I think the sport of figure skating does not appeal to no more than a minority of men. So the Sport doesn't carry that aggresiveness that other sports do. It is for the most part, imo, an efete sport and one that is treated delicately. Maybe in Europe, the males put it on an equal plane with Fussball.

The International Tennis Association (ITA) has worked feverishly to promote the sport of Tennis. Tennis, like figure skating, used to be a limited interest sport. But the Association took full advantage of the sport in the early seventies and it became a houshold word, plenty of TV coverage; Arenas were filled up,etc.

Can we say the same about the ISU?

Joe
 

pipsqueak

Rinkside
Joined
Nov 24, 2003
I've gotchurquad right here.

I agree with RI: Mike Weiss saved out butts more than once when we had to go head to head with the whole quad-busting world. Sometimes it doesn't matter if you've got someone landing the latest jump cleanly, but it always matters if you've got someone who's at least in the game. That's exactly what Mike has been for us during a LONG LONG drought in American men's singles: in the game. Goebel will never skate again at the level he was approaching. Our younger men skaters are wild and inexperienced on the ice. They're not even done growing yet! Are Savoi's past injuries ever going to allow a quad? I doubt it....or I'll believe it when I see it. We are a LONG way off from having a stable of quad kings---or even quad pretenders.

Not only is he in the game, he's reliable for us in ways that other skaters have crapped out: He's stood up through stress fractures, skated his Olympics year Nationals at mile high altitude with near pnuemonia, has managed to have a fairly "normal" and balanced family life along with his skating, has helped maintain a family business at times, and shares in an extended family relationship that any of us could envy and revere. We can count on him to show up and skate when other skaters whimp out with their latest somantic complaints or equipment problems or emotional problems or family problems...... I'm not blind to his skating shortcomings, but I'm not stupid either about where we would in regards to our Men's Singles had he not been out there like the steadfast tin soldier year after year......esp when he COULD have walked away from it at any time ( while ON TOP) because he's certainly got a great life going otherwise and will be able to do any number of things after he stops amateur skating.
 
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