Not to be nasty or anything... but there are some skaters for whom I generally hit the fast forward button. It bothered me that they took up valuable broadcast time.
Victor Petrenko: he was my favorite earlier in his career. Then he got to doing Michael Jackson with about 40 extra pounds on him... and the doll dancing the Mambo with him was great but he took it over the top when he started dancing with a dog. That entire program was a dog. The last program I saw from him was super - I don't remember when, but it used no props and he seemed to be in better shape. Still, I'm glad he is working behind the spotlight these days instead of in it.
Nancy Kerrigan: her professional programs just didn't have much pizzazz, IMO. My husband thought she skated with a pout. I thought the Halloween concept was a hoot and she was fun to watch skating in a costume and disguising make-up... but I don't actually miss her. Even in Ice Wars, were she was replace with Nichole Bobeck, I preferred to see Nichole. However, I wish Nancy all the best of luck with her newest child on the way and have nothing but admiration for the way she conducted herself throughout the whole Harding thing and in her life choices since then. I just don't miss her skating.
Arthur Dmitriev: it always seemed disrespectful to his talent, to the fabulous efforts of his partners and to the sport for him to appear with such obvious unpreparation. Have the time, he didn't bother to shave or comb his hair. What a marvolous career he had! But he should have stopped skating professionally when the light went out of it for him. How wonderful it is that he is coaching and working out of the spotlight now. This is a much more appropriate contribution to the sport. If I missed him, I would be missing the man who made skating his life, not the older version who made the performance and afterthought.
Michael Weiss: his exhibition programs are just juvinile. One protrays a high school student longing for the innocent sweetheart who isn't so innocent when she grows up... so why didn't the guy grow up at the same time? Another is skated to a boy band teen sensation. Hello? So, I hope that Michael gets his jumps back and has a wonderful run in this last year of eligible skating (I'm assuming this is his last year but could be totally wrong). Then, I hope he gets some good advice about choosing music for his exhibition programs. If I want to see fancy backflips, I'll watch another sport. I want to see fancy everything, set to tasteful music.
Hope this didn't sound like a slam. I said very nice things about each skater I don't miss... but I really don't miss them.
Linny
Victor Petrenko: he was my favorite earlier in his career. Then he got to doing Michael Jackson with about 40 extra pounds on him... and the doll dancing the Mambo with him was great but he took it over the top when he started dancing with a dog. That entire program was a dog. The last program I saw from him was super - I don't remember when, but it used no props and he seemed to be in better shape. Still, I'm glad he is working behind the spotlight these days instead of in it.
Nancy Kerrigan: her professional programs just didn't have much pizzazz, IMO. My husband thought she skated with a pout. I thought the Halloween concept was a hoot and she was fun to watch skating in a costume and disguising make-up... but I don't actually miss her. Even in Ice Wars, were she was replace with Nichole Bobeck, I preferred to see Nichole. However, I wish Nancy all the best of luck with her newest child on the way and have nothing but admiration for the way she conducted herself throughout the whole Harding thing and in her life choices since then. I just don't miss her skating.
Arthur Dmitriev: it always seemed disrespectful to his talent, to the fabulous efforts of his partners and to the sport for him to appear with such obvious unpreparation. Have the time, he didn't bother to shave or comb his hair. What a marvolous career he had! But he should have stopped skating professionally when the light went out of it for him. How wonderful it is that he is coaching and working out of the spotlight now. This is a much more appropriate contribution to the sport. If I missed him, I would be missing the man who made skating his life, not the older version who made the performance and afterthought.
Michael Weiss: his exhibition programs are just juvinile. One protrays a high school student longing for the innocent sweetheart who isn't so innocent when she grows up... so why didn't the guy grow up at the same time? Another is skated to a boy band teen sensation. Hello? So, I hope that Michael gets his jumps back and has a wonderful run in this last year of eligible skating (I'm assuming this is his last year but could be totally wrong). Then, I hope he gets some good advice about choosing music for his exhibition programs. If I want to see fancy backflips, I'll watch another sport. I want to see fancy everything, set to tasteful music.
Hope this didn't sound like a slam. I said very nice things about each skater I don't miss... but I really don't miss them.
Linny
hwell: They are the most under-hyped/under-recognized greatest ice dance team ever, if there were one at all!!
