http://www.cbc.ca/sports/figureskating/opinion/2011/11/pjs-all-time-top-10-ice-dance.html
Let the dissection begin.
Let the dissection begin.
Okay, if you're going to keep W&M for PJ's Canadian sensibilities and Canadian audiences, then I'd drop B&B rather than G&P, mostly because G&P were better dancers, and they won 2 Olympics, which is difficult to do in dance particularly because dancers tend to be older when they medal, and ready to retire. B&B didn't originate the Russian style of ice dancing; P&G did, and they're already in 2nd place for it. In fact, if I were to include another Russian team eliminating W&M and B&B and G&P from the lineup, it would be Moiseeva and Minenkov, who IMO were far more innovative than B&B, and who inspired T&D.
As with her other lists, PJ seems to have wavering criteria for inclusion. I get the impression from her post that she gave B/B the nod more for their accomplishments than their style. While they were often over the top, they did have an impact on the sport and it's direction. I definitely preferred other teams to them. Still, I am always surprised when I here their contemporaries comment on them. Judy Blumberg, whom you might expect to be irritated by their heavy drama considering they were her major competition to challenge T/D, was always very complimentary, especially of Natalia. Same for Tracy Wilson. Jayne Torvill appears to be quite friendly with her based on Dancing on Ice clips I've seen. So it makes me wonder if their apparent personal popularity plays a part in how some choose to remember them.
What doris said. I'm actually surprised she chose B/B for her list. I think the biggest surprise is that she didn't choose Bourne/Kraatz, actually, regardless of their actual ability
Good to see Grishuk and Platov. Sometimes I get the feeling that they're underrated because of judging controversises and that they won when he fell.
Right, but Tracy was also rooting for Bourne/Kraatz, who had a terrible OD and mediocre CD, but she never seemed to mention that.