Johnny Weir makes me want to throw a brick through my TV

[RoundedBackCamel]

Well, I agreed until Ryan Bradley got thrown under the bus, the intervention was he's not commentating anymore so there's that. I thought he was a good commentator. Yes, he needs commentary speaking lessons but other than that he was always positive and pointed out things that the others do not. Even with the issues with speaking, I'd take him over Tara and Johnny and their crap any day.

Didn't know that. Seems that I heard him just recently. I like his personality and always rooted for him when he skated. Twinkly Irish eyes always get me and he had such a darned likable countenance! I really wish he had better delivery. It seemed it was something he could overcome, but he never did.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Didn't know that. Seems that I heard him just recently. I like his personality and always rooted for him when he skated. Twinkly Irish eyes always get me and he had such a darned likable countenance! I really wish he had better delivery. It seemed it was something he could overcome, but he never did.

If they would have offered to help him out on tv voice delivery he would have been fine, but instead they got others. Charlie bores me and IDEK who the other guy is now, he's definitely not a skater.

 

[temadd]

Can we all at least agree to hate commentators who won't SHUT UP during a skater's performance?! :curse:

When I am forced to watch skating with T&J commentating, I spend most of the time saying "SHUT UP TARA!"

 

[temadd]

Oh, I agree. I absolutely love Charlie's, Tanith's, Ben Agosto's, Kurt Browning's commentary for that very reason. Also the late John Coughlin's and my B.Esp. commentators. At his best, Johnny does exactly that.

I just don't understand being mean and nasty when complaining about someone being mean and nasty. This thread title is mean, and it makes me sad.

Of course, you're entitled to express your opinion any way you like. There's clearly an audience for it.

When I watch Ashley's 2016 Worlds performances, it is always the Canadian broadcast with Kurt Browning. So much better . . .

 

[Mathman]

I have to say that I admire anyone, whatever their sports pedigree, who can also jump into a completely different role requiring skills that they had never even been exposed to much less trained for, and do a creditable job of supplying insight while also keeping the audience engaged and entertained.

(And not just run on and on like that sentence. )

 

[Lamente Ariane]

I liked Johnny Weir as a skater. Scratch that, I still like Johnny as a skater. I think he was often treated unfairly in his career because of how he dressed and expressed himself, or at least I had that impression back in the day (wasn't watching as much as I am now, so don't ask for specifics). Which is part of why I find it so bothersome that I often hear him unfairly judging skaters for how they express themselves. And yes, I'm talking about him and Tara ripping into Ivett Toth for her "awful" music choice of AC/DC, among other things. And I really resent the way they both speak as though having a bad skate means the skater doesn't "want" to win, isn't really "trying" which gets multiplied by ten every time they commentate Pairs at US Nationals, because apparently having not commentators who can barely disguise their active scorn for pairs skaters from their own country is too much to ask.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I liked Johnny Weir as a skater. Scratch that, I still like Johnny as a skater. I think he was often treated unfairly in his career because of how he dressed and expressed himself, or at least I had that impression back in the day (wasn't watching as much as I am now, so don't ask for specifics). Which is part of why I find it so bothersome that I often hear him unfairly judging skaters for how they express themselves. And yes, I'm talking about him and Tara ripping into Ivett Toth for her "awful" music choice of AC/DC, among other things. And I really resent the way they both speak as though having a bad skate means the skater doesn't "want" to win, isn't really "trying" which gets multiplied by ten every time they commentate Pairs at US Nationals, because apparently having not commentators who can barely disguise their active scorn for pairs skaters from their own country is too much to ask.

This is one of the many things that bothers me. They act like they were the ultimates of the figure skating world and no one can ever compare.

 

[Mathman]

Back when GS added the "Thumbs Up" button, I was among some who thought a "Thumbs Down" button also would be a constructive addition.

My reasoning was that it could help prevent disagreements from escalating into excessively heated and prolonged battles lasting many posts.

At the time, other GS members felt strongly that it would be a terrible idea to allow us to give "Thumbs Down" on a post without explaining *why* we disliked the post. I wonder where those GS members are now.

Here I am.

To me a thumbs down is just saying, "you're full of crap, fool." Do we need that?

On the other hand, I often give a thumbs up to a post that quotes my post in order to disagree. At least they thought what i said was interesting enough to disagree with. :yes:

 

[readernick]

I think the mute button is the best weapon against Johnny and Tara. Unfortunately, they talk so much during performances that you have to mute the skaters music and audience reaction, too. I think the problem ( aside from the obsessive talking about themselves) is that they seem to be critical and catty for entertainment’s sake. Even Tat’s extremely biased commentary seems to come from a true love of figure skating. I don’t get the feeling Tara and Johnny love figure skating. They love themselves and how “ clever” they can be. I am all for constructive criticism. Charlie, Tanith, Ben Agosto, Tracy Wilson, Kurt Browning and others also criticize but they don’t so it for entertainment sake. They want to educated the viewer and express their genuine feelings about a program. I hope Tara and Johnny learn this skill. Currently, I can’t listen to them.

 

[RoundedBackCamel]

When I am forced to watch skating with T&J commentating, I spend most of the time saying "SHUT UP TARA!"

Lol, me too. BTW, speaking of overly chatty commentary, since we can only watch Russian vids (and bless them for that and grrr to NBC and Google), does anyone know who is commentating on the WTT with TAT? The lower-voiced male sounds like Yagudin, but I don't know how much commentary he does. Anyway, that first male voice spoke so rapidly and with *so many words* introducing each skater, and I was thinking, is this guy going to talk like this throughout the whole skate? Thankfully he stopped talking once the routine started. I don't mind TAT because I can't understand what she's saying (and apparently that's a good thing, since I'm a Kolyada fan) and she is so expressive and effusive. I also love the sound of the Russian language.

It's fun for me hearing languages I don't know and trying to pick out words I understand (usually just lootz, Salchow, treeple fleep, ah-xel . . .).

Anyway, British ESP guys get my vote because often they really root for the skater. And Americans always find British and Scots accents very appealing.

It's interesting about Tracy Wilson being great on US commentaries but insufferable in Canadian coverage. I guess that's the Canadian pride coming out? Annoying in US commentary too. I guess it's going to happen anywhere, but I don't recall Dick Button or Peggy Fleming championing US skaters over others. I guess the networks at the time didn't press them to do that.

 

[ice coverage]

Here I am.

To me a thumbs down is just saying, "you're full of crap, fool." Do we need that? ...

Thanks for raising your hand.

By the same token: I don't think we "need" a thread with a title that craps on a commentator if the OP has nothing else to say except "That is all."

(Meanwhile, I will repeat that I see a constructive purpose for "Thumbs Down" as an outlet for non-aggressive disagreement -- a very different outlook from yours.)

Again, I am not a consistent supporter of JW by any means.
But if you're going to throw a metaphorical brick, I would expect the OP to at least provide a reason why.
(By the next day, it seemed that the OP could not even remember why s/he wanted to throw a Johnny-related brick at the TV, although s/he did bring up Cain/LeDuc and Keegan.)

[Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but I similarly don't think we would "need" any thread in The Edge with a title of "XYZ is the greatest thing since sliced bread" with a three-word OP of "That is all."
If "That is all," then just add a post to XYZ's fan thread that says, "XYZ is the greatest thing since sliced bread."]

But I am not a mod, and you are -- and I get that gsk8 and the mods get to call the shots.

---

I didn't say it to make you sad; I said it because so many posts that attack others, ironically for attacking others, do make me sad. To express my feelings.

And there were people who thought your thread title was funny. However, it's my impression that many who say Johnny's commentary is useless or worse, are holding one comment against him, or two, because of what he said about their favorite skater.(s). Kind of like if you live by the sword, wielding a weapon, you may get hurt in return. And it's a never-ending cycle.

I mostly agree with what you are saying.

But I do NOT think that complaints against Weir are necessarily about feeling protective of favorites.
I will take my life into my own hands and risk retaliation from Canadian diehards by saying that I don't consider Keegan to be among my favorites. I have absolutely nothing against him, but he is not one of my favorites.
And yet I *do* have a big problem with Weir's invariable tone of disdain for Keegan.

 

[NanaPat]

. Added to my list is the lady that commented during Universiade .. she was wonderful!!! CaroLiza_fan spoke about her in another thread, said how wonderful she was and I agree!! This is a couple of examples... sorry, but I don't know her name ..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-LGuZnAAGa8

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IsleGjS50kk

Kind of drifted into OT here, sorry!

That's PJ Kwong. As well as commentating, she does interviews for the CBC and is the arena announcer for many major competitions. How can you not know that? Doesn't she pepper all her commentary with anecdotes about her adventures as the arena announcer at the Olympics? Oh, I guess not.

Now that you've heard her distinctive voice, see if you can id her has an arena announcer. She pops up in some unexpected (to me) places.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Here I am.

To me a thumbs down is just saying, "you're full of crap, fool." Do we need that?

On the other hand, I often give a thumbs up to a post that quotes my post in order to disagree. At least they thought what i said was interesting enough to disagree with. :yes:

I have never seen a thumbs down button on a forum and I dont want to. There is an old saying from my generation. "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" Having that right is not a given in all countries. I like the civility here, even if I do accrue a bunch of political warnings.

 

[Reddi]

Lol, me too. BTW, speaking of overly chatty commentary, since we can only watch Russian vids (and bless them for that and grrr to NBC and Google), does anyone know who is commentating on the WTT with TAT? The lower-voiced male sounds like Yagudin, but I don't know how much commentary he does. Anyway, that first male voice spoke so rapidly and with *so many words* introducing each skater, and I was thinking, is this guy going to talk like this throughout the whole skate? Thankfully he stopped talking once the routine started. I don't mind TAT because I can't understand what she's saying (and apparently that's a good thing, since I'm a Kolyada fan) and she is so expressive and effusive. I also love the sound of the Russian language.

It's Alexandr Grishin - a sports commentator that has been TAT's associate for several years already. And yes he talks at a very fast pace which allows him to cram some info about skater between routines and TAT's ramblings.
Also if you happen to care a lot about some certain skaters you better forever stay away from TAT's commentary cause she goes harrrrd on those she doesn't like or sings infinite praises to ones whom (or whose coaches rather) she likes. You need much more zen to not throw anything at your TV screen with her than with T&J IMHO.

 

[Mathman]

There is an old saying from my generation. "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Voltaire (1694-1778).

About Johnny trying his best to pronounce Russian names correctly, good on ya, mate. You're a gentleman and a scholar. But the problem for the American TV audience is that 99% can't speak a word of Russian and has no idea who Johnny is talking about. (Did he mean that pretty girl Zaga-TOH-va? )

 

[Orlov]

It's Alexandr Grishin - a sports commentator that has been TAT's associate for several years already. And yes he talks at a very fast pace which allows him to cram some info about skater between routines and TAT's ramblings.
Also if you happen to care a lot about some certain skaters you better forever stay away from TAT's commentary cause she goes harrrrd on those she doesn't like or sings infinite praises to ones whom (or whose coaches rather) she likes. You need much more zen to not throw anything at your TV screen with her than with T&J IMHO.

I really wish that someone translating TAT's comments to our fastidious American comrades so that they understand what does a REALLY bad commentator mean

For example, today I have been shouting "shut up", "shut up", SHUT UUUUPP !!!" for about 30 seconds just to silence her voice (I'm afraid to even imagine what my neighbors will think about me )

My dream is to teleport TAT to them in America, and to us take Johnny. And let them listen there that Chartrand is fat, Lecavelier is fat (and with a completely wrong technique of jumping), that Tuktamysheva is “You are strong tramp!”, that no one listens to her about the importance of acclimatization (cuz coaches are greedy and don’t want to lose money by arriving in advance so that their athlete can acclimatize). I just imagine how they will have to deal with such pearls - "He's semiproduct yet", "In the second half of the program she was lying on the ice like a sausage". And of course: "And Lesha could do everything!" And Yagudin (he, of course, will quickly find himself in the same place where TAT) will modestly resist - "Tatiana Anatolievna in our time ..." and you will listen for about three minutes, about their adventures in 1998.

Oh gosh, I just see them crying in tears - "Please give us our Johnny, please!"

 

[el henry]

Voltaire (1694-1778).

About Johnny trying his best to pronounce Russian names correctly, good on ya, mate. You're a gentleman and a scholar. But the problem for the American TV audience is that 99% can't speak a word of Russian and has no idea who Johnny is talking about. (Did he mean that pretty girl Zaga-TOH-va? )

This is one of my pet peeves, as someone who once could pronounce names fairly accurately in five different languages (I'm now down to two)

What is the point of "correct" pronunciation? To show that one is oh so sophisticated and debonair and worldly and knows pronunciation in a foreign (to you) language? Whoop de doo, I'm impressed

But if I have absolutely no idea who you're talking about, impressed, schmimpressed (And it doesn't show "respect", either, please). Affected, I calls it, and I'm sticking by that call

 

[ice coverage]

(1) Yikes, what is the world coming to?

Criticizing/mocking someone for correct pronunciation makes absolutely zero sense to me.

I could understand not feeling the need to give someone extra brownie points for correct pronunciation.
But making *correct* pronounciation the basis for outright criticism strikes me as utterly ridiculous.

Example (which has nothing to do with Weir):

Contrary to popular belief, Karina Manta does *not* pronounce her last name to rhyme with Santa. [ETA: as in American pronunciation of Santa Claus.] When *she* says her last name, the first syllable rhymes with "haunt," more or less.

Would it be preferable for a commentator to mispronounce her name -- as if it rhymed with Santa?
Not in a million years, if you ask me.

And would I criticize a commentator for pronouncing Manta correctly?
Not in a million years.​

---

(2) I am all for civility, and for allowing people to express opinions. Re the Thumbs Down button:

I don't understand why it inherently would be more civil to respond to a post with a tone (not uncommon on GS) of, "Are you kidding me? On what planet does Couple XY have the best choreographic slide of the season? Only someone blind or completely biased would think so. Couple AB's obviously is far better." And then to get into a long back-and-forth: "You're the blind one." "No, you're just mad that AB beat XY at GPF." "AB beating XY was a total joke." Etc. Etc.

As opposed to simply clicking Thumbs Down, keeping one's mouth shut, and moving on without getting sarcastic or angry. As a way of indicating calm disagreement, why would that be more uncivil???
And why would allowing Thumbs Down trample on someone's right to say something??? Any more than allowing posts such as, "You don't know what you're talking about. No way did YZ deserve Level 4 for the SBS spins"?​

 

[TontoK]

To me a thumbs down is just saying, "you're full of crap, fool." Do we need that?

A reasonable compromise would be to allow me, and only me, to use a thumbs-down button to tell people they're full of crap.

Either that, or some sort of secret government access that lets me shut down the internet for users who post "slay" or "Yaass queen" or "No!!!! Why???" on competition forums.

 

[Sam-Skwantch]

:disagree: