- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
After all, with such a judging/scoring system, this sport has nothing to do with high level of ethical standards. And people who are good at politicking are more likely to be successful in this sport too
James/Radford announce partnership
- Thread starter Mista Ekko
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2014
The thing is, I can't imagine why either of them would be purposefully dishonest, which is why it's weird!
Unless Meagan was under the impression this was a temporary thing? Like Vanessa and Eric were going to skate in some sort of show (maybe in Europe?), but not going to compete. Both Eric and Meagan seem to be decent enough people, so I could see Meagan being supportive of that, especially with COVID still making travel an ordeal for her at this time.
Quite a mess though, with everyone taking sides now.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2016
It’s soooo true.After all, with such a judging/scoring system, this sport has nothing to do with high level of ethical standards. And people who are good at politicking are more likely to be successful in this sport too
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2010
I could see where they both believe their side is the truth. If Eric said "I'm skating with Vanessa, is that ok" and Megan replied "Yeah, I'm not interested in competitions anyway," he could view it as her giving him support while she could be mad about not having the first opportunity to decline partnering with him, as it seems the decision was made before their chat. I don't think it's a big deal either way; there are some hurt feelings, but two people in a pairs partnership have every right to split up and pursue separate opportunities.
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2014
That's fair enough too, although that's probably what makes pairs and dance so difficult...if you're a well-known and successful couple the draw card for shows is seeing the two of you skate together. I hope Meagan is able to find a way to do shows if that's what she wants apparently her Battle of the Blades partner seems interested, I didn't actually watch the show but I heard they did a throw which is pretty cool. Any pairs jumps though?
Except that based on Eric's response it seemed like her choices (which there is nothing wrong with) made it questionable that they would be doing shows or at least a high number of shows especially in foreign countries: they didn't do a set of shows because she got pregnant (which caused him to miss paychecks) and she had apparently been opposed to doing shows in Japan that would take her away from her child. If that's true, I can understand his point of view in thinking 'okay, this partnership is going in opposite directions and if the opportunity presents itself I need a new partner. It doesn't make her wrong for making the life choices she made, nor does it make him wrong for the choices he made or the comments explaining his decision to move on to competing with Vanessa.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2018
Eric does not come off as the good guy even if you believe his version of events 100%. By his own words, he's been thinking about leaving the partnership since 2019, basically as soon as Meagan got pregnant, and yet, again by his own words, he did not tell her he wanted out until April 2021, over a year later, after he had already been secretly looking for another partner and finally found one and then secretly made all the arrangements to make sure the new team was viable. Meaning, if Vanessa didn't get released, Eric would still be in the partnership with Meagan, probably skating in Stars on Ice as planned, etc. but still secretly looking for a way out and she would still be in the dark. Who cares if she told him on the one courtesy phone call he gave her that she was "supportive"? I'm betting it was more that she was in shock, said a few polite words (because what else are you supposed to say?) and got off the phone quickly to process the shock of it.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2016
I get all that, but from what people are saying it looks like he didn’t say anything until after Vanessa was released by France. Meagan’s sister in law has been coaching them since at least March and didn’t say anything either, from my understanding. That’s being intentionally deceitful.
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
I feel bad for Meagan that she is hurting, and she has to realize that their goals are different. Eric wants to return to competitive skating and the OG's and I don't believe that she shares the same goals, so he's following his passion. Even Meagan's sister in law is helping out, so Julie must believe that Vanessa and Eric were worth her investment.
As for comp shows, who says that they can't do this in the off season? They have both proven that they are skaters who can multi task. Hopefully Meagan sees that this is not shade against her, as it is Eric choosing to continue his amateur career and desire to return to the OG's. Life happens.
As for comp shows, who says that they can't do this in the off season? They have both proven that they are skaters who can multi task. Hopefully Meagan sees that this is not shade against her, as it is Eric choosing to continue his amateur career and desire to return to the OG's. Life happens.
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2014
Do you think there would be a meltdown? I don’t, actually, although I might phrase his statement a bit less baldly than you do here.
I think that as long as a skater is self-aware, honest, and decent in making a change like this, most fans will generally accept it. I’d guess the reason some people are reacting a bit negatively - even if they were not super invested in Duhamel/ Radford- is because of the perception that Eric could have behaved in a more honest and thoughtful way towards Meagan.
I should say, though, that a lot of people don’t seem at all bothered by it and are just excited by the new pairing.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2014
Yeah that's basically the issue here...it's one thing to return to competition with a new partner, it's quite another to string your previous partner along for all that time.
The skating world is a small one, I can imagine that Meagan might feel embarrassed at the idea that numerous other people must have had an idea of what Eric and Vanessa were planning, like it makes her (Meagan) look like a bit of a loser. I'm sure if Eric had brought his concerns to her way back at the start (in 2019) she might have been hurt, but she would have had a year to prepare for it. Giving her only 2 weeks notice like she's his employer rather than a close friend is pretty uncool.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2014
Meagan has spoken about the "travel for shows" issue: her concerns were pandemic related and she sounds as though she was willing to do the shows:
We planned on doing stars Japan until they no longer allowed North American skater. I was resistant to travel with a baby during an pandemic and It was going to be difficult for me to manage but that was my problem, not his.
The discourse about Meagan and her child sadly still appears to be so much sexist after the fact justification
We planned on doing stars Japan until they no longer allowed North American skater. I was resistant to travel with a baby during an pandemic and It was going to be difficult for me to manage but that was my problem, not his.
The discourse about Meagan and her child sadly still appears to be so much sexist after the fact justification
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
If(?) this scenario is what happened, then Meagan -- if it were important to her to be a good communicator to her friend -- could have called Eric back later to have a heart-to-heart conversation, after taking a couple of days to digest the news.
But as far as we know, no additional one-on-one conversation took place (until today).
What we do know is that Meagan lately had no trouble broadcasting her honest feelings on social media (before today's conversation with Eric).
Agree.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
The thing is two people can look at things and come to different conclusions. Doesn't mean one is wrong, they just can both be saying "their truth".
It also feels like both of them - Meagan and Eric - are trying to get ahead of the story and say their opinion, somewhat under the jury of public opinion.
Both can believe their side is true without actually trying to be "purposefully dishonest". Not everything is black and white or binary.
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
The thing is the pandemic is an uncertain situation. We don't know how long it will be until things actually get back to normal.Meagan has spoken about the "travel for shows" issue: her concerns were pandemic related and she sounds as though she was willing to do the shows:
We planned on doing stars Japan until they no longer allowed North American skater. I was resistant to travel with a baby during an pandemic and It was going to be difficult for me to manage but that was my problem, not his.
The discourse about Meagan and her child sadly still appears to be so much sexist after the fact justification
The other thing is in a pair's skating relationship, that does become Eric's problem to some extent.
Meagan herself has said in the past it's not like she can just pack her baby onto a tour bus. While it's true that it's primarily Meagan's concern, it is an added thing to consider and does limit their flexibility.
I also disagree that it's inherently sexist. I myself am female and know the implications of having a child on my career. Not that it can't be done but that it is an added concern.
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2021
Didn’t both Meagan and Eric try out together secretly at midnight when they were looking to break up their own previous partnerships?
Anyway, I don’t think Eric should be required to forgo the chance to compete again to remain available for skating shows that aren’t currently scheduled or likely to return for some time.
And if he wants to go fully back into skating, rather than it being a sporadic side gig, that’s his right too. His and Meagan’s life circumstances are completely different to what they were when they were competing.
I don’t imagine Meagan would have tolerated anything less than 100% from Eric when it was Meagans goal to win an Olympic medal. So it is also Eric’s right to choose a partner that mirrors his current goals too. What would be his other options? Give up on his goals or just try to pressure Meagan into a comeback she doesn’t want? Those aren’t good either.
Anyway, I don’t think Eric should be required to forgo the chance to compete again to remain available for skating shows that aren’t currently scheduled or likely to return for some time.
And if he wants to go fully back into skating, rather than it being a sporadic side gig, that’s his right too. His and Meagan’s life circumstances are completely different to what they were when they were competing.
I don’t imagine Meagan would have tolerated anything less than 100% from Eric when it was Meagans goal to win an Olympic medal. So it is also Eric’s right to choose a partner that mirrors his current goals too. What would be his other options? Give up on his goals or just try to pressure Meagan into a comeback she doesn’t want? Those aren’t good either.
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
We don't even know he did string her along. We really have NO evidence of that.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2018
And so what if she didn't call him back? Why are people trying to make the burden of the communication fall on the person who was blindsided and betrayed? Why didn't he try to call her back to have more of a conversation? If he really thought he was absolved of any wrongdoing with one phone call after going behind her back for almost two years that's his delusion, not her problem.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2018
He himself said he began looking for a way out of the partnership in the fall of 2019 when she got pregnant. What more evidence do you need?
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
That DOESN'T prove he strung her along. He was willing to do shows with her and they were scheduled to do shows in SOI Canada AND Japan. It doesn't say anything about future plans WHATSOEVER.
If anything, that shows for then at least he was committed to doing shows with her for that time. If anything, SHE'S the one who showed hesitancy to go to Japan. She also didn't deny she was hesitant to go to Japan. She herself said she "was resistive". She explained WHY and it's completely her own prerogative either way - and obviously she needs to be concerned about her own child and their safety.
His plan two months ago WAS to skate with Meagan. He said in 2019 that he was happy for her but needed to come up with a plan B. What do you suppose a plan b is?? It's a backup plan. His first plan WAS skate with Meagan.
Last edited:
- Status
