It really is possible to like both Johnnie and Evan but it is difficult. I used to like both of them eqally but Johnnie's mouth changed all of that. I still think his skating is beautiful but what he says is ugly. It isn't Evan's fault if the media, judges or even the USFS prefers Evan's masculine presentation over Johnnie's more effeminate style. It could be that the USFS prefers to promote someone who isn't purposely rude or trying to shock people. They tried for a long time to promote Johnnie but Johnnie likes to make incendiary comments and then ice the cake by topping off his fluffy, sparkly attire with a feather boa. It's easy to play the gender card but Johnnie has generated lots of reasons for his federation not to like him. Johnnie's comments about Evan (as well as Johnnie's immature approach "I don't worry about points") have not endeared him to many people and he has only himself to blame. Having said that, I still do like Johnnie's skating and I just don't watch any interviews of him anymore.
What this "rivalry" has done, IMHO, is make Johnnie look silly and childish while making Evan look like some kind of macho maniac. I wish Johnnie wouldn't feed the beast with his deriding comments about Evan. I think Evan is to be commended for holding his tongue where Johnnie is concerned but he has to be more aware that the media is taking any blatantly heterosexual comments or behavior he exibits and wildly inflating them. I wish both skaters would just go out there and skate their point of view.
