James/Radford announce partnership

[Skater Boy]

There several things I want to know. 1. Realistically how good are Vanessa and Eric ? Being great with other partners does not mean they will be great and there is little time. 2. How will the judges receive this team; I am not sure Vanessa's handling of the Cipres will hurt 3. What are the real reactions of Trennt and Evelyn - not the PR? It has to be hard when you have worked hard and appeared on "schedule" to make the oly team and now there is out of the blue a new challenger that looks really really strong on paper at least. 4. For all the hype and drama this doesn't probably help Canada a lot in the team event 5. On paper the TES is much lower than D/R unless the GOEs are super super high.. 6. It isn't a bad time to come back as other than Sui and Han everyone else is kind of up in the air. In russia any of the top three teams could win or bomb. 7. Isn't skating expensive. Where is all this money coming from 8. Even i this is in part about preserving finances with future shows it is a long shot - show skating is dying already even without Covid, James and Radford are an unknown or unmedalled team Going back to Megan for shows while possible will lose some power or lustre 9 What about the coach Julie Marcotte. Did she say anything to her brother Bruno or her sister inlaw Megan. It seems rather odd/awkward. 10. Why not for drama have Charlie skate with Megan. Or heck Mervin who changes countries like almost a Reed. Though I don't think he would be olymic eligible. LOL I agree though the competitive side says may the best team win. But still this pairs drama is a threat to Russia on drama. Maybe as a compromise Megan should coach this new team but that might be conflict with KTM. Oh Canada....

 

[chasingneverland]

LOL thanks for confirming what I am saying... Eric will need to do much more than 2 phone calls right after the events.... Meagan cannot be forced to pick up at this point, she is just not ready to hear his "excuses" ... my original post about this said that if Eric really cares about his friendship with Meagan, he will find a way to reach out to her and make it up immensely to her. To which, you said, but he called twice already... to which we agree on : it's not now that it matters... she's not willing to listen... give her time.... it's not rocket science. So again, if he cares, he will work extra hard to make it up to her and hopefully, their friendship was strong enough to start with, so things can get better between them.

That's not what I'm saying at all.

Both parties have to be willing but are under NO OBLIGATION to continue their friendship. We don't even know the nature of their relationship, prior to all of this.

 

[solani]

With the new pairing, I don't think Meagan and Eric would get back together for shows regardless of how this week unfolded. Vanessa has no partner to go back to, so I'm sure she'll want to continue building a career with Eric even after they retire from competition.

I'm sure Meagan and Eric can get the better deal. Only an Olympic medal for Vanessa and Eric could change that (as long as it's not in the Team Event).

 

[Seven Sisters]

I'm sure Meagan and Eric can get the better deal. Only an Olympic medal for Vanessa and Eric could change that (as long as it's not in the Team Event).

Not so sure about that. Skating with Vanessa might open up opportunities for shows in Europe that might not be as open to Meagan/Eric. I think most of the show work Meagan/Eric have done has been in North America and Japan.

I agree that Meagan could pretty easily find a capable partner for show skating, if that is what she wants to do. She has plenty of star power—as well as World and Olympic medals in her own right—and I think audiences in Canada, especially, would still enjoy seeing her in shows. If the SOI Canada tour that has been the topic of so much discussion does happen, I can’t imagine the tour organizers are going to say, sorry Meagan, we only want you for the tour as part of a pair with Eric.

This unpleasantness might even result in more people wanting to buy tickets to see her, as a gesture of support and solidarity!

 

[el henry]

I guess Bev must have recorded the phone call. She's being gracious, not Meagan. I actually like Meagan a lot, but she clearly can't remember her own words. Meagan is very open and talkative. And that makes me wonder what she told Eric over all those years. Babies included.

And she's influnced by TSL. Dave is twittering wrong infos (like what's written in Aljona's book) and Meagan is responding to that. She must think that Eric didn't actually want to skate with her all those years ... this must hurt and there's no proof for that. Dave should be ashamed, because he's making her feel worse than necessary.
I'm against burning bridges. But that's what Meagan does, fired up by TSL.
Again, I don't see why they could not do shows together after the Olympics. But after this mess ... it's just sad. And so unnecessary.
Eric seems so excited about this new opportunity. A friend should be happy for him. Sometimes one gets hurt and there is no one to blame, only the circumstances.

Since this is a different subject (the Bev Smith article, and I am truly curious, I'm baaaack) I'm sorry, but I am wondering if you have some inside knowledge: How do you know she clearly can't remember her own words? Have you listened to the tapes (if Bev has them) of what Meagan said?

Jumping off and not directed at you, I have worked in sports journalism (albeit for a very brief time and a gazillion years ago ), law (more recently) and spousal unit is an academic of 45 plus years. The writing conventions are different for each profession. IMO, I agree with @Tavi... that the Bev Smith article was confusing and "I spoke with Eric and/or Meagan" would have been appropriate, given the context of all the statements out there.

To absolutely no one's shock, my opinion on all else remains the same

 

[solani]

Since this is a different subject (the Bev Smith article, and I am truly curious, I'm baaaack) I'm sorry, but I am wondering if you have some inside knowledge: How do you know she clearly can't remember her own words? Have you listened to the tapes (if Bev has them) of what Meagan said?

I only read Bev's unedited article and the following discussion on Twitter between her and Meagan.
Maybe I'm a bit opiniated on the subject. I myself am a older mum and I read about Meagan's uterus anomality on her homepage and she can't tell me that she's not thinking and talking (she is Meagan after all) about having another baby in the foreseeable future. It would be stupid to wait. I hope she doesn't wait now in order to prove her version of the story. Because she wants to have more children. It can get too late.
But I have no proof for my assumptions.

 

[el henry]

I only read Bev's unedited article and the following discussion on Twitter between her and Meagan.
Maybe I'm a bit opiniated on the subject. I myself am a older mum and I read about Meagan's uterus anomality on her homepage and she can't tell me that she's not thinking and talking (she is Meagan after all) about having another baby in the foreseeable future. It would be stupid to wait. I hope she doesn't wait now in order to prove her version of the story. Because she wants to have more children. It can get too late.
But I have no proof for my assumptions.

Thank you for answering.

I think we all filter this event through our own experiences. My viewpoint of what Meagan said and what she wants to do in the future is quite different, as well as my opinion of Eric's assumptions. But I have already discoursed on that, and absent new information, will restrain myself from discoursing further.

 

[4everchan]

I'm sure we all hope for an amicable end to Eric and Meagan's partnership... if this is, indeed, the end.

But it may not be. Even longtime marriages often end in less than amicable splits... so while we may "hope," I don't think we can necessarily "expect."

This may well turn out to be acrimonious and spiteful. It seems to have taken that turn, if reports of their mutual social media unfollowing are true. You mention that "if he cares" he'll take certain actions. But what if, at this point, he doesn't care? He just wants to be done with her, especially if, as he views it, she expressed one opinion to him directly and another to the world on Twitter?

I suspect our own histories can color our views on this subject. My personal history includes a relationship wherein at the end, I was just done... forevermore and never looking back... and I wouldn't have cared if the future of the free world depended on my speaking to her again - it wasn't happening.

But I'm curious. What exactly do you think Eric can do to "make it up immensely to her?"

LOL.. how would I know? Eric and Meagan are the ones who know how things really happen, they are the ones who truly know how meaningful their friendship is, and finally, they are both the ones who have the power to fix it. All I said here is that I am not surprised that calling her a couple times when the wound is fresh and deep is not working out for Eric. BTW... did he really call? I am just going with what someone posted here. I am not pretending I have read and heard all the posts and interviews, but I didn't see that mentioned anywhere else. If you look at my posts, all I am saying is that I understand why Meagan is upset. In my field, it also happens that people performing together get other opportunities and that means that people get ditched too. It has been done to me but in a very good way and my former scene partner is still one of my closest friends. I have never been able to do it to others, even when I was offered better opportunities... So perhaps, my own life is influencing my feelings here as you mention. In the end, I am sure that Meagan will move on and will be triggered to find her own wonderful opportunities. She's a fighter. She will get through this. And finally, as I have said as well, I am not the kind of person who hold grudges (not even in my own life) on people I have never met and I will be cheering on Eric and Vanessa, if their skating moves me... if it's insipid and doesn't live up to expectations, I will simply not care for them, but my appreciation of them will not be tainted by these events. As far as this thread goes, I feel that I have said what i had to say... so I will be stepping out like some others

 

[lurkz2]

TSL is currently soliciting questions for Meagan on its IG live so I think they've booked her for an interview

 

[BearryBear]

TSL is currently soliciting questions for Meagan on its IG live so I think they've booked her for an interview

Yikes. If I was her, I would let this whole thing settle for a while. Nothing good can come from dragging this out. What is her end game here? I’m sure Skate Canada, her friends and some family are not happy with everything that happened. If you want to start a coaching career, this isn’t how you do it.

 

[Scrufflet]

TSL is currently soliciting questions for Meagan on its IG live so I think they've booked her for an interview

Oh no! Pair of vultures! I thought they had gotten better but I guess they want to stir the pot. Let it go!

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I still feel bad for Meagan, she can no longer skate in shows without her former partner. They were supposed to be part of SOI Canada in the fall tour.

And this may not be good for Evelyn and Trennt's chances for the second spot. Eric was their choreographer, btw.

See my recent post in the Canadian skating thread. Competition is competition. On paper at the moment, and most likely on the ice competitively, James/Radford and Kirsten/Michael will be a stronger pairs duo for Canada at Olympics and Worlds than K&M with Walsh/Michaud. Sad for W/M, but true. As athletes, you simply gotta put your head down and do what you can do, not worry too much about the competition, cuz things are always in flux, and apple carts are always getting upset. Bear down on that apple cart and hold on for dear life.

 

[ali0125]

Yikes. If I was her, I would let this whole thing settle for a while. Nothing good can come from dragging this out. What is her end game here? I’m sure Skate Canada, her friends and some family are not happy with everything that happened. If you want to start a coaching career, this isn’t how you do it.

I understand Meagan frustration, but I expect her handling this in a more mature way. What is done cannot be undone. Yes you have every right to take a revenge by making your former partner look bad, but that will make you look bad too partnership is not ownership, it has to be based on mutual agreement.

 

[DSQ]

TSL is currently soliciting questions for Meagan on its IG live so I think they've booked her for an interview

I don’t dislike TSL but this a mistake for Meghan. She’s obviously still very raw about this and when you’re like that you tend to regret what you say. Meghan already has problems expressing herself and being misunderstood.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Oh no! Pair of vultures! I thought they had gotten better but I guess they want to stir the pot. Let it go!

They are the literal worst. I would never watch them.

It's so depressing that they continue on...like other people are "cancelled" for way less, but it seems TSL can say whatever they damn well please and those same Twitter people who will call you names for thinking Nikita isn't the worst person in skating, will still watch.

They straight out accused Sergei Rozanov of being in relationship with Aliona last I heard. And let's not forget the time they called Liza Tuk fat.

 

[solani]

They are the literal worst. I would never watch them.

It's so depressing that they continue on...like other people are "cancelled" for way less, but it seems TSL can say whatever they damn well please and those same Twitters people who will call you names for thinking Nikita isn't the worst person in skating, will still watch.

I bet Nikita and Eric will be in the same league soon.
I confess that I listen to TSL while doing laundry. It's like reading tabloids at the hairdresser. Escapism to a simple world without shades of grey. White Sheets.

 

[TontoK]

TSL is currently soliciting questions for Meagan on its IG live so I think they've booked her for an interview

She is a favorite of those guys. She's done competition run-downs with them, analyzing why one pair's element scored higher than another's... that sort of thing. Very insightful and informative. When TSL brings in skaters or choreographers or judges, it really can be excellent use of their platform. The bitchy gossippy stuff - not so much.

My concern is that they're going to cheerlead her into making statements she might later regret. But, hey, everyone involved is an adult... so whatever.

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

TSL's interview with Meagan just popped up on my YouTube recommendations, so here's the link for anyone interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKt4PQAm5JE&t=3s

 

[el henry]

I have watched twenty minutes so far. I also am not the biggest fan of Dave and Jonathan for commentary, but their skating guests are usually very informative and very interesting.

Meagan is calm, cool, collected, funny, and I believe her version of the timeline. She does not embarrass herself at all and there are no *gotchas* from Dave and Jonathan. She also explains why she does TSL, and it's not because she's Dave and Jonathan's biggest fan. I would recommend the interview for those looking for further info.

And Danny O'Shea tried out with Vanessa (according to Dave )

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

I have watched twenty minutes so far. I also am not the biggest fan of Dave and Jonathan for commentary, but their skating guests are usually very informative and very interesting.

Meagan is calm, cool, collected, funny, and I believe her version of the timeline. She does not embarrass herself at all and there are no *gotchas* from Dave and Jonathan. She also explains why she does TSL, and it's not because she's Dave and Jonathan's biggest fan. I would recommend it for those looking for further info.

I'm only 10 minutes in but this is the same impression I have so far, Meagan seems very reasonable and calm. I like that she also made it clear which bits of what she is saying are facts and which are her opinions.