Johnny's Reaction in the K&C

[julietvalcouer]

Not to mention (agreeing with Piel here) that Johnny is in an environment where he is literally surrounded by gay men--other skaters, coaches, judges, choreographers, there are hundreds if not thousands of gay men involved in skating. If someone is a homophobe, they are involved in the wrong sport. I know many people loathe Christine Brennan, but she was right about something in writing about Rudy Galindo--he hadn't been losing because he was openly gay, he had been losing because he couldn't skate a clean program. This year, Johnny has not been clean. Evan, on the other hand, has been focused on winning Nationals and proving that he is not always going to be second best to Johnny.

I think Johnny needs to chose between being "Johnny Weir! He's here! He's Weir!" and making capital-S Statements off the ice, and remembering this is a sport and you have to train. He's coasted for a long time on having amazing natural talent, and I think that's made him think he doesn't NEED to work as hard as some. Now he knows he does. If he really wants the skating, and not the celebrity, he'll know what to do.

And who could blame him for crying? His adrenaline is still rushing, he's exhausted physically and emotionally--God knows I'd be bawling.

 

[psycho]

I think Johnny needs to chose between being "Johnny Weir! He's here! He's Weir!" and making capital-S Statements off the ice, and remembering this is a sport and you have to train. He's coasted for a long time on having amazing natural talent, and I think that's made him think he doesn't NEED to work as hard as some. Now he knows he does. If he really wants the skating, and not the celebrity, he'll know what to do.

Yes. Johnny has never worked hard a day in his life. He doesn't really train, he sits at home all day thinking of new and creative statements for the media. You're absolutely right...
Where is this stuff coming from?! By all reports from his coach and TAT or whoever else talked about him, they all say he works hard. This year he had training problems because he started late, not because he didn't do anything. He was unprepared for the GPF because he had two new programs and spent the summer on tour. How the hell do you interpret that as "coasting for a long time" and just realizing he needs to work hard.
More logic holes here than in swiss cheese.

 

[chuckm]

I couldn't agree more, psycho. This has been a tough year for Johnny, yet at least this year he won a couple of GP medals and made the GPF.

One plus from this competition: he gave the best performance of his FS so far this season, even with the mistakes. The music is beautiful and the choreography the most interesting of all the men at Nationals. If he can just focus on nothing but nailing those jumps for the next two months, he can really make a statement at Worlds.

 

[heyang]

This year he had training problems because he started late, not because he didn't do anything. He was unprepared for the GPF because he had two new programs and spent the summer on tour.

He himself admitted that he did not train enough earlier this year. Also, many of the skaters were on the same tour. Belbin/Agosto toured just as long and had to come up with 3 new routines and then totally changed their free program.

Some chose to do the same routine while others decided to go with new programs - that's their choice, which they can change. After last year's Nationals, Johnnie chose to go back to Otonal for World's. On his website, he cited having personal problems, which I do understand impacts work life. He could've chosen to go back to old routines if he wasn't comfortable with his new programs.

So, I don't buy the new programs excuse. (and I'm not saying that he's making excuses, but we shouldn't make any for him.) Life is about choices.

As for his kiss'n'cry reaction, I had no problems with it. He was disappointed. Evan looked just as wiped out after his SP at Oly's. It wasn't the performance he wanted to have and not even close to what he's capable of. So, he's got to let go of the coulda-woulda-shoulda's and motivate himself to give a better performance of his LP at World's.

BTW, my only issue with Johnny is statements to the effect that the 'other male skaters are boring and he's the best'. Otherwise, I don't have issues with what he does off the ice and I like his skating.

 

[Dee4707]

I don't know if anyone else listed to Johnny's press conference before the event but I thought he said a lot that made sense about his training and other events he was in.

Johnny's Press Conference

Dee

 

[momjudi]

First, I think the reaction in the K&C was due to the stress he's been under. As Dick Button said, it's a lot harder coming in as a defending champion then someone who never won and wants the title. Not only was Johnny a defending champion but a win last night would have put him in the record books along with Boitano and Hamilton as a skater with four consecutive wins. Johnny knew he had not had the best of seasons and I think he really hoped he could pull off a miracle last night but that wasnt' possible.

Second, When Johnny said "hi Paris" in the K&C, he was referring to his bestfriend back home in Delaware. He is not Johnny's boyfriend, simply Johnny's friend.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Johnny answers Kurt's questions during exhibitions. I think Johnny is in control of himself and he wants to skate. BTW. He does a very nice interpretation of 1'imagination' by the Beattles.

Joe

 

[psycho]

Johnny answers Kurt's questions during exhibitions. I think Johnny is in control of himself and he wants to skate. BTW. He does a very nice interpretation of 1'imagination' by the Beattles.

Joe

What was he wearing? Is that a new program? Details, please.

 

[scorekeeper]

He's had a rough year, that's true. Maybe he's just learning the hard way how to strike the right balance between training, touring to make money to pay for training, and his off-ice interests.

 

[JACJR]

Johnny looked pretty upset in the K&C. His sobbing was sad and an expression of how he felt about his performance. Just as Evan's falling to his knees and looking upward (my guess to heaven) or Ryan's need to take a victory lap and do a backflip expressed theirs. All were over the top.

However, why is no one discussing Evan's immature reaction to Johnny's breakdown in the K&C. Smiling and smirking at another's distress are not the actions of somone who thanks the lord for his performance.

 

[Dee4707]

However, why is no one discussing Evan's immature reaction to Johnny's breakdown in the K&C. Smiling and smirking at another's distress are not the actions of somone who thanks the lord for his performance.

JacJr, I guess I never thought that Evan's reaction was directed at Johnny. I thought he noticed that the camera was on him and he smiled. I really don't think Evan did anything other than what I just wrote.

Dee

 

[twinsissv]

He's had a rough year, that's true. Maybe he's just learning the hard way how to strike the right balance between training, touring to make money to pay for training, and his off-ice interests.

...And little brother's college tuition and expenses. Big bucks THERE as we all know.

 

[scorekeeper]

However, why is no one discussing Evan's immature reaction to Johnny's breakdown in the K&C. Smiling and smirking at another's distress are not the actions of somone who thanks the lord for his performance.

Good point. Everyone says what a nice guy Lysacek is, but he certainly didn't seem like such a nice guy in Spokane.

 

[twinsissv]

Good point. Everyone says what a nice guy Lysacek is, but he certainly didn't seem like such a nice guy in Spokane.

Yeah. That's REALLY beginning to get to me. Smirking and winking...a real true sportsman.

 

[Eeyora]

I also was turned off by Evan's reaction in K and C as for Johnny I love the guy but he needs to revaluate things. I like his short program but the long is just not him. I think he needs to work with Tatianna Tarosova again.

 

[Tonichelle]

I too am concerned for Johnny. He's still very young and living on his own, and being gay in America isn't easy. I saw him mouth "Hi, Paris" into the camera, but even if his partner had been in the stands, the cameras would not have cut to him (a la Tanith).

Has he come out? Officially? - I ask this not to be nosey but as a reason for ESPN not showing an SO.

 

[chuckm]

They weren't showing SIgnificant Others of the other skaters except for Tanith. Just about all the people they showed were parents or siblings of the skaters. I think the skaters were probably asked if they wanted their families to be shown on TV, because they didn't do it for everyone.

I think Paris is more of a close friend than a SO. Johnny alluded to a wrenching breakup on his website this past fall, and I know that he and Paris have been close friends for a long time.

 

[Tonichelle]

I think the skaters were probably asked if they wanted their families to be shown on TV, because they didn't do it for everyone.
.

I'm not sure they do I know several parents RUN when the camera begins to get even close to their direction

 

[JACJR]

It is no coincidence or bad editing that gave us Evan laughing at Johnny Weir's appearance during the K&G. Every competitive skater is watching the monitor, waiting for the scores. At one point, Evan made the "this guy is weird" grimmace while looking directly into the camera. It is simply bad mean spirited behavior.

I am reminded of a moment when another skater was "caught" . Nancy Kerrigan's comment regarding Oksanna's need reapply her makeup made the news throughout the Olympics. Believe me, if I were Nancy, and had just been robbed of my Gold Medal, I would have a lot more to say, and it would not be limied to makeup.

Yet Nancy was highly criticized at the time, instant Cruella. There must be a different standard for the "real" men of the sport.

 

[flyingnun]

i think that Evan was just smiling for the camera when they were filming him.