Just a thought on Johnny

[Ausrick]

THIS SUBJECT IS ON JOHNNY AND HIS MOUTH... IMO HE SHOULD JUST KEEP IT SHUT AND SKATE . If he needs to talk he should do it with his skating his mouth is offensive to me thats right me and I personally dont like his or your attack on people.

It's a bit difficult if Johnny and Evan are asked (probably even contracted) to comment about each other and their rivalry in a promotion of the event, for Johnny to 'just shut up and skate', isn't it ?

He just played the pre-event game, as he was required to do, and wasn't at all offensive that I could see. :scratch:

 

[GoldMedalist]

FIRST OFFI dont think you have any idea about my life or anyone elses on this board.

I don't need to. Your words define you. From what you've wrote, I find your thinking to be very simplistic.

THIS SUBJECT IS ON JOHNNY AND HIS MOUTH... IMO HE SHOULD JUST KEEP IT SHUT AND SKATE . If he needs to talk he should do it with his skating his mouth is offensive to me thats right me and I personally dont like his or your attack on people.

Attack? LOL. I would suggest a realistic frame of reference.

The media interviews skaters, so they sorta have to talk. It's good when people actually say something of real thought. You want speech stifled simply because you can't handle it. Obviously, I find that to be an appalling notion. Either ignore it if you don't like it or think about it from the actual person's viewpoint, as that will broaden your own mind.

Figure skating is not a team sport but you do arrive at the rink representing the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA at WORLDS so HENCE you are TEAMMATES!!

Teammates, no. Countrymen, yes.

 

[Mathman]

Putting on my armchair pyscholgists' hat, I have to wonder if a lot of Johnny's brashness isn't part of his defensive armour. Perhaps this is his way of bracing himself against an onslaught of societal forces that want to push him into a mold that people feel more comfortable with.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Johnny is attracted to those showbiz people who live to shock the establishment through their audiences. I think he tries to emmulate them more than he emmulates being a Rusophile.

There was an item in one of the local papers where he was quoted about his body becoming more like a man, and he has to wear a girdle. Well, I chuckled and screamed out horrors! a body like a man!

Joe

 

[isk82]

Putting on my armchair pyscholgists' hat, I have to wonder if a lot of Johnny's brashness isn't part of his defensive armour. Perhaps this is his way of bracing himself against an onslaught of societal forces that want to push him into a mold that people feel more comfortable with.

Well said, Mathman. I tried to say something similar somewhere above, but not nearly as succinctly as you did.

 

[lmarie086]

from http://goldenskate.com/articles/2007/us_8.shtml

"It wasn't clear (to the Technical Specialist) that there was a change of edge," explained Weir with a chuckle, "so I lost by an inside edge."

If that's true, then forgive me but I must say that's bullshit.

 

[flyingnun]

Johnny just doesn't understand how to play the game. If he had played the game two years ago he would be 4 time national champion.

 

[krenseby]

Johnny just doesn't understand how to play the game. If he had played the game two years ago he would be 4 time national champion.

What does "playing the game" consist of? Please clarify.

 

[GoldMedalist]

"It wasn't clear (to the Technical Specialist) that there was a change of edge," explained Weir with a chuckle, "so I lost by an inside edge."

If that's true, then forgive me but I must say that's bullshit.

I saw the change of edge and called the spin Level 3. The features of that Upright spin were backward entrance, difficult variation (catch-leg), and change of edge. Now, while he did the change of edge, he held a position with his head and free leg off to the side, but I don't think that's considered a difficult variation to get the last feature for a Level 4. It was pretty, though, so I gave him +GOE.

Johnny needs to make this spin a change of foot upright spin anyway. That gets you an extra half point right there. All he needs to do is change feet right before going into that final backspin position.

A visual for everyone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7QgJ1hCvw

The spin comes at 3 minutes into the program.

 

[ranjake]

johnny doesn't HAVE to do anything-at least not according to me. he doesnt have to shut up. it's a little hard for me to explain-i'll try. johnny has stated he worships" paris hilton. and that's the vibe i got from his taped piece- it was the dumbing down of johnny. to me only. it was, to me, beneath him, and it did not, to me, seem HONEST...it was bad acting. i think real johnny is provocative enough. he distracted me from his skating and so he made me mad. maybe i'm wrong to blame him- it's really my problem. i LOVE johnny's skating-and i was so looking forward to it-and it was diminished to me. i like his honesty. there, i didn't see honesty-but i understand that some people did. i like that he loves russia and doesn't back down from that. i was really just commenting that in that taped piece, he turned me off. i don't think i;m especially sheltered, but it sure sounds nice! i DO think johnnys new coaching situation is the real deal. he seems incredibly focused on the right things skating-wise, and that's really exciting to me.

 

[Ausrick]

Johnny needs to make this spin a change of foot upright spin anyway. That gets you an extra half point right there.

vs

Johnny doesn't HAVE to do anything-at least not according to me.. it's a little hard for me to explain-i'll try. johnny has stated he worships" paris hilton.

I'm really, really, trying to understand this 'sport', and I'm more than ready to take the message of 'FS as it should righteously be' to all of us in the 3rd, 4th and 5th worlds.

Any definitive clue as to what that message is would be most helpful.

 

[Raatkirani]

What does "playing the game" consist of? Please clarify.

I think playing the game consists of fitting into the preferred mold of the USFSA. They like their men's champion to be staid and straighlaced and sober. Think Todd Eldredge, Michael Weiss, Paul Wylie, Timothy Goebel, Matthew Savoie. All good well-bred, non-controversial young men. The one word people consistently use to describe Johnny is "flamboyant." He's foppish, eccentric, makes quirky comments (ex. the "truth booth" with the references to sex and booze); even his gestures can be a little peculiar to the average person (a naughty kiss to the screen, a knowing wink, a mischievous shoulder roll). These things may seem funny and insignifcant to some, but to many, his lack of traditional propriety is shocking. It doesn't help at all that he's such a big Russiaphile, with his CCCP jacket, his big name former Soviet coaches. Also, the whole "is he or isn't he" mystery probably bothers the powers that be. I personally like him and all his idiosyncrasies, but then again, I've always like the oddball and underdog. He keeps things interesting.

 

[psycho]

Also, the whole "is he or isn't he" mystery probably bothers the powers that be.

Dude, it ain't a mystery

Everytime I read that Johnny shocked someone, I can't stop laughting. Some of these outraged individuals must live in an igloo on the north pole with no access to the outside world.

 

[daisies]

Johnny needs to make this spin a change of foot upright spin anyway. That gets you an extra half point right there. All he needs to do is change feet right before going into that final backspin position.

To get even more points, as my friend Lauren pointed out, he should do a combination spin with change of foot and flying entry. He does a CoSp and a CCoSp, but not a FCCoSp. That F at the beginning changes the nature of the spin, so it wouldn't conflict with anything else he's doing, and the CCoSp is the biggest point-getter of all spins. And at level 4, it would be a huge improvement over what he is currently getting with a USp.

ETA: I take it back .... they have to do a spin in one position, and the USp takes care of that, so your suggestion of changing feet is definitely the best one! I think, though, if he substituted a FCCoSp for his CoSp, he'd get more points.

 

[Raatkirani]

Trust me, to many of the old ladies sitting in the rafters (the ones actually buying the tickets to figure skating events), they are in denial. And they DO get shocked by what he says. Otherwise, why would he consistently be called the "bad boy of skating" "flamboyant" etc. It's not like he's been arrested for soliciting or drugs or a DUI.

 

[tjs]

[

Everytime I read that Johnny shocked someone, I can't stop laughting. Some of these outraged individuals must live in an igloo on the north pole with no access to the outside world.::[/QUOTE]

I guess when I first posted this some people took the subject way over the top!!
I think it is interesting that he hasnt learned from previous "open mouth insert foot or should I say skate" episodes. So the shock to me is he hasnt learned anything. Oh and by the way IMO, he can talk trash all he wants it just makes me think he is an immature person who when he is out of the skating limelight will fade away like all the rest. Better to be remembered by his skating than to be remembered by what came out of his mouth!!

Does this board have spell check? Lots of people need to use it !!

 

[chuckm]

I think playing the game consists of fitting into the preferred mold of the USFSA. They like their men's champion to be staid and straighlaced and sober. Think Todd Eldredge, Michael Weiss, Paul Wylie, Timothy Goebel, Matthew Savoie. All good well-bred, non-controversial young men. The one word people consistently use to describe Johnny is "flamboyant." He's foppish, eccentric, makes quirky comments (ex. the "truth booth" with the references to sex and booze); even his gestures can be a little peculiar to the average person (a naughty kiss to the screen, a knowing wink, a mischievous shoulder roll). These things may seem funny and insignifcant to some, but to many, his lack of traditional propriety is shocking. It doesn't help at all that he's such a big Russiaphile, with his CCCP jacket, his big name former Soviet coaches. Also, the whole "is he or isn't he" mystery probably bothers the powers that be. I personally like him and all his idiosyncrasies, but then again, I've always like the oddball and underdog. He keeps things interesting.

I like Johnny just the way he is. He wouldn't be Johnny if he were straight-laced and non-controversial.

And hasn't anyone clued in to the fact that much of what he says is tongue in cheek? He has a mischievous sense of humor!

 

[daisies]

I like Johnny just the way he is. He wouldn't be Johnny if he were straight-laced and non-controversial.

ITA. What I love so much about him is that's he's not trying to fit into a mold, he is just being himself. It's refreshing.

And hasn't anyone clued in to the fact that much of what he says is tongue in cheek? He has a mischievous sense of humor!

If anything "shocks" me, it's that people don't get that. Like, what he said in the Truth Booth .... some people are so up in arms about his mentioning sex and drugs, when it was obviously a riff on the Real World. Then again, I guess it wasn't that "obvious" when you live under a rock.

 

[lmarie086]

Sorry to interrupt the current discussion but someone mentioned Johnny would be better off with TT. Isn't she busy with Alexei Yagudin, as he is apparently preparing for a comeback?

 

[jennylovskt]

I think it's natural for two competitors with such opposit personalities not liking each other. What's the big deal to talk about it?

However, there is a limit which I haven't seen Johnny cross. So I have no problem about it. The only thing that I don't want to hear is his friend, Paris. He can keep it to himself. I don't want to know.