There were plenty of shots of Tanith in the audience every time Evan skated -- look, Evan has a girl friend! This led to the feeling that the USFSA was pushing Evan as the great straight hope and trying to push Johnny back into the closet.
I do, however, think that USFS has abandoned that particular PR campaign.
Thanks for your comments mm. Sometimes I wonder why I hear little snippets and many innuendos about the "closet" factor - but never anything else that might point to other reasons why US Skating has not always wanted to promote Weir as much as say....Evan. (if that is even true.)
The first and undeniable premise is that Johnny is not unique in his perceived gender preferences. But why does he have a bias problem with his federation and not all of the other skaters who may be share the same preference.....???
There could be other factors such as odd behavior, inappropriate comments at press conferences, perceived lack of competitiveness (choke factor) negative remarks made about other skaters and so forth.
We were talking about bias, or perceived bias - and from what I read here one would assume johnny is a non-controversial person, a true gentleman, kind to animals, a model teamate, etc, etc. That to me displays inaccurate if not unfair bias towards US Skating.
Does anyone think US Skating would be happy if Tannith did nude pictorials in Playboy, or was constantly acting in a sexually provacative manner? Or using language a bit too colorful during interviews? Or just going out of her way to prove she is the flakiest skater in the World? Of course US Skating would frown on such behavior from Tannith or anyone else. US Skating is NOT alone in frowning on tasteless, inappropriate behavior. Yet all I hear is that because Johnny has different preferences US Skating doesn't want to promote him. That is ridiculous and if it could be proven Weir would have sued them already.
What is closer to the truth is that US Skating does not want to promote a flake who can act like a jerk and goes out of his way to be tacky. After his excuses at Torino even Button through Weir under the bus (and it wasn't about Johnny's preferences.) It was about his attititude and the excuses he offered.
I understand US Skating may be too stodgy but isn't it obvious that Weir has done as much as he could to provke them? Or to atleast present himslef past the norms of what the G -rated, family oriented skating business has tried to cater too?
People could look at this from different angles, but I don't buy this one-sided attack on US Skating having it in for Johnny. He brings it on himself and it is easy enough to see he enjoys it until it comes back and bites him where the sun don't shine. Then all we here are cries and complaints from Johnny and his fans.
Am I the only skating fan who gets it?
and John Baldwin, the reigning dance champions, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, and...
hwell:
