Winter Olympics

The IFSC (and his peers...Evan Lysacek has said this about Johnny) feels that Johnny does not represent the sport well. He has made what they consider to be disrespectful comments about the rather 'uptight' sport and the way it's run. He has made some media decisions that have been questionable. For example, he did a very flambouyant photo shoot in 'sexy' clothes and women's high heels. And yes, like the fur thing you mentioned Rob. Evan has stated that he appreciates that the IFSC has supported him both financially and emotionally, and will always do his best to 'represent' them positively. By the same token though, Johnny has no doubt brought some added interest to the sport, and has probably promoted more viewers. He has many followers! So it's a tough call. I'm not so sure that Johnny's choices are as major a deal to the commitee as they once used to be.

Johnny likes to speak his mind, and doesn't care what other people think. It's not always a bad thing. Sometimes I get a kick out of it. He's just really eccentric. He refers to himself as a diva. He LOVES to go shopping, which is okay in my book. He's a very beautiful skater, and I would be thrilled if he got the bronze medal. He's just not everyone's "cup of tea." He has a huge following online. They're called "Johnny's Angels." I've browsed through it before. It's a message board much like this one.

Amy wrote:

For example, he did a very flambouyant photo shoot in 'sexy' clothes and women's high heels.

I read an interview with Johnny and came away with the impression that he wasn't exactly Duke Wayne. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Teresa wrote:

Johnny likes to speak his mind, and doesn't care what other people think. It's not always a bad thing. Sometimes I get a kick out of it. He's just really eccentric. He refers to himself as a diva. He LOVES to go shopping, which is okay in my book.

I couldn't believe it.....Kurt Browning was doing a commentary (not sure when this was) and when Johnny got bad scores he said, "Aw, he just needs a nice big shopping spree". I was pretty shocked Kurt said it, but I guess Johnny has kind of set himself up for the ridicule, in a way.

Rob wrote:

Amy wrote:

For example, he did a very flambouyant photo shoot in 'sexy' clothes and women's high heels.

I read an interview with Johnny and came away with the impression that he wasn't exactly Duke Wayne. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Rob, Teresa and I were PM-ing and I wrote her pretty much the exact same thing!

That was some fine Olympic viewing tonight! Great wins and great emotion. That's what the Olympics are all about.

(I won't say who won, just in case some of us haven't seen the results yet.)

It really WAS awesome this evening. From the downhill to the snowboarding.

Yet another late night for me last night, and it will be tonight too! Ugh. But it was worth staying up for!! The half pipe is pretty exciting, and the Flying Tomato does it again!! I loved that he did his trick that only he does when he didn't even have to....he wanted to do that for his fans. He's amazing!

We couldn't believe how high up Shaun got on his snowboard last night. He was at least 5 feet above everyone else. That was amazing!

Tonight I'm going to be very nervous watching the figure skating. I can hardly watch any of these events, because I'm so nervous. I'm only half peeking. I'm hoping that Apolo gets a gold this evening. I can't imagine what the parents of these athletes go through! I'm a wreck! LOL!

I know what you mean Teresa....I'm a nervous wreck for them too! Now there's all this pressure on Evan to win it and he truly has been cursed with inconsistency over the years. I guess I don't have the confidence in him that everyone else has. Johnny's the same way, very inconsistent. Whereas Plushenko is pretty much always spot on, trained or not. I will admit I see a whole new Evan though...hopefully he keeps on doing what he's been doing and doesn't psych himself out! You know what would be really cool?! Evan with Gold, Johnny with silver, and Plushenko with bronze. That would turn things upside down...would be awesome.

This is totally screwing up my Survivor viewing tonight! We always have my parents over for that, but my mom and I really want to watch the men's skating LIVE! There's just way too much great TV these days!

I still haven't watched either of the Idol episodes this week, and I'll probably wait until this weekend to watch Survivor. I'll just continue to not read the threads until I watch them. Although, I'm very curious as to what happens with Boston Rob........................

Amy wrote:

but my mom and I really want to watch the men's skaing LIVE!

Fife is crouching in readiness, but he realizes you may be talking about ska music. You know, like reggae. Maybe it's become an Olympic sport while he wasn't looking.

Oh no! I pm'd Amy about her spelling error a little while ago, but she hasn't seen it yet. Give her a few more minutes, will you Fife?

Rob wrote:

Amy wrote:

but my mom and I really want to watch the men's skaing LIVE!

Fife is crouching in readiness, but he realizes you may be talking about ska music. You know, like reggae. Maybe it's become an Olympic sport while he wasn't looking.

Oh Rob, you are too funny!

Teresa wrote:

Oh no! I pm'd Amy about her spelling error a little while ago, but she hasn't seen it yet. Give her a few more minutes, will you Fife?

Thanks Teresa...I've been off all day.


Oh my GOSH....just watched the men's free skate!! Awesome, awesome AWESOME!!!!! I need to get to sleep but now I'm higher than a kite! LOL!

I'm pretty unhappy about how they scored Johnny.....no, his wasn't quite as difficult but still---that was too low.

I agree, Johnny's score was way too low, but at least the judges got it right by awarding the gold to Evan. Yay!!!!!!!!!! Honestly, even without the quad, Evan's program looked more pollished than Plushenko's. I liked the overall flow of Evan's program. He skated beautifully!! And of course it all comes down to hair style. LOL! Evan wins by a landslide.

Plushenko is definitely an amazing skater, but the Russians have always been more technical, not necessarily as fluid on the ice. My favorite Russian mens skater, who breaks the mold on that and seems to have 'it all', is gold medalist Ilia Kulik. I agree, Evan didn't need the quad after all and just think what a bummer it would have been if he'd attempted it and fallen. Evan's mom cracks me up---I can't imagine not being there to watch my kid skate live! Whatever...everyone is different I guess.

Oh, the other Russian skaters I adored (who were fluid and the most amazing pairs couple of all time IMO), were Goordeeva and Grinkov. I can't watch a pairs event without thinking of them. I went to see them on tour several times too, and they were so unbelievably amazing. One of the men this year skated to the song they won the gold with in 94, and I was instantly 'right back there'. How I miss them. The 88 olympics really was the best....we had the battle of the Brians, Katarina Witt and Debbie Thomas (battle of the Carmens), and G&G breaking out, and blowing everyone away. Here is the 88 gold medal performance of G&G...when you watch it, you realize you just don't see pairs skating like this anymore. It was said of G&G that they skated 'as one', even way back then. They were so special.

Katia was only 16 here...(for those of you who may not know, they eventually married and had a daughter, and he died at the age of 28 from a rare heart condition ).