 |
| Well, this is familiar. |
Scott said they may revisit.
After the short program, some fans noted that Jessica was landing her salchow. But there's no renewal here - Jessica is the same Jessica, she's just switched out the short and long. She and Bryce would not infrequently have a lamentable short, then bootstrap themselves back into a respectable showing in the long. Sebastien and Jessica have a reliably okay short, and unravel in the long. Jessica, it must be said, was asking for it by inexplicably reverting to what now looks like a hand-me-down, cut-off version of Tessa's Funny Face costume (it's actually a costume she wore guesting at CSOI with Bryce, spring 2010, and in summer comps prior to this season). I'm not sure that a strapless, fake jewel, red dress says anything about a Philip Glass program, but splatting on your ass three times doesn't either.
There were three generations of Moirs at this competition - at least one sibling and a fleet of cousins and SOs. And Kate Virtue, and, it's claimed, Jordan Virtue (the Virtues, like Tessa, can become invisible at will). So there will be lots and lots of people to rotate in and out of photos with Jessica on the Riveria.
 | |
| Look at Sebastien's skate blade vis a vis Jessica's skull. Mother of God. |
 |
| I never understand what this bullshit is about. At her level, talent and maintenance training doesn't cut it. You get out what you put in. She knows what she put in. She's not owed miracles.* |
ETA - here's the credit/link for above. Reposted from wildthings .
*Annie's head stroking act is wearing thin too. Train your pairs Annie, instead of coddling them emotionally while endangering them physically. Bryce is gone.
I wonder what the plans are to get the photos out to fans, now that they've decided to be coy and pretend discretion with the facebooks?
ReplyDeleteAs you've rightly pointed out, in the past there was extreme eagerness to "share" Scott-Jessica photos from Monaco, Paris, Family Holidays...all the while never sharing anything from the Olympics, or Worlds, or any GP competition. Zilch from the professional partnership, but a zillion pictures and posts from the "private" life.
Can't wait to see what they have up their sleeves this time around.
I don't know why Jessica pouts so mightily after bad skates. She has more of those than good ones.
ReplyDeleteI was interested to see that, except for the skating part, Sebastien is en route to becoming Bryce. He's the recent junior, Mr. Inexperience. Jessica has been putting on a mighty impersonation of the experienced, steady partner. Here she reverted to full sullen while Sebastien patted, whispered reassuringly, and was Bryce-esquely good natured in the Kiss'n'Cry, smiling and giving shout outs, while Jessica went into more and more of a funk, dropping the flowers on the ground. Sometimes I wonder what exactly she thought would happen in the program instead. Its best outing, at Canadians, was still skin of its teeth. This is her. She'll futz and funk and pout around and sometimes absolutely punk a program if she wants to make a point, all in the don't count summer programs and B level internationals. GPS are reliably mediocre to disappointing. Then comes Canadians, and it turns out between the last GP and her nationals, she's trained. The best performance of her season ensues. Then she's back to who the hell knows what but training hard isn't part of it, because the rest of her season goes to pot.
There's probably a very strong incentive for doing well at the Canadian Championships. Isn't that how the SC Federation determines the level of funding, inclusion in the National Team and accompanying perks, such as going to the summer training event, High Performance Camp, and all the rest? As long as Jessica (and partner) put out the goods at Canadians, their training year is set ($$), regardless of results in other competitions.
DeleteI think that's all that matters to her and while she enjoyed the thrill of the World bronze medal, I don't believe she's incentived to work harder to do well internationally. She's talented, her programs aren't content-packed, there's always the chance that if they hit elements and better pairs have a terrible competition, she'll get lucky.
DeleteShe's a pill because she's 24 years old, still doing the full sulk in the Kiss'n'Cry. Her skates aren't things that happen to her - it's something for which she's responsible. I just don't understand her expectations. If this is a posture about being angry at herself - why? She made the choices, and continues to make the same choices. So what is she angry about?
I think it's self-indulgent and she gets over it very quickly, as soon as the competition is done.
I think it's a posture of being angry at herself - for that moment. But I agree, very soon afterward it's in the past, otherwise she would go home and change something about her training. But she has not done that in the past and probably won't in the future, so this pattern will just continue with her as long as she competes. However, as long as it keeps her in SC's top echelon, why should she change anything? Right now she seems to be getting everything she wants out of her particular status.
DeleteI hope Sebastien comes away with good things for himself, regardless of Jessica's issues. Maybe this experience will set him up for a better future in the sport, as a coach or something.
Based on this season I hope Sebastien will be lucky enough to leave this partnership (when the time comes) without carrying the guilt of believing he contributed to another notorious Jessica Dube on-ice accident. I don't think it would be his fault - he's the inexperienced one. It's on Jessica and also very much on Annie Barabe, who is no kind of pairs coach, and pairs is not a discipline where you mess around.
DeleteSince D&D split, I think Skate Canada has been blind to anything but giving Jessica assignments that promoted her, facilitated the sham and gave her her quid pro quo. That team was not ready for the international stage but SC didn't give a shit - it was full steam ahead.
I think Skate Canada should pull its head out of its ass where Barabe and Jessica are concerned and have a come to Jesus meeting with both.
It was okay with Bryce - Bryce was self-motivated, had a good figure skating brain, and he became almost self-trained in some respects. He went more than the extra mile keeping himself fit and his partnering techniques sharp. I credit his own efforts, not Barabe. But both those women, Jessica and Baraba need to wake the fuck up. And Skate Canada should pull its head out of its ass.
When the partnership with Sebastien was announced, Jessica declared she had full confidence in him. Based on their early lifts, she didn't. She outright refused a number of them, like a steeplechaser refusing a jump. They were basic lifts, and Sebastien performed lifts fine with Tara Hancherow, but IMO Jessia had become a little slack with Bryce - good positions and balance but not carrying herself as tightly and as lightly as she could. She'd sometimes clunk or inelegantly thud back down onto the ice. IMO she was giving too much of her weight to Bryce, who compensated. So fine, but this is Sebastien, step up your end, don't wait around for him to get the message he's supposed to take up the slack. Whatever she did - and it doesn't appear as if she's carrying herself better to me - she appears more committed in the lifts although they often slow to a crawl.
But whatever was up in the beginning - an inability to adjust, a cueing Sebastien to Bryce it up - it showed Jessica had an interest in her own safety.
But then when PJ Kwong mentioned that the sbs camel spins at Canadians were terrifyingly close, Jessica laughed it off - an odd reaction, IMO. And in the Worlds 2012 lp there's Sebastien's skate blade skidding towards Jessica's skull in the death spiral, slicing through the ice til he nearly gave her a hair cut.
What's Annie doing but what she always does - stroke Jessica's forehead, kiss and cuddle. This is on her too - she's the freaking coach and Jessica is a grown woman. Act like it. SC is far too busy spinning and promoting this team because they need Jessica for an agenda that has nothing to do with skating. If something happens, it will at least in part because SC was too fixated on its non-skating agenda, intent on packaging Dube Wolfe and pushing it forward, and it would have been too inconvenient to address some potentially dangerous problems.
Skate Canada must have just been ecstatic that Moore-Towers/Moscovitch had such a disastrous showing at Nationals.
DeleteWell Dube/Wolfe are guaranteed 2 GP events and MT/M are guaranteed one. It's too bad that Skate Canada was near-sighted with the pairs and this year at Worlds had an opportunity to win 3 spots for next years Worlds (pre-Olympic year). On one hand there is no guarantee that M-T/M would have assured that third spot - but Skate Canada was so adamant about a skate off at 4CCs for the ladies.
DeleteIf MT-M or L/S finish in 2nd place at nationals, next year, Skate Canada will not be able to justify another competition for D/W. If this does happen, it will be so blatantly obvious to even the casual fan. So bring on the politics for Canadian pairs...and oy canada - I agree that without the proper coaching - there is an accident waiting to happen...Sebastien Wolfe although might be a nice guy is no Bryce Davison in terms of strength and skating skills...
I totally agree, if assignments were based on finish at nationals fine, but as soon as they opened the Amelie/Cynthia door, it was so short-sighted/bizarre/selfish to send D/W instead of MTM. Obvious solution to me would have been L/S, D/W to 4cc and MTM to worlds, with the obvious explanation of how relatively well MTM did on the GP. Amelie even beat Cynthia on the GP and they were still considering sending Cynthia.
DeleteWell look at what a production went along with Virtue Moir at Worlds. More Moirs/Virtues present than in the past few years (Olympics excepted). Jonathan Dube somehow having the funds to go to Nice for this event (the South of France - a bargain vacation destination). The documentary cameras trailing Virtue and Moir. I wonder if the Dube sibs will be caught on film in the family and friends scrum. Buffered by the entourage, but there to reinforce to targeted fans that it's because she's in a relationship with Scott. But years from now when it's known to be garbage, they'll just be faces in the crowd. They couldn't get this twofer done in such a romantic location with MTM competing and Dube/Wolfe sitting at home.
DeleteIt was all too easy to forget that MT/M were within a fraction of making it to the GPF. I would think you'd want a team like that for a Worlds where 3 spots is on the line.
DeleteInstead they'd rather send Dube, who pouts in the kiss and cry. After a rough skate, Kirsten smiled at the camera and said that she still loves figure skating. What a difference.
I do kind of enjoy Dube's reliable, context-oblivious self-absorbtion though. Oh, has Skate Canada spent most of the season leaning on/instructing television commentators to frame me as a veteran international competitor with an incredible work ethic and amazing resilience, a champion, a world medalist? Someone who is taking charge of my new pairing and showing my partner the ropes? Someone he can look towards for guidance as I'm extremely experienced? Someone who Skate Canada should not hesitate to send to Worlds should by chance higher ranked teams implode? After all, one half of this Dube/Wolfe pairing is a veteran of the international scene, a two time Olympian!
DeleteAnd on and on. Then she reliably does what we knew she'd do as soon as Canadians were done - fall on her ass, act out of it, be weird, and sulk while Annie crawls over her snuggling and petting her lest God forbid she have a bad thought about herself.
Jessica started this routine at 4CCs and carried through to Worlds. What did you expect her to do after Canadians - work?
What about all the bullshit and spin and rehab she got from the commentators per Skate Canada's instructions? She thinks nothing of that - no more than the truth. It's not like she has to step up to live up to it or anything.
Jessica. Always a little slow to figure out the quo part of the quid pro.
Nice to see Skate Canada's priorities in action. They already have two gold medalists, so they can use other skaters for non-skating purposes. Play games. So they had a chance for 3 pairs next Worlds if they sent MTM. Is that as important as Jessica being available for sham showings in the south of France what with all those Moirs and Virtues in attendance? Let's look at the big picture, as William Thompson is fond of saying. Also, she's owed a payback and Jonathan would enjoy the Cote d'Azur.
"Jessica, it must be said, was asking for it by inexplicably reverting to what now looks like a hand-me-down, cut-off version of Tessa's Funny Face costume (it's actually a costume she wore guesting at CSOI with Bryce, spring 2010, and in summer comps prior to this season)."
ReplyDeleteAnd her hair is in a bun just the same way Tessa's was! I hope that the Scott-Jessica relationship truly is a sham, because it would be incredibly sad if it weren't.
Well not to worry, it truly is a sham.
DeleteYou have to wonder at the decisions going on within the sham. Who would come to the conclusion that at the freaking World's it was a good idea for Jessica to wear this dress? It doesn't matter that in fact she had hers first - Tessa's red Audrey dress has practically become iconic this season. It was guaranteed Tessa would be on the podium, but Jessica (or someone) decides it's a great plan for the "official gf" to wear practically the same dress? Complete with the hair in the same bun, no less! IMO it's not a random decision - "oh, I accidentally wore the same dress as "my bf's" partner, who I know for sure is going to get a medal."
DeleteExactly what statement do they (or Jessica) think they're making? I really don't get it. From where I sit, it just makes the "official gf" look pathetic.
The imitation that's been going on a few years does make Jessica as the "official" girlfriend, look insecure. The message for those who are interested in this stuff but believe Jessica is a real girlfriend is that she fears Scott respects/likes Tessa more and imitates her.
DeleteThe reality is I think Jessica might be the sort who likes to cite other people for her decisions - too insecure to make a statement on her own. Tessa is reliably admired and praised. The better part of caution to just do what she does. Then UoC year was the first I noticed this - Jessica skated singles to UoC and as Tessa did an ingenue/girlish look (with ribbons) for several competitions, Jessica did the same with Blower's Daughter. When Tessa returned to the ice, mid-season 2009, She had chopped her hair. Jessica was already committed to her own look for her programs, but the instant WTT was done she chopped her hair in an identical cut. Then Tessa of course grew her hair, wearing it in full waves, a low side part and a long front piece swept over her brow. She was wearing a lot of stripes and gray/charcoal. Voila, Jessica begins styling her hair the same and wearing similar color choices.
I wonder what other influence Tessa has on Jessica behind the scenes, and if any of it is direct and not just Jessica imitating. Whatever it is, not enough influence, clearly.
Beyond the dress and the hair, another thing I noticed when looking at the screencap at the top of the post is that even Jessica's make-up was done like Tessa's.
DeleteI find Jessica's emulation of Tessa one of the more creepy parts of all of this. Whether Tessa has that much influence over Jessica personally or Jessica is just copying Tessa, it's still kind of weird.
As soon as he said "Monaco" my heart sank into my shoes. I don't know why....I certainly don't have high expectations of this crew. and sheesh Jessica, way to act like a five year old in the K&C, Canada's so proud
ReplyDeleteWell God knows the Monaco trip will have safety in numbers, photo wise, and buffers galore. Plenty for a group shot a la TEB, with Jessica next to Scott but not screaming "gf". Of course with the majority of people who went to Worlds being relatives or SO, it IS going to appear as if Jessica's the gf, no matter how many people share the shot - as long as she's standing next to shot. She's not a relative so she must be his SO - that's the message because that's how the familiy/SO group is made up at Worlds. She's not French family - Laurent - a member of the French family and in the Prince & Monaco photos last time - was at Worlds so Monaco is guaranteed.
DeleteEven the most "tasteful" photo is going to be revolting at this point, except there's a barrier between us and them. The mindset is obviously that no matter how inappropriate, it's really not, because it's fans, not real. Except you know, it is real. It's still revolting, no matter what mental gymnastics they use to rationalize.
P.S., saw Thompson there, posing on ice between Tessa and Scott. WT FUCK. Did the head of the USFSA do that on ice with Meryl/Charlie last year?
Just saw the post medals ceremony - I think it was Slipchuk who congratulated them after the interview with Tanya and then posed on the ice with V/M....it is easy to confuse the two...thompson and slipchuk and then Barbara was like a crow protecting her young...lol...
DeleteSlipchuk I can handle - he's athletic performance, high performance guy. Thanks for the correction.
DeleteBarb is too much.
"Then comes Canadians, and it turns out between the last GP and her nationals, she's trained. The best performance of her season ensues. Then she's back to who the hell knows what but training hard isn't part of it, because the rest of her season goes to pot."
ReplyDeleteOne of two reasons why Jessica only does well in selected competitions. Could be you're correct, and it's a matter of Jessica picking and choosing how/what to train. It's not like she isn't capable of producing. The usual results at Canadians proves that. Or, it's that foot tendinitis. You know, the condition that made it impossible to compete in singles at Canadians but do just fine in pairs. I don't know, maybe that darn tendinitis flared up in Nice.
It does seem mean to be dumping on Jessica, but I feel she asks for it with her petulant attitude. I always hate seeing someone make those around her/him feel it's their responsibility to placate and reassure, when they're the one who should take responsibility for their own funk. I don't blame her for being mad at herself, I just don't like the way I've seen her handle it all these years. And I cannot in a million years imagine Scott Moir putting up with that and taking on the role of chief comforter to someone's ill-humor.
here here! REALLY well said! have you seen that youtube vid of him watching her in the stands and looking so disappointed through out it all?
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he6qjCLQjGo&list=PL0203E1E30C07923B&index=154&feature=plpp_video
Id love to hear oycanada's take on it and any others cuz i dont really know what to think other then if that was my bf he wouldnt be for long...as well as if its a sham, scott must be soooo pissed off they shammed him up with a 12th place pouter...you can tell the man has pride in placements, and i agree with him, in his case especially.
Well after seeing the SD and FD, I have to agree that although Jessica is disappointed - her attitude has yet to change in the K & C. She is no longer 14 years old and has competed in 2 olympics. She does not posess a "team" mentality and unfortunately her coach Berube enables that.
DeleteBarabe' pets her like she's an infant.
DeleteIt was pointed out to me that there was a scary moment in the Dube/Wolfe lp that IMO points out this team needs a real pairs coach stat or there will be more bailing on key elements a la summer competitions, or worse, somebody, possibly Jessica, will get hurt. I'm going to add the screen cap shortly.
p.s., I don't think Scott was disappointed in that video - he can't have had any expections and he has even less interest.
DeleteBored out of his mind while occasionally stirring himself to appear engaged? Yes. I feel like Charlie did a more credible effort there, though. Meryl looks stunned into a boredom coma most of the time. These are friends indeed.
"scott must be soooo pissed off they shammed him up with a 12th place pouter...you can tell the man has pride in placements, and i agree with him, in his case especially."
DeleteI'd be pissed off if my SO pouted like Jessica, but getting "12th place" is not the issue. So many skaters/athletes work their butts off for many years and would be thrilled to achieve a "12th place", or even a "20th place." For the majority, they aren't going to get to the elite ranks, even with a very strong work ethic and wonderful attitude, and that's fine, it's not a negative reflection on their character. In Miss Dube's case, I'm bothered by her attitude and what her competitive patterns indicate about her work ethic, or lack thereof.
I get your general point, but Jessica in 12th place is underachieving. I look at placements in terms of is the skater achieving his or her potential. Are they meeting expectations? Expectations aren't just thrust upon figure skaters - it's discussed. A skater will agree to carry and attempt to fulfill those expectations in exchange for many different kinds of support.
DeleteJessica had all the physical talent needed to be a reliable finisher on the international podium. She should have more than one World bronze. But she never stepped up her work ethic past the point where natural ability and routine training could carry her. It's been the same story from her for years now. She's always hidden behind the convenient situational injury or the pretense of psychological pressure. I think because she's fairly poised in the public eye she's been able to do better than her training habits should allow. Familiar program and elements she's done for years, nothing out of her comfort zone, public eye no biggie - she can sometimes gut through the wobbles and glitches and little gaffes to a respectable showing. Even after the season is well under way Jessica often skates as if she just got off the beach and back into the rink last week. That kind of body weight and tone. That kind of roughly drawn performance.
Her problem is her work ethic. She knows it. If energy is lacking or a program is a bit off kilter she starts hedging her bets all over the place - opening up too early on a jump, closing up too early on a landing, taking her time recovering from a misstep. She's extremely, extremely self-protective in more ways than one.
I think psychological pressure is crap in her case. Jessica, to me, always appears to have plenty of presence of mind on the national and international scene. What she lacks is preparation. When she's prepared you can see it on her face. It's rare enough, God knows.
"I'd be pissed off if my SO pouted like Jessica, but getting "12th place" is not the issue. So many skaters/athletes work their butts off for many years and would be thrilled to achieve a "12th place", or even a "20th place." For the majority, they aren't going to get to the elite ranks, even with a very strong work ethic and wonderful attitude, and that's fine, it's not a negative reflection on their character."
Deleteim sorry if my writing was misinterpreted but i whole heartedly agreed with your above quoted statement while i was writing the post and still do...she should have had some pride in her placement, whatever it was...but there was no pride, no grace, no class and she disappointed Canada by not being a very noble dignitary - cuz that is what these skaters we send are as well, lets not forget that. they are representing Canada! not just themselves.
Every once in a while I try to give Jessica the benefit of the doubt and then she does crap like this.
ReplyDeleteOn FSU, someone reported seeing Tessa and her sister at dinner with Scott. Interesting.
lol in the kiss 'n cry she even threw the flowers a fan gave her. Poor sportsmanship
ReplyDeleteShe's just angry at herself because she's such a perfectionist. That's what we're told.
ReplyDeleteAnd we're always told Tessa is also a perfectionist. But goodness, what an incredibly different approach to training, mistakes, personal disappointment, etc. And we're supposed to believe Scott is in love with the "perfectionist" who pouts and throws flowers on the floor? Really? After spending his competitive life with a girl who publicly handles these things with such class?
DeleteYeah right.
I have just discovered this blog, and it all makes so much sense now. Not that I really care who is dating/married to/has a child with whom, but the lies are really transparent and terribly done, which kind of offends me.
ReplyDeleteBut the thing is, they should really stop the scam ASAP. It will come out sooner or later, and it is much better for them to control the story (which any halfway decent PR person would have told them). It's not just the mainstream North American media that they have to worry about, as blogs like Jezebel and The Hairpin would be interested in this story. Hell, the Daily Mail probably has enough online readership in North America to give it a punt.
They should set up a gauzily lit interview with a softball interviewer who will avoid any mention of outside relationships, pay Jessica off, and quietly pull the remaining copies of the book (they've probably made as much money from that as they are going to anyway).
Charlie White and Meryl Davis have put out a couple of fun quotes about their own relationship in recent times. Meryl said she felt the fans respected and appreciated Charlie and her relationship as it is, and didn't require any deception or false messages. I don't think she intended a swipe at VM at all but the difference in attitude towards the public was marked.
DeleteCharlie said that there wouldn't be any shocking revelations coming from them - what you see is how it is. I thought it was interesting he alluded to shocking revelations about dance teams as if it were common. I can only think of one team that has a "shocking" revelation on their agenda, and that's VM - and that's if they and those around them ever find the stones, maturity and humility to, you know, confess the truth, no matter how galled they might be at having been called out ahead of schedule. That's really not the blog's fault - it's theirs, for lying. But again, it would take maturity, and not getting into a pissing contest with the internet.
I doubt any revelation would be shocking at this point, but if they believe it would be 'shocking' IMO it just points to how the entire team including SC overrates their abilities and holds other people in much too low regard (something William Thompson puts on display far too frequently).
I agree with you, particularly the gauzily lit setting and softball interview that focuses on their reasons for denying and ignores outside relationships to emphasize the reasons they denied, not how they hid. They've kept the sham parts on social media while legitimate media pretends Jessica Dube dating Scott Moir while continuing to skate with Bryce, her "ex' isn't a story. That's because they know it's not. The media can be cagey and coy, and decline to reveal all it knows, but actively disseminating something they know is a deception is out of bounds.
DeleteJessica can disappear into the internet ether, unacknowledged as part of the come clean strategy.
But they won't. They don't want the great "other" - the skeptical elements of the fandom - to "win". Which is ridiculous. They ARE lying. Part of the risks of lying is being found out and called out. Grown-ups know this.
"They should set up a gauzily lit interview with a softball interviewer who will avoid any mention of outside relationships, pay Jessica off, and quietly pull the remaining copies of the book (they've probably made as much money from that as they are going to anyway)."
ReplyDelete"if they and those around them ever find the stones, maturity and humility to, you know, confess the truth, no matter how galled they might be at having been called out ahead of schedule. That's really not the blog's fault - it's theirs, for lying. But again, it would take maturity, and not getting into a pissing contest with the internet."
The problem with both these quotes (Anon 6:59 and oc 7:35) is that they make complete sense, and unfortunately, common sense, a sense of decency, and good sense all seem to be lacking in the V/M Camp and their PR team (if they have one, or is that Skate Canada?).
I actually think that the cracks are really starting to show in the fandom. As OC has pointed out, what fans say and what they think may be different. This time a year ago "I'll never believe this in a million years" was a common response. Now it's "you're crazy and none of this is true, but even if it IS true, I don't blame them for lying, they don't owe me anything". If they don't come clean soon, they're going to be seen as more and more ridiculous, and after Sochi they may not have ANYONE who requires the "shocking revelation".
ReplyDeleteSo true about the typical response from a year ago.
DeleteWhat makes me sad is the way it has impacted fun V/M message boards like FF. Now that place is nothing more than a copy of the fan facebook pages and other similar sites where it can't go beyond "how cute." And everyone tip-toes around sensitive issues and/or pretends they don't exist. And yet, the very fact a very popular V/M fan site like FF has slowed down to a crawl probably is a good indication the fans are tired of the lies V/M are putting out.
Speaking for myself, the reason I lurk more than post at his point has nothing to do with relationship talk and everything to do with the season-long moaning and groaning over V/M's clearly doomed career.
Delete^ you're right, that certainly hasn't helped the atmosphere
DeleteIt's also interesting that now the statements of "not believing this in a million years" are not about whether Scott and Jessica are shamming, but about whether Scott and Tessa had a baby or not. I don't know... the blogger IMO was right before.... This is most interesting to watch.
DeleteTo be fair, I think part of the reason that there's less interest right now is that there's less interest across the board in skating right now. It's mid-Olympic cycle. Interest in skating and skaters seems to peak during and right after the games, then decline until it peaks again at the next Olympics. It's a transient interest, like so many other things in pop culture these days. Add in that skating doesn't get nearly the coverage it used to, and it's easy to see that's part of the reason the various fanboards for a lot of skaters are more quiet these days.
DeleteYou've got a point about the mid-Olympic cycle.
DeleteIt's perfect timing for two ice dancers who are no longer children/teenagers to be grown-ups and change their public narrative to reflect reality. It's dismaying to see that instead of exit strategies, they want to continue intensifying the lies.
Does no one around them want them to be mature, responsible, good-example adults? It's weird that their own support system (family, mentors) promotes these ridiculous schemes. I think they're all cowards.
I agree interest in FS can wane at this point, and that may be a part of it, but I also think part of FF slowing down is that a lot of the serious discussions whether about the results of competitions or the fascinating pr aspect aren't welcomed. There are fans who are still VERY invested in TS (fs I'm not so sure) and who like to control the narrative. I'm sure there's more people in the same boat as I, who haven't lost interest in the skating but in the stressing over D/W and the "shipper" aspect of TS. It's hard to be gaga over their relationship when FF refuses to discuss the real story (which is pretty wonderful, but marred by their disrespectful antics).
DeleteAnon at 12:58
DeleteYou have perfectly described the "Addicted" facebook group and the livejournal v/m site. The livejournal place had decent discussions at one point but now it's tightly controlled - only "nice and cute" comments allowed - or it's nothing more than fan fiction (Gag).
I was hoping FF would remain a place that was comfortable to discuss any and all aspects of TS fandom, and while it's still better than those other places, it's quickly becoming like them.
"marred by their disrespectful antics"
^^ This.
Tracy Wilson interviewed them at Worlds and it's up on the addicted fb. She flat out asks them to describe the relationship when she knows exactly what their relationship is, and there she is asking "best friends?" "Brother and sister?" They of course haul out "unique" and "special" and 'can't really be described" all of which = bullshit. Of course it can be described. It's unique and special because people are like snowflakes, no two exactly alike, so there relationship wouldn't be like everyone else's. We're all unique, we can all say that.
DeleteBut actually if they wanted they could easily describe their relationship so that everybody could understand it easily, because there's nothing unique about the basics. At all. I don't know what they think "unique" and "can't describe" validates, especially the second. They sure as hell can describe it. Maybe they should say "we can't describe it because if we did we'd be admitting we've scammed everybody, as we're doing right now in this interview."
It's disappointing that Tracy would enable them to give out the same-old same-old. We all know Tracy knows what's up (duh), so of course it's for a deliberate agenda. I usually have a lot of respect for Tracy but this was so lame.
Delete"Are you like brother sister?" Oh, come on. Even they stopped using that one some time ago. Could the question have been more obviously a set up?
Do you think this was planned right now because of sham stuff coming from Nice/Monaco very soon?
I do occasionally wonder if some things that Tracy say are a little....rebellious?? Like at Worlds during competition she said something about "love being in the details". I fully admit I may be reading into it too much, but she says things and I don't know how else to take it lol
Deletebut I also want to add that her over the top excitement regarding D/W this season means that she doesn't seem to be above above taking orders :(
DeleteOr maybe she's just excited by D/W? A lot of people are, you know.
Delete^ just to clarify, I was referring to Dube/Wolfe not Davis/White...if you already took it as Dube/Wolfe, people may be excited about them some where, but it's not a common viewpoint in this corner of the interwebs :)
DeleteYep - Tracy has (for a network commentator) called it like it is with Jessica in the past, notably at 2009 Worlds. Everybody was on message with her this year, so the audience would understand she was the champion who'd lift her partner and it was justified to give her the assignments she got, and to take the Canadians result on face value in pairs when Skate Canada declined to do so in ladies.
DeleteWhat an effort to paint Jessica, the pairs equivalent of Bryce's ball and chain for seasons on end - as the mature, focused competitor.
http://www.windsorstar.com/sports/Virtue+Moir+Morrison+raise+roof+celebration+party/6391805/story.html
ReplyDeletePerhaps Jessica didn't skate well because she was up all night the night before her long program wondering where her long-distance boyfriend was during the few days they see each other all year.
I don't know - they sort of suggested a lot of Skate Canada was there, and Jessica is Skate Canada and generally I'd expect on Jonathan's or Jessica's profile to see she made an appearance.
DeleteDo you think that's the point of the article, to set that up? It seems so random. Or perhaps Morrison is Tessa's new beau lol
DeleteI just know the article made a big point of mentioning him, but also mentioned his female teammate, and the presence of Skate Canadians. It could be a context attempt (yes, I believe most articles like this about VM are about getting a message across beyond the subject of the article itself). By context, I'm thinking of the Eiffel Tower photo from TEB. Fans who follow fbs know that that's "Scott with his gf, Jessica" because she's standing next to him. In the longer term, if that photo surfaces on the web, it's "Scott with a bunch of fellow figure skaters at the Eiffel Tower."
DeleteThe party can become "Tessa and Scott celebrated into the wee hours but also present was a good-looking fellow athlete who texts her. So, make of that what you will, we didn't say anything (and fans have already speculated)."
But in the long term, when the sham is done, it's not a hurtful thing (like the earlier editions of Scott/Jessica photos) - it's just a couple of speed skating pals helping to celebrate VM's win, and if it surfaces Jessica was there, fans will be all "the gf was there" but down the line she'll just have been one of the Skate Canadians celebrating.
They ought, IMO, have considered what their sham would look like once it was done a long time ago. Out of context romantic photos of Scott with another woman at the time he was not just committed to someone else, but planning and having a family, live on the web forever, not everyone who finds them familiar with context.
[Out of context romantic photos of Scott with another woman]
DeleteAnd in what sort of context should they have set the 'kissing' pictures, or the countless other ones of just the two of them with arms around each other? If it really is fake it's all kinds of gross and disgusting. They really must not give a flying fig what the fans will conclude, because how does this not make one lose respect for all of them? And they obviously don't care.
Is Jessica intentionally sabotaging herself?
ReplyDeleteWould she even realize that's what she's doing, if she was?
DeleteWell yes, intentional means you're doing it on purpose.
DeleteWhether anything said here is true or not, there is a total disconnect between how Scott and Tessa behave with each other and their statements about their relationship. Scott doesn't look or act like a man in love with anyone but Tessa.
ReplyDeleteBingo! :)
DeleteThe one that gets me the most is their sweet hands-on-heart moment before the free dance. I can think of another ice dance couple that I've seen do that - Marie-France and Patrice.
DeleteSo true.
DeleteOne of the more ironic things about all of this is that despite all of the time, effort, and money they put into it, things fall short (at least to those paying attention) because of the disconnect between what they say and how T/S are with each other. Truthfully, they're pretty bad actors when it comes to that aspect because it's clear, as stated above, that Scott doesn't look or act like he's in love with anyone but Tessa.
If Tessa and Jessica were both drowning, we all know who Scott would jump in and save first...
Delete...and it wouldn't be Jessica.
Are only Tessa and Jessica drowning? Because if it's more than just them, it's not only Tessa that Jessica would have to wait for until Scott got around to saving her.
DeleteRemember in the Cutting Edge, she goes thru partner after partner because it was the "partner" who dropped her at the Olympics. Then Doug says "Go-to Guy, you should've been looking for a Go-to Girl." Sounds so familiar...
ReplyDelete