Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Scott Moir is 25
Today is Scott Moir's birthday. Last year, for the very first time, Scott Moir actually acknowledged the 100+ fan well wishes left on his fan page. It was insincere. He was baiting a planned sham sting.
I expect now that he's a big grown-up, a quarter of a century, he may actually say "thanks" without a poison pill embedded. What does he have to lose? It's not like people are banging down his door (because they don't know where Bubble Boy lives, do they? They don't even know what town. And at last year's Canadians there were Canadians in attendance who didn't know who VM were.).
Let's see how the day plays out. I know he's busy, and, unlike with sham things, there's no point in showing up for five seconds to acknowledge fan well-wishes when there's nothing to plug (his family's restaurant, a show he's appearing in, the sham, etc.), nothing in it for him. And no swag involved. No jewelry, cars, shoes, perks (royalty, galas, etc.).
It would be fun if he'd realize sincerity unattached to some type of plug or bait has benefits, but that's long-term thinking, which in terms of fans is not something Virtue and Moir have ever shown a willingness to understand and also something I doubt is in any type of business model Tessa and Scott find intriguing. It's weird considering that training mates DW and now, especially, the Shibs, are state of the art role models for genuine fan engagement that's going to reap Kwan-esque benefits long term, but the lesson is either lost or VM lack the interest.
On his and Tessa's webpage (virtuemoir.com), he and Tessa published a statement to fans, assuring them that all of their support, expressed in well-wishes, videos, gifts, etc., "do not go unnoticed." Very nice. Is that the blanket "hey thanks!" for the rest of their eligible career? Happy birthday Scott! Then go to the webpage to be assured it doesn't go unnoticed. It's almost insulting. Oh hey, I know some of you gave us the benefit of the doubt and thought we were too busy to notice, but we noticed! We ignored you on purpose!
At Scott's age, 25 (younger, actually, as she didn't turn 25 til May 1996) Katia Gordeeva was a recent widow, a mom, a 2-time Olympic champion, and skated the excruciatingly heart-rending "Celebration of a Life" in front of fans and fellow skaters in February 1996. For her, I'm emphasizing her personal courage and willingness to be who she is at such a young age, despite her private nature.
At 25:
the frontal lobe (impulse control) is finally fully developed in most men.
blogger Eva Markvoort was sharing her life and losing battle with cystic fibrosis.
Orson Welles coscripted, directed, and starred in Citizen Kane.
Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly alone across the Atlantic*
Evan Lysacek was teased on the SOI bus for being a quarter of a century old.
In one way, Scott merits mention among the accomplished and courageous aged 25 and under, but one element doesn't fit. To pretend you're something you're not, out of cowardice at best and out of expedient, self-serving profiteering at worst, to live in a bubble despite the fact that outside the bubble is nothing more daunting than a syncophantic press and quasi high-school bitchery, to pretend you're not with the woman you love and you're not a dad, to pervert the definitions of honor and courage (and the meaning of role model), to turn values inside out, to forever weasel out of opportunities to present yourself honestly and maturely - these are not the hallmarks of people of honor aged 25 nor of honorable people much younger. It's just pathetic and evidences a self-absorption worthy of Jess Dube.
_______________________
*At age 21, Annie Sullivan met Helen Keller.
P.S. - I'm just tacking this next bit onto this post even though it's only very remotely related. It does go to out-of-touchery and faux sincerity masking a complete lack of "getting it".
A couple of years ago I saw some internet video of fans at an SOI autograph session. Cynthia Phaneuf, Jeff Buttle, VM, maybe Kurt Browning, can't recall. The fans got an autograph and Scott asked if they were coming to the show. The fans (who were young, and possibly students) looked a little uncomfortable and said they thought it might be sold out. Scott heartily said "Sold out? I don't think it's sold out!" and said more - pushing them to buy tickets, told them to call the box office. He really woke up for this. The fans looked even more uncomfortable and hedged even more.
You know what I think Scott? I think they couldn't afford to go and were embarrassed to admit they wanted to meet you guys and get an autograph despite not having the dollars to attend SOI.
You know what you should say when fans say they can't or aren't going? Say, thanks for coming here to see us! Thanks for the gift! Good to see you! (I think these fans gave VM a very nice gift but am not sure so won't mention what I think it was.)
And not to leave Tessa out of things; she very generously gave an interview to a Russian journalist after the 2009 TEB press conference. She mentioned that one benefit of training in Michigan was the shopping was better. The journalist said "Oh, is there more sales, better prices?" because bargains, especially in 2009, is where a lot of people's minds go when they hear the shopping is better. More importantly, it's obvious that's where this woman's reality was - what she thought of as better shopping. She was also thrilled and happy to be interviewing Tessa, and laughed a lot from what seemed to be both nervousness and excitement. Tessa said no, more things to buy. Bargain? What's that.
I just think they could be more clued in. A LOT more. They're already hurting feelings on purpose (lots of the sham nastiness). Don't do it by accident. What they do is a product of spending every single conversation thinking about yourself and not the other person. If she'd clued into the journalist's nerves and excitement, Tessa might have been more diplomatic about shopping. If the finances of your average student had occurred to Scott - and he has no excuse for it not to have - he wouldn't have pushed, would have understood what "think it's sold out" was about.
...VM aren't alone - I could call Meryl out as well. On twitter a couple of years ago, she reacted to the report that Detroit was the worst city in the USA to live by tweeting: "Have they never been to Ann Arbor?" Jesus Meryl. But to her credit, she does a lot more to balance that out (in public) than Tessa and Scott, so it's easy to give her a pass.
Basically if you want people to buy what you shill and you want people to spend scarce disposible income on figure skating, act like you see them as something other than a wallet with legs.
...When Gordeeva skated "Celebration of a Life" (to Mahler), Marina Zoueva, the choreographer, was watching in the wings. It's clear to me that Zoueva learned an enormous amount after her experience with G&G. I don't think she was in their business, but Gordeeva was super sensitive and that was an awareness Zoueva has obviously brought to her thriving relationship with VM and DW. It's hard though, not to wonder if she ever compares what VM are sensitive about to what Gordeeva went through, and if she wonders what has happened to make the newer generation such self-indulgent, self-obsessed babies. Or maybe that's not it. Maybe Scott and Tessa want to pretend they're "kids" as long as possible - maybe married and baby isn't marketable. Considering the attendance and revenue since they won gold in 2010, the massive amounts of revenue "we're in love but not" has brought in, they can't be as big a couple of idiots as that.
I expect now that he's a big grown-up, a quarter of a century, he may actually say "thanks" without a poison pill embedded. What does he have to lose? It's not like people are banging down his door (because they don't know where Bubble Boy lives, do they? They don't even know what town. And at last year's Canadians there were Canadians in attendance who didn't know who VM were.).
Let's see how the day plays out. I know he's busy, and, unlike with sham things, there's no point in showing up for five seconds to acknowledge fan well-wishes when there's nothing to plug (his family's restaurant, a show he's appearing in, the sham, etc.), nothing in it for him. And no swag involved. No jewelry, cars, shoes, perks (royalty, galas, etc.).
It would be fun if he'd realize sincerity unattached to some type of plug or bait has benefits, but that's long-term thinking, which in terms of fans is not something Virtue and Moir have ever shown a willingness to understand and also something I doubt is in any type of business model Tessa and Scott find intriguing. It's weird considering that training mates DW and now, especially, the Shibs, are state of the art role models for genuine fan engagement that's going to reap Kwan-esque benefits long term, but the lesson is either lost or VM lack the interest.
On his and Tessa's webpage (virtuemoir.com), he and Tessa published a statement to fans, assuring them that all of their support, expressed in well-wishes, videos, gifts, etc., "do not go unnoticed." Very nice. Is that the blanket "hey thanks!" for the rest of their eligible career? Happy birthday Scott! Then go to the webpage to be assured it doesn't go unnoticed. It's almost insulting. Oh hey, I know some of you gave us the benefit of the doubt and thought we were too busy to notice, but we noticed! We ignored you on purpose!
At Scott's age, 25 (younger, actually, as she didn't turn 25 til May 1996) Katia Gordeeva was a recent widow, a mom, a 2-time Olympic champion, and skated the excruciatingly heart-rending "Celebration of a Life" in front of fans and fellow skaters in February 1996. For her, I'm emphasizing her personal courage and willingness to be who she is at such a young age, despite her private nature.
At 25:
the frontal lobe (impulse control) is finally fully developed in most men.
blogger Eva Markvoort was sharing her life and losing battle with cystic fibrosis.
Orson Welles coscripted, directed, and starred in Citizen Kane.
Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly alone across the Atlantic*
Evan Lysacek was teased on the SOI bus for being a quarter of a century old.
In one way, Scott merits mention among the accomplished and courageous aged 25 and under, but one element doesn't fit. To pretend you're something you're not, out of cowardice at best and out of expedient, self-serving profiteering at worst, to live in a bubble despite the fact that outside the bubble is nothing more daunting than a syncophantic press and quasi high-school bitchery, to pretend you're not with the woman you love and you're not a dad, to pervert the definitions of honor and courage (and the meaning of role model), to turn values inside out, to forever weasel out of opportunities to present yourself honestly and maturely - these are not the hallmarks of people of honor aged 25 nor of honorable people much younger. It's just pathetic and evidences a self-absorption worthy of Jess Dube.
_______________________
*At age 21, Annie Sullivan met Helen Keller.
P.S. - I'm just tacking this next bit onto this post even though it's only very remotely related. It does go to out-of-touchery and faux sincerity masking a complete lack of "getting it".
A couple of years ago I saw some internet video of fans at an SOI autograph session. Cynthia Phaneuf, Jeff Buttle, VM, maybe Kurt Browning, can't recall. The fans got an autograph and Scott asked if they were coming to the show. The fans (who were young, and possibly students) looked a little uncomfortable and said they thought it might be sold out. Scott heartily said "Sold out? I don't think it's sold out!" and said more - pushing them to buy tickets, told them to call the box office. He really woke up for this. The fans looked even more uncomfortable and hedged even more.
You know what I think Scott? I think they couldn't afford to go and were embarrassed to admit they wanted to meet you guys and get an autograph despite not having the dollars to attend SOI.
You know what you should say when fans say they can't or aren't going? Say, thanks for coming here to see us! Thanks for the gift! Good to see you! (I think these fans gave VM a very nice gift but am not sure so won't mention what I think it was.)
And not to leave Tessa out of things; she very generously gave an interview to a Russian journalist after the 2009 TEB press conference. She mentioned that one benefit of training in Michigan was the shopping was better. The journalist said "Oh, is there more sales, better prices?" because bargains, especially in 2009, is where a lot of people's minds go when they hear the shopping is better. More importantly, it's obvious that's where this woman's reality was - what she thought of as better shopping. She was also thrilled and happy to be interviewing Tessa, and laughed a lot from what seemed to be both nervousness and excitement. Tessa said no, more things to buy. Bargain? What's that.
I just think they could be more clued in. A LOT more. They're already hurting feelings on purpose (lots of the sham nastiness). Don't do it by accident. What they do is a product of spending every single conversation thinking about yourself and not the other person. If she'd clued into the journalist's nerves and excitement, Tessa might have been more diplomatic about shopping. If the finances of your average student had occurred to Scott - and he has no excuse for it not to have - he wouldn't have pushed, would have understood what "think it's sold out" was about.
...VM aren't alone - I could call Meryl out as well. On twitter a couple of years ago, she reacted to the report that Detroit was the worst city in the USA to live by tweeting: "Have they never been to Ann Arbor?" Jesus Meryl. But to her credit, she does a lot more to balance that out (in public) than Tessa and Scott, so it's easy to give her a pass.
Basically if you want people to buy what you shill and you want people to spend scarce disposible income on figure skating, act like you see them as something other than a wallet with legs.
...When Gordeeva skated "Celebration of a Life" (to Mahler), Marina Zoueva, the choreographer, was watching in the wings. It's clear to me that Zoueva learned an enormous amount after her experience with G&G. I don't think she was in their business, but Gordeeva was super sensitive and that was an awareness Zoueva has obviously brought to her thriving relationship with VM and DW. It's hard though, not to wonder if she ever compares what VM are sensitive about to what Gordeeva went through, and if she wonders what has happened to make the newer generation such self-indulgent, self-obsessed babies. Or maybe that's not it. Maybe Scott and Tessa want to pretend they're "kids" as long as possible - maybe married and baby isn't marketable. Considering the attendance and revenue since they won gold in 2010, the massive amounts of revenue "we're in love but not" has brought in, they can't be as big a couple of idiots as that.
 |
| When this was created, the cartoonist was being satirical. |
Saturday, September 1, 2012
One week before Dominican 09
2008-2009 appeared to be especially marked by ups and downs on the personal front, with Bryce focused on what they needed to accomplish to set themselves up for the Olympics and Jessica feeling that what they needed for Vancouver could better be accomplished with a somewhat different approach than the one Bryce had in mind. Her perspective - her needs - were different, and didn't include skating Carmen (their best program in terms of choreography and layout, IMO, and also as far as flattering costuming and make-up for Jessica) the best she could skate it in international competitions.
Things were so rough that near season's end Bryce and Jessica took to tellement sports to confess the Scott Moir-fueled tensions that still marked their partnership two years after Moir-Dube declared their romantic status.
One imagines that by the time WTT 2009 was over (where she fell on a sit spin, clocked Bryce in the eye with her elbow in a split twist initiating another round of blame-Bryce-poor-Jessica on fsu, and otherwise martyred herself all over the Yoyogi arena) and she and Bryce were faced with doing a brief tour with SOI just prior to Jessica's Punta Cana vacation, going-through-the-motions would be just about the best they could muster before taking a much needed break from the sight of each other.
 |
| I respect how professional they're being. |
 | ||||
| Just close your eyes and think of starfish, Jessica. |
 | |
| 2008-2009 - what a setback. If only Jessica could have somehow persuaded Bryce to respect HER needs. |
 |
| We can feel what a slog this tour was for both of them. |
 |
| Sadly that's sometimes how it goes with a team. You have a rocky season, you get together for a post-mortem, and yet simply can't find common ground. |
USFSA versus Skate Canada
This is a side topic, but for some time now I've had the impression that USFSA figure skaters are a happier bunch as a group than Skate Canada figure skaters. So much so that even individual Skate Canada figure skaters are more comfortable hanging with USFSA figure skaters (as a group) than hanging with their own as a group. Of course, there's no Barb MacDonald or Debbi Wilkes pasted passive-aggressively over every USFSA group situation while at SC, Debbi and Barb are conspicuous. There's a chilling effect.
And the icenetwork interviewing style is less rigid than P.J.'s. I like her, and I think personally she's got a good heart and mind (not something that could be said of everyone else media-related at SC) but her questions to the skaters have become purposefully robotic in recent times, and she clearly doesn't listen to a word they say in response, which makes the mechanical vibe even more blatant. All that comes across is some type of agenda or some terror of actually letting something real slip through the cracks. PJ dictates how they answer ("one word" - or some other formula), speaks rapidly and doesn't seem all that comfortable herself. The interviews are not good, and I can't help wondering why not. What's happened to PJ and why is she interviewing like that?
Figure skaters who appear more comfy with groups of USFSA skaters than SC skaters include Patrick Chan and Jeffrey Buttle. And though he'd deny with his last breath, Scott Moir and his concealing-my-Detroit-Red-Wings-t-shirt self.
Maybe because the USFSA isn't self-obssessed, heavily preoccupied with coming across cool, tough and impressive. They're secure enough to be self deprecating and easy going when it comes to their public image. They're comfortable with their sport, also, which is something SC never seems. Skate Canada always want us to think figure skating is something MORE.
I also think the USFSA should probably elevate Alex and Maia Shibutani to the jointly held Director of Morale position.
Champs Camp produced fun competitive videos of Team USA competing in pseudo rythmic gymnastics routines with the winner right here:
What I like about this video is the winning routine is actually well designed. Of course it's hilarious, but it's executed with commitment and uses the music really well. Wonderful timing and use of the floor. :) And unlike SC, nobody is strenuously working overboard showing teeth to convince us how much fun they're having.*
USFSA skaters in general seem a whole lot more comfortable in their own skin when they're in public, and more comfortable with each other, no matter where they are in the rankings. It's a diverse bunch, so why is that? From Gracie Gold to John Coughlin, despite a closely contested women's division, shake-ups in the pairs, and top ranked ice dance teams training with the same coaches. The Skate Canada skaters skew somewhat older, I think, with not as many hot youngsters coming up, but they're not nearly as comfortable with themselves, or well spoken, genuine and warm as the USFSA, or as comfortable being openly warm and friendly with close-competitors from Asia and Europe. I doubt and would hope there's not a huge difference off camera, but there certainly is on. On, there is sometimes palpable tension as a group - of unknown origin, but tension.
It's impossible not to wonder if the politics, energy and other shenanigans used to keep the sham afloat didn't and doesn't create tension and resentment around Virtue Moir and Jessica/Whomever, no matter how well liked Virtue Moir might be personally. Enough is enough has to be the feeling at some point, no matter how self-interest requires this be suppressed. Especialy since the b.s. had a long reach - from competitions to weddings to promo spots to twitter to fb to photo calls. It's to wonder that when Scott watched Dube and Davison skate at Torino Worlds, he was surrounded by an American posse with none of his presumably close friends/Canadian teammates up for the task of watching fellow Canadians compete the short program with him. Maybe by Worlds other Canadians felt they'd given at the office.
I can't see a SC skater initiating the fun the Shibs organize on skate tours and SHARE with the public, either, or HPC producing any "team building" as enjoyable for participants and onlookers as came out of Champs Camp. What's the USFSA doing right? Maybe the right question is what is the USFSA not doing that Skate Canada needs to stop doing?
_______________________________
*ETA: personally, I don't often find figure skating below the very best all that compelling to watch. But the way Team USA has presented itself the past few years, they've managed to create overall interest in themselves as young athletes, as team members in a uniquely individual sport, and as very down-to-earth, relatable people. Champs Camp goes a long way towards creating the image of athletes in summer training, just like any other group of high school or college athletes. That's what these guys look like. There's a slight tinge of the best of reality shows in the stuff we're permitted to see, and I think fans/viewers get invested in the team. When it's competition time, they want to check out the performances to see how the kids do and WHAT they do. I know I feel that way. It becomes about more than who's the best. It's - oh hey, good for Adam - he landed that quad!
Team USFSA is brilliant because its approach creates community, versus a star system, and community is much more in tune with the times. It's much more contemporary. The audience feels included, and welcome. The Shibs with their videos first of all convey the fun of young people who get to tour the world with an international community of friends doing the same thing. Then, it's letting us share the fantasy of being a skater on tour. Don't most of us think making a video like "Call Me Maybe" is practically a wish-fulfillment version of how we'd spend our time as figure skaters lucky enough to travel as a tour group in Japan? And the Shibs want to show us. They're not showing off so much as they're having a good time and have some fun ideas and they're dying for feedback and to make other people laugh too. They find it fun - fans would find it fun. It creates good will you can't buy. Think Mao's fans aren't tickled to see her included and having a great time?
This is all organic. It's not control-freaked. The USFSA has its guidelines, its standards, but inside that framework the figure skaters have a ton of autonomy in terms of how they present themselves to the public. This is the ideal approach for public relations in any sector.
Over on fsu there are occasional out-of-it-snarks that "Call Me Maybe" was effeminate. Perhaps they feel the 2-guy conjoined somersault in the winning Champs Camp video was too gay too. What they miss is that Team USA appears to be completely past that type of hang-up. They're not self-serious enough. They're not insecure about their sport or about their image (SC reeks of both unearned arrogance and unshakeable insecurity). Everybody gets to relax and be themselves. Everybody is accepted.
And the icenetwork interviewing style is less rigid than P.J.'s. I like her, and I think personally she's got a good heart and mind (not something that could be said of everyone else media-related at SC) but her questions to the skaters have become purposefully robotic in recent times, and she clearly doesn't listen to a word they say in response, which makes the mechanical vibe even more blatant. All that comes across is some type of agenda or some terror of actually letting something real slip through the cracks. PJ dictates how they answer ("one word" - or some other formula), speaks rapidly and doesn't seem all that comfortable herself. The interviews are not good, and I can't help wondering why not. What's happened to PJ and why is she interviewing like that?
Figure skaters who appear more comfy with groups of USFSA skaters than SC skaters include Patrick Chan and Jeffrey Buttle. And though he'd deny with his last breath, Scott Moir and his concealing-my-Detroit-Red-Wings-t-shirt self.
Maybe because the USFSA isn't self-obssessed, heavily preoccupied with coming across cool, tough and impressive. They're secure enough to be self deprecating and easy going when it comes to their public image. They're comfortable with their sport, also, which is something SC never seems. Skate Canada always want us to think figure skating is something MORE.
I also think the USFSA should probably elevate Alex and Maia Shibutani to the jointly held Director of Morale position.
Champs Camp produced fun competitive videos of Team USA competing in pseudo rythmic gymnastics routines with the winner right here:
What I like about this video is the winning routine is actually well designed. Of course it's hilarious, but it's executed with commitment and uses the music really well. Wonderful timing and use of the floor. :) And unlike SC, nobody is strenuously working overboard showing teeth to convince us how much fun they're having.*
USFSA skaters in general seem a whole lot more comfortable in their own skin when they're in public, and more comfortable with each other, no matter where they are in the rankings. It's a diverse bunch, so why is that? From Gracie Gold to John Coughlin, despite a closely contested women's division, shake-ups in the pairs, and top ranked ice dance teams training with the same coaches. The Skate Canada skaters skew somewhat older, I think, with not as many hot youngsters coming up, but they're not nearly as comfortable with themselves, or well spoken, genuine and warm as the USFSA, or as comfortable being openly warm and friendly with close-competitors from Asia and Europe. I doubt and would hope there's not a huge difference off camera, but there certainly is on. On, there is sometimes palpable tension as a group - of unknown origin, but tension.
It's impossible not to wonder if the politics, energy and other shenanigans used to keep the sham afloat didn't and doesn't create tension and resentment around Virtue Moir and Jessica/Whomever, no matter how well liked Virtue Moir might be personally. Enough is enough has to be the feeling at some point, no matter how self-interest requires this be suppressed. Especialy since the b.s. had a long reach - from competitions to weddings to promo spots to twitter to fb to photo calls. It's to wonder that when Scott watched Dube and Davison skate at Torino Worlds, he was surrounded by an American posse with none of his presumably close friends/Canadian teammates up for the task of watching fellow Canadians compete the short program with him. Maybe by Worlds other Canadians felt they'd given at the office.
I can't see a SC skater initiating the fun the Shibs organize on skate tours and SHARE with the public, either, or HPC producing any "team building" as enjoyable for participants and onlookers as came out of Champs Camp. What's the USFSA doing right? Maybe the right question is what is the USFSA not doing that Skate Canada needs to stop doing?
_______________________________
*ETA: personally, I don't often find figure skating below the very best all that compelling to watch. But the way Team USA has presented itself the past few years, they've managed to create overall interest in themselves as young athletes, as team members in a uniquely individual sport, and as very down-to-earth, relatable people. Champs Camp goes a long way towards creating the image of athletes in summer training, just like any other group of high school or college athletes. That's what these guys look like. There's a slight tinge of the best of reality shows in the stuff we're permitted to see, and I think fans/viewers get invested in the team. When it's competition time, they want to check out the performances to see how the kids do and WHAT they do. I know I feel that way. It becomes about more than who's the best. It's - oh hey, good for Adam - he landed that quad!
Team USFSA is brilliant because its approach creates community, versus a star system, and community is much more in tune with the times. It's much more contemporary. The audience feels included, and welcome. The Shibs with their videos first of all convey the fun of young people who get to tour the world with an international community of friends doing the same thing. Then, it's letting us share the fantasy of being a skater on tour. Don't most of us think making a video like "Call Me Maybe" is practically a wish-fulfillment version of how we'd spend our time as figure skaters lucky enough to travel as a tour group in Japan? And the Shibs want to show us. They're not showing off so much as they're having a good time and have some fun ideas and they're dying for feedback and to make other people laugh too. They find it fun - fans would find it fun. It creates good will you can't buy. Think Mao's fans aren't tickled to see her included and having a great time?
This is all organic. It's not control-freaked. The USFSA has its guidelines, its standards, but inside that framework the figure skaters have a ton of autonomy in terms of how they present themselves to the public. This is the ideal approach for public relations in any sector.
Over on fsu there are occasional out-of-it-snarks that "Call Me Maybe" was effeminate. Perhaps they feel the 2-guy conjoined somersault in the winning Champs Camp video was too gay too. What they miss is that Team USA appears to be completely past that type of hang-up. They're not self-serious enough. They're not insecure about their sport or about their image (SC reeks of both unearned arrogance and unshakeable insecurity). Everybody gets to relax and be themselves. Everybody is accepted.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Pinteresting
In the interest of blogistic research I peruse Jessica Dube's pinterest from time to time both to note continued sham placemarks (such as Monaco, and Mexico - although she doesn't seem to shout out the Dominican) and to check the inspirational words board for possible indicators about the upcoming competitive figure skating season, as any good creeping skating fan would do.
So far, based on themes running through the bumper sticker sayings of the day, it's possible to speculate that she is trying to let criticism about dumping Bryce roll off her shoulders while bravely going forward with the brave decisions she's made; also maybe looking back nostalgically while resolutely looking ahead; easy to see that she is determined to supplement her rigorous figure skating training regimen with as many targeted keep-fit tips as she can find, bolstered by delicious and easy recipe ideas; and yet at times one wonders if she and Sebastien are unexpectedly history, leaving her to scan the pinterest mantra-and-motto universe for reassurance that the future still holds great promise.
So, in terms of hints about the upcoming season, pinterest is not too helpful, although I always come away feeling very, as the saying goes, special snowflake-y after reading the copious number of affirmations and I'm-okay-and-if-you-don't-agree-you're-not-worth-it type virtual pep talks.* And in fairness, much of this is de rigueur for all pinterest users, not particular to Jessica.
But, I do feel as if other parts of her pinterest sheds further light onto why she and Bryce perhaps didn't progress as far as their potential led people, including Bryce, to hope they would.
Back when the blog began, I posted this:
Or hair (a/k/a "beauty"):
One also understands the fans who insist Jessica and Scott had to have been real. For one, they're a perfect fit. Jessica is never boring**, and Scott is, if nothing else, the poster child for patience. Second, even if things became a little dicey over time, in a male-centric sport like figure skating, there would be no other opportunities for a heterosexual 20something male World and Olympie Scott to have sex other than with an accident-prone teammate based at a training center 575 miles away.
______________________
*no better way to convince everyone how little your critics matter than to pin virtual posters about how little they matter. Such a poster conveys your conviction that you've got a lot of critics, but if you put up a poster about how much you don't care, everyone will realize you're above it all. It doesn't in any way communicate a put-upon, pissed off and overly self-involved personality.
**"Age cannot wither, nor custom stale, her infinite variety". It's like Shakespeare knew she'd come along.
So far, based on themes running through the bumper sticker sayings of the day, it's possible to speculate that she is trying to let criticism about dumping Bryce roll off her shoulders while bravely going forward with the brave decisions she's made; also maybe looking back nostalgically while resolutely looking ahead; easy to see that she is determined to supplement her rigorous figure skating training regimen with as many targeted keep-fit tips as she can find, bolstered by delicious and easy recipe ideas; and yet at times one wonders if she and Sebastien are unexpectedly history, leaving her to scan the pinterest mantra-and-motto universe for reassurance that the future still holds great promise.
So, in terms of hints about the upcoming season, pinterest is not too helpful, although I always come away feeling very, as the saying goes, special snowflake-y after reading the copious number of affirmations and I'm-okay-and-if-you-don't-agree-you're-not-worth-it type virtual pep talks.* And in fairness, much of this is de rigueur for all pinterest users, not particular to Jessica.
But, I do feel as if other parts of her pinterest sheds further light onto why she and Bryce perhaps didn't progress as far as their potential led people, including Bryce, to hope they would.
Back when the blog began, I posted this:
I'm scrolling through Jessica Dube's pinterest and there's this:
Style ideas:
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| So many ideas. |
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| Which should she choose? |
I feel less than clean making fun, but in a way I can't quite put my finger on it's like things just keep circling around and around and around a pretty narrow circumference without developing and there's something familiar about it all, skating-wise, without my being able to bullet point it yet. Not just stylistically, but with how her actual skating has developed and grown (or not) versus her claims about it.
I mean okay, long, bouncy, messy, beachy-textured dark-toned brown hair! Let's placehold that ninety times and also, incidentally, routinely repost the same photo several times because it's not recognized as the same old photo you've already posted?
I could pull up a "braids" section too that could turn your eyeballs to pinwheels, but pretty much the point is, how much do you need to twiddle over the idea of a hair style that looks exactly like your current hair worn exactly the same by 10 different demi celebrities and upload them all to remind yourself you like it? Don't you make yourself catatonic at some point?
How would it be if Scott were on pinterest and he had to upload stuff to a board called "Photo Ideas" before he was able to pose for facebook?
Scott's Facial Expression Ideas:
Without pinterest, would he forget to remember to do this?
Or this?
I want Tessa on pinterest so I can lull myself to sleep with a board called "shoes":
The shoes are really pretty but as they're variations on the same shoe by the same label, I don't think she'd need to pin every shoe.
That last phrase is getting closer to the running theme in Jessica's figure skating that I keep seeing, but I'll keep working on it. Maybe it has something to do with believing you've got a fresh idea or are doing something new but when you circle back it turns out you're at the same place and are stagnating, and insufficiently motivated to recognize this. You see "change" and "the same" as equivalent, or you make them equivalent.
Most figure skaters have characteristic facial expressions during certain programs. Speaking literally, we all only have the one face. Therefore, when Scott Moir skates Umbrella of Cherbourg, Mahler, and Valse Triste, his aspect of romantic yearning is going to look similar in all three during the parts where he's supposed to be yearning romantically. Likewise, when Scott skates a non-party Latin-esque cd, od, sd or lp, hair slicked, eyes bearing down on Tessa, in all of them he's pretty much going to look as if he's not about to let lunch - nor dessert - get away.
So, too, with Jessica:
One can certainly see why there are fans who insist Jessica dumping Bryce and partnering with Sebastien has reinvigorated her figure skating. She's practically born-again.I mean okay, long, bouncy, messy, beachy-textured dark-toned brown hair! Let's placehold that ninety times and also, incidentally, routinely repost the same photo several times because it's not recognized as the same old photo you've already posted?
I could pull up a "braids" section too that could turn your eyeballs to pinwheels, but pretty much the point is, how much do you need to twiddle over the idea of a hair style that looks exactly like your current hair worn exactly the same by 10 different demi celebrities and upload them all to remind yourself you like it? Don't you make yourself catatonic at some point?
How would it be if Scott were on pinterest and he had to upload stuff to a board called "Photo Ideas" before he was able to pose for facebook?
Scott's Facial Expression Ideas:
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| Decisions, decisions. |
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| Would never happen. He has douche-faces cold. |
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That last phrase is getting closer to the running theme in Jessica's figure skating that I keep seeing, but I'll keep working on it. Maybe it has something to do with believing you've got a fresh idea or are doing something new but when you circle back it turns out you're at the same place and are stagnating, and insufficiently motivated to recognize this. You see "change" and "the same" as equivalent, or you make them equivalent.
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| This (the mood and expression), I understand. Same spiral. One to Umbrellas of Cherbourg the other to The Way We Were - It could be argued that the spiral occurs at similar mood points in otherwise divergent programs.Who knows? Both are schmaltzy. |
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Annie Barabe said the programs with Sebastien would not be love stories.
We clearly see this difference between D&D and D&W. On the right is D&D's 3-hankie Way We Were, Jessica pre-swoon, preparing to heave a large sigh as she and Bryce set sail for memory lane. On the left, Sebastien and Jessica begin their abstract long program to the minimalist, dissonant composer Philip Glass's theme music from "Heroes", while Jessica swoons and sighs with the delight of expanding her stylistic horizons. |
So, too, with Jessica:
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| Left is D&W's sultry, athletic, playful blues short. Center is D&D's intense, dramatic, angsty, angry short. Right is D&W's abstract, non-dramatic, minimalist long. |
One also understands the fans who insist Jessica and Scott had to have been real. For one, they're a perfect fit. Jessica is never boring**, and Scott is, if nothing else, the poster child for patience. Second, even if things became a little dicey over time, in a male-centric sport like figure skating, there would be no other opportunities for a heterosexual 20something male World and Olympie Scott to have sex other than with an accident-prone teammate based at a training center 575 miles away.
______________________
*no better way to convince everyone how little your critics matter than to pin virtual posters about how little they matter. Such a poster conveys your conviction that you've got a lot of critics, but if you put up a poster about how much you don't care, everyone will realize you're above it all. It doesn't in any way communicate a put-upon, pissed off and overly self-involved personality.
**"Age cannot wither, nor custom stale, her infinite variety". It's like Shakespeare knew she'd come along.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Heads up Barb!
It's Champs Camp!
The must-have twitter to follow:
Alex Shibutani
Eyes peeled for fun tweets from @adaripp and others too, but once you're keyed into Alex Shibutani you have the gateway to Champs Camp on twitter.
Get into the spirit and start practicing your second-rate imitations for Skate Canada's high performance camp straight from "Skate Canada"s* twitter account and blurry camera phone like last time. Because that's just as good.
You're welcome.
______________________
* ;)
Friday, August 17, 2012
What up with Jessica?
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| Jess Dube facebook photo from Mexico |
I, too, am susceptible to thinking - boy, she really enjoys those perks. But I have to remember that whatever she shares on her facebook must first not only be screened by Team Virtue Moir, but is just as likely posted per Team Virtue Moir's instructions.
Back to topic. Jessica and Sebastien were listed for, yet did not participate in, two summer figure skating competitions. Jessica's pinterest account is rife with the sort of self-help, self-pep talk pins that only a long-suffering, frequently put-upon, much sinned-against woman like Jessica Dube needs in order to keep going in this unjust world. The sort of woman who is always right, but compelled to suck it up and let other people believe is at fault. The sort of gal who is misunderstood by not only haters, but people she mistakenly thought she could trust. The womanly woman with soul who acts like she's fine, but perhaps is not, but for whom pride prevents from revealing how other people's choices have hurt. The femme who has been sinned against and disappointed in others time and again and is weary of being judged. In short, a martyr. I swear, I have to pick myself up off the ground every time I realize Jess Dube sees herself in this light. Who knew?
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| Don't judge her. Him - okay. |
Did Sebastien quit on her?
Did Jessica quit on him? To do what? I have difficulty envisioning a woman with that apparent self-image and fantasy life resigning herself to singles skating, Concordia U, and diminished opportunities for international travel (difficult to afford once frequent flier miles are consumed and not replenished, and when quid pro quo associates of considerable means aren't underwriting the tab).
Did the "break-up" of Scott and Jessica and the downgrading of her status to "former girlfriend" impact support for her training somehow, leading to the pulling of the plug on her pairs career with Sebastien? I have difficulty thinking this is it. She's Annie's "star" pupil, grade on a curve though we must. She is the current Canadians silver medalist.
Still, I find it awfully weird that Scott and Jessica's "break up" happens and suddenly Jessica and Sebastien are skipping summer comps. It's not as if they flatlined at last season's summer comps. They pretty much stunk, given the resume of each, but still beat the limited competition. I can't imagine them not being competitive at the 2013 Canadians. Sure, MTM have thrown down this summer, and IMO are unlikely to crash and burn at another Canadians. That still leaves the bronze medal podium spot up for grabs, even though Skate Canada's highest profile directors have traditionally and publicly not given a flying fuck about their figure skaters below silver, unless they believe the skaters in question are only waiting their turn. If you're not a star, go home, that's Debbi's attitude.
What is it? What has happened to them?
My personal guess is, they haven't gone to outside coaching, but figure they have Paige and Rudi's number at least, and why interrupt a fun summer to compete when they'll be ready to kick Paige and Rudi off the podium by Canadians?
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