Johnny Weir Announces He Won't Compete At the 2013 US Nationals

[Carolla5501]

I enjoy Johnny, but assigning him to Skate America, while presumably passing over other guys who frequently finish in the top 10 at Nationals and compete well internationally, would be really obnoxious on the part of USFS. I really hope it doesn't happen.

I have a hard time with either he or Evan getting these assignments this year. WHY? Because they haven't done anything in a few years so let's reward them? I think the US should push our future not hang on to the past praying it will bail them out

[Jenny]

I think that the USFS probably welcomed them with open arms so they could use their names to promote SA and Nationals.

[Vagabond]

toddlj, as I mentioned upthread (although not as fully as I might have done), I am pretty sure that it doesn't work that way. As I understand this season's Grand Prix Announcement, the score from a Senior "B" doesn't count toward a Season's Best Score for purposes of a Grand Prix assignment, whether it be for a host pick or otherwise. Under the latest version of the rules, all that skating in a designated early-season Senior "B" can do for him with respect to a Grand Prix assignment is getting him placed at the bottom of the alternates list if he wins the Senior "B." But that's the alternates list, and the host pick has to come from the Top 75 of the previous seasons Season's Best list unless the choices from that list have been exhausted. And that isn't likely to happen, especially in an Olympic season.

(The score at a Senior "B" does count toward the minimum score requirement for the Grand Prix and ISU Championships, but that's a different matter.)

[Carolla5501]

I think that the USFS probably welcomed them with open arms so they could use their names to promote SA and Nationals.

And that's part of the problem. instead of working on a way to promote new talent they cling to the past even if that's not really working. (It's actually probably backfiring, they keep promising things they can't deliver. Yes they have that TINY disclaimer but do you think an average person in the Omaha suburbs seeing the advertisments for Nationals gets that Evan and/or Johnny MIGHT not really appear?)

[aftershocks]

...

Oh, how much I agree with both of the above. Oh how I miss the Priscilla Hill days of Johnny's skating.

I appreciate your thoughts and insider commentary, manleywoman. ITA that Priscilla and Johnny were good together. Priscilla is a wonderful coach and I love her smile. She guided Johnny so well -- as a 12-year-old, new to the sport, he was absolutely precociously gifted but she taught him the killer technique that made his jumps look so effortless. In his book, Johnny admits he went through a rebellious period when he kinda stopped listening to Priscilla. From his book and from following his skating, I believe it's also true that Johnny often had difficulty overcoming competition nerves . It also didn't help that the USFS and the skating world, while they were awestruck by Johnny's talent, did not embrace him fully in the way e.g., that Patrick Chan and Yuzuru Hanyu have been embraced and rewarded today. Although Hanyu IMO has a different style and body type than Johnny, they seem to share a somewhat similar fluidity of movement, plus Johnny is a skater that Hanyu admired and looked up to as a youngster. Of course, Johnny has returned the compliment and has designed costumes for Hanyu.

What shouldn’t be forgotten when looking back at Johnny’s career is his summers training at Simsbury where he met Tarasova. In his book, he describes the experience of training with her and how something clicked. I believe she gave him the confidence he needed to soar. It was TAT’s choreography too that also helped elevate Johnny’s career to the next level. Tarasova and Johnny together along with Priscilla’s coaching guidance is what gave us the early iconic Johnny performances that are unforgettable. It is completely regrettable that for some reason this threesome was broken up likely for a variety of reasons (probably partly having to do with behind-the-scenes politics).

Speaking of politics, IMO, instead of passing on stories about Johnny's rebelliousness during 2004 Worlds, USFS should have been politiking for him hard, because he absolutely delivered in his Worlds debut, and he should IMHO have scored a medal there. The other thing is that Johnny was training really great-looking quads in practice during his peak. It might have helped his career too had he continued to train quads and started competing them strategically instead of getting sidetracked by his own nerves and people's over-reactions to his political incorrectness and his adamant desire to be himself. Had he been able to focus and really decide, “I want to be the best and I can be despite what anyone else thinks of me,” and just broke through the nerves dilemma, maybe he could have overcome the huge obstacles that were stacked against him (including not being in political favor, and the deeply competitive men’s field that was flourishing during his rise).

[toddlj]

toddlj, as I mentioned upthread (although not as fully as I might have done), I am pretty sure that it doesn't work that way. As I understand this season's Grand Prix Announcement, the score from a Senior "B" doesn't count toward a Season's Best Score for purposes of a Grand Prix assignment, whether it be for a host pick or otherwise. Under the latest version of the rules, all that skating in a designated early-season Senior "B" can do for him with respect to a Grand Prix assignment is getting him placed at the bottom of the alternates list if he wins the Senior "B." But that's the alternates list, and the host pick has to come from the Top 75 of the previous seasons Season's Best list unless the choices from that list have been exhausted. And that isn't likely to happen, especially in an Olympic season.

(The score at a Senior "B" does count toward the minimum score requirement for the Grand Prix and ISU Championships, but that's a different matter.)

Thanks, I guess I was confused about that change for this year. I know that last year there were some host picks (the Canadian ones come to mind first) who hadn't yet met the minimum and were entered in senior Bs in order to do so. I didn't know they had tightened on that this year.

[Sylvia]

ETA that Weir is scheduled to perform in a December 16 holiday show on Long Island (Roslyn, NY)

More info on the cast is published in this Great Neck, Long Island article about Emily Hughes' participation in the show: http://greatneck.patch.com/articles/...liday-ice-show

Johnny Weir, a three-time U.S. champion, two-time Olympian, and world medalist, is one of the superstars of figure skating.

The show also stars Olympian, U.S. National Champion and World Bronze Medalist Nicole Bobek; two-time U.S. National Bronze Medalist Ross Miner; ice dancing U.S. National Bronze Medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donahue [Donohue]; U.S. Junior National Champion and World Junior Medalist Jason Brown; U.S. Junior National Champion Max Aaron and national competitor Samantha Cesario.

[SkateFan66]

My tell me that USFS is really pissed with Evan's not making a commitment to Nationals.

Why would USFS be "pissed" at Evan regarding not making a commitment to Nationals? Evan had surgery on November 20th. On November 21st, the USFS released a statement stating that Evan is expected to be off the ice for approximately six weeks; that upon returning to the ice, he will be evaluated on a weekly basis; and that Lysacek's goal is to compete at Nationals. At this point, (Tuesday will be three weeks post surgery), what more of a commitment can the USFS reasonably expect?

http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story...706&type=media

[Sylvia]

IINM, he cannot receive a host pick without a Top 75 Season's Best score. It used to be that host federations could assign any of their own skaters, but a season or two ago, any initial selection had to be in the Top 75, and this past season, I believe, even the substitutes had to have a Top 75 score. Weir got his berths this season as a comeback skater, but he won't be a comeback skater next season.

Yi WANG was China's host pick for Cup of China and he had never competed internationally prior to this GP assignment: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00010543.htm

[kwanfan1818]

I should have been more clear with my answer... what I was trying to say to Vagabond was that Johnny wouldn't need to win his senior B assignment to get to the GP. He could be assigned to a senior B, while SA is left "TBD", and then given SA if he gets the minimum score.

According to this year's rules, host picks have to be in the Top 75 SB list from the prior season, or this season for 2013-14. This year, the host picks don't have to have earned the GP minimum score to participate in the host event. Last year, they did for initial selections, but not as host picks replacements, and the ISU seems to have interpreted skaters named for "TBD" as replacements. Who knows what they'll decide for next season.

The only ways to get GP events without having a Top 75 SB are as "comeback" skaters or "return" skaters, but that means not having competed at all in the prior season.

Under the latest version of the rules, all that skating in a designated early-season Senior "B" can do for him with respect to a Grand Prix assignment is getting him placed at the bottom of the alternates list if he wins the Senior "B." But that's the alternates list, and the host pick has to come from the Top 75 of the previous seasons Season's Best list unless the choices from that list have been exhausted. And that isn't likely to happen, especially in an Olympic season.

Not for singles, at least. For Pairs this season, Scimeca/Knierem were replacements for NHK, having won Cup of Nice, but only 52 of the Top 75 Pairs made the GP minimum, and, of those, 14 retired/split (27%) and 14 stayed junior, which left 24 senior eligible couples (less than half) eligible. (Split couples didn't have to have a minimum, even at the first five Senior B's.) Every other pair with a Top 75 was (allegedly) provisionally eligible only, (although Montalbano/Krosnoposky were allowed to skate at SA without having met the minimum at one of the five early Senior B's).

By contrast, for Ladies, there was one retirement (Phaneuf) and 14 Ladies in the Top 52, and more than 75 Ladies met the minimum score. The lowest substitute was Jenna McCorkell at 46. For Men, there were two retirement (van der Perren, and Contesti, after he'd been assigned) and seven juniors in the Top 52; the Top 77 Men made the GP minimum. There were only two non-host substitutions, both for Contesti, ang Guan, tied for 31 on the SB list with Ge, was the lowest sub on the list. For Dance, there were two non-host alternates, the lowest being #23 Zlobina/Sitnikov, and two of the Top 24 SB only ended up with one, with 66 of the Top 75 having made the minimum.

[kwanfan1818]

I should have been more clear with my answer... what I was trying to say to Vagabond was that Johnny wouldn't need to win his senior B assignment to get to the GP. He could be assigned to a senior B, while SA is left "TBD", and then given SA if he gets the minimum score.

According to this year's rules, host picks have to be in the Top 75 SB list from the prior season, or this season for 2013-14. This year, the host picks don't have to have earned the GP minimum score to participate in the host event. Last year, they did for initial selections, but not as host picks replacements, and the ISU seems to have interpreted skaters named for "TBD" as replacements. Who knows what they'll decide for next season.

The only ways to get GP events without having a Top 75 SB are as "comeback" skaters or "return" skaters, but that means not having competed at all in the prior season.

Under the latest version of the rules, all that skating in a designated early-season Senior "B" can do for him with respect to a Grand Prix assignment is getting him placed at the bottom of the alternates list if he wins the Senior "B." But that's the alternates list, and the host pick has to come from the Top 75 of the previous seasons Season's Best list unless the choices from that list have been exhausted. And that isn't likely to happen, especially in an Olympic season.

Not for singles, at least. For Pairs this season, Scimeca/Knierem were replacements for NHK, having won Cup of Nice, but only 52 of the Top 75 Pairs made the GP minimum, and, of those, 14 retired/split (27%) and 14 stayed junior, which left 24 senior eligible couples (less than half) eligible. (Split couples didn't have to have a minimum, even at the first five Senior B's.) Every other pair with a Top 75 was (allegedly) provisionally eligible only, (although Montalbano/Krosnoposky were allowed to skate at SA without having met the minimum at one of the five early Senior B's).

By contrast, for Ladies, there was one retirement (Phaneuf) and 14 Ladies in the Top 52, and more than 75 Ladies met the minimum score. The lowest substitute was Jenna McCorkell at 46. For Men, there were two retirement (van der Perren, and Contesti, after he'd been assigned) and seven juniors in the Top 52; the Top 77 Men made the GP minimum. There were only two non-host substitutions, both for Contesti, ang Guan, tied for 31 on the SB list with Ge, was the lowest sub on the list. For Dance, there were two non-host alternates, the lowest being #23 Zlobina/Sitnikov, and two of the Top 24 SB only ended up with one, with 66 of the Top 75 having made the minimum.

[manleywoman]

Why would USFS be "pissed" at Evan regarding not making a commitment to Nationals? Evan had surgery on November 20th. On November 21st, the USFS released a statement stating that Evan is expected to be off the ice for approximately six weeks; that upon returning to the ice, he will be evaluated on a weekly basis; and that Lysacek's goal is to compete at Nationals. At this point, (Tuesday will be three weeks post surgery), what more of a commitment can the USFS reasonably expect?

http://www.usfigureskating.org/Story...706&type=media

Because they are USFS? Who said logic applies?

[t.mann]

Weir's full statement: http://web.icenetwork.com/news/artic...&vkey=ice_news

OMG, beautiful honesty.

[Vagabond]

Yi WANG was China's host pick for Cup of China and he had never competed internationally prior to this GP assignment: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00010543.htm

Silly Sylvia! That's the Chinese Federation. I was talking about the federations that are actually bound by the ISU Rules!

[Carolla5501]

Because they are USFS? Who said logic applies?

LOL! Great post!

[aftershocks]

Because they are USFS? Who said logic applies?

ETA:

In general, "there's no logic in figure skating."

[kittyjake5]

Honest and spot on statement from Johnny. I always will have a little piece of my heart reserved for Johnny!

[aftershocks]

^^ Well said!

Johnny will always hold a large place in my heart and memories of figure skating, right along with Michelle Kwan, as well as Tai and Randy. There are many skaters who have touched my heart and soul (including Paul Wylie, Brian B, Christopher B, Kurt B, Todd E, Chen Lu, Midori, Matt S, Jeremy A, Meno/ Sand, Punsalan & Swallow, Annisina/ Peizarat, Savchenko/ Szolkowy, Davis/ White, Shen/ Zhao, Dai T, G&G, Rudy G, Dorothy H, Robin C, Debi T, Janet L, Toller C, John C, Peggy F, and Dick B) ... but the aforementioned four above all!

[numbers123]

And that's part of the problem. instead of working on a way to promote new talent they cling to the past even if that's not really working. (It's actually probably backfiring, they keep promising things they can't deliver. Yes they have that TINY disclaimer but do you think an average person in the Omaha suburbs seeing the advertisments for Nationals gets that Evan and/or Johnny MIGHT not really appear?)

FWIW - as soon as Johnny released that he would not be competing, the Nationals commercials mentioning Johnny as part of the men's field stopped. The ads are saying that you will see: 2011 Dance World Champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, show a picture of one of the lower ranked pairs from last year (since Caydee/John, Amanda/Mark, and MaryBeth/Rockne are not skating - I think that it is S/C but am not sure), Ashley Wagner defending her Ladies title (showing both Rachel and Mirai) and an "exciting men's field" - showing Adam, Jeremy and Brandon (I think). Any ads mentioning Johnny are dropped.

[PDilemma]

FWIW - as soon as Johnny released that he would not be competing, the Nationals commercials mentioning Johnny as part of the men's field stopped. The ads are saying that you will see: 2011 Dance World Champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, show a picture of one of the lower ranked pairs from last year (since Caydee/John, Amanda/Mark, and MaryBeth/Rockne are not skating - I think that it is S/C but am not sure), Ashley Wagner defending her Ladies title (showing both Rachel and Mirai) and an "exciting men's field" - showing Adam, Jeremy and Brandon (I think). Any ads mentioning Johnny are dropped.

The Omaha World-Herald also carried the story of Johnny's announcement.