Davis & White #16: Magical Wizard Hair

[comickiwi]

Yay! World Champs! At last....well deserved and well met. I hope they continue this brilliant formula/potion and just brew magic stuff for years

[circuscandy]

So the pattern for 2014/15 is Paso Doble/Spanish dances. I so want them to hang around for at least that season because I loved their look for that compulsory. Meryl was on fire.

And also, from ice-dance.com, "A new "partial step sequence" will be a new element in 14-15 SD, it's a free variation on the PD."

I feel like they have so much left to give, and I feel like they feel like that, too, which is awesome.

[shan]

Articles:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...ating/1993257/

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/n...-world-crown-0

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...399_story.html

[TanithandBenFan]

My photos from the free dance M&C were magnificently divine today!! They looked so happy on the top step of the podium. It was a day I shall not soon forget!

[mollymgr]

FD press conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA1-z0eUodw

[judgejudy27]

I think everyone went in to that season assuming F-P/M and Ann/P would be competing for gold while Bou/Kra and Lobacheva/Av would be battling for bronze. Since the Canadians had usually been coming out ahead, the Russians needed to do something to guarantee a podium spot, and that turned out to be the deal with the French that got exposed in the pairs event. As it turned out, both the Italians and Canadians made it easier for them with SP errors, but it was obvious something was up way back at the surprise 3rd place finish for the Italians at the GP final. We saw the same strategy employed to move Denkova-S out of the podium discussion in 2006 even earlier, with inexplicably low marks in the GP season.

I'm just saying, old system, new system, it's still ice dance.

Legit points and there were definitely some funny things going on that season. However I think D&W are totally different than F-P&M. F-P&M were a controversial figure even as reigning World Champs, and many were not convinced of their superiority over the other top teams, so if they were in fact politiked against that season in favor of others (and I agree they probably were) it was actually quite easy to do. D&W are universally accepted as vastly superior to all other than V&M, and the best dance team in the World after this season. There is simply no way for the Russian fed to try and move one of their teams over them, and if anyone would be tackled by them it is the perhaps slightly vurnerable (at the moment) V&M.

[neptune]

Another thing to keep in mind is that even if Meryl & Charlie didn't win Worlds yesterday, they would still have been the best ice dancers of the season. It's so easy, at the end of the season, to think that Worlds is the only event that matters. But if you really want to determine who the best skaters were, that's not really true--you have to look at the whole season. M&C came out ahead of V&M after their 2 GP events, beat them in the GPF, and then beat them at 4C. So, even if they had won the silver at Worlds, they still would've been the best team of the season overall. And with this latest win, even Jessica Simpson could figure out who the best dancers of the season are.

[neptune]

And if anyone would be tackled by them it is the perhaps slightly vulnerable (at the moment) V&M.

I agree--if the corrupt forces are going to pull any funny stuff, it would much more likely be against V&M. They could make it look as if the team is in a slow downward spiral or something, but not so with D&W.

[missysays]

Just reading some of the post-Worlds articles about D/W and V/M. For once people are talking about D/W and V/M as equal rivals with D/W clearly being stronger all season long.

It made me think of the long progression they had to make over the years to get here.

2008-2009 season: D/W beat V/M for the first time at 4CC but it's because it's V/M's first competition back after being absent from early season. But they are clearly second in reputation to V/M and not podium worthy at Worlds even with their breakthrough programs that year.
2009-2010 season: D/W beat V/M at GPF but are not considered in the same league and are clearly second at all other major competitions including Olympics where they get their first major medal- consolidating their #2 position.
2010-2011 season: D/W dominate season and beat V/M at Worlds but only because V/M are absent the majority of season and coming back from injury. They deserve win but V/M still consider the first place position theirs as soon as they get back up to fighting form- as do quite a bit of skating world.
2011-2012 season: D/W dominate early season through GPF (with healthy V/M) but lose out to V/M at 4CC and Worlds. But public opinion is starting to turn in D/W's favor and they end the season with win at WT.
2012-2013 season: D/W dominate entire season though with a close call at 4CC where they lose SD but get back on track with FD. They are finally considered the best team with a healthy V/M for an entire season and even Scott considers them equal rivals where in the past he considered that he and Tessa were clearly always in the lead position.

It's a testament to their ability not to give up and keep chipping away at their goals.

And now what will 2013-2014 hold for them?

I'm sooo looking forward to finding out.

[neptune]

For once people are talking about D/W and V/M as equal rivals with D/W clearly being stronger all season long.

Kinda funny how that works. If V&M had clearly been stronger all season, would the teams still be considered "equal" rivals?

Incidentally, IIRC Meryl & Charlie won the FD at Worlds in 2010, 2011, and 2013. And many fans think they also deserved to win it in 2012 as well. Not bad for the supposedly "lesser" of two teams.

[Whitneyskates]

I was reading an Icenetwork article about the women's competition and this stood out to me:

Following these worlds, Wagner has a busy month ahead with sponsor engagements, possibly competing in the World Team Trophy in Tokyo, a photo shoot in West Hollywood, Calif., and then performing in Stars on Ice in Canada.

I ask this as someone who likes Ashley, but what has she done to earn so many sponsors? I don't begrudge her any of her success but let's be real here, going by what we saw at Worlds, Ashley's not gonna be bringing home a world or olympic gold unless 3 or 4 women retire before Sochi. D/W are the only ones who have prevented the U.S from completely embarrassing themselves at Worlds for the past 3 years and will be the only ones who will prevent them from being shut out of medals in Sochi. Part of me is kinda glad that Ashley didn't win a medal because I feel even a bronze from Ashley would have overshadowed D/W's title.

Sorry for the rant, and like I said, I don't begrudge Ashley anything, but I wish D/W would get the attention they deserve and have more than earned.

[paskatefan]

Congrats to Meryl & Charlie on their well deserved 2nd Worlds title!

[Bue]

Ditto even though]

Interesting. I wonder what their definition of "same" is. I find an Argentine tango, waltz, and theatrical drama to be very different. It's pretty obvious they've actively tried new things. Now if they're saying Meryl and Charlie should never ever do a drama because they did Phantom, I call bullshit. No one would ever suggest V/M not do romance. It's their strength. They're just mad because this is a style they're good at and will be remembered by. And regardless to what people say it's not just M/C that have room to grow. There is so much V/M haven't done, especially in senior competition. One shouldn't assume they'd be good at everything else just because they have a sexy connection and do that well.

Sorry that turned into a bit of a rant.

People suggest on FSU every single day that V/M shouldn't do romance. They are already getting hammered because people think they will go back to 'safe' romance next year - and we don't even know what their music is yet! (FWIW they said yesterday that they won't be doing that.) I think some of the frustration comes from the fact that D/W have done three dramatic, character driven FDs in five years, and no one seems to mind, whereas if V/M did three Mahler-style FDs in five years they would be crucified. And I'm not saying that D/W shouldn't go with their strength - I mean, why wouldn't they play to it?! This style works for them and they do it well! And I do think they have tried really hard to stretch to different styles these past three seasons. I think some V/M fans are just frustrated that D/W are 'allowed' to own their style, while for some reason V/M aren't.

Anyway, congrats to D/W on a great season and a job well done!

[mollymgr]

People suggest on FSU every single day that V/M shouldn't do romance. They are already getting hammered because people think they will go back to 'safe' romance next year - and we don't even know what their music is yet! (FWIW they said yesterday that they won't be doing that.) I think some of the frustration comes from the fact that D/W have done three dramatic, character driven FDs in five years, and no one seems to mind, whereas if V/M did three Mahler-style FDs in five years they would be crucified. And I'm not saying that D/W shouldn't go with their strength - I mean, why wouldn't they play to it?! This style works for them and they do it well! And I do think they have tried really hard to stretch to different styles these past three seasons. I think some V/M fans are just frustrated that D/W are 'allowed' to own their style, while for some reason V/M aren't.

Anyway, congrats to D/W on a great season and a job well done!

Is there anything that D/W do that doesn't cause frustration for V/M fans? Some of the things D/W get credited for are downright unearthly, along the lines of some dark magic. D/W are just humans. They don't control other people. They don't make people allow or disallow things. They like what they do and are passionate about it.

[mollymgr]

I was reading an Icenetwork article about the women's competition and this stood out to me:



I ask this as someone who likes Ashley, but what has she done to earn so many sponsors? I don't begrudge her any of her success but let's be real here, going by what we saw at Worlds, Ashley's not gonna be bringing home a world or olympic gold unless 3 or 4 women retire before Sochi. D/W are the only ones who have prevented the U.S from completely embarrassing themselves at Worlds for the past 3 years and will be the only ones who will prevent them from being shut out of medals in Sochi. Part of me is kinda glad that Ashley didn't win a medal because I feel even a bronze from Ashley would have overshadowed D/W's title.

Sorry for the rant, and like I said, I don't begrudge Ashley anything, but I wish D/W would get the attention they deserve and have more than earned.

From a business standpoint, promoting a singles skater makes total sense for the USFSA. How much revenue does it generate from skater/parents sending their kids to skate in singles? If they promote the singles hopefuls, they are more likely to get kids/parents interested in it. Ice dance and pairs are tricky because you need two people to commit. D/W have definitely done their bit to make it more popular and perhaps more kids will be likely to take that up a few years down the line, in the same way that Tanith and Ben did.
As for sponsors, it is hard to get those when you don't even see skating on tv The sponsors are probably going with the flow in promoting Ashley because the USFSA does it. Let's be real, I am sure there are quite a few people out there who don't even know what ice dance is.
I also find skating to be a sponsor's nightmare. After all, the athlete can't sport all the logos on their apparel like skiers for instance.

[Scrufflet]

I was there for the short! Absolutely astounding to see such superb teams live! Audience was super positive and encouraging for all skaters. Meryl and Charlie got lots of love! I'm glad both teams were able to skate such excellent longs. Either one would have been worthy champions in my book! Meryl and Charlie, congrats, worthy champions!

[semogal]

Found these great photos from the FD:
http://www.reuters.com/article/slide...16&slide=1#a=1

[CassAgain]

http://www.reuters.com/article/slide...30316&slide=1#

I love this shot and can't wait until a video of the medal ceremony emerges!

[mollymgr]

http://www.reuters.com/article/slide...30316&slide=1#

I love this shot and can't wait until a video of the medal ceremony emerges!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3CegrOjNlA...s1600/FD22.jpg

I'm always amazed how smoothly she gets out of this "lift".

[Jessiebanana]

People suggest on FSU every single day that V/M shouldn't do romance. They are already getting hammered because people think they will go back to 'safe' romance next year - and we don't even know what their music is yet! (FWIW they said yesterday that they won't be doing that.) I think some of the frustration comes from the fact that D/W have done three dramatic, character driven FDs in five years, and no one seems to mind, whereas if V/M did three Mahler-style FDs in five years they would be crucified. And I'm not saying that D/W shouldn't go with their strength - I mean, why wouldn't they play to it?! This style works for them and they do it well! And I do think they have tried really hard to stretch to different styles these past three seasons. I think some V/M fans are just frustrated that D/W are 'allowed' to own their style, while for some reason V/M aren't.

Anyway, congrats to D/W on a great season and a job well done!

Yes, people do suggest they do other things, but I've never heard anyone say they should never do it again. And certainly their fans don't...the ones criticizing Davis/White for this.
*Sigh* They may not be Mahler, but they're all lovey-dovey, pretty much all of their FD's except Funny Face. It's not a stretch of character or mood. Which is fine, but it's the pot calling the kettle black.