UPDATED: OMFG . . . Adam Rippon, Tonya Harding and Mirai Nagasu are on the DWTS' all-athlete cast

[bardtoob]

Apparently Lloyd Eisler was a bit tiffed that Tonya didn't remember him. Apparently he saw her recently, said hi, and she couldn't remember who he was. His wife retweeted his twitter post. He seems stunned that someone he went to worlds, Olympics, and toured on coi with him couldn't place him. Maybe he looked different - she probably haven't seen him since 99 (did B/E compete at espn pros? I think Calla and Rocky were there, and was that the event K/N skated over the rink lights?

Maybe Tonya was just shocked that somebody from the skating world acknowledged her existence.

 

[cmk]

Tonya was not fat in 1994. She was even landing 3axels in practices at us nationals but didn't include it in the program. Tonya had the best 3lutz in the 94 Olympic free skate of all the ladies, and was the only female in the top 10 that actually landed the 3 flip , 3sal, and I would of counted the 3 loop ( it was marked as a 2 foot but it really wasn't), 2axel/half loop/2toe (meant to 3) sequence, pretty sure there was a solo 2axel at the end as well. I believe Tonya would of beaten Nancy at Nationals if both had competed. I'm not sure Nancy would of beat Michelle or Nicole. If I were judging, Nancy would of been behind Tonya, Michelle and Nicole (although I might of flipped the placements of those 2), and I would of given Zayak higher presentation marks ( but unfortunately with the 3 loop being her hardest jump, I can't do it on tech although I would love to .

She has slimmed down quite a bit recently to do the dancing show. She had a late in life baby, and her son is now 7. I am looking forward to dtws. If she wants to strike when the iron is hot and make a few bucks so her son doesn't have to struggle the way she did when she was growing up, let her.

 

[skateboy]

I would of counted the 3 loop

I believe Tonya would of beaten Nancy at Nationals if both had competed.

I'm not sure Nancy would of beat Michelle or Nicole.

Nancy would of been behind Tonya, Michelle and Nicole (although I might of flipped the placements of those 2), and I would of given Zayak higher presentation marks

Would have or would've (never "would of")... might have or might've (never "might of").

Forgive me.

 

[bardtoob]

Tonya was not fat in 1994.

That's not what Evy Scotvold was telling everyone.

 

[Japanfan]

there is a contest with Vick for the same reason Bobek kept coming up before: smoke and mirrors to throw people off track and make lame excuses for the evil deeds of one Tonya Maxine Harding because.. get this.. she’s not the only bad person in the world who did bad things so let’s just give her cash and celebrity because you know, it’s not like she shot Versace or something.

Sorry, I see no contest. And sorry again, because I don't see Tonya as a bad person. At worst, she was a very misguided and emotionally troubled young woman.

In any case, she's taken her punishment, which was a life sentence.

And as I keep saying, it's not her fault that she's being given cash and celebrity. Not her fault that someone wanted to make a movie about her. Not her fault that she's been invited to DWTS.

If you want to point your figure at people, point it at the producers of the movie and the producers of DWTS, who arguably aimed/aim to exploit Tonya Harding for their own fame and fortune.

I hope that DWTS does not go terribly wrong for Tonya in terms of bad publicity and unleashing a torrent of hate for her among the public. For the sake of her son.

It’s very clear. People can wax poetically about animal torture all they want, or drug dealing but it will always be apples and oranges.

I certainly was not 'waxing poetically' about animal torture. Rather the opposite. Animals have emotional lives and suffer and feel pain no less than humans do. So what Vick did to many animals is definitely apples to the oranges of what those involved did to Nancy.

Nancy was hurt in one assault and received medical care immediately. Vick's animals were repeatedly subjected to pain unless/until they died in the ring. They suffered and died without care or love - excepting those who were rescued (IIRC, some were rescued?).

 

[jenniferlyon]

That's not what Evy Scotvold was telling everyone.

I don't consider someone fat because a figure skating coach says so.

 

[Inessence]

Hmm. I read Liz Manley’s book awhile back (post Whack) and thought her and TH were friends. She even hugged her at the Pro event they both did in ‘99. Now I see she’s complaing on Twitter in a reply to DWTS’s announcement to cast Tonya. Wonder why the change of heart?

 

[LarrySK8]

And sorry again, because I don't see Tonya as a bad person. At worst, she was a very misguided and emotionally troubled young woman.

I've said it before and I will say it again. Tonya's troubles are not because she is a bad person or a person who was abused. Her troubles stem directly from being, among other things, a STUPID person. She also has poor impulse control, the inability to delay self-gratification, demonstrates procrastination and inconsistency in executing a plan and general immaturity.

In addition, she has a generally disagreeable countenance and demeanor. However, her issue is that she is a STUPID woman. It really is as simple as that. She was either dropped on her head as an infant or just born stupid. I actually pity her.

Her coach Diane is now famous for saying on camera, "Skating is Tonya's ticket out of the gutter." That is because education and her maybe getting out of the gutter by doing well in HS and getting into a decent college with scholarships and loans was never an option for her. The girl could skate but was otherwise too stupid to do anything else. This is also true as an adult. After the ban she did not appear to pursue anything except money-making schemes. There was never any word of her getting an education and maybe becoming, let's say, a bookkeeper or accountant or paralegal or vet assistant or anything. It is because she is stupid.

Simple.

 

[pinky166]

I’m excited to watch but am kind of surprised Adam and Mirai were deemed big enough names to go on. Team Olympic medal to the rescue! Not sure how the shortened format will work but I can see all 3 doing well

 

[berthesghost]

That's not what Evy Scotvold was telling everyone.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

 

[bardtoob]

That is because education and her maybe getting out of the gutter by doing well in HS and getting into a decent college with scholarships and loans was never an option for her.

Tonya was a female that would have graduated from high school in Milwaukie, Oregon in 1988. I would say, no, it was not a realistic option.

In 1988 students were still tracked towards or away from college, and the course content was shockingly different. Females where still expected to have kids earlier and earn less money on the job. The economy did not require a highly skilled vocationally trained or college educated workforce. Moreover, educational attainment by percentage was very stable when comparing 1980 to 1990, while those with a BA or higher grew remarkably when comparing 1990 to 2000 or 2009.

 

[bardtoob]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

He certainly did like saying every female he came in contact with that they were fat until his own scale said they lost a few pounds.

 

[cmk]

Evy and Mary didn't have room to call anyone fat. I remember there was a football player around that time that people were praising because he was starting to get in shape after dropping to 400 pounds, but Tonya at 105-115 was considered fat. Tonya was muscular, not fat. A lot of Evy's skaters developed eating disorders (maybe the usfsa should look into that). I know Ervin says hers started when with Carol Heiss Jenkins, but I suspect it got worse under Evy. Kirk had one, and even Kerrigan has admitted to having one.

No one (other than Midori) got the height Tonya did on her jumps. Tonya couldn't have done that if she was as "fat" as evy had claimed. Nicole also got good height but it was 50/50 on whether or not she would land them.

He certainly did like saying every female he came in contact with that they were fat until his own scale said they lost a few pounds.

 

[bardtoob]

Here is the GMA short "shaking it to the music" introduction of the current cast, including the three figure skaters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMyfAjDhijQ

 

[cmk]

Tonya was a female that would have graduated from high school in Milwaukie, Oregon in 1988. I would say, no, it was not a realistic option.

In 1988 students were still tracked towards or away from college, and the course content was shockingly different. Females where still expected to have kids earlier and earn less money on the job. The economy did not require a highly skilled vocationally trained or college educated workforce. Moreover, educational attainment by percentage was very stable when comparing 1980 to 1990, which those with a BA or high grew remarkably when comparing 1990 to 2000 or 2009.

Tonya did get her GED ( around 89/90). Her mom made her quit school to concencrate on skating. The high school Tonya went to didn't want to accommodate her skating schedule. Tonya also knew how to hunt, fish, and fix cars. Since she was female, the vocational choices she would of been best at (auto mechanics, machine shop, construction trades) she most likely would of been steered away from. She was more street-smart than book-smart.

 

[Erin]

I don't consider someone fat because a figure skating coach says so.

Exactly. Figure skating coaches have an extremely distorted view of what "fat" is and it would be good if the rest of the world didn't support that view.

 

[olympic]

Did Tonya get the last word? She has regained the spotlight from 'I, Tonya' which portrays her in a more flattering way and she gets a gig on DWTS. A final middle finger to the USFSA?

 

[Yazmeen]

What ticks me off is that the main headlines I'm seeing center on Tonya being in the cast. All these other great athletes who worked hard for their success and played by the rules are being overshadowed by Tonya, who blamed everyone but herself for her mistakes and lack of more success, and who committed a criminal act, and who now gets the lion's share of the attention. But this is America where we love nothing more than cheap and crappy celebrity, so what do I expect.

 

[VGThuy]

What ticks me off is that the main headlines I'm seeing center on Tonya being in the cast. All these other great athletes who worked hard for their success and played by the rules are being overshadowed by Tonya, who blamed everyone but herself for her mistakes and lack of more success, and who committed a criminal act, and who now gets the lion's share of the attention. But this is America where we love nothing more than cheap and crappy celebrity, so what do I expect.

Mirai and Tonya to me show different approaches can lead to different results. Both had cause to feel the USFS and/or society was stacked up against them in some way and that they would never be given a fair shot and that other skaters were preferred and had advantages beyond anybody's control...but the way they decided to fight through it could not have been more different.

 

[Inessence]

What ticks me off is that the main headlines I'm seeing center on Tonya being in the cast. All these other great athletes who worked hard for their success and played by the rules are being overshadowed by Tonya, who blamed everyone but herself for her mistakes and lack of more success, and who committed a criminal act, and who now gets the lion's share of the attention. But this is America where we love nothing more than cheap and crappy celebrity, so what do I expect.

I think Adam is getting quite a bit of attention too.

 

[Sylvia]

Some videos from media day yesterday:

Adam Rippon Jokes He's Trying to Steal Jenna Johnson From Val Chmerkovskiy on 'DWTS' (Entertainment Tonight): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn_8qlE0X3I

'Dancing With The Stars': Mirai Nagasu – 'I'm Really Determined Not To Get Eliminated The 1st Week!' (Access) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqhqVbUbUJw

DWTS's' Adam Rippon: 'I Wanted To Do Something That's Totally Different From Being On The Ice' (Access): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r2dRgPTVq4

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar On Who He Expects To Be His Biggest 'Dancing' Competition (Access): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig_VpVaz1LI

Johnny Damon On How His Daughters Inspired Him To Do 'Dancing With The Stars' (Access): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbaVrV_86EI

Mirai Nagasu Gunning for Adam Rippon on "DWTS" (E! Live from the Red Carpet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7Y-q3WVTZ0

Adam Rippon Predicts Toughest Competitor on "DWTS"? (E! Live from the Red Carpet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmaRg8nfJl4

Tonya Harding Dishes on Joining "DWTS: Athletes" (E! Live from the Red Carpet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yquuoqWwTA

Tonya Harding Joins Roster of Celebrities on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ (Inside Edition): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3aFXHgZHjA

ETA:

Meet the Cast (9 of the 10 athletes with pros): http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/video/meet-the-cast/VDKA4381298

The 9 ABC videos are edited together here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyYMCcvvt2w

 

[vireo]

Would have or would've (never "would of")... might have or might've (never "might of").

Forgive me.

Bless you! This is my pet peeve grammar error. It's ubiquitous and it drives me nuts.

 

[bardtoob]

A final middle finger to the USFSA?

usfsa is loving it. it doesn't matter if it makes them look bad. it's press on shows that have fans that will crossover to figure skating.

 

[UGG]

Mirai and Tonya to me show different approaches can lead to different results. Both had cause to feel the USFS and/or society was stacked up against them in some way and that they would never be given a fair shot and that other skaters were preferred and had advantages beyond anybody's control...but the way they decided to fight through it could not have been more different.

Tonya was physically and mentally abused her whole life, with the only support system being a bunch of people salivating over her as a meal ticket. The chances of having the ability to apply Mirai’s outlook was pretty slim to none. She has been defending herself since she was a child, it was probably just second nature to be an a-hole by the time she was 21. A Tonya/Mirai comparison is just strange- other than they both landed the 3 axel, there is nothing similar about their careers or lives.

 

[VGThuy]

Tonya was physically and mentally abused her whole life, with the only support system being a bunch of people salivating over her as a meal ticket. The chances of having the ability to apply Mirai’s outlook was pretty slim to none. She has been defending herself since she was a child, it was probably just second nature to be an a-hole by the time she was 21. A Tonya/Mirai comparison is just strange- other than they both landed the 3 axel, there is nothing similar about their careers or lives.

Yes, we all know that story. Tonya is the only person to have a bad life and nobody on this forum has had similar experiences or have been working with those who have had similar experiences to make any sort of comment on how Tonya’s life turned out except to express sympathy and shame those who dare criticize her. No comparison will ever make sense because Tonya’s whole life is so unique compared to everybody else’s in this country who has it so good.

 

[jlai]

I have learned long ago that some people will never apologize for things they have done wrong in their lives, even normal people.
But that doesn't mean they aren't living good normal lives now.

Yes, we all know that story. Tonya is the only person to have a bad life and nobody on this forum has had similar experiences or have been working with those who have had similar experiences to make any sort of comment on how Tonya’s life turned out except to express sympathy and shame those who dare criticize her. No comparison will ever make sense because Tonya’s whole life is so unique compared to everybody else’s in this country who has it so good.

That sounds bitter

 

[UGG]

Yes, we all know that story. Tonya is the only person to have a bad life and nobody on this forum has had similar experiences or have been working with those who have had similar experiences to make any sort of comment on how Tonya’s life turned out except to express sympathy and shame those who dare criticize her. No comparison will ever make sense because Tonya’s whole life is so unique compared to everybody else’s in this country who has it so good.

I am pretty sure all I said was comparing Tonya and Mirai was dumb because there is nothing similar about their careers or life but if you want to also includr people who have faced hardships like Tonya did as a child and use their stories to make Mirai a hero than..ok I guess?

 

[UGG]

I am pretty sure all I said was comparing Tonya and Mirai was dumb because there is nothing similar about their careers or life but if you want to also includr people who have faced hardships like Tonya did as a child and use their stories to make Mirai a hero..ok I guess?

 

[UGG]

.

 

[UGG]

My phone is really annoying