The Skating Lesson

[chantilly]

Alas, so many people have played sports in their lifetime. I guess they were all strung along, including myself. The same with the performing arts.

Wait, didn't David state he was in show choir in high school, yet no recording contract, and posted less than Olympic hopeful skating from himself on YouTube?

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

Yes agreed! The amount of money and time and blood, sweat and tears I’ve invested into theatre and film!
It’s only until recently I’ve earned a partial living through all the years I’ve invested.
But I did it and continue to do it(currently rehearsing an amateur musical)because I love it.

His “apology “ was to save face and try to detract from his egregious comments.

I’m not saying he doesn’t have some point about abuse of skaters and parents by coaches who want their kids to be stars, but I really doubt that was his motivation to speak up, and even if it was, the language he used and the timing of his comments were classless at best.
DL while not without some merit of his contributions to skating discussion has always been gleefully catty and arrogant.
I certainly won’t miss him and hope he stays in the shadows for a while.

 

[kwanfan1818]

When you throw as much shade as Lease does, the schadenfreude at your downfall is inevitable.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Lease and TSL's presence on social media remind me of a quote a friend recently posted to their Facebook feed.

Such as such is okay once you get to know them.

Translation: He's a d***head, but you'll get used to it.

 

[caseyedwards]

I just remembered a tasteless joke he did

“Kurt browning house burned down. No Olympic medals were harmed”

 

[olympic]

DL's apology is a non-apology: 'I am sorry that you feel that way' is essentially what he is saying. The guy doesn't have a lot of character.

On a different note: I've recently been put off by his comments on C/B; she has been ill at certain big comps lately and according to him, that is going to be their downfall at Milan. WTF? i admire C/B a lot, but I'm not quite an uber, so his words are not triggering, just kind of off-base

 

[Empath_doodle]

Dave Apologized. I accept.

 

[Empath_doodle]

Dave Apologized. I accept.

Where do you stand? Not accept? @VGThuy

 

[Jarrett]

Where do you stand? Not accept?

I don’t feel like it is our apology to accept. Was your family on the plane?

 

[Empath_doodle]

I don’t feel like it is our apology to accept. Was your family on the plane?

Huh?

 

[Quintuple]

I feel compelled to comment here for some reason.

I am an atrocity tourist, a watcher of cringe. I can't help myself. Awful, unethical, low-intelligence items. They remain awful, not amusing, I am careful not to give them more of a platform by watching. The most I'll share is amongst friends in an "Isn't this awful?" spirit.

It seems DL can't help himself. I've been watching TSL on and off for years, read the Aunt Joyce blog, etc. The most benevolent thought I'll give to all this material is: It's a shame that some of the direct access to skaters couldn't have resulted in even more insightful, in-depth interviews; given the small-medium platform that TSL did have. There absolutely was a feeling approaching the scratching of an itch -- we had glimpses of looks in to things superfans have always been curious about. But never quite there.

But about not being able to help himself: I'll actually sit there and watch the very long This and That episodes through all the narcissistic, low-brow, low-value interruptions; and lately the co-host commentary that go down to the same level. I've always been infuriated by the lack of anything really material being said and the constant "mm hmm, side eye, IYKYK, (draw your own conclusion about the judgy thing I'm saying with my eyes)" crap, and all the unsaid references to juicy gossip. It's been purely awful and DL makes me very mad.

But because DL is somehow in a professional marketing position, has shown he can actually prepare interesting questions and conduct an interview that really goes in depth, and can really research (at least amongst online they-said they-said basis) -- this is why I think it's clear he can't help himself but spout off-the-cuff, uncontrolled, harmful crap. You can see him twitching, twitching, getting ready to interrupt his co-hosts with pure time-wasting negative nothingness.

On the one hand, the sport deserves better. But, it was a small-ish platform anyway. Despite my own drive-by rubber-necking, yes I think the platform should go away. There are actually some good efforts out there to scratch that itch -- they just need to be socialized more.

I also find this thread fascinating because, no, I don't believe DL made a poignant statement about predatory expensive camps, false hopes, and fundraising. I do think he just spouted nonsense about how early development athletes are somehow supposed to be psychic about plane crashes and make a calculated risk about getting on a flight to a camp and whether their potential is worth that risk. That's an obviously impossible, nonsensical statement, and he's insipid for saying it.

And I do blame the co-hosts and guests for feeding in to it. Jonathan and Neil and Jennifer debase themselves to match the level of b*tchery and probably feel icky afterwards. Megan D and Alissa C should know better.

Here's something telling about the tenuous relationship of "credible threat" or "fly in the ointment" re: USFS and the media: Recall that both Christine Brennan and Phil Hersh support DL's platform. Come on, they're very seasoned journalists. They know about the ethics of journalism, and technically, so does DL. And yet when you read their past work, they too have written uninformed, simplistic, judgemental pieces as well. But because they have quite the journalistic pedigrees, work for papers, and have credentials, that connection gives voice and force to DL. They eat it up, they tolerate it, and that's what makes USFS's treatment of DL careful. (I say this all rather obliquely -- but what I mean is that I witnessed this dynamic happening first hand at a US Nationals. A talk between CB, PH, an NBC commentator we all know, all in USFS space with them listening.)

I feel icky and need to go scrub now.

 

[On My Own]

What evidence exists that Meagan Duhamel would know better? This has to be the strangest notion to me, that people went, on purpose, to DL, and yet we still need to say they would or should know better. Or that they can't possibly have ever watched his material before, or there was 'no other source', or something else.

Many people went to DL. And whether people here like my saying it or not, many of those have made bitchy comments of their own, against skaters from other countries. Many have done so even independently of DL, and that includes fan behaviour. The kind that from someone like TAT would be remembered till your dying day. Yet, somehow, 'they should know better'. Because of course they should, even though clearly, they don't.

 

[Quintuple]

What evidence exists that Meagan Duhamel would know better? This has to be the strangest notion to me, that people went, on purpose, to DL, and yet we still need to say they would or should know better. Or that they can't possibly have ever watched his material before, or there was 'no other source', or something else.

Many people went to DL. And whether people here like my saying it or not, many of those have made bitchy comments of their own, against skaters from other countries. Many have done so even independently of DL, and that includes fan behaviour. The kind that from someone like TAT would be remembered till your dying day. Yet, somehow, 'they should know better'. Because of course they should, even though clearly, they don't.

I think this is just a difference in use of language. I didn't say they do know better and decided to go against their better instincts (though that may be questionable about many actions people take). I said they should know better, because they are seasoned, international, media-trained skaters who are now professional coaches; and they should know not to participate in, contribute to, and amplify an amateur outlet that pretty much attacks other skaters.

 

[On My Own]

I think this is just a difference in use of language. I didn't say they do know better and decided to go against their better instincts (though that may be questionable about many actions people take). I said they should know better, because they are seasoned, international, media-trained skaters who are now professional coaches; and they should know not to participate in, contribute to, and amplify an amateur outlet that pretty much attacks other skaters.

OK, then fair enough.

 

[TDsk8]

I really thought he was passed those type of talk. And was forgiven....

Plus, after he stepped on the ice, did his first exhibition, and competitive skate - it humbled and brought the realization what it takes to be out there.

Our choice of words, the lasting effects in the present and one's future - and in this case, their name and legacy.

 

[tylersf]

Statement from Dave Lease this morning:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1898025980238696495

I accept the apology.
If he continues, he needs to be more professional.
I did enjoy the "tea" though.