Johnny is facing one of the toughest decisions of his career,
with a deadline looming June 21: The date by which
he must tell USFS whether or not he wants
a Grand Prix assignment this fall.
According to Phil Hersh of the Chicago Tribune,
Johnny "has yet to make such a request."
Photo © David Ingogly.
Phil Hersh's interview with Johnny, in which they discuss the burning question of will-he-or-won't-he return to competing, came out yesterday. Johnny told Phil he was still unsure about a comeback.
Here are some of Johnny's thoughts from the article:
"I'm working very hard to not be a flash-in-the-pan celebrity. People know my name because I was in the Olympics. Now every project I do has to be at an Olympic level."
"I've been trying to find out what hoops the federation will want me to jump through [to come back]. I shouldn't be treated differently from anyone else. The question is whether I want to jump through the hoops."
(Editorial commentary: Sigh. This is at least the second time he's mentioned trying to find out exactly what USFS would want from him in order for him to return to competing; he also addressed the question in the Q and A on his website ["I’ve actually begun calling to see how all of this works in hopes of formulating a plan for my competitive return. I don’t know how it all works."] Why the f*ck doesn't USFS JUST TELL HIM how it works? As he says, he's not looking for special treatment--just answers, an explanation of the steps involved, of the requirements that must be met. Why is it not possible to get a simple, clear-cut response from the federation? USFS ought NOT to make this difficult in any way, IMO. They so NEED Johnny. He's the most popular figure skater ON. THE. PLANET. I can't help but notice that their sport kinda sucks a bit without him. Even Phil wrote, "The world of figure skating is a more joyous place with Johnny Weir on the scene."
So why is this hard? In the fantasy world where I like to live sometimes, they're emailing and calling HIM every day, leaving little love messages on his voicemail--"Hey Johnny! Just wanted to let you know that we've filled out all the paperwork for you! We're going to FedEx you a packet that contains everything you need plus answers to all your questions--just put your beautiful cursive signature on the forms and send 'em back in the prepaid envelope! Oh, and we included a little $500 Swarovski gift card, just, you know, just because. And one for Tara, too. We miss you! Say hi to your mom for us! Call us back when you get a chance!"--really, doing everything short of sexting him daily to make it clear that they love him, they miss him, they need him, they didn't mean all those things they said before, and they really really want another chance to work things out. Have I mentioned that I think they're idiots?
Also: How delicious would it be to watch USFS try to cope with the only openly gay figure skater on their roster, who's also their most loved, most well-known, most recent three-time champion, and their biggest draw? The thought of the squirming alone makes me deliriously happy.)
"I can see a place where I fit in well. My ace in the hole is that even if I am a little older, I didn't start skating until age 12, so my skating body isn't older than the other men."
[On whether or not he's inspired by Plushenko's comeback in 2010] "Evgeny is a very different person than me. He will fight like a dog for medals, which is also something I admired in Evan. I was more about performance than points. I'm more artist-athlete than athlete-artist."
"I would want to come back and make people cheer and cry. I missed my chance at a medal in 2006; that was my time to shine. Maybe if I came back without that pressure, I could just enjoy the journey."
In reading these quotes, I can't even begin to imagine how agonizing this decision must be for Johnny. So many variables to weigh; so many questions, and not enough info to go on at the moment. He knows all too well the tremendous sacrifice it would require to return; and he recognizes also the sacrifice it would be to walk away from Sochi.
There's so much at stake. So much that's gone before. And so much that's unknown.
And it breaks my heart that he thinks he missed his chance in 2006.
I wish I could fix it all for him. As does everyone who loves him. We all wish we knew what the answer was, and that it was easy, and obvious, and that it would all work out perfectly.
For many fans, the story always culminates in a gold medal for him in Sochi--even if he waits another season or two before returning. For others, the happy ending is a dazzling post-competitive career in which he reaches Lady Gaga-level global popularity, unencumbered by the pathetic and willfully clueless USFS, which is left stamping its foot like Rumplestiltskin and shrieking: "No! You can't wear sparkly onesies or be gay!" right before it splits in half and disappears in a puff of smoke.
Of course none of us knows what the future holds. For Johnny, or for ourselves.
But, to borrow a phrase from Oprah, there's one thing I know for sure--about the journey, the process, and the love that guides and supports us all:
Clarity, and peace, will come exactly when he most needs it.
And he will make the decision that's right for him, at the time that's right for him.
I also know one other thing for sure:
Whatever he decides, I'll just be over here cheering him on.
No matter what.
I would come back for the sheer joy
of competing and performing."
Photo (c) David Ingogly.
Photo (c) David Ingogly.
Please help Johnny meet his goal
of raising $10,000 for breast cancer research
by visiting his donor page!
(Same weekend as the Annually Awesome
Columbus Gay Pride Parade--win-win!)
UPDATE: Johnny will be performing
FOUR times at Skate for Hope!
He'll be in the Headliners' Opening and Closing numbers,
and also will skate two solos!
UPDATE: Johnny will be performing
FOUR times at Skate for Hope!
He'll be in the Headliners' Opening and Closing numbers,
and also will skate two solos!
At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!
Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!
"Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes.
Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold
takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!"
THE WORLD NEEDS THIS VIDEO
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.
You know what to do.
or just click the "Buy" button on the player
at the top of the blog!
Hey, Welcome to My World also is available
as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website!
6 comments:
"Whatever he decides, I'll just be over here cheering him on"
Me too!! ♥
My mother always says that you can't know what the future holds, all you can do is make the best decision you can with the information you have at the time. I just hope he knows that his fans will be overjoyed if he decides to compete again - and that we will still love and support him if he decides not to. "The world of figure skating is a more joyous place with Johnny Weir on the scene," and so is the world, period. Love you, Johnny!
I agree completely that I support and love Johnny what ever his choice is!
Being a fan of his skating since he was 16, part of me really wants him to compete. He has so much to offer the sport and I want to see what he creates in his SP and LP in the coming years. No one can bring to it what he can!
But I also want whats best for him, whats going to make him happy. So whether its skating in competition or skating in shows, I will always be there ready to watch and see what magic he has created.
I have said this before, but I truly feel that many years from now when people look back at skating, they will realize he is/was the best ever. Johnny Weir is the most naturally gifted and creatively expressive figure skater I have ever seen. I believe he can win in Sochi and win at Nationals this year! His basic skills are perfection and I could watch him do just that forever. Add those incredible jumps and spins and his performance takes me beyond this world!
He is my favorite athlete, favorite skater and favorite performer and I hope Johnny Weir rocks the world of figure skating for years to come, in whatever form works best for him.♥♥♥
Beth
(BSonTwit)
Misfit Mimes, one of your greatest blog pieces because it puts into words everything the backs of our minds are thinking. Multiple hat doffings to you.
Here, we have a sport that pits Bruce Jenner against Mikhail Baryshnikov. And here Misha does everything athletic as well as Bruce does but is penalized for being balletic. Where's the justice in that? (Suppressing the urge to hurl a verbal javelin at the judges.)
Johnny Weir is why I am a figure skating fan. And normally, I hardly engage in fanhood for any mere celebrity or any mere sport. (There has never ever been any celebrity poster on any of my walls, ever, by the way.)
In figures skating Johnny is like the Pied Piper of Hamlin. And of course the governing town burghers of Hamlin are clueless and unappreciative. I sure hope that it is not too late for a glimmer of insight to diffuse into their brains.
aw . . . i'm getting a little teary reading this. i can see how it's such a difficult decision.
yes, they should be courting him and sending him roses and B-bags and begging for another chance. asshats! they do realize that figure skating is gonna vanish into obscurity again without Johnny, right?
i wish i could tell Johnny that i'll be right here to support him, no matter what. whether it's buying dresses, sending flowers to events or competitions, or congratulating him on whatever new and delicious thing he does.
lots of hugs to the Princess while he's trying to figure out what he's gonna do.
xo
Robin
Some inspirational music to inspire the USFS to do the right thing for the sport of figure skating.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oni0tO_HN30&feature=related
This also would make an inspiring, though admittedly ironic, exhibition skating program.
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