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Go Johnny, Go!
So I was incredibly bored on Friday and decided to check out the new Johnny Weir series from Sundance, mostly because I knew the Olympics were coming up and I figured this might get me a little bit excited about it.

Prior to this, I didn't really know (or care) much about Weir, or about men's figure skating (or figure skating in general) in recent years. I blame Sam, because he and I spent most of our time during the 2006 Olympics watching curling, and I really have no memory at all of watching any skating at all during those Olympics - just curling, speedskating, and maybe some skiing. So what I knew about Weir before this weekend was that he said a lot of outrageous things and was a sort of "flamboyant" (the media's favorite euphemism for gay!) rebel in the figure skating world - but honestly I really didn't care to know more, because he didn't sound very appealing to me as a person and (as you probably know, due to the press firestorm when he failed) he didn't end up medalling in 2006, so I assumed he was one of those flash-in-the-pan types you hear about during the Olympics and never again afterward.

But by about 10-15 minutes into the first episode of the series (which is actually a documentary film in its own right, Pop Star on Ice), I found myself fascinated - I found him surprisingly (to me, knowing nothing about him) intelligent and analytical in his commentary; nothing like what I'd imagined when I heard about some of his comments in the past. (The impression I now have of these comments is that they were mostly him playing with the press - it seems like a lot of his jokes go over their heads.) And as I kept watching, I grew even more impressed with his style of skating (which of course is criticized for being "feminine" - but I think it's graceful and beautiful, unlike much of men's figure skating these days, which seems to be completely focused on the jumping to the detriment of all other elements), his wit and intelligence, his hard work, and his (sometimes) dedication. Of course, as you'll realize if you watch the film/series, his dedication is one of his biggest demons - despite frequently asserting that his goals are Olympic and world medals, you see him screwing himself over multiple times because he can't quite commit himself fully/consistently. Sometimes it's conscious - he voices questions about continuing with his skating several times in the film and series - and sometimes it is unconscious - like refusing to have a serious meeting with his coach after a rather disastrous skate (watching this part made me SO FRUSTRATED! But I think I'd probably be the same way… and I haven't been training for 8-10 years at an elite level in a sport like he has).


(Trailer for the documentary which constitutes the first episode of the series, complete with an overly-earnest rap song about Johnny Weir which makes me giggle.)

So I devoured what has aired, thus far, of the series, and then I went hunting for everything I could find of his on youtube and the interwebs, and spent the weekend basically catching up on his entire career. And so now I am really excited to watch him skate in Vancouver. He had a fantastic short program at Nationals this year (followed by a mediocre long program - but so was Lysacek's, and I really like Jeremy Abbott, so I'm glad he had two great performances even if it means he beat Weir), so I'm hoping this means things will go well at the Olympics - but I can't help but feel, despite the fact that I'm rooting for him, that I'm about 2-3 years too late jumping onto the Weir bandwagon. He was truly fantastic for about 3.5 years starting in 2004, but he's been up and (pretty far) down since then, and (as he often points out) he's getting old for his sport. When people talk about medal contenders in these Olympics, he's never really mentioned - even he himself doesn't consider himself a contender for the gold (though I'm sure he's hoping he'll make the podium, at least). This is a huge difference from Torino, when "all of America's hopes were riding on him." In one sense, perhaps it's good that they aren't relying on him this year - less pressure on him, plus he's got more experience... who knows?! But on the other hand, there is a reason he's not America's "great white hope" this year.

Anyway, I really wish I'd started following him sooner - I'd have been disappointed with some of his performances these past couple of years, but I'd still have been able to see more of him - I suspect we're nearing the end of his amateur career now, and I've basically missed all of it (and youtube really doesn't compare - for instance, there is absolutely no footage - outside of montages/etc. - that I can find of his programs at 2008 Worlds - even though that's the year he medalled! You can see his practice skates, and the awards ceremony, but no actual performances... it is very frustrating).

So, in short, I've become a big Johnny Weir fan basically overnight. And I think Lysacek looks incredibly ridiculous/awkward on ice (perhaps this is unconscious bias, due to the fact that I'm loving Weir so much and Weir doesn't love Lysacek - or perhaps it's because he's 6'2" and he moves like a lanky white teenage boy trying to dance. Also, while I'm being shallow and critical, his face and general overly-tan/slicked-back/slimy demeanor annoy me… though not as much as Michael Weiss's similar-but-worse appearance does, from what I've seen.) and so I totally buy into the rivalry and don't want Lysacek to beat Johnny at the Olympics, even if they've supposedly "buried the hatchet." And if Weir can't medal in Vancouver, I'm also rooting for Patrick Chan, Jeremy Abbott (<-- both of these guys are extremely, boyishly adorable), and Stéphane Lambiel, so I'd be happy with any of them on the podium (… basically I'm not a big fan of Lysacek, Plushenko, or Joubert, and I'm not really knowledgeable about many of the other competitors).

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I'm sure you've all seen Johnny Weir skating to Poker Face, since it took the internet by storm a few weeks back, but the version that has been circulating is really crappy as far as video quality goes, and it's really not his best performance of that routine. I think his best version to date is during the exhibition after 2010 Nationals (but another good one was at Festa on Ice earlier in 2009), and it's certainly the best image quality out there:



I think these two videos provide a fairly good overview of his career/media coverage up through the end of the 2006 season (with some fawning thrown in, because it's a fan-video):

Part 1


and Part 2


He didn't do so well in 2007 (lost Nationals, after a 3-year reign, and cried after his skate, which was kind of heartbreaking), but staged a brief comeback in 2008 (before crashing back down again in 2009). Here are his performances in Nationals, where he tied for 1st in points but was awarded 2nd because Lysacek won the long program:

Short Program


Free Skate

… and like I said, I can't find his skates from 2008 Worlds, but he took the bronze there - his first (and only) medal in Worlds.

And here are the promos, of which I'm not really a fan, for his reality series currently airing on Sundance:


This one's not *that* bad, I guess…

… but this one, while very glam, seems pretty misleading to me:



This post brought to you by the letter R and the person Zoe...
Comment and I'll assign you a letter; list ten people/places/things you love that begin with your letter. Afterward, post this in your journal and assign letters to those who do the same!

Rogues
Whether playing Dungeons & Dragons, World of Warcraft, or any other such game, the rogue has been my class of choice for many years. Stealth, secrecy, precision, independence, and perhaps a disdain for many rules of society; these are characteristics I share with the rogue class.

"Rearviewmirror" by Pearl Jam
"Rearviewmirror" is my favorite Pearl Jam track, and when they play it live they always bring such an energy to it that I am compelled to rock the fuck out. Watch the video to see for yourself!

"Regret" by New Order
I can't really explain why I love this song... I know my own reasons why, but putting them into words is proving impossible for me now.

"Rosetta Stoned" by Tool
This is my favorite track on 10,000 Days, as well as one of my favorite tracks by Tool, period. It has some of the most insane rhythmic changes I have ever heard in a song and is an amazing example of what truly talented musicians can accomplish relative to so much of the shit that permeates our air waves these days.

"Running Down the Way Up" by BT
This is one of my favorite driving songs from a time when I was still young and just getting into electronic music.

Revolutionary Girl Utena
One of the prettier shoujo series I have seen that departs from typical romance themes to explore the trials of growing up, the courage necessary to remain true to oneself, and how entry into adulthood often compromises our childhood fantasies, and consequently our identities.

Rounders
The immense popularity of Texas Hold'em over the last 10+ years, one could argue, is owed to this film. It's a film you have likely seen before, but the cast is so outstanding and the dialogue so excellent that such doesn't matter -- you see this movie and you want to play poker, the way seeing Top Gun makes you want to fly fighter jets and talk shit to other naked guys in a locker room.

Rushmore
Wes Anderson's sophomore film, and his best in my opinion, is quite possibly the one that launched that whole quirky, pseudo-indie genre we've got now. It's got a cast that shines (Bill Murray won the Golden Globe for his supporting role here), with a narrative depth and subtlety to balance the clever antics of the film's young protagonist Max Fischer.

Rez
This game has a vibrator, and you shouldn't even bother playing without it.

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
The best Castlevania game ever, in my humble and correct opinion. = P