Gay ex-figure skater attacks current national champion for ?????

[idgiehkt]

This happened a couple days ago and it is confusing but it looks like a self-loathing gay man attacking another presumably closeted gay man, on a skating special hosted by Nancy Kerrigan.

Here is an article with the link to Lund's comments, takes Lund's comments apart piece by piece, his comments are on video at that site about midway through:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/11/130124.php

Outsports article in response to Lund's comments:

Homophobia on Ice
http://outsports.com/news/20070111weir.htm


This is an interesting controvery. Lund seems to be saying that Weir is simultaneously too feminine and not out enough. And should not be skating a figure skating routine about the life of Jesus Christ. The skater whom he praises for being more masculine, Evan Lysacek, is also skating a routine about the life of Jesus Christ. Strange, strange days.

[idgiehkt]

1. Lund responds to outcry over his comments

http://www.towleroad.com/2007/01/skater_mark_lun.html

a snippet:
"My credentials in the sport and art of figure skating are well known, as is my orientation as an out gay man. I stand by my statement "overly out without being out" 100%. I say to Mr. Weir, "You enjoy being outspoken and a free spirit. You have said frequently that you have been brought up to speak your mind. However, you refuse to support the very community that paved the way for you." I say to all those that believe my comments about Mr. Weir were homophobic to take a step back and realize the beliefs you are actually expressing. Mr. Weir is an individual who enjoys all the rights of the gay community without coming out to support the gay community. Now who is the hypocrite here? Most certainly not me."

[Bjornsdotter]

3. I cry bullshit

This Lund guy didn't make the cut...jealousy, pure and simple.

Cheers

[Bjornsdotter]

2. My kids skated for years

....I've made the costumes, I've been involved in high level competitions and it is a very catty sport.

Off hand I would say it's a matter of sour grapes....either the commentator is a frustrated skater who couldn't pull off the jumps or he made a pass at Weir and was turned down. It appears to be a personal grudge of some sort. They are all over the skating world....which is a very, very small world.

Cheers

[hippiechick]

4. Lund sounds jealous, IMO ...

... personally, professionally - or both.

[Bolo Boffin]

5. Lund comes off like a bitter, envious, rejected suitor.

I haven't seen the kid skate, but from the descriptions at your link, it sounds like he's spectacular. Lund needs to get over himself.

[idgiehkt]

9. He is spectacular. Allow Me:

these are his programs from last year.
short
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A29VRU-5Gq0
long
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdlNwQtYgt4&mode=related&search=

[regnaD kciN]

6. I know nothing about this whole story except what's been posted here...

Lund seems to be saying that Weir is simultaneously too feminine and not out enough. And should not be skating a figure skating routine about the life of Jesus Christ. The skater whom he praises for being more masculine, Evan Lysacek, is also skating a routine about the life of Jesus Christ.

...but admit that I'm amused by the concept of 'The Passion of the Christ' on Ice. :evilgrin:

[wildflowergardener]

7. Johnny Weir's skating

Johnny Weir is one of the few skaters who does a wonderful job of interpreting music, and has the technical skills as well. I attended US Nationals here in St. Louis last year and he is exciting to watch.

Who cares how masculine he looks. I'd take a non masculine skater who is so good at interpreting the music so well and is a great skater, over a masculine non expressive skater any day. I think that many of the rules are still old fasioned in figure skating. I think they only just recently changed the rules that woman could wear pants in competition, for example.

I like Evan Lysacek as well - but not because I don't like Johnny Weir and not because one acts more masculine or not.

(oh and doesn't he dislike george bush as well (Johnny Weir) another reason to like him.

Meg

[Berry Cool]

8. Mark Lund is such a jerk. Legend in his own mind.

No one would be paying any attention to him (he had no career of any note in competitive skating) if he hadn't begun a skating magazine in which most of the pictures are shots of him hobnobbing with skaters at various parties.

Johnny Weir is no more obligated to come out of the closet for the gay community than anyone else is who isn't ready. Nothing has been said about him that wasn't said about Rudy Galindo years ago, and he too was outed against his will. What it comes down to is, nobody is obligated to be anybody else's poster boy to make them feel better about themselves.

Oh, and I add: I am so sick of all this garbage about who skates with a "masculine" style and who doesn't. Who gives a crap? I'd rather see someone who can skate with feeling and expression to the music than some stiff robot who makes everyone think he's "macho." That was the problem for most of Elvis Stojko's career. It was always about how UN-feminine he was. Heaven forbid anyone should think he was sensitive or expressive! That was girlie-man stuff!

[idgiehkt]

10. Yes, he's pretty outspoken about his dislike for Bush

here is a recent Q&A from his website:
http://www.figureskatersonline.com/johnnyweir/interact.html
from Hannah (from St. Louis or Farmington)

Q: Johnny, I feel sorry for you. Your pride is going to be your downfall. I don't write to attack you but, your attitude will bring you low. For one thing, don't you think it is going a bit to far to put the president with Hitler and of all things, the Radical Muslems? (Who killed so many innocent Americans.) I guess you think we shouldn't fight to protect our country? If we hadn't attacked Iraq it would have been and was a safe haven for terrists. Also, here's a penny for your thoughts, If you cause just one of these little ones to stumble it is better that a millstone were tied around your neck and you were cast in the depth of the sea. (God's own words) You should consider it an honour to have all these kids looking up to you. Johnny, turn to God, he is the answer to your problems, to your life. John 3:16 Praying for you, don't forget that!

A: Bush, Hitler, radical Muslims and so on have all killed for their own agenda. Hitler thought it was good for Germany, Europe and the World to have no Jews, the Taliban thinks it's best to kill America because we are sinful, George Bush waged war on an area that not everyone is a terrorist and killed many Americans, Afghanis, Iraqis and so on in the process. It is foolish to say our president is exempt from being classified as a historical murderer. You can't categorize death, and what was reasonable, unreasonable, unjust, eye for an eye, hate crime etc. They're all death. I didn't go too far with what I said. I am honored that people look up to me. But to look up to anyone is to accept them for who they are. The Bible verse didn't take, I'm sorry to disappoint

[idgiehkt]

11. I think so too.

He and Emanuel Sandhu are mesmerizing to me, but Weir has a slightly more balletic style, which is odd since Sandhu started ballet at the age of 3.

There is really no one whose skating affects me like Weir's except for John Curry, who hasn't been matched even 30 years later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adU5dmsSEVg&mode=related&search=