Random Salute to Johnny Weir

So he's not the best male figure skater in the world. Heck, or even in America. But we'll get to that later.



No, that title is reserved for Brian Joubert, the sexy Frenchman who won the Worlds this year (see post below for shirtless action). Sure his footwork sucks and his spins are only slightly more original than Surya Bonaly's (the French aren't known for their artistry), but he has the quads. And in men's figure skating, a quad equals gold.

And with causal reasoning, we can assume that because Johnny failed to win one gold medal last season, he doesn't have a quad. Yes, that's right. No quad for Johnny.

Nearly four years ago he won his first of three U.S. titles with a breathtaking long program set to the music from Dr. Zhivago. The following year he debuted two wonderful programs, for his short he danced to Rondo Capriccioso and for his long - in my opinion one of the best long programs ever choreographed - Otonal by Raul de Baggio. Call me an unabashed Johnny fan, but that program make me go gaga. The beauty, the balletic technique, the jumping, the music and the costume. I could go on and on.

Once known as a rising talent during the 2003-04 and 2005-06 season that could threaten Plushenko's supremacy, he is known more for being the American version of the overly-flamboyant, overly-weird, overly-inconsistent and overly-talented Emanuel Sandhu.

Johnny knows he has what it takes to be a World champion. He has gorgeous spins, beautiful ride out and rotation in his jumps, incredible footwork and gorgeous body line. He even has the quad somewhere. He just needs to put it together, because there are so many countless fans who want to see him reach the top.

Why is it the most "talented" skaters are always the ones who under-perform? Is it a fear of success? Is it the burden of premature expectations?

I don't think its any of that for Johnny.

I think he realizes after the 05-06 and 06-07 seasons what he needs to do. He is graceful, balletic, free on the ice. He doesn't need to fake anything, all he needs to do is be himself.



So this is a salute to Johnny Weir, the most talented figure skater in the world. Get that quad nailed. Be balletic. Dress up in voidy Swan outfits and pretend you're Oksana Baiul. Send Dick Button into cardiac arrest with your quality of edges! Show Evan "I hate glitter and rhinestones" Lysacek that real men can land quads AND wear see-through black shirts!