Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Cute Ice Princess Blog Looks at the Finnstep

It's just camera angles. From another camera
angle her left blade is actually OFF the ice.
Were it not for Meryl Davis fans, I would never
understand the importance of camera angles. From this angle,
it appears that the skater is on the ice. From that angle,
it looks like the skater is in the Kiss'n'Cry.

Thanks very much again to cuteiceprincess tumblr and to Lady B. And once again, Meryl Davis fans are invited to explain how Lady B has it all wrong.

Finnstep: DW's skating doesn't match their protocols

Okay, here we go. Let's remember that Lynn Rutherford justified VM's Finnstep levels in the Olympics by pointing out that VM had failed to get their levels in the past. That's it then. She's a figure skating "journalist", after all. Like every single mainstream figure skating journalist in existence*, her deal is, "I'm a figure skating journalist, but I'm not a technical specialist" which means "I write about figure skating but don't actually know what I'm talking about when it comes to what went on out there. I trust the judges when they produce results I support, and so should you even if you don't like the results. Should any observer deviate from the agreed upon official narrative (such as the inventor of the Finnstep disagreeing about how the Finnstep was scored), just disparage his credentials." This stuff about you need to be a technical specialist to write about the technical side (which is the damn win and lose side!) is hammered home to us fans, who are nevertheless supposed to invest ourselves in this "sport." Then there are the times a journalist gets worked up about an outcome, but, not having educated him/herself in the twenty years they've spent writing about the damn thing, makes a half-baked hash of it when attempting to challenge dubious results (looking at you, Steve Milton).

It's notable that people like Lynn Rutherford are interested enough in figure skating to work for publications dedicated to it, which means they write, tweet, attend competitions, etc., but they never manage to get interested enough to actually be able to tell what's going on for themselves. They like to tell us it's impossible to tell for yourself unless you're some sort of "specialist." Figure skating journalists have been using that one for years. Those who presumably do know technique, such as P.J. Kwong, don't talk about it when they discuss figure skating with fans and pretend to know nothing about it when a team like Davis White hijacks the Olympics from the rightful winners.

Yet mere fans, who have not spent years writing about skating, or rubbing elbows, are able to read and understand the rulebook, and evaluate a skater(s) performance vis a vis what's in the rulebook. Turns out this sport is observable. Turns out, the rules are comprehensible and applicable to real stuff. We can familiarize ourselves with the rules in whatever language we speak, and then see if the skating and the scores make sense per the rules.

The likes of Rutherford, and those in the comment booth pretend this is impossible to do. Per them, the only way to evaluate the legitimacy of a protocol is to see if the skater has been given similar protocols before. Cuteiceprincess tumblr, along with quite a few other fans (who are, of course, ignored because then the propoganda jig is up) disagrees. You can actually evaluate a protocol's legitimacy by looking at the skating. What a concept.

Here's Lady B:
The next image makes you see two keypoints that are needed to assign the level 4 to the first sequence of finnstep. To Tessa and Scott was awarded Level 3 and a Level 4 for Meryl and Charlie. Let us see for a moment

FIRST KEYPOINT: the woman must do twizzle and a half, and end on a right foot with an “outside back” edge.This edge must be CLEAR. And the foot with which he comes have to be ONE. We see clearly how Tessa comes with only one foot (the left is oriented forward as it should be to give the draw back on the right foot instead is on the outer edge) and a clear outer edge.
Meryl instead not only arrives on TWO FEET but even over a non-defined, completely flat (as is also visible in the gif).

Again, the gif.


This keypoint has been given the right to both Tessa and Meryl.

SECOND KEYPOINT: After another twizzle and half, the woman has to come with a light foot, right, forward, on a CLEARLY outside edge.
Now, let’s see how Meryl and Tessa are clearly arrived with a flat edge and not defined (not by chance that keypoint is the most difficult to reach). The blade is straight and there is a clear tilt in either of both Tessa and Meryl.

NEVERTHELESS, to Tessa is not given the keypoint, while Meryl yes.
Conclusion: Tessa, a keypoint only earned a level 3.
Meryl two keypoints not deserved, level 4.

What’s the story?
How is it that Tessa and Scott are counted at infinitesimal and Meryl and Charlie is not it?

I would like to remind you that the judges have MEGA replay of what happens during the keypoints and the keypoints that are fundamental to assign levels.

This thing happens all too often in the steps sequences, where Meryl and Charlie seem to automatically level 4 even if their blades are miles away, while Tessa and Scott struggling to get a level 3.
In any case, this is another chapter.

As usual, it seems to me that is rewarded the performance and not the difficulty and true technique. All the more reason why the Tessa and Scott shall be made a higher standard and will have to have everything perfect (all executed perfectly) to win, unfortunately.

As it turns out even when Virtue and Moir are not only better than Davis White, but as near to perfect as ice dancers can get, they're simply not allowed to win. We were all sold a bill of goods about the "storyline" of rival ice dance teams. There was no rivalry. VM were cast as foils meant to legitimize Davis White. Davis White are beating Virtue Moir! Ergo Davis White must be terrific! That's it. Virtue Moir spent the past quad propping up Davis White so Davis and White could appropriate what they did on the ice and pretend to best it. Virtue Moir were only fodder.

P.S. - Re-reading this analysis and looking at the screen caps, Meryl missed both key points in this performance, yet Davis and White got L4.

ETA: Figure skating is consciously, aggressively, perpetuating fraud not just on the ice but off the ice. It's connected. Both are tied to the current culture in the sport, with an accompanying condescension and sanctimony. Davis White are so deserving and it's disrespectful to question the outcome in Sochi. And hey, did we mention Virtue and Moir are GREAT people?

_____________________________
*As ever, excepting those figure skating journalists who write on their own web pages, or for skating-centric websites, but who do not influence how figure skating is discussed in mainstream media, on twitter, or in the comment booth.

260 comments:

  1. (I actually like most US ice dancers except D/W) but Its pretty sad that the USFA bribes commentators and sports journalist's just to make it look like D/W are ice dance legends. Now that is just absolutely delusional. When the US junior level ice dancers do a better finnstep pattern then D/W its a clear sign their far from being legends.

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    1. But the commentators and others all over the internet, SAID Davis/White were the bestest most wonderful skaters in the world - therefore it's true! Doesn't that make it true!!

      Everyone, from their coach Marina gushing over Meryl's perfection as a *true ballerina* (whether she really believes it doesn't matter - she's the coach, she said it, it must be true), to the mouthpiece of the USFSA, Icenetwork, all the "skating journalists" and even SC. Not a single voice anywhere questioned a single thing.

      But they were all on board scrutinizing everything VM did and willing to declare they simply were not as good as they once were. Look how their rivals didn't just catch up but *surpassed* them.

      The lies and behind-the-scenes shenanigans from the ISU and all complicit federations in order to deliver the gold medal to DW are breathtaking in their scope. I know I've seen the same thought expressed many times already on this blog. I can't help repeating it right now because it's so true. These posts from Lady B's analyses only confirm this.

      The only voices trying to expose the truth came from fans and of course, fans are stupid so why pay attention to them. At the very end there I thought the L'Equipe article from France and Beverly Smith might get the tide to turn but they weren't able to follow through. I'd love to know what the backstories are there - why did they fizzle?

      I think this level of corruption rises to the level of criminal activity. If only the ISU were accountable to *anyone.*

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    2. @anon 1:37 Exactly. If the " ice dance experts" (aka , TSL, skate canada, USFA, Marina, etc.) say D/W are better then V/M then they must be even if they give vague proof people will believe it and it just turns into one big circle jerk. Its like parents and relatives telling a kid santa is real and the kid believing them since he/she believes the parents because most young kids view their parents and relatives as knowledgeable, honest people which is exactly how figure skating fans view the people and figure analyzing skating sites i mentioned above.

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    3. I think it's pretty ridiculous to lump a coach (Zoueva) in with a blog like TSL. Come on, now. Zoueva *is* an ice dance expert. Skate Canada and the USFA are federations comprised of some ice dance experts and some people who are not all that knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the sport. A little context goes a long way in these kinds of conversations.

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    4. @anon3:05 I personally think marina is an expert but a very biased one so its hard for me to take her seriously I'm sorry if I have offended you anon.

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    5. It has nothing to do with taking personal offense. The point made was, Zoueva is an ice dance expert while the TSL guys are not. I don't think it's accurate to lump them all into the same group.

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    6. When it comes to the "technical specialist" stuff, how come there are no technical specialists in the comment booth? How come if there IS someone in the comment booth who presumably knows technique and the rulebook and how they're meant to match, they never explain that, and instead disseminate a mash-up of real stuff and bullshit?

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    7. It's amazing that nobody broke ranks when it came to the outcome in Sochi and the overscoring of Davis and White that's gone in since prior to the last Olympics. Everybody speaks as a chorus, including Skate Canada. This is a sport where the evidence is in front of our face, but nobody inside the sport, and nobody commenting on the sport admits what's right in front of our face, even those with no stake in the game, although of course "fear" might be a stake, since Davis and White's trajectory was orchestrated by the ISU. Yes some fans believe that an environment that perpetuates this would happily expose Virtue and Moir.

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  2. Thank you oycanada ;) I'm glad that these posts are useful :)) And most important, that more people can see what is the truth about these two teams.

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  3. Very helpful indeed.~ I hope oycanada posts more of these.

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    1. There's a bunch more to come. It's infuriating but I think it's important to keep putting it out there. Not just the truth about the two teams, but the truth about the corruption in figure skating, and the truth about what happened in Sochi, and the seasons leading up to Sochi - the truth that a real comparison of these two teams exposes. The reality side of it just has to keep pushing back.

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    2. Thank you for making this blog, by the way I just discovered it today and i'm shocked about what the ISU has gotten away with at sochi especially how D/W got the gold and yuna kim being robbed. The articles and comparisons you do are very helpful and offer great insight on whats really going on in the skating world. ignore to those crazy people who stan D/W to the moon because they offer little proof of why D/W are so great.

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  4. Its sad that figure skating is so corrupt and dirty but every figure skating federation is guilty of manipulation and bribery through the judges or sponsors USA,Russia,Canada,Japan,South korea,Italy etc. all these and many more are guilty of it. But yes you are right about sochi gold should have gone to VM not DW.

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    1. Can someone explain to me how Russia and canada always get hated on for manipulating skating events held in their own country but no one says a peep about Japan and the Usa doing the exact same thing, like wtf?

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    2. Are you only going on goldenshit and youtube? if so i suggest you get off those sites for skating discussions because its bash central for russian and canadian skaters.

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    3. We are only allowed to acknowledge corruption when people pretend Russia has hijacked a result. The irony is that in the most famous case, Russia, accused of stealing the pairs competition from Sale & Pelletier, actually got screwed over and railroaded, because Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze were by any reasonable standard the rightful winners. Russia has been assigned the role of scary "Other" in figure skating marketing. Putin aside (I don't mean that to be glib) that could be another reason why figure skating's popularity is moribound. Its public relations are stuck in the cold-war era.

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  5. & I thought the cass/jess beach pics were awkward...
    http://cs614626.vk.me/v614626178/124c9/ryD__v1C9Xw.jpg

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  6. VM are in the news again after a short absence and what is something WE KNEW would happen almost immediately? Sham photos/reports.
    Well, there you go

    Ain't the timing SUCH a coincidence!! Imagine. Kaitlyn Lawes JUST NOW remembered she had these on her phone. Aww shucks, these photos were *accidentally* banked till this moment. Imagine that.

    If only the fans would stop buying their BS. The best pushback is for VM to know no one believes this and it's considered idiotic.

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    1. I'm pretty sure VM know "no one" believes them and it doesn't matter.

      Furthermore, I'm pretty sure many of the people coming here using their poor reasoning skills and unsupported assumptions to claim VM can't be married parents would turn on a dime the instant it was revealed VM WERE married parents. They wouldn't pause for breath. They wouldn't be fazed. It would go from the blog is wrong for making shit up to the blog is wrong for outing them.

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    2. How retarded must Scott feel to be doing yet another freaking selfie in his swimwear with yet another freaking stunt girlfriend. Jesus God they must be the joke of the entire sport.

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    3. However, the timing somewhat suggests that Tessa didn't look quite as slender-as-a-reed as claimed today, or we wouldn't get the sham spam. Of course, people who've visited the comments section have pointed to screencaps of Tessa looking like a refrigerator and claimed that's a sylph, so reality doesn't really impact what a lot of people claim to be seeing. "Believe me, not your lying eyes." is very popular.

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    4. http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=52xjj7&s=8#.U8X4crG8PIU
      https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BsmrYr7CcAEcf3H.jpg:large

      She's looking far from her normal size and shape to me. Maybe someone tampered with my eyes and installed that software that only distorts Tessa's body?

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    5. It's that special bust inflate software. It comes with a waist disapparater. Also your concave abs start squaring off.

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  7. Nobody bribed anybody. Tampering with an Olympic event is against federal law in the states and an investigation was done by the FBI after the report came out. The claims were baseless. Don't think I don't see that the camera is at a different angle so the comparison isn't accurate. Also I believe commentators who skated and coached for a living over a bunch of hacks who are pissed that their team didn't win and jealous of Meryl and Charlie's success. The US has a deep enough field that they wouldn't win if they weren't good. I think you guys need to get closure and move on. Now you just come off as a bunch of sore losers.

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    1. "Nobody bribed anybody. Tampering with an Olympic event is against federal law in the states and an investigation was done by the FBI after the report came out. "

      Oh my God! And I thought the newest sham pics were funny! Bless you, 7:06 PM!

      "Also I believe commentators who skated and coached for a living over a bunch of hacks who are pissed that their team didn't win and jealous of Meryl and Charlie's success. "

      Like Peter Tcherynshev, 5 time US champion, choreographer for one of DW's first ever programs, who said the podium should have been VM with gold, IK with silver, and DW possibly battling BS for bronze?

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    2. The FBI has CoP memorized and was able to see for themselves that the scoring was on the up and up. Everybody who works for the FBI gets rigorous training in ice dance technique.

      Is this the same branch of the FBI that keeps an eye on figure skating discussion on fsu?

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    3. How did this FBI report not make the news? Would you please link?

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    4. Oh, the Olympics were held in the United States this year? How did the FBI get jurisdiction in Russia? And in Japan (GPF)?

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    5. Ah, apparently the newest D/W defense is CAMERA ANGLES! Because it's impossible to see someone is on a blade flat unless it's viewed from just one angle...

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    6. You mean when from a different angle Meryl's arms AREN'T wrapped around Charlie and vice versa? There's an angle where her leg is straight? There's an angle where we see a straight up and down line from her hip to her blade flat is actually a clear edge? Are those camera angles in earth dimensions or some other universe?

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    7. What's the next fun excuse that will be used to try and discredit clear evidence D/W were scored for executing things on the ice they did NOT properly execute? They keep getting dumber...

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    8. How do the judges know the angle THEY see is the correct angle? What if it looks like to them that Meryl is on a clear edge but she's actually flat? We can't trust it! You know what would be great - if we could see the same angle the judge sees.Tennis doesn't seem to worry about it when we get multiple angles of line calls. Football doesn't worry about bounds or yard calls, and baseball is really good at zooming in to show us if a catch or tag is fair or not fair. We don't get this in figure skating. Why on earth not? But then, the angle the judges see doesn't matter, because apparently there's always another angle that completely changes what the skater is doing. Right, Meryl Davis fans?

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    9. It's funny 7:06, but I don't recall any report about bribes. L'Equipe reported a quid pro quo between the US and the Russians. Looked like a deliberate plant to me, a story L'Equipe was duped into printing so it could be shot down and the larger issue (that VM skated Davis White clear out of the rink and were still not allowed to win) could be diverted. Seemed planned in advance as they also managed to get a Canadian eager to dismiss it. That alone was ridiculous. Why would a Canadian be eager to dismiss any idea that VM were more deserving than DW?

      So I guess, 7:06, that you don't even check to see if something actually happened before you make-up how it was handled and what really went on.

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    10. I watch gymnastics on occasion. They seem to have the ability to show those watching at home the execution of elements from several different angles of needed. It's usually accompanied by someone explaining exactly what a gymnast did right or wrong while performing the element.

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    11. We went through most of this season with the cameras not showing the first key point of the Finnstep. I know it's obvious, but they don't want us to see anything.

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    12. The FBI is knocking at my door! It's apparently now ILLEGAL for anyone not to worship the unpointed toes and lack of core strength of Meryl Davis!

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  8. Make sure you take the chance to read OC's "Tessa & Scott" reality show recaps. They're some of the best (and funniest) posts this blog has ever done.

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    1. That was meant to be a reply to the new anons who posted above.

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  9. today on "fsu is absolute garbage" http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?92705-Did-Virtue-amp-Moir-live-up-to-your-expectations&p=4292936&viewfull=1#post4292936

    imminent pissing match is imminent. such a shame that there are still people out there who demean and dismiss v/m's skating skills just so they can sleep better at night. its such a shame that these people still seem to be stuck in the past.

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    1. That troll "joubertelegant" is one of the many pseuds of the infamous judgejudy who basically creates a lot of other screen names and then argues with himself. The whole point of the thread is to bait people to come in there and explain why they hate V&M or if they do praise V&M to hit them on the counter. There's no pissing match necessary, I'm just not replying and hoping it falls to the second page. No one there is willing to lesson to anything logical.

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    2. is ladygagafan another pseud of joubertelegant? bc their comments are just laughable

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    3. Yes, those are all judgejudy27's pseuds. Here is a handful of them:
      ladygagafan = joubertelegant = judgejudy27 = hertmirsh = grassroots39 = docktrump = wristflick = irinayunafanatc = gordanlevitt = rollingrace = rickmercer = ripingroar37 = hirtmoles31 = pangtongfan = scottieschamp = kwanoverrated = kuzytalent = KimGOAT = fracturedleg = usova94gold = poirierpaul = butyrskafanatic = staceyliving = TheIronLady = kwanlysacek = stojkoquad = jarvalwest = bumblebeevich

      And many more others that I can't/don't have the time to count.

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    4. VolosozharGOAT is another one. I think TheIronLady is a pseud of Dave Lease or one of his friends, though. Agree on the rest.

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    5. jesus christ how many pseuds does this person have?

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    6. Is fenway2 also a JJ pseud because their hysterical whining about home-ice advantage in this thread is getting annoying http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?92730-Virtue-Moir-in-2010-or-Davis-White-in-2014&p=4296365&viewfull=1#post4296365
      methinks this thread is basically 2 people and their pseuds arguing back and fourth.

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  10. OOOOOOOOH thanks for informing me. i didnt know that.

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  11. again greatest SD of all time ever performed in competition. was that VM's PR's publicity-line? no. idiots. I have zero sympathy for them anymore. When you are the greatest, you hire people to promote you as the greatest of all time. better than torville and dean better than anyone. there's no other acceptable PR tactic when you are the best team in history. I mean, how do you concede that selling point?

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    1. I feel like it's that elite thing, which I get, but in a corrupt sport. you can't afford it. IOW, "the skating speaks for itself." Everybody who knows skating KNOWS what that SD was, and it sort of cheapens it to run around saying "It's the best!" VM have often conducted themselves like that, only once in awhile letting it be known that they actually know how good they are (for example, when, in 2010, Scott said he and Tessa are the best pure dancers in the sport). The problem with this attitude was whatever the skating was saying was shut down in this quad. For God's sake, when Carmen is having points stripped from it, when there's a blatant campaign to poor mouth Carmen as lacking connection; when someone like Tanith claims the non-dynamic parts of it are the best of it, when Notre Dame is getting monster scores, the rules of the game have changed and it doesn't matter what the skating is saying when everybody has decided to turn a deaf ear. They maintained that "skating should speak for itself" posture even when everybody who commented on Carmen pretended not to hear it, including people who in the past had supported them. Tracy Wilson started out telling everybody Carmen was extraordinary and by the end of the season her voice had muted like everybody else's. VM never got the message. The reality show drives that home too.

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    2. no, i mean they should have had PR people indirectly get others to talk about them being the best. not VM themselves. all VM had to do was talk about their skating, not about some ridiculous connection. "look at our skating" not "look at how ambivalently in love and special we are" should have been their only message.

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    3. 3:36PM 'not "look at how ambivalently in love and special we are" '

      First of all, ha ha to ^. That's perfect. Secondly, you're right.

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  12. shes obviously not pregnant

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  13. I saw that too and thought she looked as slim as ever

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  14. I think it looks a lot like that Christmas Dreams on Ice show from 2010. That is not her normal shape at all.

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  15. I've noticed that lately, whenever V/M make an appearance where it is clear Tessa is larger than she's been in the past and is gaining weight exactly as a pregnant woman does, somebody comes over here and constantly claims she looks skinnier than ever, could not possibly be pregnant, and anyone who believes otherwise is insane.

    If Tessa really isn't pregnant, and the thought of her being pregnant is supposedly so ridiculous, there would be no reason to make such extensive efforts to spam this place with posts telling everyone that. Instead, the pregnancy rumours would be ignored as just that: rumours and nothing more. After all, that's what this poster (or posters) keeps saying, right? "It's so absurd it shouldn't even be given attention! She's not pregnant!"

    Once again, the efforts made by these posters to try and kill discussion about it have reinforced that Tessa *is* pregnant again. If she isn't, there'd be no reason for anyone to go to such efforts to convince people she's not.

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    1. You know, when people are presented with photographic evidence of Tessa's nose job, they realize that she did, in fact, have a nose job, and that's the end of it. The photos that you use for evidence of pregnancy are obviously inconclusive in comparison. People are allowed to have opinions and say -- oh hey, she's still skinny. That doesn't make you part of tEh sHaM.

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    2. 8:50 cute victim complex. I'm not saying you're an idiot. I'm just saying that I have eyes and she's not pregnant. And no, I have absolutely no ties to "moirville."

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    3. Congratulations, 10:28. Your eyes are deceiving you, but I'm happy to hear you're comfortable regardless.

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    4. lol k. How many months is she? Can you answer that?

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    5. Eyes are deceiving mee to then. She doesn't look pregnant

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    6. Doesn't this go back to the premise of the blog in the first place? Imagine if someone started a blog telling everyone that Davis and White were actually married. How much of a shitstorm do you think that would create? Tumbleweeds would be rolling through the comments section. The very fact that so many people want to shut down this discussion, are so hostile to it, instead of moving on, should clue them in, but they don't get it. This "shut it down!" also applies to other topics that become forbidden on the internet, because they deal with real things that people don't want to handle. Davis White versus Virtue Moir as skaters is another topic on the web that is not meant to be discussed. We're not meant to talk about it. Analyzing any other skaters vis a vis their competition is okay. Davis White versus Virtue Moir, any time one begins to analyze them vis a vis the rulebook, shut it down - on both major figure skating discussion places.

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    7. I did feel a big "Doh!" when someone came here saying they'd been to the seminar, Tessa wore a "skin tight" unitard and there wasn't a bump anywhere, and she fell "hard" and it was fine, blah blah blah. I didn't immediately realize that must mean she'd looked obviously different and her silhouette was obviously altered.Then Kaitlyn Lawes drops her sham photos the same day and the photos of Tessa in her baggy t-shirt and her expanded silhouette in the unitard surfaced and I thought "Of course." It's always "say the opposite!" with VM's sham. Of course that's true of the entire sport of ice dance as well.

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    8. Yeah, I agree the timing on all that was/is a bit suspect. Waiting for the onslaught mid to end week...

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  16. When talking about Tessa from 2010, the argument is: you can't compare Tessa to other pregnant women because everyone gains differently and especially someone as fit as Tessa can't be expected to gain like everyone else. Which I agree with. But if you're going to use that argument then you can't say "is gaining weight exactly as a pregnant woman does." Which is it? She does gain like a typical pregnant woman or she doesn't?

    This is my first comment about it on here. I do think she's gained weight but weight gain doesn't equal pregnancy. Even in elite athletes and in areas typical of pregnancy. I'm taking that to mean breasts, hips, butt. Which is basically the same for any weight gain no matter the cause. And it's possible people come on here saying she looks fit (which is still true) as a defense to comments calling her "massively pregnant."

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    1. There is no once size fits all pregnant woman, but there are typical areas where pregnant women gain weight. That does not mean they'll all gain weight in the same specific manner (i.e., some develop bumps early on, others tend to square off more and the bump comes way later, some as late as the last few months. Still others never have large or incredibly noticeable bumps, ever).

      To see how Tessa has changed, it's important to compare her to herself at earlier points. That doesn't mean she should never be compared to other pregnant women. The point is, just because she isn't developing a bump like a large number of other pregnant women might by the mid-months of their pregnancies doesn't mean she isn't pregnant.

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    2. It's silly to get into fights about whether Tessa is pregnant or not, but we can have good discussions. What seems to be obvious is that Tessa has gained weight. Many of us think she looks so similar to the weight gain in 2010 that it points to pregnancy again.

      However, I can see where the other side is coming from. Tessa does *not* look like the typical pregnant woman, plus she is still obviously very fit, so it can be inconclusive.

      Something that to me is a strong indication of pregnancy at this point, besides that her body-shape is reminding me of 2010, is the fact that she is not losing this extra weight. Say she had pigged-out right after Sochi and put on some pounds (since already by SOI we could see a difference). Wouldn't any disciplined, elite athlete (which we know Tessa is) set about immediately doing something about that? Why let all these months go by and apparently not make any attempt to take off this extra weight?

      I don't think I can believe she had two pig-out sessions (one right after Sochi and then another this past month of wine and pastries). That just doesn't make any sense in the context of who she is. Then trying to throw shade, tweeting about a month of self-indulgence and not stepping on the ice at all till the day of a seminar? Like I said, none of that makes any sense. It makes much more sense to assume she's pregnant than to think she gained weight and doesn't care.

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    3. It's also about more than just her weight gain, (which I happen to agree is unique for her, and very similar to 2010). If people are paying attention, there have been other things posted online and discussed and even said by them, outside of that that point to it as well. And I'm not even talking about the timing in general that makes perfect sense. Staying in or not, I'm sure they don't want their kids spaced out the wazoo.

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    4. I think that photo is deceptive. Her body doesn't normally extend that far past her arms when they're down by her side like that. She looks to be about the thickness she was around SWDOI in 2010. However, the line hasn't changed much from usual because she doesn't have the typical baby bump. She's gotten thicker, but her breasts have gotten bigger, so the visual relationship between her breasts and abdomen hasn't changed much. So, you look at that photo and think she looks normal at first until you really look close and compare Tessa to Tessa.

      Also, it is true that her elbow is obscuring part of her back so we can't see how much she's filled in. Tessa is normally very thin front-to-back and has that nice curve to her back. The curve filled in by the end of the last pregnancy.

      More notable to me is to look at her width from side-to-side. Tessa has broad shoulders and her sides normally taper in to her waist. Her sides are filling out and squaring off again, just like in 2010. However, as OC has pointed out, as long as everything stays inside her shoulders, it deceives a lot of people looking at photographs.

      Delete
    5. "Then trying to throw shade, tweeting about a month of self-indulgence and not stepping on the ice at all till the day of a seminar?"

      What are you even trying to say? Can people in the comments stop using the term "shade" incorrectly? Go watch Paris is Burning or something.

      Delete
    6. I think 9:12 raises some good points. Tessa has been implied fat by people within skating for several years. In the reality show, she expressed annoyance with people asking Scott if he lost weight while asking her if she bulked up. (I loved Scott's answer "let's go have lunch" and this moment seemed to me one of the few real ones in their show).

      If she's sensitive to those sorts of things, it makes no sense for her to go on twitter and talk about all the chocolate and pastries she's eating. Most women, especially elite athletes, would be trying not to call attention to the extra weight (I'm not saying there's anything wrong with gaining weight).

      I've also seen some people saying maybe she just got breast implants instead - but I don't think a woman who went to the trouble of implants would walk around in baggy clothing. I imagine they would show off their cleavage.

      Delete
    7. Speaking of the show... if this was planned (which I believe it was), the counting periods comment/scene makes a hell of a lot more sense...

      Delete
    8. 8:37, what makes no sense is to extrapolate from your personal perception of something that was said on the reality show to what Tessa would or would not do sham-wise on twitter. Even if she were genuinely wry about people thinking she was "bulky" that simply does not mean she wouldn't exploit it to misdirect from a pregnancy. These people are constantly inconsistent.

      Delete
    9. 9:52, I agree. It was one of the first things that crossed my mind. Instead of "x" more periods til the Olympics, it registered almost as "x more periods" PERIOD.

      Delete
    10. Ita @ 10:00PM. Tessa's "normal" shape is small chest, indent to prominent rib cage, then indent again to ripped abs. As had been stated here, her silhouette has changed. Now, it's pretty much a straight line from her chest, ribs to abdomen. In addition, her chest is remarkably bigger (and if the presumption is she had a boob job, then this is not a case of "people are only saying that is bigger because they think she's pregnant"). So, if it is, that states even more so that other areas of her midsection are expanding if they're out along that same plane. Which is exactly what happened to her last time. Even for those who say she didn't have any bump at all, this can still be correct. It looks "flat", because of the "straight line" appearance.
      Don't know how much were gonna actually get from China. Not expecting much. Curious to see if she can keep the same dress, or if she'll find something else. Or maybe just get another one made in larger size/alter the current one.

      Delete
    11. For some reason, I'm half-expecting them to withdraw right before the show.

      Delete
    12. I was waiting for them to not go at all, but it appears they're on their way... so I think they'll do at least the first two. There's such a break between the first two and last two though. Wonder if they'll stay for the whole thing? Honestly, there's no scenario that would surprise me, at this point.

      Delete
    13. I don't see why they wouldn't skate. If Tessa can skate in a skintight black bodysuit in an intimate setting (audience practically on top of them), then she can certainly skate in a flowy costume in a dark arena. She's done it before.

      I'm curious whether she'll tweet. They tend to drop a lot of sham at times they're about to be in the public eye, to contradict whatever it is we're seeing. That way if there are pictures and reports from the golf event or Montreal, they have their own narrative going to explain everything away. However, in Asia, we usually don't get any/many photos or reports, so I wonder, if there is nothing out there from the fans to contradict, will Tessa be tweeting or do her usual disappearing act as she did in the Japan shows?

      Delete
    14. "I don't see why they wouldn't skate. If Tessa can skate in a skintight black bodysuit in an intimate setting (audience practically on top of them), then she can certainly skate in a flowy costume in a dark arena. She's done it before."

      I'm not saying she can't skate (she skated further last time), nor that they will pull out due to costuming/showing issues (didn't stop them the last time, either). Besides, there never seems to be much media from over there anyways. It's more of a gut feeling... maybe that's not the right word... I don't know why I thought/think they would. Maybe because it's a long stretch to be gone, (doc apts may be necessary within that time), so far from home. Where were the shows last time? LA, Hamilton, London... they didn't really go far. Like I said, nothing would surprise me.

      Delete
    15. I don't think she would be quite to the point of having doctor's appointments every two weeks yet.

      The shows aren't spread terribly far apart.

      Delete
    16. "They tend to drop a lot of sham at times they're about to be in the public eye, to contradict whatever it is we're seeing. ...However, in Asia, we usually don't get any/many photos or reports, so I wonder, if there is nothing out there from the fans to contradict, will Tessa be tweeting or do her usual disappearing act as she did in the Japan shows?"

      I expect she'll be tweeting. It's a big (public) deal she finally went public on social media and nothing these people do is without an agenda. In case anyone thought she and Scott were getting romantic over there in China, now she can maintain the continuous *separate and platonic* narratives. Tessa with Joannie... Tessa with (insert name)... Tessa with everyone except Scott....

      The sham narratives are endless now she has twitter to play around with. Hell, Scott himself can tweet sham from her account.

      Delete
    17. Pic from rehearsals...

      http://38.media.tumblr.com/361bb689c00b8b737d82af1197cf95c6/tumblr_n96944ZmWZ1ttrqy2o1_500.jpg

      Also, they seemed to be working with Shae in the background of another video clip Johnny posted-not sure if that's in lieu of the day they skipped with D/L? (so they could catch a flight to China a day earlier, I believe was the fan excuse given).

      Delete
    18. ^^ Why do you think it was an excuse?

      Delete
    19. " Hell, Scott himself can tweet sham from her account."

      sometimes i wonder if scott posted that tweet about the whole pj pants as a prank. that was the first thing that came into my head when the tweet was first deleted.

      Delete
    20. Some of the theories coming out from the fans conflict each other - it was Scott who posted it as a prank, but yet everyone is so mean for attacking Tessa over a harmless and cute tweet. If you don't think anything is wrong with the tweet why assume Tessa didn't post it? I have no way of knowing if it's the same posters, but I have a feeling it is.

      Delete
    21. @1:45PM, because they went home that night and didn't fly out until the following Monday. I suppose I should have worded that differently. Perhaps the excuse posted by a fan would have been more accurate. The fan may have been told that from someone else and just regurgitated.

      Since it's a still pic it's harder to properly evaluate, but are we not going to talk about it at all? Of course, there's tons of video of a majority of the rest of the cast rehearsing.

      Delete
    22. people assume tessa didnt post it and that it was a harmless prank because it was deleted (but then reposted - could be wifi issues who knows why it was deleted in the first place)

      Delete
  17. ^Really? Where she was supposedly NINE MONTHS pregnant?

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think Tessa is the size right now that she was around SWDOI in 2010.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm not debating if Tessa is pregnant, except to say I never looked like that when I was pregnant! But she has a full face, which unfortunately for her gives her a more chubby look, ,; even during the Olympics. Also, I thought the cut of her costumes were not flattering. This did not, however, take away my enjoyment of her program.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In what universe did Tessa look chubby at the Olympics? I suggest you look up the word's definition because you clearly don't know what it means.

      Delete
    2. Hey calm down. I always thought she photographed bigger than she really is also. I know she's not big or chubby in person. Relax

      Delete
    3. You think she looked chubby at the Olympics? Tessa looked no bigger than countless other athletes and no serious athlete can be chubby.

      Delete
  20. Agreed. The bad quality of the video makes it hard to see Tessa properly but what we can see is that she moves in a heavier way and that Scott has a harder time lifting her, with the lift exits being really clunky. Some will chalk this up to lack of practice, what happens if it continues in the performance?

    ReplyDelete
  21. One of the differences in Tessa when she's pregnant is her range of motion.

    ReplyDelete
  22. How do you think her range of motion is different here? Do you think you could make screencaps of the last lifts? Her bodyline there makes it very obvious how much thicker she is in the middle. Too bad the quality is not good, but I guess we'll see more from China.

    ReplyDelete
  23. A bit off topic here, but the Meryl-stans on FSU have been strangely quiet this weekend. Perhaps they shouldn't have been quite so enthusiastic about "Meryl charming Putin" as if that were some gigantic feat to be proud of, in light of what's happened.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I peeked into their thread and apparently they've moved on to Meryl being fluent in Japanese.

      Delete
    2. god are these people really that unilingual/uneducated that they think 'knowing' how to speak a different language makes someone so special?

      Delete
    3. Meryl moved on to banging blushing Ukrainians. Russians are stale news. Her Japanese is better than people who live in Japan according to Meryl-stans.

      Delete
    4. lbr russians have always been stale news for meryl. rmr that Skam 2011 fluff?

      Delete
    5. I do indeed remember that Skate America fluff piece, Anon @8:07. Still, this article from the time of the Olympics is most unfortunate at the moment (ha ha) ..... From the New York Post: Meryl Davis, Charlie White say Putin was "incredibly nice."

      http://pagesix.com/2014/02/27/meryl-davis-charles-white-say-vladimir-putin-was-incredibly-nice/

      Delete
  24. There's another video up from a different angle, of the goose, and (like the subsequent day) she seems to be adopting the balance check-step down dismount reminiscent of 2010, fwiw.

    ReplyDelete
  25. The ladies' group number that DW choreographed for the ice show in Japan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGWN_E3hhvk

    Little Moir could do a better job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeff Buttle, Stephane Lambiel, Julie Marcotte, Kurt Browning, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Carmenlengo, Jennifer Swan, Wilson, Averbuch, etc watch your backs - DW are now choreographers as well...hmmm perhaps they while they are at it - costume designers would be easy to add and hell for the fun of it you might as well compete in pairs, singles and ice dance in 2018...and do a complete sweep...hahaha...naturally I am joking but really this is getting to be a bit much....hell behind VM, you can tell PB have more artistic flair than DW...you know the egos must be inflated....

      Delete
    2. What a hell did I just watch?!?

      Delete
    3. Anon at 7:35 pm - a lot of nothing and to make it worse in front of a Japanese crowd....after watching that you do want to encourage synchronized skating as an Olympic team event - hell wouldn't that be exciting rather than a routine like this which a coordinated 5-6 year old can do...that was bad....kudos to Mao Asada even attemping to sell it...

      Delete
    4. That was truly ridiculous

      Delete
    5. 7:35 again. I had a flashback to Stepford Wives. This is their workout. On ice.

      Delete
    6. It doesn't matter how bad it is. It's DW. Not many people are actually going to look up this video. In a few months, we'll be told that DW choreographed a number in Japan, and the audience loved it, and they are now realizing their talent based on what they learned on DWTS, etc etc etc.

      The more stuff like this happens, the better I actually feel about Sochi. It just goes to show how much they *need* this. They're a mediocre dance team (that's being kind) who want to be seen as a great one. Winning a few medals, which would have already been generous, would not have been enough (I think it would be generous to say they're as good as Chait/Sakhnovsky, who have one world bronze). No, it HAD to be the Olympic gold medal, and they HAD to beat the greatest team of all time, Virtue/Moir, and they HAD to have the world record setting scores. They needed that to build some kind of legacy with their results because they will never do it with their skating or choreography. VM's legacy can absorb an 8.5 here or there, but DW have to be in the 10s. Every time more 10s popped up on DWTS, I was thinking, wow they really NEED this. If any criticism is accepted, the whole thing could fall apart, as people may realize, whoa, they're not better than teams who finished below the top 15 at the Olympics.

      When I see Meryl being nominated for teen choice award, I think wow, she really *needs* that - that validation. Being a top ice dancer wasn't even enough. She needs to be the most popular, the most artistic, the most expressive, the most beautiful. I have no doubt she'll be in People's Most Beautiful List, since Tessa was in the Canadian version.

      Another interesting thing I've noticed now is a bit of a perversion of their backstory where their fans and their camp will now "admit" some of their flaws from the best - but only to demonstrate how they've overcome them. Now you have DW fans saying oh, yeah, Marina's choreography did suck and they kind of always did the same thing - but luckily, DWTS showed they can do all styles (even though it really exposed them even more, especially Meryl), so it was actually just Marina's choreo and they had these capabilities all along! And now we have them "choreographing" this putrid number, and incorporating more top skaters and dancers into their Disson show, all to prove that they aren't just great ice dancers, they're great dancers and creative like TD or Buttle.

      And I recently saw some interview with Meryl's mother in which she admitted that on the ice, Meryl was reserved, and was so concentrated on that great technique that she forgot to be expressive - I think she even used the word robotic - but that now she had seen Meryl open up emotionally on DWTS and she couldn't even believe she could be so expressive, blah blah blah.

      Of course, Meryl's mother and all these fans still believed they deserved all those 10s for choreography and interpretation when they were receiving them on the ice, and only now that they've moved on can they admit that there were flaws there. And stuff like that disgusting post-FD display at 2012 Skate America are forgotten forever.

      I actually see a lot of parallels to the VM sham - like the fans who will always acknowledge that Scott's ex-girlfriends were fake, but accept the current one as real, and how VM ignore their reality show.

      Delete
    7. LOL 8:09! Go on with your tortured reasoning! I'd rather go with the idea that the simplest explanation is often the right one -- D/W win the awards because they ARE the best. Meryl really is the most popular, artistic, expressive, and beautiful. Like you said, it's just like the V/M sham -- either you can twist yourself into knots trying to reason how a couple like V/M can truly be platonic best friends, or you can go with the simplest explanation -- that V/M are the lovers everyone knows they are.

      Delete
    8. LOL! Yes, the teen choice award and DWTS scores are true barometers of merit!

      The simplest explanation is that when I watch Meryl's dancing, I know it's shit.

      Delete
    9. "D/W win the awards because they ARE the best. Meryl really is the most popular, artistic, expressive, and beautiful."

      Funny how you lump together the subjective and the factual.

      Popularity and beauty are in the eye of the beholder, they have nothing to do with skill or any other measurable characteristic.

      This blog and other places on the web have analyzed DW's skating and dancing, based on the icedance rulebook and traditional, objective standards in ballroom dance. To throw that all over for such intangibles as "popular" or "beautiful" shows your own tortured reasoning.

      By all objective standards, DW are terrible dancers and even worse icedancers. Their awards were won because of corruption and deceitful PR, not because they're "the best" at any of the things for which they won those awards.

      Lies and corruption have a way of eventually getting exposed. It might not be any time soon, but it will happen in regards to this hoax on the public re. DW's "skills" as icedancers. Twisting oneself into knots is not at all necessary to see the truth about this team.

      Delete
    10. 5:58, you make no sense:

      "LOL 8:09! Go on with your tortured reasoning! I'd rather go with the idea that the simplest explanation is often the right one -- D/W win the awards because they ARE the best. Meryl really is the most popular, artistic, expressive, and beautiful. Like you said, it's just like the V/M sham -- either you can twist yourself into knots trying to reason how a couple like V/M can truly be platonic best friends, or you can go with the simplest explanation -- that V/M are the lovers everyone knows they are."

      You're presenting a parallel without presenting a parallel. You're saying VM are together and married despite being presented as platonic. You're saying this is the equivalent to DW being presented as the best while being the best. Nope. It goes like this:

      VM are presented as platonic and are actually married parents.
      DW are presented as the best, when actually they suck.

      There's your parallel, and there's your simplest explanation. Being, that figure skating is "say the opposite" and "trust what we say, not your lying eyes."

      Delete
    11. "Popularity and beauty are in the eye of the beholder, they have nothing to do with skill or any other measurable characteristic. "

      exactly! look at all the famous talentless hacks that are famous in hollywood today.

      Delete
    12. 7:40
      Meryl is not famous for being famous, as if she were some Hollywood starlet. Her "fame" is based on winning an Olympic gold medal in icedance, fraudulently obtained. All the fame in the world won't make her into a good ice dancer nor give her artistic expression nor make her musical nor creative.

      Delete
    13. exactly hence why she's a talentless hack

      Delete
    14. Oh come on, just because Meryl didn't deserve to win in Sochi doesn't mean she has no talent. I understand being mad at the result but all Meryl and Charlie did is play the game effectively while VM were uninterested or distracted with sham matters, and also making easy-to-spot mistakes earlier in the season. It seems to me your anger would be better directed at the judging and the culture of this so-called sport than at two skaters who put in a lot of work, both on and off the ice, to realise their dreams.

      Delete
    15. The blog's ire IS directed at the judging and the culture of the sport. Note that photoshop of Shawn Rettstatt and David Dore in the upper corner of the header.

      With that said, I think that we have a right to question OC's tactics. When I first started reading the blog, I interpreted OC as being much more deferential to DW, almost exactly what you're describing - that they weren't bad people, in fact they seemed like loyal friends who were not as good of skaters as VM, but who played the game effectively and that at least this was more honorable than VM who played games for less than noble reasons.

      A lot of that goodwill seems to have been destroyed as their PR game got over the top, and even moreso with their disingenuous comments about gay rights in Sochi, and their appropriation of the suffering of Detroit as an allegory for their skating.

      And to your last point, putting in a lot of work /= "talented." I think some people don't seem to understand that EVERY SKATER works hard. DW are not the only people who work hard. There is a Romanian skater who has a glass eye and doesn't get funding from his federation because of it. That's hard. There are skaters who live in poverty or deal with severe injuries on a daily basis. There are skaters who face discrimination because of their sexual orientation or their race.

      Nothing about DW's story indicates they work harder than average. The evidence of their hard work certainly isn't on the ice, as their improvements have been quite modest (and shouldn't you improve a lot if you basically drilled the same elements year after year for 8 years?). Rather, "they might not be the most talented, but they will outwork anyone," is simply the backstory that USFS uses when the skater is not that exceptional and has nothing interesting in their personal background. See: Lysacek, Evan.

      Delete
    16. I'm not saying they worked harder than others but ice dance is a very difficult sport and no one gets to DW's level without a lot of hard work. I respect that kind of dedication, and all skaters who choose to compete in a messed up sport like FS, because you put in all that effort and you never know what will happen in the judging. DW benefited this time but, if they come back, they could easily be dumped as well. This is a system that serves interests other than the skaters'.

      Delete
    17. 6:04
      Hard work is commendable but the judges are supposed to score according to a rulebook. Many many many athletes work their butts off but still don't have what it takes to win their sports' highest awards.

      DW don't have what it takes (skill, talent) but they got to the top anyhow. Shouldn't that be a concern? They had "talent" to cheat the system and every season perform the same set of elements--not perfectly either and not to a level 10 (or 4). Yet they received medals. It's a scandal, but fans like you help to sweep it under the rug and pretend "hard work" should cover all the egregious shenanigans that propelled DW to undeserved titles.

      Delete
    18. July 21 12: 30 anon "DW are now choreographers as well...hmmm perhaps they while they are at it - costume designers would be easy to add and hell for the fun of it you might as well compete in pairs, singles and ice dance in 2018"

      These are very good guesses, but it looks like coaching is next for Charlie.

      http://rsport.ru/figure_skating/20140726/760535111.html
      http://www.sports.ru/others/figure-skating/1022425919.html
      Translation:

      Olympic champion, figure skater Charlie White became a consultant for Shibutani duo.

      American Charlie White, Olympic champion in 2014 in figure skating dancing pair Meryl Davis, engaged to work with a fellow duet Maia Shibutani / Alex Shibutani, said to the agency "R-Sport" the coach of the skaters, Marina Zueva.."Charlie works as a consultant for Maia and Alex: helps with the step sequences, and with transitions, mainly in the technical aspect" informed Zoueva over the phone.

      She noted that "in spite of being very busy in the show, Charlie finds time to Shibutani, who are close to him."

      Delete
    19. So it looks like Marina got Tanith a job, and now Charlie too.

      How is he going to help with step sequences and transitions?

      Transitions - He never did any. He'll have to explain how you run from one side of the rink to the other, beseeching, and then run back and drag your partner to the ice.

      Step sequences - He'll have to explain how to get your mom to become facebook friends with the callers and judges so you can be credited with the correct edges.

      Good news nevertheless, as it looks more and more likely DW will not return.

      Delete
  26. Well I think Tessa might be losing it with her twitter account - lol...she just basically stated that she flashed the ground crew while waiting on the tarmac (she was changing into her pjs and forgot to put the window down...oh Tessa...let's see you are flying from Toronto to Beijing today on a Boering 777 - a huge airplane...the ground crew are way below and can't even see you...the only time the ground crew would be able to see u changing on such a big plane is either if they were servicing the back of the plane with food or during the winter - if the plane was being de-iced...wow...Katy Perry's reference and with the bras...now flashing the crew...hmmm..strange indeed...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. what? tessa cant crack jokes now?

      Delete
    2. Just another way to let us know that Tessa is still hot and definitely not pregnant.

      Delete
    3. Funny how far she's come from the reality show days. She must have taken one hell of a confidence boosting seminar. I thought she was a wallflower who sat at home reading and drinking green smoothies, hoping that she might just get hit on by a geriatric, and needing her family to set up an arranged marriage for her.

      Funny how the Katy Perry tweet came less than a week after rampant speculation about breast implants and one of her most vocal fans actually posting a photo of Katy in a cupcake bra.

      Delete
    4. I agree - one, where did this confidence come from. Reality show Tessa wasn't confident enough for twitter, let alone confident enough to say her exposed self would get a thumbs up from the ground crew. And of course, no ground crew saw her. This is just "still hot, not pregnant!" as noted here.

      Delete
    5. Also note how inexplicably blousy Joanne Rochette's t-shirt is while posing next to Tessa. You could fit a soccer ball under there. She's practically pulling a Scott with that.

      Delete
    6. Hey, you never know. Maybe the ground crew was distracted by the pregnancy boobs. Visible from the tarmac and everything!

      Delete
    7. "Just another way to let us know that Tessa is still hot and definitely not pregnant."

      I don't know how it does that. If anything, now I know Tessa is pregnant. When she isn't pregnant, that flat chest and ass only turn women on. Now that she's got something up top and is rocking the backside, she's finally hot.

      Delete
    8. I don't want to get into this in too tacky a manner, but Tessa has always had a booty, not in terms of size, but that amazing "S" curve she has/had in silhouette included the caboose, or no "s" curve would have been happening. Furthermore, pre Little Moir, the indent front to back, in that "S" curve, was extraordinary. Honestly, it appeared less than hand span. I don't think people really register how outlier Tessa's torso was/is.

      Delete
    9. How is this not a pregnant skater?
      http://i57.tinypic.com/2nhhhxg.jpg

      Delete
    10. They say that geese lay eggs, but that goose looks pregnant to me.

      Delete
  27. ^^^ and the vultures continue to circle their prey

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anon at 2:32 pm - this is anon at 1:48 pm...I am not here to rip Tessa apart...she is free to post whatever she wants on twitter etc...and we can all take a joke and laugh at ourselves - that's fine...she has a sense of humour...great...but seriously I travel every week on airplanes throughout North America from coast to coast - from business class, to college sports teams etc...you are not changing into more comfortable clothes while you are in your seat...come on...you either change in the lavatory or right before you board..or after the plane takes off...even if you are in business class in your own cubicle...

      Delete
    2. Please, Tessa is playing the part of a naif so so scared of big scary twitter and all the scary fans. #bekind Yet all of her tweets are well thought out and directed at driving home her target message... that's the mark of someone who knows exactly what she's doing.

      I see a lot of fans already beating the drum that poor Tessa is going to be put off twitter by all the rude fans. Tessa is a public figure and she's hardly the only one to be on twitter. Read the response to any of her tweets and they are unfailingly polite and kind. This idea that Tessa is going to be harassed right off of twitter is so far from reality it's not even funny. If you want to see harassment please look up Adelina Sotnikova's instagram, yet somehow this teenage girl isn't deterred from staying on social media (and I couldn't blame her if she left because that is legit harassment. People calling out inconsistencies in Tessa's tweets, and not even directing it at her, is not). There has been exactly one person who tweeted something untoward to Tessa (congratulations on her second child), and even that was just sort of a pathetic attempt and not malicious. If Tessa really weren't pregnant and the sham weren't really true, she would have laughed her ass off.

      However, the couple of fans repeating that the vultures are harassing Tessa will inevitably lead to Tessa slowly posting less and less and then "having to give up twitter because she was so harassed by the fans, who have some crazy theories about her" [they like hinting at the blog, but never mention the theory outright]. It's just like when we suddenly got an article about all the fans hating Carmen.

      Delete
    3. I change into pjs in my cubicle when I'm in business class on an international flight. There's more space there and it's much cleaner than in the lavatory. Changing clothes in the lavatory is just gross.

      Delete
    4. Anon at 5:48 pm - you bring up a good point. Yes the lavatory is not my number one place for cleanliness but anything over 4-5 hours on a plane is basically a cesspool of germs whether you are in business class or in economy...so please enough with changing clothes in the lavatory is "gross"...and don't ever order coffee, tea or ice in your drink on a plane...now that is gross...anyways enough of the this convo...hopefully VM have a positive experience in China...

      Delete
    5. Tessa is trying to be funny but I think she's being ridiculous. These tweets don't sound like spontaneous humor (in which case they really would be funny), they sound artificial, staged with a specific purpose. VM are always "marketing" something. The fans are their guinea pigs. This is no "sharing my real self" from Tessa. Give me a break.

      Delete
    6. My guess is this tweet (and probably others already/more to come) are part truth and part lie, or start as a plausible scenario that could play out, but actually doesn't. i.e. She did change in her seat (I would b/c of space and ease as opposed to plane lavatory), but before she did, Scott noticed the shade up and told her to put it down so no one else saw her, or she really did do this, and then he *joked* that now everyone out on the tarmac got a show.
      Furthermore, if guys on the tarmac could see her from far away, looking up through a teeny tiny shaded window... how much more then could the person next to her, (and most likely the person next to them), see? I guess since she had just posted the picture of her and Joannie, we're supposed to think that she was her seat mate? (Never mind the faceless husband behind the camera...) And Scott was most likely at the complete opposite end of the plane, b/c heaven forbid they sit next to each other for 12 hours since they have nothing in common and don't really interact with each other outside of skating. Thank God for Joannie, or that could have been an awkward trip. I mean, that's why they always sit separate when they're traveling, right? He waits outside of the dressing room for her and follows her like a puppy to the bus, but then as soon as they hit the magical transportation portal, the spell is broken and they find their own space far away from one another, only to exit glued to each other again.
      Besides, she would never change with him close enough to see. He absolutely can't see her like that! It's not like he's seen her almost naked many a time, nor has he had his hands everywhere on her body at some point... (I'm not even talking about reality here, just sarcastically referencing what's already out there in the public realm regarding their "platonic" relationship).
      Won't be surprised if we get a collage of the "photo shoot" she and Joannie did to pass the hours, whilst sitting next to each other. Scott may be in one, photobombing from behind or the side... Not that they didn't actually sit next to each other for part, (or T sat in between her and Scott). Just set up to imply things being a certain way, to perpetuate their narrative.

      Delete
    7. 10:22, this is just hilarious and so true!

      "I mean, that's why they always sit separate when they're traveling, right? He waits outside of the dressing room for her and follows her like a puppy to the bus, but then as soon as they hit the magical transportation portal, the spell is broken and they find their own space far away from one another, only to exit glued to each other again. "

      Delete
    8. ^^There's the fantasy - that Scott and Tessa need protection from "good fans". It's egocentric.

      Delete
  28. More from The Ice!

    Prepare to be traumatized: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3j-Q7HYMYY

    ReplyDelete
  29. Don't you have anything better to do with your time?

    ReplyDelete
  30. OC, is this website for real?

    http://thetruthabouttessaandscott.tumblr.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nah its diq anon spreading their lies again. if you spam their inbox talking shit abt davis and white they'll probably explode again, show their true colors.

      dont worry. some of us have already tried contacted their agent. we defeated them before, we can defeat them again.

      protip: when someone says "my friend told me this! etc etc" w/o backing their shit up, w/o evidence basically 99.9% of the time, they're lying.

      Delete
    2. 'w/o evidence basically 99.9% of the time, they're lying'

      same with this blog, right?

      Delete
    3. OR, we can talk about reality... her lovely wardrobe choices in China, both on and off the ice-I almost did a spit take with the press conference tent sweater-and face rounding out so much she now has dimples (which are adorable, btw)... funny how she seems to be getting bigger (and by big, I mean for her) now that she's back on the ice and training again. Must be all those Chinese pastries and wine...

      Delete
    4. Coupled with all of the above, I can't get over how exhausted she looks - and has done since Sochi. She's finally free of the relentless, exhausting routine of an competitive ice dancer - she can finally get some sleep and instead? She looks like pretty much every pregnant mother of a toddler I've ever known.

      Delete
    5. I also think she seems more self-conscious and very aware of others watching this time around, which makes sense given this blog and the rumors, but still watching the way she walked into the press conference was very interesting.

      Delete
    6. There's also a photo, which I'd love to have seen live footage of, where she appears to be bracing herself against Scott in order to either stand up or sit down at the side of the ice. She's moving like a pregnant woman.

      Delete
    7. @1:52, yeah, I saw that too and wondered what was going on/had the same thoughts. She seemed to be moving pretty good in the group number rehearsals, although those are going to be overall slower than a program and in spurts. I'm curious to see how ITM and Top Hat are...

      "I can't get over how exhausted she looks..."
      She does seem to look more tired, but she also hasn't been wearing as much make-up as usual either... although, that may stem from the same reasons (sleep > make-up/pampering). Her face getting rounder, like last time, can also make her look "puffier" with more noticeable bags. But I agree that it pre-dates China, so it's not just jet-lag.

      I also about had a heart attack when she almost got slammed by V/T because she and Scott were looking at each other and not paying attention. Usually he's so good at keeping her protected, but he's probably tired too. Be careful, kids!

      Delete
    8. This time, Tessa's (presumed) pregnancy appears to be impacting her body just about how her last pregnancy impacted her body. As with last time, Tessa can force the issue/beg the question (wear baggy stuff) - just to the point where people go "My God, she is SO pregnant" and then she shows in something streamlined. I think she's carrying as before, but then does the baggy bit to bait people/lead them on, to set them up for "OMG, look at her in that cut-out dress!" etc.

      Delete
    9. One thing, though, that is different from pregnant Tessa versus not-pregnant Tessa (as opposed to the way the proportions/scale of her body appears to remain the same even as the actual acreage increases) is that suddenly she's a pinhead. Tessa isn't a pinhead when she's not pregnant. When her head looks like a dot compared to the rest of her body, even if the rest of her body looks proportionate, that's a tip-off.

      I still don't know why they bother. Even if she were conspicuously, traditionally sporting an obvious pregnant silhouette, as long as she didn't acknowledge it, no one else would either.

      Delete
    10. But you can see through everything in her Pink Floyd dress. She is super flat. Even those who carry under the ribs have bumps

      Delete
    11. Aaw, Tessa is really adorable rocking her maternity wear: http://38.media.tumblr.com/d15ae59f4152c646dcde63f7f239d2aa/tumblr_n9bplb0YEJ1tt8uwvo1_r1_1280.jpg

      Delete
    12. "But you can see through everything in her Pink Floyd dress. She is super flat. Even those who carry under the ribs have bumps

      no, it is not, she is pregnant or fat
      she is very different-tired,swollen face...

      Delete
    13. I hope you know she's wearing illusion fabric and isn't showing a bare stomach, you can't see anything more than in any other dress. And you're free to believe she isn't pregnant but you're completely deluding yourself if you think she's super flat.

      Delete
    14. 7:23
      Agreed. The dress appears to show more than it does.

      I think the choice of this dress was genius. The multi-coloured flower design on the bodice hides a lot and is very distracting, drawing the eyes away from the abdomen. The skirt also is a distraction, with all the colours blending into each other and the way it flows and swirls. All of it together is great camouflage. In spite of the changes in Tessa's body, she still looks fantastic. She's amazing.

      Delete
    15. This^^^^.
      That's much of what I was planning on saying. In fact, at first, I wasn't even sure if it was the same dress, or one they just made similar to create the illusion of when she was much smaller. It does appear it is the same (unless it's been altered, or an identical one was made), but it must be extremely stretchy because her shape is not the same as it was on the SOI tour, let alone in 2008. It also fits her very differently than before. The flower is pulled off around her right side, and there is more "flesh" fabric than before. For those who think she's is completely skinny and doesn't look any different, go watch that Nationals and then ITM, back to back. Or heck, just look at pics of her, even from the front, because you can see the change in her width (like in 2010), side by side, and tell me there is no difference. Now granted she's had a kid since then, so her overall shape has become more... womanly? But if you know/believe that truth, you're not in the camp refusing to believe she looks it again now anyways.
      It may be cutout, so it gives the illusion she's showing a bunch of her bare belly off, but like you said, there's a lot going on with shapes and colors and sequins and lines and skirt pieces. Actually that skirt is up pretty high, just under her belly button, and there's all kinds of distraction in the area that she needs covered the most.
      There are a few times when all that can't hide everything though. When she is silhouetted again his dark clothes or the black portions of the boards, you can see she's not completely flat under there. Her little belly is most noticeable when she bends forward slightly, or the profile shots where his dark sleeved arm cuts across her mid-section, so there's a bit of her lower abdomen showing underneath and sticking out. Either way, her previous silhouette of small chest, rib cage and concave well-defined abdomen (which she had not only at the Olympics, but as recent as SOI-incidentally, her Top Hat outfit with all it's lines, also fits her differently), is now one straight line extending all the way down from a larger chest.

      As has been said on here over and over, when talking about her being pregnant, you have to compare Tessa to Tessa. I agree she looks like she did last pregnancy. She may not look like the traditional pregnant woman, but anyone that's watched her for years can't deny in looking at her that there are changes happening to her body. If it hadn't happened once before in the same way, I could maybe see how it could be blamed on something else (although, as has been stated, I'm not sure how calling her fat is less offensive than a very fit looking pregnant woman), but seeing as how she looks similar to 2010, this seems like a much more plausible theory. Then, pair that with the other things that imply that she is... because it's not just her body shape that has lead some people to believe she is again.

      Delete
  31. I'm starting to get worried for him, that's it. I don't have any inside info

    ReplyDelete
  32. methinks OP is the person behind the tumblr just posting this here trying to stir shit

    ReplyDelete
  33. please! but those who believe?? better to be drugged drunk spinsters that are a couple! Okay!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I understand this was discussed in previous threads but I just want to say that I find it pathetic that the DW ubers on FSU are so insecure about DW's win, that they have to put down VM's win in vancouver. http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?92730-Virtue-Moir-in-2010-or-Davis-White-in-2014&p=4297204#post4297204
    its like there is so much evidence out there that vm are beter than dw and people are doing everything in their power to "suppress" it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1:36
      As long as skating media, other skating "experts" or skating forums like FSU are saying, or agreeing, that DW are the best of the best, any DW uber can get away with those type of statements. Any pushback, no matter how empirical, is seen as so much VM fanaticism.

      The ISU really did a number with their corrupt plotting in making DW the champions. Now no one with any voice of authority dares push back.

      Delete
    2. This sort of OTT overcompensation is typical.

      Delete
  35. Rest In Peace, Tessa's twitter

    ReplyDelete
  36. Listen, don't use this place to get hits/links to your tumblr.

    ReplyDelete
  37. She took the baggy sweater off, and was once again, wearing a skin right revealing unitard (pictures on Instagram and tumblr) and she's wearing a cut out dress, similar to her old style from 2008, with cut outs, and again, if you loom at tumblr and Instagram pics, she's flat stomached and thin. You chose to only look at the ones with the tent sweater, and not all of the other ones where she's revealing everything, and looks about as 5 months pregnant as I do!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Oh God, the magical transportation portal strikes again (kudos to whoever came up with that one, btw). Come on people, can you at least try and be original? I mean, I know that you know that we know that you know that we know you're lying, but we can all at least have a bit of fun while we're at it. Change things up a little.

    ReplyDelete
  39. how is this woman pregnant?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcnQqcr87uE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She seems so happy and relaxed now that she's been performing and not competing. It's like she really loves just skating for the audience. Scott seems a little distant in this performance for AOI

      Delete
    2. Well, she definitely isn't "super flat", as some people are claiming her to be.

      Delete
    3. 3:12, Right? Scott looks not connected at all and even a little tense. Tessa looks relaxed and like she's having fun.

      Delete
    4. We must be watching through a different lens because when I watch that video, she is most definitely not her normal shape... I can pull multiple screen caps of not only a "thicker" Tessa, but actually of a small belly as well, she's got going on under all those lines and wild distracting colors/shapes... In fact, that video only made me more sure she is again. I have a whole bunch of other comments regarding her clothing choices and this costume, but I'm on vacation with shotty service, so crossing my fingers I can get this to go through, and the rest will have to wait for later. Trick of the eye, my friends...

      Delete
    5. I don't get any of the comments about Scott and Tessa looking disconnected, or Scott looking disconnected. Except for Tessa's thicker-looking shape, everything else looks the same as always. Besides, the fans look thrilled and have only reported the usual (everyone nice and happy, blah blah blah).

      It's crazy how people make up narratives to go along with some preconceived ideas. Why are Scott and Tessa supposed to not be getting along? Based on what?

      Delete
    6. 3:56 Scott was a tad tight but to be honest I was expecting worse. He looks completely exhausted, has put on quite a bit of weight and just doesn't look well.

      For shipper fans who are scared that T/S will never get together, every little thing is a cause for either panic or elation and a less sensual version of ITM with Scott a little tight becomes the confirmation of their fears. The constant emotional ups and downs must be completely exhausting.

      Delete
    7. I thought Scott looked exhausted in their first picture together landing in Beijing, but otherwise I haven't really thought that... however, there is a 12 hour time difference, so it wouldn't surprise me if he was tired. Whereas Tessa has looked tired to me since back on the SOI tour. Plus, it could be as simple as a husband being worried about his pregnant wife far from home, who is most likely exhausted and maybe not sleeping the best, so he's up with her, etc.
      I also don't think he looks like he's gained a bunch of weight, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has gained some... if she's been mostly off the ice/not in the gym, I'm guessing the Mr. has been mostly hanging out with his family at home as well, the last month or two... In so far as their connection in the program, tbh, I couldn't take my eyes off the undeniable difference in her body shape, so I'll have to watch again, but I would tend to agree with whomever said he was going to be more concerned/cautious about her, and so that's how it comes across. I did notice one of their lifts being obviously slower and more careful though.

      Delete
    8. Really? To me he looks exhausted in every picture, moreso than Tessa. I think they both need rest.

      And yeah, that second lift was a little scary.

      Delete
    9. They also have a slight balance check coming out the lift that goes into the "J&D lift" (that's not really the J&D lift). Don't know if that's pregnancy, or tired, or both.
      I noticed they changed the ending pose of Top Hat to something less awkward, and more supportive with his hand behind her lower back, as well.

      Delete
  40. 7:03 God, you're so delusional. They don't sit together because they don't want to

    ReplyDelete
  41. To reply to many that are saying that she doesn't look pregnant, I disagree, and here's why. In the following photos, she does not look "thin" or "flat" for Tessa to me. (Not fat, either, of course.) By the standard of the average woman, then sure, I can agree with "thin" and "flat". But comparing Tessa to Tessa, an elite athlete, as OC frequently recommends? Not "thin" or "flat".

    http://31.media.tumblr.com/8984d09caddd9db97fff15092b66cd66/tumblr_n9b09w27rx1sanikko1_1280.jpg

    http://33.media.tumblr.com/15fca300e16f87e9509411e0052602ce/tumblr_n9bvb0mWLi1sanikko1_1280.jpg

    http://38.media.tumblr.com/cf979d0a6c3f56c7088844b3d4d2c908/tumblr_n9by6hjX3b1sanikko2_500.jpg

    http://37.media.tumblr.com/2b3420c9139bfc7a336e344c1d6739f3/tumblr_n9byjxST0V1sanikko1_1280.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  42. 12:09
    So they not only don't want to sit together, the aversion is so strong they deliberately look for seats as far away from each other as possible (ewww, cooties).

    Please. It's these kinds of overcompensations (choosing seats at opposite ends of the bus) that come across so fake. Tessa and Scott do not know how to pretend "disconnection" and make it look real. *That* is a huge factor in giving them away.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I have to agree that Tessa has gained some weight and it appears to be in the abdominal above hip area. And as others have pointed out in a couple of photos without make-up she has looked tired...now I don't think that we can honestly come to a foregone conclusions but for a 25 year old to look tired and not to be training strenuously - as would be expected during spring/summer training..it is a little strange...I mean its not like she is a medical resident pulling a 48 hour shift...As for Scott looking tense during performances...well think about it - we know he is very protective of Tessa and if you know that you haven't been on the ice practicing as other years and you are still performing high risk lifts (even at a slower pace than competition) - I don't blame him for being extra cautious.
    In the end - I am glad that they are performing in China and with a great cast as well. And count me in as one who is pleasantly surprised that we are getting pictures at least from China...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Y'all are just doing the most. Unless Tessa loses 30 pounds and becomes scary thin, you'll keep swearing up and down that she looks "thick" and "heavy" and is therefore pregnant. You can easily find photos where Tessa looks "thick" while competing last season, the season before, etc. That's her body. Still waiting to find out how far along you guys think she is, since, to your eyes, she's clearly visibly pregnant!!!! Too bad you can't go along with 2010's storyline, since she's showing bare midriff.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Could you post competition pictures where she looks like this? Look at the line of the skirt, trace it around.

      http://33.media.tumblr.com/2732efd3ea1fea0e62259a6c364d46bf/tumblr_n9bybpx6vT1sanikko1_500.jpg

      Delete
    2. 6:22--Tessa does not normally look thick or heavy. That is not her normal shape at all. The fans who believe she may be pregnant get accused of being delusional but to try and say "that's her body" is IMO even more delusional. It's a way to convince yourself there's nothing "different' going on. You can believe whatever you want, but you can't base it on "that's her normal body."

      Delete
    3. Those costumes are hideous. I'm sad to say that I'm not a fan of ITM. I saw it live during SOI and it's less than impressive. It looks even worse now in slow motion. I hope they return to competition after this break because this show skating sucks.

      Delete
    4. "Unless Tessa loses 30 pounds and becomes scary thin, you'll keep swearing up and down that she looks "thick" and "heavy" and is therefore pregnant. You can easily find photos where Tessa looks "thick" while competing last season, the season before, etc. That's her body."

      No that's not her body. This idea that Tessa is constantly gaining weight and struggling to keep from being too heavy comes from DW ubers. All of the VM fans that post here constantly defend her from those types of attacks pointing out how tiny she really is. The only times I have seen her get big are four years ago, when I know for a fact she was pregnant, and now, so it's natural from there to speculate she may be pregnant again.

      "I'm sad to say that I'm not a fan of ITM. I saw it live during SOI and it's less than impressive. It looks even worse now in slow motion. I hope they return to competition after this break because this show skating sucks."

      With the caveat that I wouldn't judge them based on programs they created for a summer where she was likely going to be pregnant, I tend to agree that I'm not going to be satisfied by show skating from them. I think they were the types that needed the challenge of the rules to show how they could work within the rules yet still be creative. I actually think the freedom of exhibitions is just going to manifest itself as lift-fests to pretty music, like 99% of other ice dancers.

      Delete
    5. I've always hated these costumes, but I was actually pleasantly surprised to see them used for this number. I think it fits the song lyrics (very gypsy and whimsical), and program perfectly. Far better than the previous ambiguous look and too bright dress for the floaty softness they're trying to portray. The program has it's moments, but it's not my favorite Ex of theirs, by far. However, I agree with "I wouldn't judge them based on programs they created for a summer where she was likely going to be pregnant", and hoping this has a lot to do with it, as I've loved many previous Ex performances of theirs. That said, I'm still hoping they stick around competitively for a bit, as I feel they still have more to offer, if they can do it.

      Delete
  45. its glaringly obvious everything on that blog is made up. they have stolen/hijacked fan narratives.

    ReplyDelete
  46. "Oh God, the magical transportation portal strikes again (kudos to whoever came up with that one, btw)"
    Haha, thanks... I actually was coming in here to comment on this as soon as I saw the pic, but you beat me to it. I also like how that picture is captioned. The picture may imply they're sitting far apart, but the caption reads as "couple, who are friends of mine".

    ReplyDelete
  47. What was the caption?

    ReplyDelete
  48. I called Tessa not tweeting from China. Does she think that we don't know she still exists because she's in a foreign country or something?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is no access to Twitter in China as the government has it blocked. Tessa therefore can't tweet from China.

      Delete
  49. http://ww2.sinaimg.cn/mw690/6af1d4ecjw1eirrzhsea8j20xc0m8n4e.jpg

    I triple-dog dare someone to tell me that's not a baby bump.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aaw, hello Baby Moir. At least Little Moir will have someone who knows exactly what she has to go through now. Like I always say to my siblings, "we're the only people who understand what it was like to be brought up in that dysfunction."

      Delete
  50. Our Silk Way. With Stef, Zhenya, Tati, Scott & Tess.
    thanks maestro @edvinmarton for this photo shoots! #figureskating #friends #best #cast #artistryonice #artistryonice2014 #icedance #iceshow #lambiel #plushenko #virtuemoir #volosozhartrankov #teamcanada #teamrussia #swiss #onthebus #china #shanghai #trip
    (From his Instagram)

    ReplyDelete