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Front Page, Industry News
Figure skating show better than the Leafs
Wednesday October 21st 2009Kudos to the former National Hockey League players who signed on to participate in CBC-TV’s new reality series, Battle of the Blades.
Although the series is only a few weeks old, it has already succeeded in quashing the unfortunate stereotype long associated with male figure skaters. All it took was for eight of the most recognizable players in recent NHL history – including former tough guys Tie Domi, Bob Probert and Claude Lemieux – to don figure skates and ice dance their way into Canadians’ living rooms, albeit with a partner who herself had once skated on the world or Olympic stage not that many years ago.
It’s surreal to watch the likes of Domi and Lemieux turning pirouettes, hoisting their partners high above their heads, and keeping in time with their musical selections, but theKudos to the former National Hockey League players who signed on to participate in CBC-TV’s new reality series, Battle of the Blades.
Although the series is only a few weeks old, it has already succeeded in quashing the unfortunate stereotype long associated with male figure skaters. All it took was for eight of the most recognizable players in recent NHL history – including former tough guys Tie Domi, Bob Probert and Claude Lemieux – to don figure skates and ice dance their way into Canadians’ living rooms, albeit with a partner who herself had once skated on the world or Olympic stage not that many years ago.y’re pulling it off as if they know what they’re doing. In another life, each of them could have been figure skaters.
So far, Domi has yet to lace up a pair of figure skates, choosing instead to go with his more familiar hockey blades. The others have adapted quite well to the unfamiliar boots and have learned to keep those tricky toe picks out of harm’s way. If Domi can continue to score well with the show’s judges and the Canadian viewing audience whose votes count most, perhaps he, too, will switch over to figure skates before the show runs its course.
No one’s going to make fun of Domi, Probert or Lemieux for taking a turn at figure skating in front of a national audience . . . at least not to their faces. And when Don Cherry is thrown into the mix as one of the competition’s guest judges, the macho factor injected into the sport has gone off the scale. This might be just the thing needed to boost male participation in Canadian figure skating and forever remove that unfortunate stigma. If Battle of the Blades is renewed for another season and perhaps beyond, there’s no telling how popular the sport could become from the male perspective.
The marriage between hockey and figure skating is a winning recipe that appears to be translating into big ratings for the CBC. I normally abhor reality shows, but this one is unique enough to have caught my attention and, so far, it has kept it. It’s considerably more entertaining than watching the Toronto Maple Leafs play. At least the participants aren’t falling all over themselves. And the female participants aren’t hard on the eyes, either.
There is some unintentional humour in the show. Former New Jersey Devil Ken Daneyko, for example, looks like a bull in a china shop. He’s not exactly oozing gracefulness, but he deserves full marks for just taking part in this show. Hopefully he doesn’t inadvertently lumber into his partner and end her career.
Former journeyman Stephane Richer is much lighter on his feet and seems to have naturally adapted to the sport. Amazingly, he was on the brink of elimination only a week ago.
Seriously, if you enjoy speed and action on the ice, you’re much better off tuning into Battle of the Blades on Sunday nights than watching Leafs telecasts Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada. As a lifelong Leaf fan, I haven’t been able to stomach a full game so far this season, and I’m finding figure skating to be much more uplifting.
Besides, you’ll still get to see and hear Cherry every now and then in all his fashion-challenged glory.
Source: Canoe
Front Page, Industry News
Figure skating show better than the Leafs
Wednesday October 21st 2009Kudos to the former National Hockey League players who signed on to participate in CBC-TV’s new reality series, Battle of the Blades.
Although the series is only a few weeks old, it has already succeeded in quashing the unfortunate stereotype long associated with male figure skaters. All it took was for eight of the most recognizable players in recent NHL history – including former tough guys Tie Domi, Bob Probert and Claude Lemieux – to don figure skates and ice dance their way into Canadians’ living rooms, albeit with a partner who herself had once skated on the world or Olympic stage not that many years ago.
It’s surreal to watch the likes of Domi and Lemieux turning pirouettes, hoisting their partners high above their heads, and keeping in time with their musical selections, but theKudos to the former National Hockey League players who signed on to participate in CBC-TV’s new reality series, Battle of the Blades.
Although the series is only a few weeks old, it has already succeeded in quashing the unfortunate stereotype long associated with male figure skaters. All it took was for eight of the most recognizable players in recent NHL history – including former tough guys Tie Domi, Bob Probert and Claude Lemieux – to don figure skates and ice dance their way into Canadians’ living rooms, albeit with a partner who herself had once skated on the world or Olympic stage not that many years ago.y’re pulling it off as if they know what they’re doing. In another life, each of them could have been figure skaters.
So far, Domi has yet to lace up a pair of figure skates, choosing instead to go with his more familiar hockey blades. The others have adapted quite well to the unfamiliar boots and have learned to keep those tricky toe picks out of harm’s way. If Domi can continue to score well with the show’s judges and the Canadian viewing audience whose votes count most, perhaps he, too, will switch over to figure skates before the show runs its course.
No one’s going to make fun of Domi, Probert or Lemieux for taking a turn at figure skating in front of a national audience . . . at least not to their faces. And when Don Cherry is thrown into the mix as one of the competition’s guest judges, the macho factor injected into the sport has gone off the scale. This might be just the thing needed to boost male participation in Canadian figure skating and forever remove that unfortunate stigma. If Battle of the Blades is renewed for another season and perhaps beyond, there’s no telling how popular the sport could become from the male perspective.
The marriage between hockey and figure skating is a winning recipe that appears to be translating into big ratings for the CBC. I normally abhor reality shows, but this one is unique enough to have caught my attention and, so far, it has kept it. It’s considerably more entertaining than watching the Toronto Maple Leafs play. At least the participants aren’t falling all over themselves. And the female participants aren’t hard on the eyes, either.
There is some unintentional humour in the show. Former New Jersey Devil Ken Daneyko, for example, looks like a bull in a china shop. He’s not exactly oozing gracefulness, but he deserves full marks for just taking part in this show. Hopefully he doesn’t inadvertently lumber into his partner and end her career.
Former journeyman Stephane Richer is much lighter on his feet and seems to have naturally adapted to the sport. Amazingly, he was on the brink of elimination only a week ago.
Seriously, if you enjoy speed and action on the ice, you’re much better off tuning into Battle of the Blades on Sunday nights than watching Leafs telecasts Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada. As a lifelong Leaf fan, I haven’t been able to stomach a full game so far this season, and I’m finding figure skating to be much more uplifting.
Besides, you’ll still get to see and hear Cherry every now and then in all his fashion-challenged glory.
Source: Canoe
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Front Page, Industry News
Figure skating show better than the Leafs
Wednesday October 21st 2009Kudos to the former National Hockey League players who signed on to participate in CBC-TV’s new reality series, Battle of the Blades.
Although the series is only a few weeks old, it has already succeeded in quashing the unfortunate stereotype long associated with male figure skaters. All it took was for eight of the most recognizable players in recent NHL history – including former tough guys Tie Domi, Bob Probert and Claude Lemieux – to don figure skates and ice dance their way into Canadians’ living rooms, albeit with a partner who herself had once skated on the world or Olympic stage not that many years ago.
It’s surreal to watch the likes of Domi and Lemieux turning pirouettes, hoisting their partners high above their heads, and keeping in time with their musical selections, but theKudos to the former National Hockey League players who signed on to participate in CBC-TV’s new reality series, Battle of the Blades.
Although the series is only a few weeks old, it has already succeeded in quashing the unfortunate stereotype long associated with male figure skaters. All it took was for eight of the most recognizable players in recent NHL history – including former tough guys Tie Domi, Bob Probert and Claude Lemieux – to don figure skates and ice dance their way into Canadians’ living rooms, albeit with a partner who herself had once skated on the world or Olympic stage not that many years ago.y’re pulling it off as if they know what they’re doing. In another life, each of them could have been figure skaters.
So far, Domi has yet to lace up a pair of figure skates, choosing instead to go with his more familiar hockey blades. The others have adapted quite well to the unfamiliar boots and have learned to keep those tricky toe picks out of harm’s way. If Domi can continue to score well with the show’s judges and the Canadian viewing audience whose votes count most, perhaps he, too, will switch over to figure skates before the show runs its course.
No one’s going to make fun of Domi, Probert or Lemieux for taking a turn at figure skating in front of a national audience . . . at least not to their faces. And when Don Cherry is thrown into the mix as one of the competition’s guest judges, the macho factor injected into the sport has gone off the scale. This might be just the thing needed to boost male participation in Canadian figure skating and forever remove that unfortunate stigma. If Battle of the Blades is renewed for another season and perhaps beyond, there’s no telling how popular the sport could become from the male perspective.
The marriage between hockey and figure skating is a winning recipe that appears to be translating into big ratings for the CBC. I normally abhor reality shows, but this one is unique enough to have caught my attention and, so far, it has kept it. It’s considerably more entertaining than watching the Toronto Maple Leafs play. At least the participants aren’t falling all over themselves. And the female participants aren’t hard on the eyes, either.
There is some unintentional humour in the show. Former New Jersey Devil Ken Daneyko, for example, looks like a bull in a china shop. He’s not exactly oozing gracefulness, but he deserves full marks for just taking part in this show. Hopefully he doesn’t inadvertently lumber into his partner and end her career.
Former journeyman Stephane Richer is much lighter on his feet and seems to have naturally adapted to the sport. Amazingly, he was on the brink of elimination only a week ago.
Seriously, if you enjoy speed and action on the ice, you’re much better off tuning into Battle of the Blades on Sunday nights than watching Leafs telecasts Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada. As a lifelong Leaf fan, I haven’t been able to stomach a full game so far this season, and I’m finding figure skating to be much more uplifting.
Besides, you’ll still get to see and hear Cherry every now and then in all his fashion-challenged glory.
Source: Canoe
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