My new (pretend) best friend

Last week I had no idea who the hell Johnny Weir was. It just so happens I was flipping through an Entertainment Weekly during jury duty when I read a blurb recommending the new reality show "Be Good Johnny Weir". I set up the DVR and forgot about it. As things go, my smart little machine also recorded the documentary "Johnny Weir: Popstar on Ice". Last week I sat down unprepared to commit 90 minutes to the feature but started it anyway. And then I finished it.

Like most Americans, I care about figure skating/skaters once every 4 years. And even then, I don't care very much. Until I met Johnny Weir! Weir is a flamboyant, bitchy, funky, emotional, fun-spirited, breath of fresh air that provides the young, urban, hip demographic instant access to the mostly stodgy world of figure skating. Weir is somewhat controversial to the sport because he has a personality and he is unapologetically always himself. He embraces his feminine side (who doesn't look fruity when they skate? Fo' real!), he speaks his mind (hilariously offending the very easily shocked), and he loves Russia and Russian skaters despite being an American (my word!).

The documentary is well made, and I bet the majority of people walk out a Johnny Weir fan! Also, as a good documentary should, Weir was so relatable. He is a natural talent who easily took the gold earlier in his career, but then he hit a rough patch. His struggles allowed his main competitors to catch up to him and start beating him in competition. After a disappointing showing at the 2006 Winter games, the now 25 year old is vying for his place in the 2010 Olympics for the last time in his career and I will be glued to the TV rooting my guts out!

I'd like to think that I have a lot in common with Johnny Weir. Unlike him, I have never been labeled a phenomenal talent and made my mark on my industry as he has. But I adore that Weir works his ass off and although he doesn't always win, he keeps trying every single time like he will. His determination, passion, and work ethic combined with his struggles and frustrations ring amazingly true. Even under intense scrutiny, Weir does not compromise who he is for anyone despite the "experts" criticisms. He boldly self-labels himself as more of an artist than an athlete in a category where most people are athletes more than artists.

I so want Johnny to win. I want him to get everything that he's striving so hard to achieve and I want it to end up being worth it.