Kwan Sightings
OperettaJK
visible events this week. She attended the "Pearl Harbor" premier in Hawaii
with her boyfriend, Brad Ference. There is a picture of them online:
http://www.ezuma.com/details.htm...Fo05%5F096
That picture is the first picture of them together. It caused a minor
earthquake in the MK Forum. :-) Her picture at the premier is also in this
week's Peopel magazine with Niki Taylor on the cover. She's alone in that
picture.
She's also shown in today's Lakers game (yeah, it's a Lakers game. Spurs didn't
show up. :-)). NBC showed her during their obligated celebrity sighting segment
in a Lakers game. They introduced her as "champion figure skater Michelle
Kwan". I heard it when I was in another room. When I rushed back, it's over.
Tying these sightings with our constant discussions about marketability and
visibility: Michelle seems to have achieved a general celebrity status that's
above just a figure skater. I think there are several reasons for it:
1. She's the sole star of a highly visible sport. There's no one else in figure
skating competing for spotlight. Her nearest compititor is a Russian who can't
compete for spotlight with her in the US. Michelle has also been in the
spotlight for such a long time that no one else has the following as she does.
All the baby balletinas are too new on the scene. As an eligible going into the
Olympics that will be held in the US in 10 months, she will continue to
dominate spotlight.
2. Geography helps. She has the advantage of growing up in S. Cal. and now
living in a neighborhood that's full of S. Californian sport elites. It's also
a stone throw away from Hollywood. All the shoulder-rubbing generates
visibility. This is not the first time she's shown in a sporting event. She's
shown on TV during past Lakers, Kings and Mighty Ducks games.
3. Her Disney connection apparently ensures a lot of invitations to premiers
and other events ("Pearl Harbor" is a Disney film). These appearances, in turn,
creates pictures in magazines and more visibility.
I haven't heard her signing with any PR firms. Yet, she seems to get publicity
left and right without the help of a publicist.
Jas
Ronald Narciso
news:20010527233609...@nso-fa.aol.com...
> It has not been mentioned here, Michelle Kwan was sighted in several
highly
> visible events this week. She attended the "Pearl Harbor" premier in
Hawaii
> with her boyfriend, Brad Ference. There is a picture of them online:
>
> http://www.ezuma.com/details.htm...Fo05%5F096
>
> That picture is the first picture of them together. It caused a minor
> earthquake in the MK Forum. :-) Her picture at the premier is also in this
> week's Peopel magazine with Niki Taylor on the cover. She's alone in that
> picture.
[...]
For some reason, Jas's link didn't work for me, but I was able to find the
pic of Michelle and her boyfriend here:
http://www.ezuma.com/details.html?id=20010521%5Fkwa%5Fo05%5F096
Interestingly, the caption identifies the couple as "actor Michelle Kwan and
Brad" :)
There are several other pictures of "actor" Michelle at the "Pearl Harbor"
premiere on the eZuma.com site. She looks great.
Ronald
--
Ronald Narciso =============== rnarc...@worldnet.att.not
(replace 'not' with 'net' in the above e-mail address to reply to me)
Dasha K.
OperettaJK wrote in message
<20010527233609...@nso-fa.aol.com>...
>It has not been mentioned here, Michelle Kwan was sighted in several highly
>visible events this week. She attended the "Pearl Harbor" premier in Hawaii
>with her boyfriend, Brad Ference. There is a picture of them online:
>
ages older than her.
Dasha
Ruth Lafler
OperettaJK wrote:
> It has not been mentioned here, Michelle Kwan was sighted in several highly
> visible events this week. She attended the "Pearl Harbor" premier in Hawaii
> with her boyfriend, Brad Ference. There is a picture of them online:
>
> http://www.ezuma.com/details.htm...Fo05%5F096
That link is incomplete ... try this:
<http://www.ezuma.com/details.html?id=20010521%5Fkwa%5Fo05%5F096>
I didn't realize she had a "boyfriend" -- gee, he's a foot taller than she is!
> That picture is the first picture of them together. It caused a minor
> earthquake in the MK Forum. :-) Her picture at the premier is also in this
> week's Peopel magazine with Niki Taylor on the cover. She's alone in that
> picture.
>
> She's also shown in today's Lakers game (yeah, it's a Lakers game. Spurs didn't
> show up. :-)). NBC showed her during their obligated celebrity sighting segment
> in a Lakers game. They introduced her as "champion figure skater Michelle
> Kwan". I heard it when I was in another room. When I rushed back, it's over.
>
> Tying these sightings with our constant discussions about marketability and
> visibility: Michelle seems to have achieved a general celebrity status that's
> above just a figure skater. I think there are several reasons for it:
>
> <snip>
>
> 3. Her Disney connection apparently ensures a lot of invitations to premiers
> and other events ("Pearl Harbor" is a Disney film). These appearances, in turn,
> creates pictures in magazines and more visibility.
>
Not to mention ABC is owned by Disney, so they have lots of reasons to give her
free publicity.
> I haven't heard her signing with any PR firms. Yet, she seems to get publicity
> left and right without the help of a publicist.
Since she's stayed eligible, she's benefitted from the long-term ABC/Disney
connection promoting her as part of their promotion of their own product (figure
skating broadcasts). I think it's working very well for both of them. Among other
things, it allows her to maintain a high profile while seeming to be above
self-promotion ... we like that in our star athletes, especially the young female
ones. In return, they get an extremely appealing star to use in promoting their
product. In fact, over the years they've almost built Michelle into a brand <g>.
They've made her synonymous not only with figure skating (think of all the "skating
in strange places" reference here that use Kwan's name to embody skating), but with
the perfect competitor as well: bright, charming, gracious, talented, beautiful,
and, of course, successful.
--Ruth
PosterBoy
"Dasha K." <das...@visi.com> wrote in message
news:7ekQ6.4148$Dd5.1...@ruti.visi.com...
>
> OperettaJK wrote in message
> <20010527233609...@nso-fa.aol.com>...
> >It has not been mentioned here, Michelle Kwan was sighted in several
highly
> >visible events this week. She attended the "Pearl Harbor" premier in
Hawaii
> >with her boyfriend, Brad Ference. There is a picture of them online:
> >
> Just out of curiosity, how old is he?
This mature young Canadian hockey player celebrated his 22nd birthday
last month, I believe.
Cheers.
Locutus of Borg
>Just out of curiosity, how old is he? Maybe it's the picture, but he looks
>ages older than her.
Amazing detectives on the MKForum have found the lad's hockey bio. IIRC, he's
born in 1979. MK was born in 1980. That's not much older, when you get down to
it.
I think the kid (MK) has a wicked sense of humor and it shows in the expression
that photo, almost as if anticipating the way overboard well-wishes the pic
would generate. Talk about running with a concept. ;^) Some fans need to calm
down. Yeah, I know, that's my flight of fancy (the anticipation of the reaction
thang...), but if Dick Button can know about the internet reaction to things...
Peg
27vfl00aml
Ruth Lafler
"Dasha K." wrote:
I'd never heard of him, so I looked him up on the internet: he's only just
turned 22 (DOB 4-2-1979). I think the serious expression and clean-cut style
make him look older. BTW, he's 6'3"/195.
--Ruth
Janice
>visibility: Michelle seems to have achieved a general celebrity status that's
>above just a figure skater.
She was a "fastest finger question" on Millionaire last week. Of course, that
may be because of the Disney tie-in, too. Then again, maybe the "ffq" writer
is a fan?
Janice
Will work for skating tickets.
"Just can't trust a man with a stolen thumb." Ms. Parker (The Pretender)
Locutus of Borg
>Tying these sightings with our constant discussions about marketability and
>visibility: Michelle seems to have achieved a general celebrity status that's
>above just a figure skater. I think there are several reasons for it:
<snip speculation>
[SARCASM ALERT]
Gee, I thought it was an insidious plot between USAToday, ABC, ESPN, Disney,
the USOC, the Evil Kwan Puppeteer, and space aliens masquerading as human
beings, all building an elaborate charade about feigned sportsmanship and
hidden evil motivations, techical content achieved through mirrors and computer
animation, and dubious unentitled gold-colored costuming choices.
Oh, yeah, and manufacturing a boot problem to overcome before insidiously
unnerving her nearest competitor before the free skate at worlds 2001 by
receiving too big an ovation, obviously manufactured by planted for-hire
cheerers in the audience, to disorient the poor frail girl.
Peg, who would duck and run but rolled her eyes too hard and got dizzy and
careened into a wall instead due to the strain of regurgitating so many
fervently held conspiracy theories in one post
27vfl00aml
OperettaJK
writes:
From what I heard, he's 22, just over a year older than Michelle. He's a hocky
player who is trying to make it in the Panthers. An injury last year prevented
him from making the team.
Jas
OperettaJK
<bra...@bigfoot.com> writes:
> This mature young Canadian hockey player celebrated his 22nd birthday
>last month, I believe.
>
>Cheers.
I trust his being Canadian must enhance your opinion of Michelle even more, PB?
:-)
Jas
OperettaJK
writes:
>I didn't realize she had a "boyfriend" -- gee, he's a foot taller than she is!
Last year, she said in an interview that she had a boyfriend. She said he's not
a figure skater and he's not living in S. Cal. but she declined to give more
information. (At that time, a RSSIF troll said it must be a smoke screen
created by her handlers.) Speculation is that they met last summer. It seems
he trains in S. Cal. during off-season. Apparently, she felt it's okay to go
public now.
>Not to mention ABC is owned by Disney, so they have lots of reasons to give
>her free publicity.
Today's Lakers game was shown on NBC, not ABC.
>> I haven't heard her signing with any PR firms. Yet, she seems to get
publicity
>> left and right without the help of a publicist.
>
>Since she's stayed eligible, she's benefitted from the long-term ABC/Disney
>connection promoting her as part of their promotion of their own product
(figure
>skating broadcasts). I think it's working very well for both of them. Among
>other things, it allows her to maintain a high profile while seeming to be
above
>self-promotion ... we like that in our star athletes, especially the young
>female ones. In return, they get an extremely appealing star to use in
promoting
>their product. In fact, over the years they've almost built Michelle into a
brand
><g>. They've made her synonymous not only with figure skating (think of all
the
>"skating in strange places" reference here that use Kwan's name to embody
>skating), but with the perfect competitor as well: bright, charming, gracious,
>talented, beautiful, and, of course, successful.
Yes, from marketing standpoint, it works out well for both of them. Don't
forget, Disney also owns the all powerful ESPN.
Jas
SIPAAMS
>I think the serious expression and clean-cut style
>make him look older. BTW, he's 6'3"/195.
Well you would think he would look a little more cheerful to be dating someone
like Michelle!! ; )
Alison
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love one another as I have loved you. - J.C.
Tracy Johnson
> Jas:
>
> >Tying these sightings with our constant discussions about marketability and
> >visibility: Michelle seems to have achieved a general celebrity status that's
> >above just a figure skater. I think there are several reasons for it:
>
> <snip speculation>
>
> Peg, who would duck and run but rolled her eyes too hard and got dizzy and
> careened into a wall instead due to the strain of regurgitating so many
> fervently held conspiracy theories in one post
*Conspiracy theories*? Gee, we must've read two very different posts.
Tracy
Frances Devine
this was their first (for the public) picture together. Michelle looked very
happy.
Frances
>snip>
Frances Devine
knew the effect the picture would have on her fans. (And we don't miss much)
:-)
Frances
Frances Devine
quite nicely, then the little barbs started, didn't they. Or maybe, do you
think we could be over-reacting?
Frances
Pat C
He probably is, he's scared to death of the media attention. <g>
Wouldn't you be?
Pat C
Skatephile
>Last year, she said in an interview that she had a boyfriend. She said he's
>not
>a figure skater and he's not living in S. Cal. but she declined to give more
>information.
F.Y.I., Kwan said this in the _Sports Illustrated for Women_ article by E. M.
Swift, which took place around Thanksgiving and was published before U.S.
Nationals in Boston.
--Sylvia
Skate...@aol.com
Ruth Lafler
Frances Devine wrote:
> ROTFL. Good one, Peg. Actually, I thought at first the thread was going
> quite nicely, then the little barbs started, didn't they. Or maybe, do you
> think we could be over-reacting?
>
<scratching head> I didn't see any barbs. Since when is it criticism to note that
two parties have a mutually beneficial relationship that doesn't come at the cost
of anyone? Or did I miss something? Or are some posters reacting on the
*assumption* that when people take note of the fact that an athlete has acquired
some of the trappings of celebrity that they are being critical? Personally, I
thought the comments ranged from judgment-neutral to complimentary -- certainly
mine were meant to be a positive assessment of the way the Disney/ABC/Kwan
connection has worked for all parties.
--Ruth
Ruth Lafler
OperettaJK wrote:
> In article <3B11D2F8...@home.com>, Ruth Lafler <rlaf...@home.com>
> writes:
>
> >I didn't realize she had a "boyfriend" -- gee, he's a foot taller than she is!
>
> Last year, she said in an interview that she had a boyfriend. She said he's not
> a figure skater and he's not living in S. Cal. but she declined to give more
> information. (At that time, a RSSIF troll said it must be a smoke screen
> created by her handlers.) Speculation is that they met last summer. It seems
> he trains in S. Cal. during off-season. Apparently, she felt it's okay to go
> public now.
>
> >Not to mention ABC is owned by Disney, so they have lots of reasons to give
> >her free publicity.
>
> Today's Lakers game was shown on NBC, not ABC.
>
I know. I was trying to make the point that even if Disney didn't have a direct
relationship with Kwan through the specials, they have an interest in promoting her
by reason of the fact that she's one of the biggest sports stars on ABC (figure
skating being a marquee sport on ABC, since they don't have baseball, basketball,
etc.).
Kwan is also the perfect Disney celebrity: she's young, bright, personable, and she
appeals to their complete family target audience. A journalist friend of mine who
was at Nagano said that everyone in the press conference after the ladies event
wished they had a daughter like Michelle. That's very much an image Disney wants to
be associated with.
--Ruth <who apparently has to explain that these comments are meant to be
complimentary to both Kwan and Disney and all it's corporate subsidiaries>
DG511
writes:
>I think he was squinting, and he also seemed very tense to me. After all,
>this was their first (for the public) picture together. Michelle looked very
>happy.
>
I'm glad she's got someone, and for a variety of reasons. I think some of us
have worried a bit about the extent of her life outside of skating, and a
significant other is a nice proof of that, as well as being a happy distraction
for her. Also, and pardon me for being monomaniacal here, it certainly didn't
hurt Irina's motivation when she fell in love. Maybe Michelle will be
similarly inspired.
Daria
WIsil
the first to say - Congratulations! I hope she is very happy.
-Wendy
"Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little, cheep cheep cheep,
talk a lot, pick a little more!"
The ladies of River City
Locutus of Borg
>complimentary to both Kwan and Disney and all it's corporate subsidiaries>
Sometimes a gal can read too many conspiracy theories and lose track of who is
sincere, who is demented, and who is just plain ol' poking fun at lunatics. ;^)
That fact that my own poking fun at a specific target audience wasn't at all
clear led me to cancel a post to this thread.
Peg
27vfl00aml
Locutus of Borg
>Frances Devine wrote:
>
>> ROTFL. Good one, Peg.
:::blush::: Thanks. I thought I had cancelled that quickly enough, but I know
that not all servers honor cancellation requests. I'm glad someone understood
the target of the jab.
> Actually, I thought at first the thread was going
>> quite nicely, then the little barbs started, didn't they. Or maybe, do you
>> think we could be over-reacting?
Never! ;^)
><scratching head> I didn't see any barbs.
Well, there is a wonderland on the 'net that features the theories I quoted
(more than less), avidly shared among several posting names. I could not resist
mocking those wild theories in the face of a perfectly reasonable analysis by
Jas. And then I realized that folks who never read posts in that
wonderland/alternate reality wouldn't understand the point of my sarcasm...
hence the attempt at cancellation.
>Since when is it criticism to note
>that
>two parties have a mutually beneficial relationship that doesn't come at the
>cost
>of anyone? Or did I miss something?
Yeah. And be glad you have missed it. It's scarey.
> Or are some posters reacting on the
>*assumption* that when people take note of the fact that an athlete has
>acquired
>some of the trappings of celebrity that they are being critical? Personally,
>I
>thought the comments ranged from judgment-neutral to complimentary --
>certainly
>mine were meant to be a positive assessment of the way the Disney/ABC/Kwan
>connection has worked for all parties.
>
>--Ruth
The problem with saracasm is when it whooshes by the audience, it goes over
like a lead balloon. Sorry 'bout that.
Peg
27vfl00aml
Frances Devine
Please accept my apology. I guess we see so much criticism of Michelle from
time to time on here that sometimes I see it when it's not there. I think
I'm a fan, but maybe it sounds more like I'm a fanatic. Hmmm. maybe I am.
:-)
Actually, I'm a grannie who tends to "grannie" all the young people.
Frances
Frances Devine
sure did.
Frances
> From: dg...@aol.compelling (DG511)
> Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
> Newsgroups: rec.sport.skating.ice.figure
> Date: 28 May 2001 19:10:24 GMT
> Subject: Re: Kwan Sightings
>
Ruth Lafler
Locutus of Borg wrote:
> Ruth:
>
>
> ><scratching head> I didn't see any barbs.
> Well, there is a wonderland on the 'net that features the theories I quoted
> (more than less), avidly shared among several posting names. I could not resist
> mocking those wild theories in the face of a perfectly reasonable analysis by
> Jas. And then I realized that folks who never read posts in that
> wonderland/alternate reality wouldn't understand the point of my sarcasm...
> hence the attempt at cancellation.
>
> >Since when is it criticism to note
> >that
> >two parties have a mutually beneficial relationship that doesn't come at the
> >cost
> >of anyone? Or did I miss something?
>
> Yeah. And be glad you have missed it. It's scarey.
>
>
> The problem with saracasm is when it whooshes by the audience, it goes over
> like a lead balloon. Sorry 'bout that.
>
Glad we cleared up the confusion!
--Ruth
michael farris
DG511 wrote:
> pardon me for being monomaniacal here, it certainly didn't
> hurt Irina's motivation when she fell in love. Maybe Michelle will be
> similarly inspired.
Or maybe she'll fall apart on the ice a la Debi Thomas? (let's keep things in
perspective)
-mike farris
Carla Hashman
of us have worried a bit about the extent of her life outside of
skating, and a significant other is a nice proof of that, as well as
being a happy distraction for her. Also, and pardon me for being
monomaniacal here, it certainly didn't hurt Irina's motivation when she
fell in love. Maybe Michelle will be similarly inspired.>>
Daria
I am one of Irina's supporters, and I too thought of this. I am glad
to hear that Michelle is behaving in her personal life in a manner that
is appropriate for her age. This will serve her better than any
publicity agent.
Carla
Patti Cassalia
> Or maybe she'll fall apart on the ice a la Debi Thomas? (let's keep things in
> perspective)
Considering Michelle has been involved with Brad for nearly a year now,
she certainly didn't fall apart on the ice at Worlds.
Patti
bagelpuss
> OperettaJK wrote in message
> <20010527233609...@nso-fa.aol.com>...
> > Just out of curiosity, how old is he? Maybe it's the picture, but he looks
> ages older than her.
>
> Dasha
Maybe it's just me, but he kinda looks constipated in that photo.
--bagelpuss, who intends no disrespect toward either Brad or Michelle,
but thinks Michelle should feed him some prunes
Althealeo
>She was a "fastest finger question" on Millionaire last week. Of course,
that may be because of the Disney tie-in, too. Then again, maybe the "ffq"
writer is a fan?>>
I think it's impossible for me to tell how 'famous' Kwan (or any skater) is.
Famous enough so my mother knows her -- but not so famous as, say, Tiger Woods.
More famous than, say, whoever the top woman's golfer is, because more people
at least casually follow skating than women's golf....but perhaps just
marginally less famous than, say, Venus Williams. But that's just a guess.
Famous enough to be a fastest finger question, but not so famous that everyone
would get the answer, I guess.
Didn't Kwan at one point indicate that Brad Pitt didn't know who she was?
Which I found really surprising, but....When you get so immersed in a sport,
it's so easy for you (meaning me) to assume that everyone knows basic details.
-- Kate
Althealeo
nicely, then the little barbs started, didn't they. Or maybe, do you think we
could be over-reacting?
>
This truly amazes me. Goodness, what little barbs? Ruth and Jas are
tremendous Kwan fans. Have I missed posts from people who dislike Kwan? Or is
there something inherently insulting about saying that Disney/ABC is delighted
that it has such a marketable -- in a very *good* way -- person with whom to
work?
This thread has been a celebration of Kwan. She's successful, she's
marketable, she's a great skater, people are delighted that she looks so happy,
she looked *great* at the premiere -- please, I want people to throw such
conversational 'little barbs' at me. :)
-- Kate
Althealeo
nicely, then the little barbs started, didn't they. Or maybe, do you think we
could be over-reacting?>>
Okay, I'm still confused after reading the whole thread over, but that's okay.
I sense sarcasm flying right over my head, but it sure wouldn't be the first
time. It's like there's an airport right over to my right on some days. . :)
:)
-- Kate
Janice
>Which I found really surprising, but....When you get so immersed in a sport,
>it's so easy for you (meaning me) to assume that everyone knows basic
>details.
>
>
>-- Kate
I think it was Leonardo DiCaprio. I was rather surprised, too, but then again,
I don't know how much of a "life" outside of the business actors really have.
Janice
Will work for skating tickets.
"Just can't trust a man with a stolen thumb." Ms. Parker (The Pretender)
shallah
then again,
> I don't know how much of a "life" outside of the business actors
really have.
>
> Janice
It was Leo and it was pre-olys. He might know who she is by now ;-)
Take the MKFans Ecology Fund Group 1 Million sq. ft. Challenge!
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michael farris
Patti Cassalia wrote:
Yeah, but we don't wanna tempt you-know-who. (hint: anagram of 'steakdogs')
-mike farris