• "The Portlandian" - February 16, 2021 edition

    From Terry Hall@21:1/5 to All on Wed Feb 17 21:20:39 2021
    XPost: alt.fan.tonya-harding

    TTTTT H H EEEEE
    T H H E
    T HHHHH EEEEE
    T H H E
    T H H EEEEE

    PPPP OOOO RRRR TTTTT L A N N DDDD I A N N TM
    P P O O R R T L A A NN N D D I A A NN N
    PPPP O O RRRR T L AAAAA N N N D D I AAAAA N N N
    P O O R R T L A A N NN D D I A A N NN
    P OOOO R R T LLLLL A A N N DDDD I A A N N

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    The Portlandian, the Internet's premier source of Tonya News

    February 16, 2021 Edition - SPECIAL TRIPLE AXEL DAY TRIBUTE ISSUE
    (C) 2021 Portland Ice Skating Society
    http://www.pdxiss.org *****************************************************************

    It's safe to say that 2020 is not going to be remembered as a
    vintage year. It got off to a bad start with Sarah Palin dressed
    in a pink bear suit rapping about men's butts. And then it just
    went downhill from there. Perhaps it is appropriate that it ended
    with the collapse of the Arecibo radio telescope, a fitting way
    to finish off one of the crappest years in decades. You thought
    2016 was a stinker with all those old 20th-Century pop-culture
    icons kicking the bucket? It now looks like a warmup for
    something much worse.

    I think that Tonya's sweatshirt pretty much says it all about how
    we feel about last year:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJfEL8qnmVP/

    2021 hasn't got off to a great start either with the riot at the
    Capitol in Washington DC. Still, that at least had an upside for
    Tonyaphiles, serving to distract attention from the 27th
    anniversary of a certain "incident" in Detroit on that day in
    1994.

    But today we have a reason to celebrate: for today is the
    anniversary of one of the greatest moments in both figure skating
    and in Tonya history - the 30th anniversary of Tonya's landing of
    the triple axel in 1991. We'll be marking this special occasion
    by looking back at that moment, and with our second Tonya Quiz,
    so that you can see just how much of a Tonyaphile you really are.


    LEAPING INTO HISTORY

    Skating to an eclectic mixture of music consisting of the theme
    from the film Batman, "Send in the Clowns" and Tone Loc's "Wild
    Thing", in a routine devised by her long-time choreographer
    Barbara Flowers, Tonya landed the triple axel about 45 seconds
    into her Long Program at the Target Center in Minneapolis on this
    day in 1991. This feat, the first by an American woman and only
    the second in the world after Midori Ito of Japan, resulted in
    her winning her first National title and becoming the first
    American female skater to receive a 6.0 for technical merit since
    Janet Lynn's U.S. Nationals performance in 1973. She also
    received a standing ovation from the crowd.

    We've found what appears to be the cleanest version on line, but
    is lacking the scores - note how it has had over 3 million views
    in three years:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8xdflx1Q0s

    - with the Kiss & Cry, but with annoying tracking problems:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xP6aHaCKh0&t=300

    If you want to know why this is a big deal, this video explains
    why:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rOQv_6L9fQ

    This achievement was so significant that as of 2020, only 12
    women have successfully completed this jump in international
    competition. No other U.S. woman would land it again at the
    Nationals until Kimmie Meissner in 2005, and her landing was
    arguably dirty. When it came time to recreate this historic
    moment for the film "I, Tonya" in 2017, no suitable skating
    double could be found to replicate it, so a bit of digital
    trickery had to be employed to extend a double axel into a
    triple:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1VBv0mSFkE

    Or, to put it another way: if a triple Axel was a handgun, it
    would be a .44 Magnum. Which makes Tonya the Dirty Harry of
    figure skating. Do you feel lucky, punk?

    It was but one of seven triple jumps that Tonya would perform in
    that program, and also make her one of two women to complete six
    different triple jumps and a triple axel in the same program, the
    other being Midori Ito.

    The achievement got national coverage at the time, being reported
    in such major media as The New York Times, the L.A. Times and ABC
    news:

    https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/17/sports/figure-skating-harding-takes-singles-title.html

    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-17-sp-2217-story.html

    https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/video/feb-16-1991-figure-skater-tonya-harding-makes-52147063


    It also got local coverage. Here's how it was reported at the
    time by Tonya's hometown station of KATU:

    https://bangpdx.com/fpo/2017/12/07/katu-news-2-16-1991-tonyas-triple-axel/


    Announcer Al Michaels, who called the event, was reminded of his
    role while watching "I, Tonya" three years ago:

    https://www.indiewire.com/2018/01/i-tonya-al-michaels-triple-axel-announcer-1201916188/


    At the 1991 World Championships in Munich the following month,
    Tonya again landed another triple axel. Tonya would finish second
    behind Kristi Yamaguchi with Nancy Kerrigan coming in third,
    making this the first time a single nation had made a clean sweep
    of the Ladies podium at Worlds:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDcJQ1hZ32g

    At the 1991 Skate America competition in Oakland CA. in
    September, Tonya notched up three more firsts, becoming the first
    woman to complete a triple Axel in the short program, the first
    woman to successfully execute two triple Axels in a single
    competition, and the first to complete a triple Axel in
    combination (in this case, with a double toe-loop):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgBpDDjZAx8 (Short Program)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOP3Dj0DraQ (Long Program)

    Unfortunately, this would be the last time that Tonya would
    successfully land the triple axel in competition. She would try
    and fail at the 1992 Olympics, and did not attempt it at the
    Olympics in 1994. It would take until 2018 before an American
    woman would finally succeed at the Olympics in the form of Mirai
    Nagasu.

    Tonya was to perform Triple Axels in public only one more time:
    on an episode of "Inside Edition" in 1996. She did five takes,
    falling on one and landing dirty on the others. She later did
    another one live, also with a clumsy landing. Tonya herself last
    reported successfully landing them in practice in the Fall of
    2000, according to an interview on the now-defunct Internet radio
    station eyada.com in October that year. This is the last time
    that we are aware of Tonya successfully performing this jump.

    It's a moment that even many years on still brings Tonya close to
    tears, as seen in this 2018 interview.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KXbSiXcGw4

    Sad to say, the only place Tonya can perform a triple axel today
    is in her dreams. But nothing and nobody can take this history-
    making moment away from her. We hope that eventually Tonya will
    be given her rightful place in the Figure Skating Hall of Fame
    for this outstanding and amazing athletic achievement.


    OH DEER - IT'S TONYA!

    Tonya has posted a few other messages on Instagram since our last
    issue, these a bit less R-rated than the one above.

    In late November, Tonya shared this photo of herself at
    Thanksgiving. And I think we can be rest assured that turkey was
    cooked to perfection thanks to all of Chef Anne's training!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIEuAmTnsSB/

    Tonya also posted a couple of Christmas-themed photos as well.
    The first shows her attired in Christmas garb, posing with an
    illuminated deer:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJNOOvLnw3_/

    The second is of Tonya in a tight skirt, proving that even at 50,
    she's still got it:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJSmwWxnUVo/

    A roaring fire, Christmas decorations, and Tonya. What more do
    you need for a perfect Yuletide season?


    TONYA'S GARAGE SALE

    Many people had Tonka trucks when they were kids - now some lucky
    person has a Tonya truck!

    It goes without saying that every Tonyaphile worthy of the title
    would love to own one of Tonya's trucks - indeed, it would
    probably be the top non-skating related Tonya collectible we'd
    like to find under our Christmas tree (though you'd need a very
    big tree). Well, now somebody has - because shortly before
    Christmas, Tonya sold hers!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIWcXXKn9EA/

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/Truck_Info.htm

    In case you are wondering, this site belongs to her good friends
    Greg & Linda Lewis, so it is legit.

    Tonya says the truck has had an 80% ground-up restoration,
    performed by Impact Auto, of Washington State, including tires
    and wheels, differential, transmission, exhaust, brakes, inner
    and outer bearings, front steering arms, front steering
    stabilizer arm, drop-pitman arm, all bushings, and the
    main block of the motor. Receipts are available.

    "I replaced everything added onto the truck to make it work,
    such as power steering pump, all hoses, water neck,
    radiator, alternator, water pump, battery, wipers, plugs
    wires, and Raptor liner paint (which I did with a friend of
    mine). The truck also has new window guards, new vinyl floor
    board, alarm, factory stereo, 4 inch lift kit, and brand new
    wheels and tires (35 inch)."

    "This truck is the deluxe model, so it has air conditioning,
    power windows and power seats. The seats are cloth. So 80%
    of the truck is brand-new within the last five years, and it
    has less than 5000 miles on it since the restoration was
    performed."

    "I'm sure there's more. But right off the top of my head,
    that's all I can think of, right now (It's a huge list,
    anyway!).

    Asking price was ten grand. The reason for selling is not given,
    though we hope it's just because Tonya has bought something even
    gruntier, not because she's downsizing to a Nissan Leaf. And no,
    before you ask, it does not have 3 axles - like this one at the
    THNK1994 Museum:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Burp21DBeCx/

    Rumor is that the successful buyer was somebody with a name that
    sounded like "Margaret" or something similar - hard to tell as
    she had a strong, possibly Australian accent...

    Would you buy a used truck from this woman? Yes, definitely!


    Also for sale was a set of fine china that was given to Tonya in
    1988 for winning a competition in Russia and a custom-made Tonya
    Bobble-head doll. These items have now also been sold.

    However, all is not lost - two of Tonya's dresses are still for
    sale as of the time of writing.

    - Tonya's wedding dress from her marriage to her current husband
    Joe Price in 2010. Note that this is not the one seen in a
    certain "home video" that Tonya made in the distant past:

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/Wedding_Dress_Info.htm

    - Tonya's dress from Dancing With The Stars:

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/DWTS_Dress_Info.htm


    If any more items are offered, they will be posted here.

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/index.htm


    BEAUTIFUL TONYA PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE

    For those of us with more modest budgets, there's also welcome
    news: after an absence of many years, Tonya has now once again
    started selling autographed photos.

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/Photos_Info.htm

    Prices are $40 for a signed photo and an extra $10 for a brief
    message. There are currently six different photos to choose from:

    1. Tonya in a snowy Christmas landscape:

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/Photo_Tonya_Christmas.htm


    2. Tonya's Short Program at Lillehammer in 1994:

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/Photo_Olympic_Rings_On_Ice.htm


    3. Tonya skating in Vail, Colorado, during the filming of the
    "Breaking The Ice" special in late 1997:

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/Photo_Tonya_Skates_In_Colorado.htm


    4. "Lickety Split", the Ford Coupe that Tonya drove to set a land
    speed record in 2009 - complete with a very attractive hood
    ornament:

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/Photo_Tonya_On_Car_Salt_Flats.htm


    5. Tonya on the podium after her 1991 Nationals win:

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/Photo_Tonya_On_Podium.htm


    6. Tonya sitting on a motorbike for a promotion for The Nashville
    Network's "Bad Boys Week" in August 2000:

    http://lewisandlewismusic.com/tonya/Photo_Tonya_Sitting_On_Bike.htm


    With such a splendid range to choose from, your Christmas gift
    problems for this year are solved. Because, contrary to what
    scriptwriter Steven Rogers once said, nothing says Christmas more
    than Tonya!


    TONYA FAN ART ROUNDUP

    Now for our regular feature, Tonya fan art. Since this is Triple
    Axel Day, we'll start off with a bunch of artwork devoted to that
    topic:

    sunflowersatellite

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CItO65MlV81/

    #drawcember2020 Day 12: 'Skating'
    "I decided to take some inspiration from the scene in 'I,
    Tonya' where Tonya is preparing to do a triple axel jump.
    It's partially inspired by the video or the real Tonya
    Harding too, but I wanted a clearer shot of her face before
    the jump so I went with Margot Robbie's portrayal of her in
    the movie.

    askar_reviews - the Triple Axel, plus a positive film review:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CH0HIn3gAoY/

    "This style of direction to me is refreshing and genuinely
    entertaining, rather than making it close to a biography,
    director Craig Gillespie made it into a smart conversation
    between the characters themselves and also the viewer.
    Hearing all angles of the story and making you, the viewer,
    the judge of what happened. This movie got Allison Janney her
    first Oscar (Best actress in a supporting role) as she played
    the role of Tonya's mother, a deserved Oscar nonetheless."

    haydensscomet - more triple axels

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIWgK-2gGCy/

    Oyku Metin (_artofoyku_)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CKWTI23HS3G/

    megan_is_sugar:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJNiOrhpoKI/


    More "I, Tonya" artwork:

    Abdelrahman Hajj (abdhajj.art) - various scenes from the movie:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CHgCHtyjY5p/


    Katherine Kiel (psychokieler_art) - the confrontation with the
    skating judge:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIFWiQqhTu6/


    Mar (filmss.and.films) - "attitude" Tonya from the film poster:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIQSs_DA2M_/


    Estele Sluse (estellesls) - an alternative movie poster featuring
    all the characters from the film:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIiqrO_MeQ9/

    "I, Tonya - 2017
    I love this movie a lot, so I decided to make an alternative
    movie poster of it, so, swipe to see the full version and
    the black and white one :)

    Here is my review of this fantastic movie:
    Fun and original biopic about Tonya Harding, ice skating
    figure (and a bit controversial). I loved this movie a lot,
    the way that is filmed is original, and I always like when
    the fourth wall is broken, it doesn't look like a classic
    biopic. Also, the soundtrack is just perfect, and the actors
    are simply excellent (Margot Robbie, Allison Janney,
    Sebatian Stan and the others) and the characters are very
    interesting ..."


    Zatt (zatt.psd) - another "I, Tonya" poster:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CI_w8TKhEop/


    Grace Liu (graceliu.art) (12/30) - "I, Tonya" collage:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJZLx3olMLu/

    "-i loved this movie bc i love figure skating, and it was
    inspired by an edit by @filmsfromsaturn


    Khalid (kaldld): Portland OR. Tonya-inspired makeup:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIVwdhwjWns/


    A couple of crying Tonya drawings:

    Timothy McLaughlin (tim_8443): New England:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIlvNzuggCf/

    John Baldwin (jbass6):

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CHe4Y4NDlKS/


    REatNOON (reatnoon) - Tonya's 1992 Olympics short program:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CI9SlfQFG02/ (liked by real Tonya)

    "I'm in love with @therealtonyaharding I drew her some time
    ago and I had to redraw her now! I just looooveeee this
    suit!!!!"


    Amelia Morgan (in_living_watercolor)- Tonya doing a Biellmann
    spin:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CH3RjE4h-vR/

    "Testing out a new pan of paint and channeling my favorite
    figure skater, @therealtonyaharding ! #gansaitambi
    watercolors are so beautifully pigmented and behave a lot
    like gouache!! I think I have my weekend planned!"


    And last, but definitely not least, we have Gisa from Germany,
    who has been busy, with some Christmas ornaments, earrings, an
    advent calendar, some scrunchies and a DWTS collage:

    gisafrog:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CHfDAglr16Y/

    "Yooptzah everybody (especially fellow Tonya Fans),

    Today is the birthday of the amazing @therealtonyaharding
    so let's celebrate her with a little collage from DWTS (Love
    her dancing Dress)

    Tonya, If you See this: I Wish you an awesome day with your
    loved ones and many happy Returns and everything good in the
    World.

    I used a Lot of glitter paint and glittery cardboard for the
    Stars.

    Hope y'all Like it."

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJLjvSwH1WH/

    "Here is the (totally awesome) 24 of my amazing advent
    calendar.

    In the Story The owl I sent to the US turned Out to be for
    @therealtonyaharding and she sent Back to me magic skates
    and a Magic skating Dress so I can do some figure skating at
    the #naehkromanten Hogwarts Christmas celebrations and save
    christmas.

    Even with Magic I could NEVER Skate Like Tonya of course.

    But I really Love the Idea and the end of the Story and I'm
    really sad that the advent calendar is finished now.

    And I got this totally awesome Tonya-themed longsleeve Shirt
    with skates on it and the cuffs and collar in teal (Like one
    of my favourite costumes, the one from World's 1992) and
    also two awesome Tonya Patches (to Put on my bag or
    favourite denim jacket) and some more scrunchies

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CIsWDw7H-Ni/

    "Here are two awesome christmas ornaments (Made from perler
    beads) I got from the amazing @regenbogentigerfrau
    additional to my christmas card.

    It was a lovely surprise and they are perfect.

    She knows from my Swap Info that I'm a Ravenclaw and that
    I'm a huge Fan of @therealtonyaharding and figure skating so
    she made a Ravenclaw crest and a glittery skate in the
    colours of Tonya's Most famous costume."

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CKdfbyvnQBX/

    "Here are two pairs of earrings inspired by
    @therealtonyaharding

    My favourite figure skater forever is still great
    Inspiration for making jewelry.

    I used little snowflake / ice crystal charms (I know that
    Tonya loves snowflakes) and crystal glass beads.

    The mint-coloured beads of course are supposed to remind of
    Tonya's famous Triple Axel costume and the purple-and-silver
    beads are inspired by the purple costume with the silver
    swirly decorations (one of my favourites) she wore at the
    start of her career.

    Hope you Like them."


    TONYA QUIZ

    And now it's time for our special feature: our Tonya quiz.

    This time round, we focus on stuff that has happened in
    Tonyaville since our last quiz in 2014. Naturally "I, Tonya" will
    feature heavily. Although there are a few tricky ones, all of
    them have only one, unambiguously correct answer, and don't
    depend on differing interpretations of the wording as to which
    answer is correct. Many of the answers can be found in previous
    editions of The Portlandian (some even in this edition). As
    before, there's no prize for getting it right. Your only reward
    is that warm, smug, self-satisfied feeling inside that you get
    when you realize you know something that most other people don't.


    1: On the day on which Tonya was born, which one of the following
    things also occurred?

    a) a whale was blown up with dynamite
    b) Sharon Tate was murdered
    c) the Watergate break-in took place
    d) "The Partridge Family" debuted on television


    2: What music did Tonya skate to when she landed the Triple Axel
    at the 1991 U.S. Nationals?

    a) "The Passenger" by Siouxsie & The Banshees
    b) "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop
    c) the theme from Batman
    d) the theme from Jurassic Park


    3: What was the name of the low-budget action movie that Tonya
    had a bit part in shortly after she was banned from figure
    skating?

    a) "Breakaway"
    b) "Sharp Edges"
    c) "The Price of Gold"
    d) "One-Eyed Hooker With A Shotgun"


    4: Artist Mike Denison once drew a picture showing Tonya & Nancy
    as characters from which Stanley Kubrick film?

    a) A Clockwork Orange
    b) 2001: A Space Odyssey
    c) The Shining
    d) Dr. Strangelove


    5: What was the name of the Swedish skating official who examined
    Tonya's broken shoelace at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics?

    a) Astrid Lindgren
    b) Britta Lindgren
    c) Christina Lindberg
    d) Greta Thunberg


    6: Ricotta, Scafata and Mascarpone are:

    a) characters from "The Sopranos"
    b) famous opera singers
    c) Italian figure skaters of the 1950s
    d) some of the ingredients in Tonya's prize-winning meal on
    "Worst Cooks"


    7: Shortly before the 1994 attack, "I, Tonya" director Craig
    Gillespie was also involved in making a TV commercial featuring
    Nancy Kerrigan for which company?

    a) Nike
    b) Texaco
    c) Disney
    d) Campbell's Soup


    8: Which artist released a song about Tonya in December 2017?

    a) Sufjan Stevens
    b) Ed Sheeran
    c) Taylor Swift
    d) Alice Cooper


    9: According to a study by the Portland Ice Skating Society's
    Special Duties Section published in "The Portlandian" in November
    2019, how many f-words does "I, Tonya" contain?

    a) 61
    b) 129
    c) 173
    d) 269


    10: Which of these songs was NOT used on the soundtrack of "I,
    Tonya"?

    a) "Goodbye Stranger" by Supertramp
    b) "Sleeping Bag" by ZZ Top
    c) "Romeo & Juliet" by Dire Straits
    d) "Evil Woman" by the Electric Light Orchestra


    11. Which of the following skaters was one of the stunt doubles
    for Margot Robbie in "I, Tonya"?

    a) Gracie Gold
    b) Ashley Wagner
    c) Heidi Munger
    d) there were no stunt doubles - Margot did all her own
    skating


    Okay, we're gonna make this next one real tough:

    12: Established in 2015, the THNK1994 museum is located in which
    Borough of New York City?

    a) Brooklyn
    b) The Bronx
    c) Manhattan
    d) Staten Island


    13: In 2015, Portland artist Brittany Powell created a diorama
    based on what Tonya-related event?

    a) the Nancy Kerrigan assault
    b) the 1991 Nationals triple axel
    c) the broken shoelace at Lillehammer
    d) her fight against Paula Jones in "Celebrity Boxing"


    14: After his release from prison, what did Nancy Kerrigan hitman
    Shane Stant change his name to?

    a) Shane Price
    b) Shane Stone
    c) Brian Shane Griffith
    d) none of the above


    15: An incriminating note, allegedly in Tonya's handwriting, was
    found in a dumpster outside which location?

    a) The Clackamas Town Center mall
    b) The Dockside Saloon
    c) The Tony Kent Arena
    d) Christine Brennan's house


    16: Tonya made it through to the final of which reality show in
    2018?

    a) Celebrity Big Brother
    b) Dancing With The Stars
    c) The Masked Singer
    d) Real Housewives of Clackamas County


    17: Two roads named Harding and Kerrigan intersect in which
    location?

    a) Portland, Oregon.
    b) Stoneham, Mass.
    c) Copiague, NY.
    d) Lillehammer, Norway.


    18: "Tonya and Nancy: The Rock Opera" played in which American
    city last year?

    a) Naples, FL.
    b) Reno, NV.
    c) Huntington, WV.
    d) Phoenix, AZ.


    19: Tonya appeared at a fundraiser for which type of charitable
    cause in Eugene, Oregon in 2019?

    a) muscular dystrophy
    b) 9/11 victims
    c) domestic violence
    d) a children's hospital


    And here's one for Sarah:

    20: Tonya shares her birthday with which famous American mass
    murderer?

    a) Ted Bundy
    b) Charles Manson
    c) Ed Gein
    d) Jeffrey Dahmer
    e) John Wayne Gacy


    Answers will be published in another few days.

    *****************************************************************
    VISIT THESE GREAT TONYA WEB SITES:

    PortIce - http://www.pdxiss.org
    David House - http://www.tonyaharding.org
    Charlie Main - http://www.charliesweb.com/tonya/tonya.html
    Puppetboy - http://www.usapaul.net/tonya/
    Valerie Smith - http://www.olywa.net/radu/valerie/LilHam.html
    Swan Lake - http://members.tripod.com/~TonyaHarding/index.html
    Blades of Gold - http://members.tripod.com/tmhfan/index.html *****************************************************************

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