Skater's 'Care Bear on acid,' 'coke' analogies irk officials

ST. LOUIS — Johnny Weir, U.S. Figure Skating would like a word with you.

Executive director David Raith said officials will talk to Weir, a two-time U.S. men's champion, after he used drug references to describe the tempo of his and another competitor's short programs.

"We have talked to Johnny in the past," Raith said Friday. "Johnny is a flamboyant guy, and he makes different analogies. There are certain analogies that are better than others. At the right moment, we will certainly address that with him."

It is no secret Weir can be on the eccentric side. Calling his costumes garish or ostentatious does not do them justice, and he has a refreshing way of saying anything and everything that pops into his mind. After winning the short program Thursday, he was careful to point out that the accessory around his neck was a scarf, not a boa.

Occasionally he goes overboard.

In the last two years, he has likened his costumes to "an icicle on coke" and "a Care Bear on acid." On Thursday, he compared fans' reaction to his slower program and another skater's more lively one by saying, "This one they kind of sat back and had their cognac and cigarettes and relax. His was more like a vodka shot, let's-snort-coke kind of thing."

"It's not an analogy that I like to hear," said Ron Hershberger, president of U.S. Figure Skating. "But Johnny is outspoken. He is free to state his mind. Again, we provide a forum for athletes to compete at the highest level. Primarily what we ask for them to do is to be superb athletes and compete.

"If they can do that and do it successfully, they are rewarded. I'll leave it at that."

Weir's did seem to realize he had crossed a line after his comments, immediately saying, "Sorry about the drug references."