30 Days of Fangirl-ism - Day 4: Fandom Crush(es)

The prompt asks for the "first, current, or favorite crush"... I think I'll do all three of those, because I'm a fangirl and a nerd and a dork... ha ha

First Fandom Crush

 Since I included Figure Skating in my list of fandoms earlier this week, I should probably count Scott Hamilton as my first crush. I was four and after seeing him skate live I was hooked. I used to tell people I was going to marry him. He was in his early 30s (late 20s?) and I was four. But I didn't care. He was my hero and I loved him.

gif by dreaming-inpepperland on tumblr.

I don't remember having another crush until I was 8 or 9 when I crushed hard for Han Solo. Harrison Ford was the first actor I really studied their career and wanted to see all of his movies. Han Solo was my hero. I wanted to be Han! ha ha!

Current Fandom Crush

I'm a big fan of "CaptainFire" my two fav
actors on Once Upon A Time!

Ooo, this is hard. I'm not sure if I should say Neal Cassidy (Michael Raymond-James) who I love more than I should (especially since they killed him!)... or if I should choose Captain Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) because, seriously, how can you not crush hard on those gorgeous pirate guyliner eyes?!... or Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell) another character who was killed off his show but was so loveable that I'm hoping beyond hope that the theories are true and that he's back on the show.

Seriously Colin Donnell is just so adorable.

So can I just pick all three, because, really... why not?

Favorite Crush

Yup, this is why I fangirl.

Okay so I should've just done Captain Hook and Tommy Merlyn for the last one... but this is definitely my favorite and current crush. Neal Cassidy/Michael Raymond James from Once Upon A Time. Oh. My. Word. I can't even understand WHY this is or HOW it happened, but I truly love the character. I love the complex character, the pain that he has... the guilt. I wish he could've had a happy ending. He deserved one after everything he went through. I mean if Regina can get her happy ending (and, trust me, she will) I don't understand why they thought it was okay that Neal/Baelfire didn't get his. I'm not even saying Emma! I'm saying his son, Henry deserved to have his father. At least to get to know him, have him in his life. Sure Robin Hood and Captain Hook are cool step-dad material... but both Neal and Henry deserved to be in each other's life.

I could rant for days on this subject... and I can gush for an equally long time about the awesomeness that is Michael Raymond-James. He is such a natural and warm actor. He's severely underrated in the fandom as well as in general. I'm not just saying this because I have a weird affection for a character he plays - he's good. Really good. Just like I did as a kid with Harrison Ford, I'm quickly catching up with Michael's career (which is easy, there isn't much he's in/available...sadly)... and EVERYTHING I've seen him in I've been impressed. I may not like his character or the show/movie but I can appreciate what he brings to it. He was by far one of the best (read strongest) actors on Once Upon A Time. I think the only one stronger would be Robert Carlyle. I know that won't be a popular opinion, but I just really find that the natural style that he has lends to him being incredibly believable... and his chemistry with everyone only helps solidify that in my mind.

I'm so excited to see him in a week in Sons of Liberty as Paul Revere. He said back in June when he announced the project that this one felt special and I really really really hope that it IS special and leads to fantastic opportunities. He deserves it. If his character couldn't get a happy ending, then MRJ better.

Favorite #Quote

"The only disability in life is a bad attitude."

                                                                  - Scott Hamilton

Day three of the 31 day challenge asks for my favorite quote, and I had to think about this a little bit. I have a page on this blog that is a list of quotes that have meaning, or I find funny, or hold special memories. You can view it here. So choosing one came down to just my tried and true inspiration. I used this quote in the yearbook my senior year.

Scott Hamilton is the 1984 Olympic Champion in Mens Figure Skating. He is the reason I fell in love with the sport of figure skating (though I can't skate to save my life). I saw him skate live in very early 1989, I was four, and I thought what he did was amazing. He talked to a radio (skating to Georgia On My Mind) and he did a backflip. It was during a Walt Disney On Ice show, and I was hooked.

I followed Scott's career religiously growing up. Even when my interest in the sport was low, I made sure to watch anything that Scott was a part of - be it a skater or commentator. He was my hero, and I loved him (still do!). I even at one time declared that I would marry him - I was too young to understand age difference. Scott was one of my favorite things about winter, and I looked forward to Stars on Ice and Ice Wars and other shows on TV.

Then he let the world know he was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer in 1997. I was devastated. I didn't know much about the disease, but I knew cancer was never a good thing. Scott gave the world a promise and a quote of inspiration that day with his "The only disability in live is a bad attitude." It has been my mantra ever since (even though I have SUCH a hard time these days following it). I prayed hard for Scott - daily. I knew he'd beat it, he'd beaten a mysterious childhood disease after all, and he was Scott Hamilton. I mean, really, if anyone was going to beat the odds, he would.

And he did, and he has. Several battles of cancer later he's still going strong - still inspiring. Always living his life to the fullest. And, now, living for Christ. He's still one of my all time heroes. Someone I look up to, admire, and pray for.

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day Twenty-Nine

Day 29: Favorite Skater of All Time

She's back! I will update on the trip eventually.... I hope... but for now I've got two more days of skating meme before Iditarod, work, and photo editting take over my life! LOL

Anyway, back on topic. Favorite skater of all time is going to be Scott Hamilton. Pretty sure I've said that several times throughout the 30 day meme (which has spanned over two months now, but oh well.) Without Scott i'd not have fallen in love with the sport of figure skating. Sure, I put skaters above him - now - in terms of skill and what not, but Scott will always hold that special spot in my heart. He was my hero growing up, and someone I continue to follow and get excited for when he's in the news doing something good. I pray for him, and send him well wishes and support/encouragement, and go totally fan girl when I am in the stands and he's commentating.

I've gushed on him earlier in this little meme thing, so I won't rehash all of that, but for me Scott Hamilton is figure skating. His name is the first that comes to mind when someone begins talking about the sport.

30 Days of [Figure] Skating: Day One

Day One: How Did You Get Into Skating

Pretty much anyone online who knows me knows this answer. The simple answer is Disney on Ice 1989. Scott Hamilton was the guest star, and they were here in Anchorage, Alaska. We don't get a lot of figure skating programs up here, so when my great aunt found out about the show she snagged tickets.

Auntie Marge was my very best friend when I was little. She took care of me while my parents worked. She could swear twice as good as any sailor, chain smoked, and was drinking her beers by 9. This was the 80s, before childcare became so full of rules and regs ha ha! She crochetted all day, loved her soaps, and was extremely opinionated (gee, that's shocking).

I loved her (still do) and looked up to her. She loved to watch figure skating, so long as it was AMERICAN skaters winning. She really liked Scott Hamilton, and so she used me as an excuse when he came to town. "The baby" (as I was often referred) needed to see Mickey skate. I didn't really know what skating was - I vaguely remember watching the 88 Olympics - but I was into Disney and they all told me it'd be fun, so what the heck, let's go.

I could not have been more bored if I were watching paint dry. I remember next to nothing about the show other than being bored... and the Mickey Mouse flashlight that we got at the door. It was blue and if you shook it the light would spin around. It had Mickey's face on the top of it. No joke, that thing was awesomeness squared. I remember jumping from lap to lap and wondering when the show would be over.

And I remember a man, with a radio and a chair on center ice. It was Scott Hamilton, and he was getting ready to skate to his Georgia On My Mind program. He talked to the radio, in my mind that meant this guy was different. What kind of adult talks to the radio? And then he began skating. For whatever reason I was mesmerised by this thirty something, balding, skater. His back flip sealed the deal. After that, there was no looking back. I watched all the professional skating shows, and managed to catch the olympics as well.

I didn't get involved with skating until 2000 when I found the world of internet message boards. A board known as Skate Forum became my safe haven away from high school stresses and I made some of my closest friends through there (and other boards). A couple of friends began working on official websites and let me "tag along" and by 2005 I was meeting "real skaters" at the US National Championships. I don't work on official websites these days (who has the time???) but I do stay involved with those skaters and I do continue to obsess over the sport (and I am a moderator at a very popular message board). I go to events when I can afford to (Disney is cheaper than skating these days) and shoot thousands of pictures.

And before I log off here's that program that started it all:

Scott Hamilton has surgery.

1984 Olympic Mens Figure Skating Champion Scott Hamilton tweeted from a hospital room today to inform family, friends and fans that he was on his way to ridding his body - finally - of the benign brain tumor that was discovered over five years ago. When it was first discovered, Hamilton had been in remision from testicular cancer and was getting ready to celebrate his final check up when doctors found a mass in his brain. More researched proved it benign, but it was affecting Hamilon's vision and other issues soon arose. Hamilton had tried several treatments to shrink the tumor over the years, but it seems it was finally time for doctors to physically remove it.

Hamilton filmed a recent Biography segement where cameras followed him around as he attempted a short lived comeback to figure skating this season. During the hour long broadcast, Scott shared that his love/desire to skate had been dwindling towards the end of his career and doctors had explained to him that it was probably due to the pressue that the tumor was putting on some of the nerves of the brain. Further in the interview it was revealed that doctors believed Hamilton's tumor had been there since his early childhood and could be the most likely cause for his stunted growth. Skating as much as he did in childhood and adulthood kept the tumor's growth at a snails pace, but as he slowed down with the sport, the growth spread.

Hamilton's twitter page was full of well wishes, as well as an announcement/thank you. Hopefully Scott and his family can keep those of us praying for him at home updated.

See Scott's twitter page by clicking here.

Scott... Hamilton!!!

I found this little gem today while posting on a fun thread at the Golden Skate Forums (if you don't already know I am one of their moderators. So yes, consider that a shameless plug if you will.

It's a moving tribute to one of the greatest skaters the world will ever know. Yes this is coming from a biased American. In 1989 I had the priveledge - though I didn't understand it at the time - of watching Scott Hamilton skate LIVE in a Disney on Ice show when they came to Anchorage, AK. I wasn't even four years old, yet, but Scott's the only thing I truly remember outside of the Mickey Mouse flashlight I got from the show. One backflip is all it took and the obsession with Scott and skating began.

After viewing this video on youtube I began to really grow nostalgic. Scott is closely tied to my childhood. He was my first true childhood hero (sorry Joe [Montana] and Jerry [Rice]) and he influenced me to the point where - even though I can't skate - I am pretty active with teh sport. I have friends on the elite level of skating, that had it not been for this obsession I'd not even have the amazing friendships that I do with fans and skaters alike.

And, again, it all stems from the short happy bald guy that skated into my heart that night in 1989. It boggles my mind all of the obstacles he had to face to get where he did. It boggles my mind that after 6 or so years of retirement he's coming back. It boggles...

Say what you will about Scott as a commentator, or a business man... or even as a skater. But for many of us, including myself, he is legendary. And a hero.

You've found your Hero's Welcome, Scott!