The Manipulative PR Machine

Meryl Davis and Charlie White have the best PR team in figure skating. They are shaped into this image of hard working, all around athlete role model and the judges ate it right up. Sometimes one even has to wonder if their manipulative PR and tactful politicking are the reason they are consistently on top of the podium because their skating sure as heck isn't suppose to get top scores.

The "We Have Chemistry" Spin

When Davis and White came up the ranks, they are known as this powerful couple with explosive skating (but more on that later). Their closest rivals in terms of scoring were Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir who are known to be lyrical with terrific chemistry. Davis and White have received critique that they don't look at each other, and could use more chemistry like Virtue and Moir have. On the eve of 2012 World Championships, their PR team, Meryl, and Charlie, tried to counter that point:

“There are some other skating pairs who sort of play with the media, pretending they might be a couple,” Ms. Davis said. “But I think people respect and appreciate Charlie and my relationship, and we would never want to pretend it was something else.” Said Mr. White, “Yeah, but we are getting quite good at looking at each other, when we skate like we are one another’s whole world.”

source: nytimes

It was obvious who they were talking about with a jab, and they lost to them in Nice, France.

In the beginning of the following season, they did an interview

Tori R. asks: What’s the most awkward situation you’ve gotten yourselves into skating as a couple?

Charlie White: It’s awkward because a lot of people like to ask if we are a couple off the ice.  Because we are such good actors and it’s a vital part of being an ice dancer to show we’re in love on the ice, everyone just assumes, ‘Hey, they probably are a couple off the ice.’ We get that question a lot and it’s a little bit awkward but we’re used to it.

Christine J. asks: Most great skating duos have chemistry.  Do you think you have it and if so where does that chemistry come from?

Charlie White: Just this season we feel like we’ve captured the special chemistry and started putting it on the ice.  It wasn’t always very natural for us but it was a lot of hard work with acting coaches and figuring out how to bring that out, to be able to connect and show that to the audience.  It was a lot of hard work but it’s definitely something that comes across great on the ice.

Meryl Davis: I think personally too we’re at a place in our careers and our friendship with each other that we feel it’s more natural for that to happen.  Different people mature at different rates and I think this year things have come together nicely for us and we’re enjoying the little changes here and there that we’re able to put out onto the ice.    

source: teamusa.org

"It's really a departure for us from all of our [past] programs, because we've really started to connect on the ice more than ever before," White said on a teleconference last Thursday.

source: ice network

We found the special pixie dust connection that people say we need in 2012 after we skated together for 15 years since 1997

So hold me Charlie

And twirl me romantically

Dont' roll your eyes at me Charlie we need to show our connections!

The "We Work So Hard" Spin

Hard work pays off, success comes with hard work, there is no substitute like hard work.  So here is how Meryl and Charlie work hard over the years.

Davis: "Charlie and I are training harder than we've ever trained before and that's saying something because we usually train really hard. 

source: usa today

With just under two months until the Olympics, this pair is working hard to be in their best shape.
source: access hollywood

They won the silver medal in the 2010 Winter Games in addition to winning numerous championships, and you know they’ve got to work hard to stay in shape for that. As part of our Look Like and Olympian series, Meryl and Charlie share their tips and moves to get started.

source: today

"We realized how much confidence we should have in ourselves based on how hard we worked. If you put in the work, it pays off. 

source: metro live 

This is the best, two kids in well off families endure the streets of Detroit and work hard.

“I think being from Detroit, we can definitely feel that in the city,” Davis said. “Kind of that work ethic, willingness to put yourself all into what you’re doing, whether it’s the auto industry or starting something new.

“While ice dance is an artistic sport, it certainly has its nitty-gritty moments. Training isn’t all lipstick and sparkles every day. I think that definitely the feeling of Detroit, that work ethic, is something we take to the ice every day. 

White, 25, said the city planted another seed, as well. 

“Growing up, my biggest idol was Steve Yzerman,” White said. “I think he was a great ambassador, not just for the Red Wings but for the city of Detroit. He led by example …

“Having my dad work in downtown Detroit (too), these are sort of the things that you pull into yourself without even realizing it. I think it’s something we take to the ice.”
White also argued about the ability required in his sport, using some skate-anchored context. Average shifts in hockey last about 45 seconds, while ice dancers move and jump and spin for four minutes or more.

“There’s no reason you shouldn’t be just as exhausted at the end of a figure skating program as any other sport,” he said.

That’s Detroit Tough — with a dash of the finer things

source: detroit free press

The "We Are Unbeatable" Spin

A great comment on FSU, that just because the judges are marking them like they made no mistakes doesn't mean it's true.  But hey let's run with it and affirm the judges on their accurate scoring.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White are on a different level than their American competitors.

Heck, they're lapping the rest of the world, too.

source: chicago tribune

Unlike Virtue/Moir, Davis/White have really not done much wrong this season in competition

source: examiner

The "We Dance!" Spin

How many times have we seen them bring in famous dancers to help with their programs. We still have no idea what Derek Hough and Alex Wong did to add to their routines. But hey, Meryl and Charlie "worked" with them so it must mean they are dancing like pros right?

They even got pro dancers to critique their programs, with gems like these:

"Charlie sneaks little things in there, and he's able to showcase himself," she adds. "That's what makes this couple so exciting to watch. I watch both of them, which is so cool."

"Scott is definitely a great, great partner and Tessa just shines. In my opinion, they work really well together. I just wish he would find moments for himself to be more expressive." 

source: icenetwork

Charlie expresses happiness

Dancing to a happy waltz

By happily smiling

But Scott needs to be more expressive

More Scott!

C'mon Scott! 

                       






The "Don't Forget Us Too" Spin

On the eve of 2013 World Championship in London,

What makes their accomplishments even more remarkable: Davis is dyslexic and lacks depth perception.

source usatoday

Note: I'm not saying Meryl faked a disability to get press, kudos to her working through her problems and get to where she is today.  But the timing is definitely interesting.

“We would go every year to my relatives’ houses in London (or a family member’s farm house in tiny Iona Station) for Canadian Thanksgiving,” Meryl said. “It was wonderful. One tradition that was unique, and I don’t know if it was just our family, was making riced potatoes. They would take the potatoes and run them through a ricer. 

source: london free press

She's also now a Canadian celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving and about to compete on Canadian ice.

Whoever runs for President in 2016 should hire this PR team.