Figure skaters Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir were named as NBC ‘s official tailgating correspondents for the upcoming Super Bowl. As part of their assignment, the duo recently attended Super Bowl Media Day to ask some questions. Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir wore red to the event, and Lipinski even shared a funny picture on Twitter that shows the two of them studying some stats on the way to the press conference.
The two interviewed several players from both the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, but it seems the one player that impressed them the most was the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski. “We just met him. We love Rob. Everything is about Rob right now,” Tara Lipinski said, before adding that the Patriots, “were awesome”.
“Rob Gronkowski is such a gentleman. He’s so handsome and so tall and so kind. We loved meeting all of them. We’re rooting for the Patriots.”
Tara Lipinski was quick to comment on the difference between the Super Bowl Media Day and the figure skating commentaries that she and Weir have done in the past. “I don’t think we fit in here. People are very aggressive,” Lipinski said.
She added, “Just walking in here today, we both said, ‘Wow, the energy feels so different than anything we’ve ever done.”
However, Tara Lipinski conceded that they weren’t there to cover the game itself and that they’re there to provide a fun account of the proceedings. “It’s a huge event,” Lipinski said.
“And the game we have nothing to do with. It’s fun, it’s lighthearted, we’re doing the preshow, interviewing the people who come down the carpet, doing fun features, just a good laugh.”
Weir, on the other hand, got serious and congratulated the NFL’s efforts on crushing the stigma that the very masculine sport of football isn’t welcoming to homosexuals.
“I think the NFL has done an amazing job with gay athletes and being open to gay athletes. It’s the same as any sport. We’re judged on the same field, we’re judged on the same quality that we bring to the game and to the sport. I’m proud of the NFL for the stance that they’ve taken on Michael Sam and being awesome. The gays have to produce a good player.”
Weir’s comments are especially hopeful considering the backlash that ensued after the San Francisco 49ers’ Chris Culliver commented that the NFL will not accept a gay player.
[Image via YouTube ]
