WJF!!!!!

[MarcusM]

Just seeing if anyone was planning on going to the WJF (world Juggling Federation) in December in Las Vegas...I wont be able to make it, but if anyone is going let me know.
What are your thoughts? Is this going to be the new IJA?
~marcus

[jrjuggler]

WJF

Only if it's an IJA of one (Jason Garfield). Apparently, he decided if the IJA can make 50 grand throwing a fest, he can too. Although who knows, it looks like he may pull it off. Of course, do we need a "new IJA" ? We're trying to rebuild the one we have as it is.

[scot]

I see it as a step forward for juggling. IJA is more like the North America Jugglers Association. Everyone knew that a new thing had to start one of these days. It would be too hard for IJA to change as much as it needed.

Jason definately has some personal stake in making this work, but maybe this will keep him organizing and doing his technical juggling and away from the stage. So far it sounds better organized and more beneficial than any IJA fest I've heard of.

[Evan Young]

hey, this is the first I've heard of this. What's the web site link?

[le pire]

X

I'm not going.

Garfield wants juggling to be taken "seriously" and he wants juggling to be considered a sport. I do not like or support either of these ideas.

etienne

[NYSB_Craig]

But any excuse to go to Vegas sounds like a good idea.

[Butterfly Man]

urine test of time

Albert Lucas has been trying for y-e-a-r-s to "legitimize" juggling ... to no avail ... maybe a pompous ass like Garfield will be able to do it (with a lotta help from Nizer/ Ivan and the Bakalor kid) but even if this becomes more than a "one hit wonder", there will still be no Gatto (and many other international greats), so it would seem to be a shallow grandstand at best.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Having seen Jason's banty Rooster routine in Pennsylvania, I'm at Garfield capacity, for life. Good initials, as his acceptance "speech" was more WWF than IJA. Good riddance.

[le pire]

Very well put, Butterfly!

Personally, the only thing I don't like about the IJA are the competitions. The question arises every year- HOW do you judge juggling? Some judges go for originality, others go for "difficulty" and others simply count the number of objects in the air. Then there is the Jay Gilligan factor. There is no consistant criteria and there really can not be.

Jason has had problems with this himself (see Juggle Magazine Nov/Dec 2001). He proved himself a pretty sore loser, but that motivated him to finally get the gold, and then he proved himself a sore winner as well ("I deserve this medal, but it doesn't deserve me").

The WJF seems to me like a contest where Jason Garfield gets to set the rules, fix who gets to compete and who doesn't thus insuring his own victory. Good for you Jason.

I wonder if Jason will ever realise that the reason people don't want to sit with him (at the IJA opening banquet) is not because he hasn't won enough medals, it's because he's an ass hole.

etienne

[Peter Voice]

The thought of hundreds of jugglers getting together in one room to debate/exchange numbers, styles and body odours (let alone fluids) is simply beyond my comprehension.

As a keen student of circo-anthropology and a proponent of levity, I look forward being enlightened to the mysterious hierarchical rituals of these events.

Pls. say what you really think, guys.

[Doctor Eric]

I agree with Peter, and I've also found that Jason Garfield is, if nothing else, more entertaining as a phenomenon than most jugglers that bitch about him are as "entertainers".

[Peter Voice]

Due to a complete aversion to the activity of juggling, I have never so much as thrown a hanky in the name of spectacle.

But as some-one with a totally twisted sense of humour, I've inflicted this obsession on hundreds of unsuspecting young people, despite the fact that the only thing I can catch and throw at the same time is food poisoning.

One of these people was my stepson Larry, who is known to some people here. At sixteen he was reliable on 7 balls, five tennis rackets on a rolabola and knew hundreds of patterns.

He studied law and now works in admin. the "Dept of Law" at Melb. University.

I would have put this in "I knew there was a reason I didn't trust Jugglers", if Trevor hadn't stuffed up the thread.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Originally posted by Doctor Eric
I agree with Peter, and I've also found that Jason Garfield is, if nothing else, more entertaining as a phenomenon than most jugglers that bitch about him are as "entertainers".

True enough, and as we're generalising, I'll lump in, Garfield is far more interesting as an occurance than most magicians who wax concerning his relative merit.

[Doctor Eric]

Heh,

Touchy.

The cheap shot doesn't work tho, I'm obviously way too egotistical to consider myself amongst "most magicians".

I'm glad I hit a nerve though.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

hitting a nerve

"Most magicians" is where you're parked, m'dear, outside of that jury of one.