Is "passion" a not-so-nice word to describe Brazilians? Will the WSL get into trouble for being overly racist?
Commissioner Kieren Perrow came down on Gabby Medina yesterday, issuing the following statement. “This is professional surfing’s biggest stage, the stakes are high and there is no shortage of passion. Gabriel’s post-heat interview was not worthy conduct of an athlete at this level and the league has engaged in discussions with him and will take further action if necessary.”
Which begs the question. Are surfers athletes? I think surfers are not athletes because surfing is neither a sport nor a game nor an exercise. Surfing is many things…fun, weird, annoying, addictive, ballet, and surfers are many things…tan, weird, annoying, Micro, ballerinas. The fact that it is so difficult to define is part of why we love it, no?
Therefore, what Gabs said may have in bad taste, whiney, ill-advised, funny, amazing, a stroke of genius but it was totally worthy conduct of a surfer at this level because, above all, it was entertaining. No?
#freddysrock @freddyp808
@gabrielmedina @glenhall81 #quikpro #gabrielmedina photo
@corey_wilson
Do you think surfers are athletes? Do you think using the word “passion” in conjunction with anything Brazilian is overtly racist or just subtly racist? Does “…no shortage of passion…” mean there are too many Brazilians on tour? Will the WSL get into big trouble for being overtly racist or will fans tacitly approve the subtle racism or do 2700 people watching surfers in a bathtub not really count as “fans?”