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?”
chas troll
I must say, the commentators here are the greatest on earth. Thank you all for making me laugh.
Pro surfing is so captivating that a guy saying fuck and a guy riding on to a rock are the only things anyone cares about…. woohoo… If I started the WPDL (world paint drying league) but let my “athletes” say and do whatever they wanted and broadcast it live, I’d probably put the WSL out of business.
Watching this video Kepa Acero surf an uncrowded Peruvian point break to the soundtrack of the WSL commentary drives home the ridiculousness of it all: https://www.youtube.com/wat…
Saying “passion” in reference to brazilians is not being racist. Saying “fuck” on air after losing a heat is no big deal. Surfing will always be surfing even if Medina or the WSL cease to exist. Just get on with it people.
Spot on. I haven’t googled the WSL since it was called the ASP. But this week I searched it twice, just to see the crazy antics and laugh at the shitty business decisions of these polo-shirt and Sanuk-wearing motherfuckas. I can’t be the only one. When will they realize that no drama is boring as shit. Have they seen interviews/conduct of any other professional sport (NBA, NFL, MLB)? Those leagues look like Gomorrah compared to the hyper-Orange-County-brand-Christian-blessed WSL. And they make a shit-ton more money.
IDK…jussayin’…
Yeah I would not have used that phrase (“passion” like ‘well-spoke’ or ‘good at math’ or ‘good credit’ can invoke a stereotype all-be-it a slight positive one ) if I were in his position. Perhaps we ought to pitch in on a thesaurus for the ‘ol comish’? But he could be interpreted as meaning passion from all competitors, cuz you know Micro had some choice words for Gabs. Is it a ‘gotcha raciest’ moment? Meh.
But to your question is a pro surfer an athlete? Absolutely an athlete is a person who is proficient at a physical activity. The word invokes big burly jocks, but if professional bowlers or ping pong players are athletes then surfers are too. It can be all the stuff you listed too, but the WSL and its participants have chosen to embrace the competitive sport side of it. There will always be a riff between core surfers (who maybe couldn’t cut it in the competitive ranks) or soul surfers (same as core guys but more mellow) or whatever niche you can think of and the competitive surfer. Its fluid and invokes an internal conflict in many surfers, but i they (professional) are athletes. As for the rest of us… Hell its 2015 you are what you say you are, so you better say you are something good.
I passionately hate us surfers being referred to as athletes. The new WSL sucks and adding numbers to the back of the jerseys is ridiculous. I’m sure Nat Young and Dusty Payne are enjoying it though. Surfing needs more Christian Fletchers, Archys, Gavin Beschens and Ozzies. I still havent figured out if guys like Creed McTaggart and Noa Deene are the real deal new generation of radical surfers of if they are just some wannabes. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for now… As I keep it core at my desk in my cubicle.