Is the Little Plumber our most inspirational figure? Will Hollywood laud his can-do spirit?
Last night I watched the film Eddie the Eagle and tears in my eyes! Have you seen? It tells the inspirational story of a ginger British man with Coke bottle glasses who dreamed of going to the Olympics!
He tried and tried and tried many different pursuits, eventually settling on ski jumping since the United Kingdom hadn’t fielded a team in decades and he could qualify. The crusty British machinery was against him, trying to thwart him at every turn, but his Dunkirk spirit prevailed and he became a favorite of the 1988 Calgary Olympics even though ginger and British and Coke bottle glasses and last place and poo stance.
Oh of course the filmmakers took certain liberties with the storyline but I remember watching Eddie soar when I was a young boy, watched him thumbs up the camera, watched him felt exhilarated. Anything was possible!
Hollywood sure does love an inspirational sports story because who doesn’t? The Blind Side and its homeless black teen who becomes an NFL star thanks to a white family. Rudy and its short little pudge who plays for football powerhouse Notre Dame. Million Dollar Arm and Indians (from India) learning to pitch in the major leagues (of baseball). Etc.
I started wondering who our surf inspirational story is besides Bethany Hamilton and Jimbo Pellegrine? Who allows are imaginations to really take flight? Part of the inspirational sports story is its everyman quality. We can all be heroes!
Bethany and Jimbo are, no doubt, inspirational but not everymen. Bethany appears to be the greatest surfer alive. Jimbo maybe too.
Which brought me to Adriano de Souza. The unloved little plumber from Brazil with a stance so wide architects building in earthquake zones look to him for revelation. The boy who golden child Kelly Slater loves to dump on. The tireless fighter that never took “no” for an answer even when his sponsors fled to the hills.
The everyman!
Is he our Eagle? Or Rudy? Should we love him more and will we feel guilty for not loving him more when The Little Plumber Who Could hits theaters in 2030?
I won’t feel guilty because I wrote this right here but you will/should.
And who is our Eric The Eel? https://www.youtube.com/wat…
unfortunately Kolohe Andino is going to be our eddie.
Jimbo
That profile pic is brutal.
If you’d ever been yelled at by a certain pro surfers wife who is ” native American” for a slip of the tounge, You’d know. I referred to the place i buy my cartons of cig’s tax free before trips as an ” indian casino”, boy she let me have a lesson in boredom,and genocide,i guess that was cool.
I’m not a huge fan of his surfing but love his attitude. He surfs hard and is really respectful even after having to put up with so much shit. I think the real measure of him was when he drove back from the airport to see Mick. He may not surf the best but is a great role model and shows that hard work can beat natural ability.
Adriano has won a world title. Eddie the Eagle won nothing. So a better comparison might be Alex Ribeiro.
eddie won our hearts. isn’t that enough?
As the old saying goes…nope.
For sure Mullet!
Tks!
Like Andy said…
“Go ahead … win eight, nine, ten … and make my three seemed more and more awesome”
Or like Adriano said
“I don’t need eleven… I just need one”
Kelly just seems more more bitter and angy, with aging and by your own natural decandence, and adding, over time, clumsiness and lack of elegance to his speech.
Adriano cares little, or nothing, with critics about her stance, surf, or what KS allegedly does or says … does not affect, quite the opposite.
Newly married, world champion, top ranking, beloved kid … and … KS, with yours eleven titles, is your customer … stamped (in Brazil, freguês de carteirinha)!
His life story, if ever filmed, will be as beautiful and valid as any other athlete in any sport, which has come out of nowhere, without a penny in his pocket, and bustin’ down the door of the little vip club, owned by the golden boys and his pals… and he made it, in his own way.
It is a more beautiful story than another all star golden boy, like many out there … Lance Armstrong.
Each person find the way to turn your desires into reality, and especially know how to live with your choices, with happiness, if possible
In good brazilian portuguese:
Adriano você é foda!
Um puta campeão e ídolo!!!
You are right about one thing; calling Adriano ‘Her’
fixed
yes Paulo , you are spot on , I have even thrown it out there, that the most influential surfer on Tour in the last 5 years is ADS , work very hard and your dreams can come true , ierrespective of ability!
Maurice, I believe that most people, will be inspired by the talent and beauty of others in what they do … other by fiber, desire and obstinacy … or all together.
Let each one choose the model that suits them!!!
Tks!
Inspiration , now there’s a word I love! Amazing over 40+years how many very gifted people fall by the wayside , usually because they think ability = success , when reality is, that you need a very strong desire to use everything that you have , work on weaknesses , and give it ya best shot , thanx ADS for reminding us all that anything is possible!
Look at surfboard shapers ” the best” aren’t on top, but the persistent fuckers are,also your shapes are top notch so, just in agreement with you.
fuck that.
i ain’t working for shit.
work is for the plebs.
silver spoon in mouth. trust fund at the ready. now that is inspiration! https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
ah now that’s a fallen Angel!
or work very hard only to fail and fail again due to judging bias and lack of looking marketable ‘the part’ only to to be thrown out with all the other hard-working has-beens and wannabes to find oneself washing dishes at a surf-themed restaurant and ‘chefs’ screaming at you to get the spew cleaned off the dishes because the next serve of mayonnaise and chip is up!.
no, i am not channeling myself here. i am not!
Jesus reality check (looking at ground woefully).
“with critics about her stance,”
now, that would be a story.
people would care about her stance?
Paulo for president!! Or Beach Grit Moderator!
James, nem para presidente de liga de futebol de botão ou síndico de condomínio!!!
The PC of classifying that the indians are Indian. Hahahaha.