Venice-adjacent mountain blog singles out sweet Brazilian boy for the second time!
Oh those alt-righters at your favorite mountain blog are at it again! Do you recall, some two years ago, when The Inertia went on a potentially racially-motivated discrimination spree against the world’s second best surfer, and Brazilian champion, Gabriel Medina?
Of course you do! The website set up a petition to “Suspend and Fine Gabriel Medina” for swearing. Here’s the story in brief according to our own Derek Rielly:
When Gabi Medina sulked at the Quiksilver Pro and said “fuck” and “Kieren hasn’t done a very good job” most of the surf media found it a magnificent condition. A fearless post-heat interview from a world champion. The Inertia thought otherwise and cast a petition to have the kid suspended and fined. (Click here.) Was the petition racist? So many thought so!
Victory was claimed in the seemingly hate motivated movement after the World Surf League released a statement saying that the incident in question was “reviewed.”
Apparently though, one tilt against a hard working brown boy is not enough. Six hours ago the ugly drums that sound so much like racism began to pound once more. Let us read from The Inertia‘s recent posting:
During his Round 3 loss at the Hurley Pro at Trestles Gabriel Medina exhibited extremely poor sportsmanship on three separate prolonged occasions by showing a public disrespect towards the WSL judges and in the process reflected poorly upon himself, the WSL Tour, the event sponsors and his own sponsors. In order to right this wrong, both the WSL and the Brazilian surfer are obligated to respond in a way that firmly address Medina’s actions. It all can lead to moving toward an atmosphere where disputes with the judges are carried out in private and in a sportsmanlike manner.
The WSL is furthermore required, by their own bylaws, to at the very least fine Gabriel Medina a minimum of $1,000.00 for his blow ups. In addition, the WSL should strongly consider warning Gabriel that future displays of poor sportsmanship will lead to increased fines and/or suspensions. These items should be made public because Gabriel’s actions were done in public. Medina should also be “given” the opportunity to publicly apologize to the WSL judges and the WSL fans. This would be an ideal opportunity for him to express that he strongly disagrees with the judges’ scoring in this case and at the same time that take ownership for his behavior.
Continue here but let us remember that Julian Wilson (white), Matt Wilkinson (white) and many other professional (white) surfers had very strong, coarse even, words for the judges during and after the Hurley Pro even and yet where are the posts on The Inertia demanding blonde and almost blonde heads on a platter?
As pointed out from Mt. Olympus (thanks Zeus!) the piece ends on this note:
The excuse of cultural passion fueling Gabriel’s actions is 100% invalid. Unacceptable is unacceptable and the WSL rules pertaining to sportsmanlike conduct are designed to maintain the integrity and professionalism of the sport.
Oops! A major legitimate actually shocking gaff and certain to be frowned upon by too many social scientists including, but not limited to, Grafton Elliot Smith. Also by most non-racists.
Are posts like these red meat to less-than-savory elements of our modern culture? Dog whistles to certain Pepe the Frog loving groups?
Maybe.
