John John silenced after criticizing 3x world champ Mick Fanning!
Do you remember when the World Surf League posted a candid interview to Instagram with the world number one, and everyone’s favorite surfer, John John Florence?
Of course you do! It happened just three or so hours ago and was right here on BeachGrit!
The unimpeachable Derek Rielly wrote of the social media offering :
Now, as just revealed by the WSL’s social media wing, John John says that, yeah, he’ll compete at Trestles, but he ain’t gonna be throwing bombs.
“(The injury) feels fine… It’s just a matter of finding, like, where the little tweaks are and what’s going to hurt it,” says the current world number one.
“I think for the event, you know, I’m not going top be able to surf 100 per cent for sure… it’s a torn ligament in my knee… it’s going to be finding a good balance and surfing at eighty-five percent and … hopefully surfing through a couple of heats. It’s either doing that or pulling out of the event completely. I’d rather give it a try and surf like Mick to the finals.”
Cute!
Right?
Apparently not! Just moments ago the WSL disappeared the Instagram post and scrubbed it from their Facebook too. I have reached out to WSL media czar Dave Prodan as to the whys and wherefores but my inquiries have yet to be answered.
In the meantime, let’s speculate!
Was Mick Fanning so hurt by everyone’s favorite surfer claiming he surfs at “eighty-five percent” that he forced the powers that be to eliminate the offending material?
Did he call WSL CEO Paul Speaker and say:
Prior to the exchange with the reporter, I had refused to speak with him because I understood he had previously published articles which I believed were racist and anti-Semitic. I strongly object to views, statements and comments of that nature.
I acknowledge that my decision to use words that were inappropriate – albeit in an attempt to be ironic, knowing they were of the type favoured by him– was misjudged and wrong. I don’t have or condone any form of racist or, more particularly, anti-Semitic view.
Maybe?
Or did he say:
John John thinks I surf at less than full volume? Really? Did he really say that? Even after J-Bay when a shark attacked me? No. Shut up. It did attack me. You know what…just…just…whatever.
Or did he say:
Go white lightning you’re burning up the quarter mile
(White lightning go white lightning)
Go white lightning you’re coasting through the heat lap trial
(white lighting go white lightning)
You are supreme the chicks’ll cream for white lightning.
Possibly?
Or did he say…wait! Here’s WSL media czar Dave Prodan! He says:
Having not seen the clip, but rather reading the transcript (on the Grit!) my guess is that John was referencing Mick’s surfing in J-Bay where he won the event despite being injured. I don’t have the background but presume he requested it removed into avoid confusion. John, like most if not all surfers on tour has the upmost respect for 3x WSL Champ Mick Fanning.
Oooooooh that is a quick, and quality, spin. It is why Dave Prodan has a job. But I’m going with the first option. The… Prior to the exchange with the reporter one…
That’s why I don’t!
Is it not possible that it was as innocent as; Mick plays percentages and takes less risks than I do normally, however with this injury I will have to adopt a more conservative and ‘sensible’ approach, whilst my ligament damage repairs? That’s my glass half full take…
JJF may never have been attacked by a shark but Im pretty sure his front arm used to belong to Bethany Hamilton…
Whilst I consider myself quite the JJF fan…who the fuck decided to swap out the Jessica Alba bondage picture??? I never even got a chance to…uh….use it!
You’re tripping man!
Never seen Mick do this! …Mick doesnt have anywhere near the power or style of JJFs rail game. granted Mick has incredible flow. but that’s about it.
i also assumed that he meant he’d be consigned by his injury to safe, boring, three-turns-to-the-beach surfing
WSL media czar Dave Prodan also scrubbed his new podcast episode of The WSL B-Team, presumably because he and his guests joked that wave scores for the Hurley Pro were pre-written. God, fuck the WSL.
Still up on Soundcloud… Did the WSL pull it from their website?? https://soundcloud.com/wslb…
Was up only briefly on iTunes.
thank god the important part happens in the first minute. is this what passes for content? why bother taking it down, what’s it got 73 plays?
He means that he hopes to surf like Mick did in JBay even though he was coming into it with a cactus ankle, nothing at all to do with style.
Look at the horseshit they just posted on Facebook!!! http://www.worldsurfleague….
“Grease” reference, perfectly executed. 9.23 — only cause it’s too early to be throwing 10s.
Travolta/Church of Scientology references from Chas in 3…2…1…
Injured Mick Fanning pulverised our favourite superboy at Jeffreys Bay, if we are struggling to recall that.
Indeed!!
Shit….I agree with James. And it’s not even 6:30am. This day is already ruined!
This is some of the dumbest shit yet from Chas, and the bar is set pretty low.
Ok Nick, I’ll bite. Is Mick a better surfer than John? In your opinion.
My opinion is that is a bit of a silly question. They’re very different surfers. Mick is older, stronger, and has a much more complete mastery over his approach, thanks to his many years as a highly focused and committed pro at the top of the game. His mastery is seamless and quite extraordinary but it means he rarely leaves anything to the imagination of the viewer. Johnny has greater potential for growth and a much wider range but still has a lot of little weaknesses and things he’ll have to build in underneath it if we’re to see the full possibilities. I’d rather watch JJF right now but that’s because he is in the potential phase still and there’s often a sense of uncertainty in watching a surfer in that phase, you’re never quite sure what might happen next and it’s incredibly exciting when they’re at such a high level and still crossing their fingers a bit.
Thanks Nick, you made my point for me. That being the WSL, or any form of competitive surfing, only identifies the surfer who best conforms to a preset system. One’s outright surfing ability being only a part of that equation.
Mick rips for sure but on his best day, even as world champ, there has always been a workman-like approach which may have limited any need to be more, shall we say, ‘creative’.
The best surfing has and always will come from outside of a contest format.
what jjf meant was obvious, surf up to 80, 85%, even less than that, and richie porta will take care of providing the needed 15, 20% on the requirements… #shamewsl #fuckthejudging #micksajoke #gohomefanning
mick’s a fucken barney mate
that one stung! zaaaooow!!
And now read the press release at wsl ‘Florence says knee is not a problem’ something’s going on.
when mick fanning does a single air half the height or john john john’s smallest airs then he can put himself in the same sentence as the greatest surfer on the planet right now.
no caption needed.
This is amazing.
I assume you have a real job that pays money, but if you’ve any interest in nonsense pay and “exposure,” please shoot me an email: [email protected].
Thanks Rory.
This is what i like most about Beach Grit, you guys can see what is good and what not …..doesnt matter where came from #SurfCircusSucks. Thanks Derek and Parker and all the team.
His Mask has a goatee david carson.
You’re spitting hot fire as of late!
Thanks Audit in Progress. I saw the shout out on Chas insti also.
Takes the attention of Ke11y to become the dark horse on his way to Ke12y. Fuck imagine 13lly?
Prodan reads the Grit.
Did you get a thrill from that Chas?
I mean, as much as me.
That must mean Speaker reads it, and even Ziff, or Mrs’ Ziff.
oh, i beg to ziffer
my style of humour.
It’s a little Zifferent, sure, but I can dig it.
Yes. This is what we need, Mick vs. JJJF. The thought of stopping JJJJ’s chance at the title might be enough to get Mick excited and put the world title back in his interest. Mick vs. JJJJJ, script this!
I just assume JJF meant he wasn’t going to do airs