Blowing it.
I’m just going to be very honest here, if you’ll let me, and write that the World Surf League is absolutely, completely, confoundingly blowing it. There are as many story lines, here, in their abject failure, as there are in any “sport” and yet in our favorite CEO Erik Logan is refusing to explore any of them.
Has steadfastly refused even though he promised to be chief storyteller just months ago.
Is it because he has lost his sense of taste in Turtle Bay, frustrated that Lei Lei’s gorgeous cuisine doesn’t hit right?
Can’t fully enjoy Ted’s Bakery haupia pie?
A real mystery but the United States of America’s National Basketball Association, worth billions of dollars and a complete WSL dream, speaks direct truth to its marquee athletes/situations.
Per Charles Barkley, iconic NBA player, even better Ronnie Blakey-esque NBA analyst:
Imagine the ’89 World Champion Marty Potter spitting this much truth on Filipe Toledo’s recent Pipe performance in real time.
Imagine ’88 Barty Lynch.
Barty Lynch is closer to… something but COME ON!
WE’RE SURING!
We should be speaking truth to our “power” nonstop while driving some futuristic progressive narrative.
Ridiculously embarrassing.
Come fucking on ELo.
Unfortunately ELO is a lot closer to David Stern than Charles Barkley. But Barkley doesn’t work for the NBA, and any significant or insightful truth or story telling is gonna come from outside the WSL. Real insight ruffles feathers, and seemingly the only one trying to do that is Chas.
Chas, are you up for saving professional surfing, not just throwing stones at it?
Great point on the sharks! Thought they had a safety and contingency plans for all the events, not only J-bay? Safety is not about compliance, it’s about people. It’s not putting safety, ie, compliance first, it’s about putting people first. When organizations get to the place where they value people over profit than we will see successful safety and contingency plans, and for that matter a better return on investments. Erik seems to be all talk and no walk.
Well said!
He seems to think he has zero accountability to WSL fans. His last two messages on WSL website seemed like they were written more for investors than the fans. Some CEOs get to a place where they think they will never fall, let’s see how long he stays on the ship.
Straight outta sand spit.
Someone should give Barkley’s number to Kelly…
CB: -“Kelly, who the fuck is that Kelly chick, pro-surfer? I hope she hot!;
Someone explaining – “No, it’s the 11 time world champ, he’s really smart…”;
CB – “Smart?? Who the fuck thinks a surfer could be smart? There’s even a song called “Dumb Surfer”… He not even a Basketball player! Hope he’s not one of those smart asses who thinks he has to voice his opinion on everything other than fucking surfing…”
How the hell can someday be so bad at golf and be a pro basketball player?
https://youtu.be/s50K65PNeBU
He’d make a great surfer. Would fit right in at Noosa.
Even Coffey is speaking her truth. Well, not really (scamming) but more than WSL
Ain’t nothing more truthful than the threat of nipples.
I compare the WSL to the NBA a lot as well, mostly because they’re the two main sports leagues I follow these days.
One is infinitely more interesting than the other. And I suppose one of the reasons is volume. There are so many games, so many players, and so many good media outlets. There’s always something to follow.
The WSL is so turgid by comparison. And it is a bit like comparing apples and oranges, but every time I think of the problem I circle back to the same thing that’s nothing to do with the differences: I think surfers are just really, truly, astonishingly boring.
(That, and Kelly).
I mean, look at Kyrie. The mad cunt is burning sage in the arenas before games!
Where are all the mad bastards on Tour?
Could you imagine if the Australian TV stations that broadcast the WSL comps had the opportunity to interview competitors after their heats or maybe the winner after the comp? Much the same way TNT or ESPN broadcast crew will interview players after games. BUt I think there’s a reason those TV stations don’t see the need to interview surfers and it has to do with your (correct) point that surfers are. boring.
The WSL don’t even have the gumption to do their own interviews!
Zion going to blow up this year.
Probably. But Ja Morant will be the better player from that draft class!
Hmmmm…that’s tough. Depends on if Zion can stay healthier. Morant has a chance to be top 5 all time PG, but PGs don’t win titles. Zion has chance to bring a team much further in the playoffs. He’s literally unstoppable once he gets his momentum going. Like Shaq and Barkley combined, but with a 3 point shot and the athleticism of Shawn Kemp.
Interesting view, but I’m not sure I agree. PGs might not win titles by themselves, but I would argue that no team has ever won a title without a lead guard as one of their best players. And no team wins a title with only one great player anymore.
I reckon Ja showed enough last season (on a young and very average team) that he has the ability to bend games to his will and make everyone better.
Zion can certainly check off the first part of that statement, and they both look like transcendent players. But if I’m starting a team today, I’m picking Ja over Zion.
MJ Bulls. Lakers only had D Fish. But those are exceptions. And to yoyr point both squads had best players alive. If KD is back to pre injury from Nets will be able 2 do it this yr but will have to get through Lakers if Lakers can stay healthy. I think ceiling of Morant is championship series if Jackson can stay healthy and they get 3rd star. You basically need 3 all NBA players now and top 10 D to win.
To be fair to Kyrie, it’s not that long since someone convinced him the earth was flat. No wonder he doesn’t want to speak.
Makes you wonder about the value of going to Duke, doesn’t it?
I’m not sure how the yank scholarship systems work, but I can’t imagine he went to many classes.
True, but his high school scores had to be good enough to passably get into Duke, even once there taking pancake classes (of which there aren’t many at Duke).
He had to have a 2.5 high school GPA and a minimum SAT score I think of 900 to qualify because he is an athlete he is exempt from the rules that apply to regular students. Most schools allow a limited number of special qualifiers to be used for sports teams. And he only needed to stay eligible for the first semester since he was leaving after his freshman year. He had to goto class second semester but his grades didn’t matter since he was going to be leaving school
The cost of fame, often, is education… I may be wording that wrong. my mind just blanked. These days, you could be an uneducated, talented asshat and still be a millionaire but being uneducated has pitfalls and tends to lead to poor money-use choices which will likely find said person exactly where they would be had they not become a millionaire. Don’t get me started on fame and fortune.
need a yob
Friends commentating on friends is boring as batshit! Without critical commentary every surfer gets a trophy. Real friends abuse you when you pull back or don’t pull in… if they don’t they should!
Good rap lyrics.