Kolohe Andino makes largely forbidden “throat slashing gesture” in victory over countryman John John Florence: “It was like cutting the snake off the head!”

Ride or die.

I had a feeling about San Clemente’s Kolohe Andino coming into these Tokyo Olympics and surfing’s grand debut. Had a feeling that all those so many years of competition, all that American pride, was going to bake into a very-difficult-to-deny succotash and look where we are, look what we have.

Andino into the quarterfinals where he will be surfing against Kanoa Igarashi. The wild battle of personal brands becoming truly personal.

In order to reach the quarters, Andino had to undo countryman John John Florence. Longtom, recounting the thrilling exchange here, left out was that Andino made a largely forbidden “neck slash gesture” after stomping his first air. Running his hand along his throat as if to decapitate, spilling much blood, etc.

Performing the move garners a $25,000 penalty in the National Basketball Association, is banned by the National Football Association and not appreciated by Major League Baseball purists.

Andino, riding the moment, did not care for the puritanical though, and told USA Today, “It was like cutting the snake off the head in the first 10 seconds. I was just overwhelmed with emotions and that’s what I ended up doing.”

Countryman Florence did not see the throat slash nor did he take it to heart, telling the outlet, “I just heard the score and I was like, “Oh my gosh, what did he do?'”

Andino v. Igarashi in mere hours.

Who you got?