So, Shawn White's teammates don't seem to like him...

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Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Feb 11, 2014 6:04 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/shaun-white-leaves-olympics-without-a-medal--or-many-snowboarding-friends--as-new-era-in-sport-begins-214448669.html

Semi-interesting column where the main thing I took from it was that Davis doesn't seem to like White and, after he finished 10th, referred to White's fourth-place halfpipe finish as a gift. I mean, it was one thing when the rival Canadians ripped into him for pulling out of the slopestyle or whatever it's called, but this seemed a bit weird.

Is there a reason for any bad blood? Him qualifying in one event and then deciding not to compete, essentially taking a place away from another potential Olympian? Him being the main face of the sport for pretty much the entire time it's been considered a legit competition, meaning everyone else winds up going below the radar in comparison? Or one other American who doesn't like him and a writer making it sound like he's a hated figure (since Davis was the only one providing comments that could be read as taking jabs at him)?

I don't really follow snowboarding, but do find it fun to watch when it's on TV and I'm home and always thought he was awesome to watch because of some of the stuff he could pull off and make look routine, so I was wondering if anyone here follows it more and has any clue.
Feb 11, 2014 6:04pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Feb 11, 2014 6:09 PM
Yeah, pulling out of a competition would really irritate someone who didn't get to go to the Olympics because of him.

He mad a comment on an interview with Costas - last night before today's competition - along the lines of Costas saying "you finally have peers who are in your class" and White said something like "who are they?". He laughed and seemed like he was making a joke, but based on what I've been reading and hearing it sounds like he's just extraordinarily arrogant. Just because you've been the best doesn't mean you have to disrespect the competition.
Feb 11, 2014 6:09pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Feb 11, 2014 6:23 PM
Man, it's too bad we don't have a thread for Random Olympic Chatter
Feb 11, 2014 6:23pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Feb 11, 2014 6:25 PM
gut;1579395 wrote:Yeah, pulling out of a competition would really irritate someone who didn't get to go to the Olympics because of him.

He mad a comment on an interview with Costas - last night before today's competition - along the lines of Costas saying "you finally have peers who are in your class" and White said something like "who are they?". He laughed and seemed like he was making a joke, but based on what I've been reading and hearing it sounds like he's just extraordinarily arrogant. Just because you've been the best doesn't mean you have to disrespect the competition.
Didn't know about that comment in the interview. Yeah, saying that sort of thing would make it easy for any other competitor, teammate or not, to want to see him fail.
dlazz;1579397 wrote:Man, it's too bad we don't have a thread for Random Olympic Chatter
This is Specific Olympic Chatter, not Random.

Hope this helps.
Feb 11, 2014 6:25pm
Fly4Fun's avatar

Fly4Fun

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7,730 posts
Feb 11, 2014 6:29 PM
I think he's always come off as arrogant. But also, in an individual sport like snowboarding there aren't really true teammates, they just happen to be from the same country.
Feb 11, 2014 6:29pm
LJ's avatar

LJ

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16,351 posts
Feb 11, 2014 6:38 PM
Fly4Fun;1579400 wrote:I think he's always come off as arrogant. But also, in an individual sport like snowboarding there aren't really true teammates, they just happen to be from the same country.
Was just going to post this. And don't forget the fact that they have absolutely no connection the 3.8 years between Olympics
Feb 11, 2014 6:38pm
V

vball10set

paying it forward

24,795 posts
Feb 11, 2014 7:07 PM
Fly4Fun;1579400 wrote:I think he's always come off as arrogant. But also, in an individual sport like snowboarding there aren't really true teammates, they just happen to be from the same country.
I think most elite athletes are arrogant to a certain degree-they're better than everyone else at what they do, therefore feeding the arrogance.
Feb 11, 2014 7:07pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
Feb 11, 2014 7:12 PM
vball10set;1579420 wrote:I think most elite athletes are arrogant to a certain degree-they're better than everyone else at what they do, therefore feeding the arrogance.
Especially in individual sports.
Feb 11, 2014 7:12pm
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Midstate01

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14,766 posts
Feb 11, 2014 8:08 PM
He has a reason to be pretty arrogant. He had nobody even close to his talent for years.
Feb 11, 2014 8:08pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Feb 11, 2014 8:10 PM
Shawn White is a carrot top looking ging douche bag. Not surprised other Olympians aren't a fan.
Feb 11, 2014 8:10pm
T

Tiernan

Senior Member

13,021 posts
Feb 11, 2014 8:22 PM
Didn't I call this on the Random thread just like I call everything else Heretic?
Feb 11, 2014 8:22pm
Automatik's avatar

Automatik

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14,632 posts
Feb 11, 2014 8:56 PM
Everyone hates the best, no surprise here.
Feb 11, 2014 8:56pm
Fly4Fun's avatar

Fly4Fun

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7,730 posts
Feb 11, 2014 9:05 PM
ccrunner609;1579452 wrote:I have met numerous Olympians and am friends with a gold medalist. This character trait is obvious with all of them and probably necessary to achieve massive success in these individual events.
I've known a few Olympians myself (Swimmers, American backstroker one female and a male with a gold and silver medal, a Czech IMer, Swede freestyler and a Russian silver medalist in back). All of them were pretty humble, the russian was a little more arrogant. The Czech was probably one of the greatest guys I knew. He trained with the club team I was on in high school and he was always cheering all of us high school kids on and trying to keep everyone in good spirits during grueling practices.

I don't think it's fair to say that all Olympians are arrogant. But at the same time, I'm sure any world class athlete might appear arrogant from time to time but that's really just being realistic as they are one of the best in the world at what they do.
Feb 11, 2014 9:05pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Feb 11, 2014 9:21 PM
Difference between being arrogant and being a dick, especially to your fellow competitors.
Feb 11, 2014 9:21pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Feb 11, 2014 9:27 PM
LMAO...announcer was commenting on the condition of the pipe on EVERY run in qualifying, and then Sean White comes off and says "it's great, I hope it stays that way".
Feb 11, 2014 9:27pm
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Feb 11, 2014 9:30 PM
I love the numerous misspellings of his name. It's Shaun.
Feb 11, 2014 9:30pm
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Feb 11, 2014 9:31 PM
Anyway, he doesn't bother me, but I also don't know a whole lot about him. Still, he's a USA American and I wanted him to do well.
Feb 11, 2014 9:31pm
S

sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Feb 11, 2014 10:04 PM
The reason his teammates hate him go back to the last Winter Olympics. Snowboarders feel like practice should be them all going out together and practicing the same moves as each other. They got mad when Redbull built White his own secret half pipe that only he used and kept some of his new tricks secrets for the games. That is when the other Americans formed a clique (without White of course) called frends (because there's no I in friends).

Really they are just mad that he has everything they want. I've read he is more wealthy then the next top 50 snowboarders combined. He get all their endorsements and doesn't help them get better.
Feb 11, 2014 10:04pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Feb 11, 2014 10:43 PM
Well, he looked pretty gracious losing...very congratulatory, passing of the torch maybe?
Feb 11, 2014 10:43pm
DeyDurkie5's avatar

DeyDurkie5

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11,324 posts
Feb 11, 2014 10:51 PM
ccrunner609;1579452 wrote:I have met numerous Olympians and am friends with a gold medalist. This character trait is obvious with all of them and probably necessary to achieve massive success in these individual events.
Mother fucker, you can't even own up to a 20$ pickem. You don't have any friends, let alone gold medal winners. Clown.
Feb 11, 2014 10:51pm
T

Tiernan

Senior Member

13,021 posts
Feb 11, 2014 10:52 PM
The reign of Shon White is over. I guess Schawn White should have competed in the Slope Style. Shean White should retire and become the Scott Hamilton of skate boarding, show up every 4 years and annoy the fuck out of us as an announcer.
Feb 11, 2014 10:52pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 11, 2014 10:58 PM
It was a BIG prick move pulling out of the slopestyle. He pulled out of it too late and the US couldn't even name a replacement. Stupid.
Feb 11, 2014 10:58pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

Senior Pwner

23,151 posts
Feb 11, 2014 11:27 PM
Fly4Fun;1579471 wrote:I've known a few Olympians myself (Swimmers, American backstroker one female and a male with a gold and silver medal, a Czech IMer, Swede freestyler and a Russian silver medalist in back). All of them were pretty humble, the russian was a little more arrogant. The Czech was probably one of the greatest guys I knew. He trained with the club team I was on in high school and he was always cheering all of us high school kids on and trying to keep everyone in good spirits during grueling practices.

I don't think it's fair to say that all Olympians are arrogant. But at the same time, I'm sure any world class athlete might appear arrogant from time to time but that's really just being realistic as they are one of the best in the world at what they do.
I think we should also consider that this guy is friends with a deadbeat. Probably more to do with his demeanor than being an Olympian.
Feb 11, 2014 11:27pm
H

hang_loose

Senior Member

802 posts
Feb 12, 2014 12:37 AM
Its not bragging if you can do it, but "watch out" if you can't!!!
Feb 12, 2014 12:37am
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Raw Dawgin' it

Just Ain't Care

11,466 posts
Feb 12, 2014 7:08 AM
dlazz;1579397 wrote:Man, it's too bad we don't have a thread for Random Olympic Chatter
i hope you choke on a chicken nugget.
Feb 12, 2014 7:08am