Sources: USSA forced Lago to leave Olympics

[ensho]

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/snowboard/news?slug=jp-lago022010&prov=yhoo&type=lgns


The fuddy-duddy suits who run the Vancouver Games got their scapegoat. Scotty Lago was kicked out of the Winter Olympics. Yes, kicked out.

Do not believe the party line served by the United States Ski and Snowboard Association, nor the words of United States Olympic Committee spokesman Patrick Sandusky, who said: “Scotty left on his own accord. He wasn’t forced to leave.” Lago, the bronze medalist in halfpipe, was forced to leave, two sources close to him told Yahoo! Sports, and did so only to prevent an even greater escalation of a situation that already had been blown far out of proportion.

Lago is the smiling 23-year-old in the now-infamous pictures of an Olympic medalist celebrating. The photos are kids’ play, and yet because somebody caught Michael Phelps taking a bong hit, anything – anything – gets the USOC’s tighty-whities in a bunch.

Once the photos of Lago surfaced on TMZ.com, the USSA, in an effort to avoid USOC intervention, came to him with two options, according to sources: go home quietly and play the necessary political game, or go through a trial process and risk getting formally ejected. Lago, not wanting to torpedo any future Olympic opportunities, chose to return to New Hampshire instead of staying until the Closing Ceremony as planned, sources said.

Lago had tried to preemptively strike against repercussions. He issued an apology to the USSA on Friday morning when informed the pictures existed, sources said, in which he apologized for the lapse in judgment and said he was thankful for the opportunity to compete in the Olympics. It was not enough.

“He did something pretty foolish, but it’s nothing illegal,” Lago’s father, Michael, said from his New Hampshire home. “No one’s hurt. That’s really all that matters to me.”

-long snip-

“This was about one incident,” USSA spokesman Tom Kelly said, and it was an incident that, in the end, earned Scotty Lago millions of new fans. He was an American kid celebrating the way an American kid should – out on the streets, with the people, happy to give the world a look at his shiny new toy.

The suits turned him into a loser, a derelict, someone told to leave Vancouver and not come back. It’s a shame. The Olympics were better for having Scotty Lago. The same can’t be said for the people running them.
---------------------------------------

what kind of people make USSA decisions?

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. He chose to celebrate that way, and then he went back home.

There's no changing either.

He's still got the medal, which he rightly earned.

[frazzled]

2. I think they were right to send him home

I'm sorry, but the Olympics have to stand for something. Integrity is one of those things. They are expected to act with a certain amount of dignity, on and off the courses for the duration of the Games. He didn't. He's done with his events, he won his medal. It's hardly a tragedy.

I watched these snowboarders. I watched how significantly they differ from other athletes, cutting fool before their runs, playing air-guitar during the national anthem. I think it's juvenile and unsportsmanlike (at times, unsportswomanlike). I could not give a hoot that he got sent home for simulating a sex act and having it broadcast to the world.

[WeDidIt]

27. Fuck that bullshit. HE DID NOTHING WRONG!

Not one thing.

Fuck anybody who's prudish enough to take offense at INNOCENT PHOTOS!

[anonymous171]

28. You'd have to be blind to consider those pictures "innocent."

[WeDidIt]

33. 100% INNOCENT

Nothing at all wrong with them.

Not. A. Thing.

[anonymous171]

How do you post when you can't see anything? nt

[WeDidIt]

39. Your bullshit painting of me is just that, bullshit.

There was absolutely NOTHING WRONG with the photos.

Prudish assholes that have a problem with it are reading their own bullshit sexual inadequacies into an innocent photo.

[anonymous171]

49. You seriously believe that there was nothing suggestive about those images?

[KonaKane]

62. A Scottish caber toss is highly sexually suggestive too

yet I don't see many Highland Games being cancelled because of it.

[WeDidIt]

68. Nothing at all. n/t

[proteus_lives]

65. Taking an Olympic medal skank-hunting is innocent?

:eyes:

[theHandpuppet]

41. On the contrary

Scotty Lago violated a code of conduct specifically outlined in the contract HE SIGNED when he became an Olympic athlete. That code may seem restrictive to many, but if he didn't want to abide by the rules, he shouldn't have signed the contract. His choice.

[alarimer]

44. The Olympics are certainly not known for integrity.

Hypocrisy, maybe, what with all the lip service to amateur athletics, yet allowing pros in nowadays because it brings in the TV audience and, hence, money.

Cheating scandals, doping scandals and yet they kick someone out for a really stupid reason.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Oh, to be young.

It's a lesson learned. When you are potentially going to be getting millions for endorsements, it means that image counts. Of course, you don't have to play by their rules, but then, don't be surprised when the contracts don't come rolling in. Just ask Tiger Woods.

I always wonder why million dollar babies are always saying, "I didn't sign up to be a role model." Well, that might be true of rock stars who can make it on their bad ass image and don't need corporate sponsorship, but when you're looking at drinks that are catering to children or something that requires a parent to buy, it requires some finesse.

[glowing]

6. Actually, he'll get more endorsements for doing this in the snowboarding world.

I lived near a ski resort for the first 18yrs of my life. The ski- pros were bad enough.. the snowboarders... just lewd versions of assholes. Its only a wonder one of them didn't test positive for marijuana.. Just walking thru one of their "parties" would get you high enough for a week.

[elehhhhna]

12. is it a rich--frat-boy sport? who are these people? like

surfers with poor judgement? (lol)

[cali]

18. no, it really isn't.

Hannah Teter, Kelly Clark, Ross Powers and many others do not come from money at all.

[cali]

17. two words: Hannah Teter

Hannah donates all her winnings to charity. She's adopted a village in Kenya and done wonders there. Her 15,000 for winning the silver went to doctors without borders for Haiti relief. In her off time she does her charity work thing. She's all of 23 and she's been doing this since she won in Turin.

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. I saw that.

I was in awe.

[JackRiddler]

56. Good for her!

All the more reason why Hannah Teter should also be free to party as she pleases and have a fat old good time if she wants.

[PatGund]

37. Personally....

I've always wondered if they kick out a snowboarder for testing NEGATIVE to marijuana........

[elehhhhna]

11. The "didn't sign up to ba a role model" line always kills me. The irony!

So, you acknowledge that you DID "sign up" for something? Like a contract? Hmmm. To do WHAT, exactly? Prolly to be a role model.

[me b zola]

45. No, they signed up to compete in a sport that they love

I grew up as a competitive athlete and I can tell you that you do it for the love of the sport. Period.

[roguevalley]

24. pictures are on TMZ.com. It looks like his medal is hanging in front of

his crotch and some girl is bent down in front of him. What a complete jackass.

[dysfunctional press]

4. what pictures...?

is there a link to them..?

[hootinholler]

9. Jebus you've got to be kidding me.

Over this?



-Hoot

[elehhhhna]

13. oh my. tacky! bet she feels proud too, huh?

[Renew Deal]

61. It's going to be worse for her than it is for him.

But what do they expect when they pull in the Xgames guys into the Olympics. It's an overreaction.

[madrchsod]

5. anyone who thinks guys and gals...

who do this are going to fit some "all american" image is just kidding themselves. they are being paid big dollars from their sponsors sell stuff to people who board and do other crazy shit.

[Retrograde]

7. Kid? He's 23 and acting like a spoiled child

He acted like an immature frat boy, almost like, dare I say it, someone from a background of entitlement. Unless he's paid all his own expenses, he's also there on someone else's dime, and if he's going to accept the money he has to take the strings that come with it. Snowboarding looks like it might be fun, but some of the behaviors seem to indicate that the boarders think they score extra points for attitude and immaturity (yeah, I mean you on the podium, Mr. White).

[elehhhhna]

15. This ain't about class (!), as the jerseyshore guys would do this in a hot minute

if they got the opportunity. i see a lot in that photo but not entitlement! generic jerk and desperate drunk girl...

[SoxFan]

21. He's from Seabrook, NH

Seabrook is a blue-collar town in an area dominated by wealthier communities. It's known for tatoo parlors, a porno shop, and a nuclear power plant. Scotty might be a bit rough around the edges, but so what. I really doubt this has anything to do with "an air of entitlement".

(I grew up 10 miles from Seabrook, FWIW)

[depakid]

23. Apparently, you don't know many snowboarders...

[JackRiddler]

54. Only well-scrubbed choir boys should be allowed to snowboard, damn it.

[tularetom]

8. You gotta know what goes on in the Olympic Village

You have a big crowd of young, fit athletes with a lot of time on their hands.

And nobody really watching them.

Is it really so hard to imagine what they're going to do?

I'll bet there are a lot of American kids celebrating the way American kids do.

If you sent home every athlete who banged another athlete, there would be no Olympics.

Snowboarders make be a bit juvenile, but the old fat white guys who run the USOC have their head up their ass.

[flyarm]

10. the old fat white guys are in charge of the rules and laws of the Games.

I know rule of law and rules don't mean a hell of alot these days..but those Fat white guys cut the checks for room and board and airline tickets for the frat boys to be there!!

[tularetom]

22. Old fat white guys cut the checks for almost everything in this country

And look at the condition we're in. Maybe it's time we stopped letting old fat white guys make the rules.

I'm an old, formerly fat, white guy. I can speak of this with some knowledge.

[dysfunctional press]

42. it's fuck-central.

[glowing]

47. As far as the rumors always went, its one huge orgy mess at these events.

But if you ever go to an individual event like an X-treme event, its just as bad if not worse...

[JackRiddler]

55. Well good for them!

Why the hell else are they working so hard to get there?

[glowing]

64. Each to their own.. however, in this digital world, expect to get caught..

and the olympics aren't exactly the same as an x-treme event either... Different venue.. Different theme, etc.

[JackRiddler]

70. Get caught doing what? Enjoying life?

The problem here is with the fun police and their perverse standards. When athletes shake their booty in whatever irrelevant and harmless way, the media treatment is hard to distinguish from that given to pedophiles and murderers. When they help sell sugar-poison to the same children, however, it's only business and quite admirable. When they take part in propaganda on behalf of the war machine, when they salute a bunch of F16s overhead, it's their patriotic duty.

The fun police seem to fear they personally will be judged (by whom?), along with most everyone else they carry the always-demented idea that individual athletes "represent" nations, or that their off-field behaviors "reflect" on nations, or that it is anyone's business to report on the athletes so that others can read about them and be outraged.

This is a sickness. It's one thing to identify with one of the athletes for the duration of the theater (which is all it is, folks, these are performers for your entertainment) because that's what makes it fun, and to do so on the basis of a shared nationality is fine. The medal ceremony and the victory parade are part of the theater, and then it should end. But afterwards? It's crazy to make heroes or "role models" of them outside that context, to shower them with a mass ritualized love, or, if they don't live up to the demented self-image projected on them, opprobium.

[quiller4]

14. I'm very happy with the USSA decision. I don't think it is a shame at all.

[SoCalDem]

16. what kind of people? Old men, mostly.. n/t

[anonymous171]

20. I agree with their decision. Our athletes are supposed to be representing the American nation

Lago's actions reflect poorly on us all.

Also, the Phelps incident was a bit different, since it happened after the Olympics when Phelps was back doing whatever he does when he isn't swimming for Team USA.

[KonaKane]

25. As nationalistic automatons, or people?

Last I checked, athletes compete as humans.

[anonymous171]

26. Then what's with the flags? Why do they play for "Team USA" ?

The Olympics are all about Nationalism. That is why they exist.

[KonaKane]

30. Wrong. Olympics are supposed to be about athletic excellence.

The flags and nationalities come down the list. If it was all about nationalism they should just submit robots, or have a war.

[anonymous171]

32. But in reality, it's all about how many medals your country has.

Sorry to burst your little bubble. The Olympics have been used as a political tool since their inception.

[KonaKane]

36. Ask the individual athletes if they feel that way.

I doubt you'll find much support for your theory.

[dysfunctional press]

43. only to the non-athlete types who have to live vicariously through others.

olympic medals are personal achievements. there are even some athletes who live in one country, but compete under another county's flag, just so that they CAN go to the olympics.

[anonymous171]

50. So can I go and try out for South Africa's team, even though I have never even lived there before?

Serious question.

[KonaKane]

51. Sure, and if you make it, you probably wont be kicked out for disagreeing

with their government policies.

Where do you get this twisted idea that an olympic athlete is merely a drone for their given country?

[dysfunctional press]

63. i'm pretty sure that you can- IF your parents are south african citizens.

what's your sport?

[JackRiddler]

60. actually, only to those minds so limited they think it matters whether it's an American or

someone else who performs some impressive, fun to watch feat.

[Selatius]

66. The Olympics have never escaped the colors of nationalism/politics. See the Hitler Olympics of 1933.

Adolf Hitler turned the Olympic Games into a mockery, and the US boycotted the Olympic Games when the Soviet Union hosted the Games in Moscow. Four years later, the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact countries boycotted the Games when they were held in Los Angeles.

[roguevalley]

29. its a formal occassion just like a formal occassion at the White house.

when you rep the country, you use your manners and your head. He's a jackass. Someone pays his bills. He acts with some class. Small exchange in my book.

[KonaKane]

31. I would wager he represents Scott Lagos, first.

And if there exist some stick-up-the-ass prudes who cannot handle a young guy having a little fun after a medal win, maybe they ought to work on getting the stick dislodged.

[anonymous171]

34. Then he should enter as part of fucking "Team Lago." nt

[KonaKane]

35. Which there isn't. So I guess the US is stuck with growing up a bit.

[roguevalley]

38. and maybe guys his age deserve the scorn they get as narcissistic dumbshits

with no class.

[KonaKane]

46. I'll bet you never did anything questionable in your youth, did you.

A pure saint, I surmise.

[JackRiddler]

48. Utterly demented logic - Lago's actions do not reflect poorly on anyone (including him).

He was partying and swung his medal around in a suggestive fashion. Big deal.

Who are the judges who decide how the actions of some kid partying in Vancouver "reflect" on "us all," which would be 300 million other people? Based on your post, I'd guess the right perspective to adopt is the Taliban's.

The sick ones here are the perverts in the press who care about nothing stuff like this and present it as reason for outrage, and the audience who swallow that bullshit. And of course the puritan perverts of the USSA.

[anonymous171]

52. LOL FALSE DICHOTOMIES ARE FUN!

:rofl:

[JackRiddler]

53. No need to scream, 171. Did you hurt yourself?

[anonymous171]

58. No, I just realized that discussing this with you won't do anything. That's all

You obviously aren't addressing me. Instead you are debating some invisible specter of social control that I seem to be representing in this scenario (thus your "it's either no code of conduct or taliban fundamentalism" false dichotomy.) I have elected to remove myself from this situation and let you continue debating your delusional image of all who support this decision.

[JackRiddler]

59. "Code of Conduct" doesn't cover pantomime or dancing when you're on your own time.

Maybe the USSA rules include that - I don't care. It's very much in the fundamentalist spirit, as is the downright demented idea that these athletes' conduct represents you and 300 million other people.

[theHandpuppet]

40. I've read the contract that athletes sign with the Olympic Committee

It includes a code of conduct which, whether or not you agree with it, Lago violated. It's Scotty Lago who made the decision to sign the contract and abide by its rules.

[KonaKane]

57. Is there a part that prohibits a fan of the opposite sex from kissing your medal?

Or where the medal has to be when the alleged kissing takes place?

[theHandpuppet]

67. Read the rules for yourself

Google can be your friend. But then, you're being deliberately dense so it wouldn't matter if someone smacked you over the head with the rulebook. You'd just deny the obvious.

[Orsino]

69. Ten paragraphs in, I finally learn what the fuck the fuss is about.

Dumb stunt. His getting the hell out of Dodge seems like an appropriate outcome.