March 29, 2024 Login  


Not doping, but I think it belongs here
Last Post 05/01/2017 05:59 PM by Orange Crush. 11 Replies.
Printer Friendly
Sort:
PrevPrev NextNext
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Author Messages
79pmooney

Posts:3178

--
04/30/2017 10:43 AM
Racism in the pro ranks.  In the case, Sky's Moscon at the Tour of Romandie and his words to FDJ's Reza.

I don't know what was said,  I"m guessing Sky is going to argue the same, then say they will deal with the matter internally.

But!  Sky had a real simple choice here.  To do right or to fudge.  They fudged.  The "right" move would have been easy and simple.  As soon as this comes to light and it becomes apparent that Moscon might/probably said some racially offensive words, the DS goes to Moscon and informs him he is not starting tomorrow (yesterday).  Then at dinner, have a team meeting where is it made very clear that this behavior is completely contrary to the goal of this company and the reason the riders were hired by Sky, as advertising and good publicity for their sponsor, Sky.

If Sky did this, they wouldn't have to talk to the press.  They could then indeed say they were handling the matter internally.  Moscon not showing up at the start the next day would say far more than any words and set a strong, very clear precedent for the team and the sport.

And this is Tour of Romandie.  Sky can't even claim this race is too important.  It's not.  Sky, you had a chance to do right here.  All you had to do was hit one small target.  Bullseye 6 inches across.  Distance 10 feet.  Firearm sawed off shotgun.  You missed.

Ben
Dale

Posts:1767

--
04/30/2017 10:56 AM
Yup... Sky is so tone deaf it's amazing. This shouldn't have even been a thought.

"You said what?"
"*%#@#&#"
"You're suspended with out pay for 30 days. Next offense is termination."
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

--
04/30/2017 02:10 PM
Dopers and racists....lovely combination.

I'm about sick of these a-holes.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
huckleberry

Posts:824

--
04/30/2017 04:54 PM
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 04/30/2017 02:10 PM
Dopers and racists....lovely combination.

I'm about sick of these a-holes.


About right for me also...
Nick A

Posts:625

--
04/30/2017 07:25 PM
Yeah, it troubled me on several fronts. Obviously the racism part...but a little bit of "guilt" too. Moscon being Italian, and me being half Italian-American, my "people" back in NY aren't always well regarded in terms of their tolerance of those of African descent. Brings back some bad memories. I generally hate exclusionary butt-holes, racist or otherwise.

Nick A (Arenella)
79pmooney

Posts:3178

--
04/30/2017 08:39 PM
This may sound odd but I am troubled far less by Moscon than Sky. Moscon is a young man who may well have grown up in a family and environment that we would consider racist. He may well have had limited real exposure to different races. The Sky management on the other hand is far more woridly and understands the implications (I hope!).

Plus Moscon is young. He can change. He could even evolve into a real plus for the peloton. But, there is a simple saying that very much applies here and it emphasizes how Sky blew this. "You can act your way into right thinking but you cannot think your way into right actions." Sky doing what I suggested above (and that thought was my very first thought) and Moscon gets a very clear message that he has to modify his actions. A few years of these modified actions and his thinking will change.

Again Sky ,you had an opportunity and you missed. Badly.

Ben
huckleberry

Posts:824

--
05/01/2017 09:01 AM
I don't want to speak for CK, but for me, a-holes is an all-inclusive term ; )

Sky and Moscon. Yes, definitely Sky should have jumped right in and ended this, but Moscon, young or not - still an a-hole - perhaps when he gets older he will learn not to be one, but for now and until he proves otherwise, he's an a-hole.

As far as Sky goes, this is just one of many aspects of their a-hole-ness...
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

--
05/01/2017 09:42 AM
I think it is accurate to say we all have racist tendencies.....I can think of one time when I was cut-off in an intersection by an Asian driver and what flew out of my mouth is something I am still ashamed of. But when emotion is runing high, you can react without thinking. So in that regard, I amy be willing to cut Moscon some slack. He may not be an out & out racist, but let a heated moment overtake him (or maybe he is, I dunno). It happens....

What occurs next however, defines the situation for me....SKY basically shrugs their shoulders and says "Meh, we'll take care of this later on our own terms", which had the subtle *wink wink nudge nudge* aspect of condoning what Moscon did.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Funk

Posts:50

--
05/01/2017 02:21 PM
http://www.velonews.com/2017/05/news/road/sky-disciplines-moscon-racial-slurs_436989
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

--
05/01/2017 04:23 PM
Well, I think that is a reasonably severe punishment...damn shame they didn't do it immediately.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
79pmooney

Posts:3178

--
05/01/2017 04:24 PM
Posted By Jeffrey G on 05/01/2017 02:21 PM
http://www.velonews.com/2017/05/news/road/sky-disciplines-moscon-racial-slurs_436989

Better, but still, Sky missed an opportunity.  (I think you could have grounded him for a lot less than 6 weeks but immediately pull him and sit down with the team and say that was unacceptable.)  Moscon not showing up at the start of Stage 4 of a Tour would say a lot.  He has let his team down.  They were counting on him.  It is an action you can take before the last three days of commentary and bad exposure.  It would make Sky both look good and be a precedent setter.  (If you are thinking either bottom line or posterity, is there a better approach?)

Pulling Moscon now has no detrimental effect on the team.  He does miss the Tour but Sky has over a month to get their ducks in a row so it isn't a big setback and wil be viewed as just that.  Sky weighed its options and this hurt them the least.  In terms of riders, the Tour, Froome, all that is important.  (The publicity blow back,the s*** in their face?  "We had no way of seeing that coming.")

("We were just hanging out with our heads in the sand like good ostriches.  We knew it was actually cement but it worked just as well (to keep us clueless).  We had no idea that rain could be an issue.  Now that we are stuck, its time for dynamite.  We hear it is effective for cracking this concrete stuff.")

Ben
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

--
05/01/2017 05:59 PM
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 05/01/2017 04:23 PM
Well, I think that is a reasonably severe punishment...damn shame they didn't do it immediately.


Nah this falls well short...6 months is maximum punishable under existing UCI rules and I still hope UCI will slap him with it. Next UCI should craft a clear zero-tolerance policy (currently lacking) and force teams to adopt it so that next time this happens it results in immediate dismissal.
You are not authorized to post a reply.

Active Forums 4.1
NOT LICENSED FOR PRODUCTION USE
www.activemodules.com

Latest Forum Posts
Anyone have fun bike projects going? posted in The Coffee Shop

so quiet posted in The Coffee Shop

Hot Stove League posted in Professional Racing

Rohan Dennis charged in death of his wife posted in Professional Racing


Parc des Princes Veldrome posted in Professional Racing

The new dope - marine worms posted in The Dark Side

No articles match criteria.
  Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy  Copyright 2008-2013 by VeloNation LLC